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Passing Marks in CBSE Class 12 are 33%. Students must obtain 33% marks separately in the practical and theory exams. The students are required to appear for at least five papers. The grade achieved by the student in every subject must be above grade E. The CBSE Class 12 Grading System 2026 has a 9-point system with A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2, E1, & E2 grades. The CBSE authorities will award no overall division and percentage for class 12 students. Students will be provided with their grades based on the marks that they have achieved in the board exam. 70 marks paper passing marks are usually 35%.
CBSE will also provide merit certificates in each subject to the top 0.1% of the candidates. The information about the marks the students have achieved in individual subjects has been provided in the results. The CBSE 12th Result 2026 is now available online on the official website of CBSE. Still curious about what is the passing marks out of 70 in CBSE Class 12? Check below:
Passing Marks in CBSE Class 12 2026: Stream-Wise
In the 12th class, you are required to score 33% marks separately in both theory and practical exams to be declared as passed in the CBSE 12th Result 2026. You can refer to the information about the stream-wise Passing Marks in CBSE Class 12 from the tables given below:
PCMB (Medical and Non-medical) Passing Marks for CBSE Class 12th 2026
If you are curious about the passing marks in physics class 12 out of 70, check the passing marks for the PCMB stream below:
Subject | Maximum Marks for Theoretical Examination | Maximum Marks for Practical and Internal Assessments | Passing Marks for Theoretical Examination | Passing Marks for Internal Assessment/ Practicals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing Marks of Physics Class 12 | 70 | 30 | 23 | 9 |
Chemistry | 70 | 30 | 23 | 9 |
Mathematics | 80 | 20 | 26 | 6 |
Biology | 70 | 30 | 23 | 9 |
English Core | 80 | 20 | 23 | 6 |
Passing Marks in CBSE Class 12 for Commerce Stream
The combined details about the CBSE Class 12 passing marks in each subject for the commerce stream have been provided in the table given below:
Subject | Maximum Marks for Theoretical Exam | Maximum Marks for Practicals/ Internal Assessment | Minimum Marks for Theoretical Exam | Minimum Marks for Practicals/ Internal Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Business Studies | 70 | 30 | 23 | 9 |
Accountancy | 70 | 30 | 23 | 9 |
Economics | 80 | 20 | 26 | 6 |
Maths | 70 | 30 | 23 | 9 |
CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks 2026 for Arts Stream
This section deals with the CBSE Class 12 passing marks in each subject for the Arts Stream. The table contains the minimum pass marks for theory as well as for practical subjects.
Subject | Maximum Marks for Theoretical Exam | Maximum Marks for Practicals/ Internal Assessment | Minimum Marks for Theoretical Exam | Minimum Marks for Practicals/ Internal Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sociology | 80 | 20 | 26 | 6 |
Political Science | 80 | 20 | 26 | 6 |
Psychology | 70 | 30 | 23 | 9 |
History | 80 | 20 | 26 | 6 |
Also Read - CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2026
CBSE Passing Marks Class 12th 2026 for Other Subjects
- Other subjects in the arts stream, such as Geography and Biotechnology, have a 70-mark theoretical paper.
- CBSE skill subjects are more practical, like painting, graphics, sculpture, computer application, etc. are usually held for 30 marks of theory and thus will follow relevant criteria.
- At least 33% marks are required for students to pass the subjects.
CBSE Class 12 2026 Passing Marks Criteria
Students must check out the passing criteria mentioned by the CBSE authorities from the pointers given below to get information about the CBSE minimum passing marks:
- To obtain the Pass Certificate of the Board, a candidate must achieve a grade higher than E in all subjects of internal assessment, unless exempted. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the withholding of the external examination result for a maximum of one year.
- To be declared as having passed the examination, a candidate must obtain a grade higher than E (at least 33% marks) in all five subjects of the external examination in the main or compartmental examinations. The pass marks for each subject of the external examination are 33%.
- No overall division, distinction, or aggregate will be awarded.
- If a candidate fails in two of the five subjects, they will have to appear for the compartment exams in those two subjects.
CBSE Class 12 Merit Certificate 2026
CBSE board authorities will provide a merit certificate to the students based on the rules and regulations mentioned in the official scheme of examination. Check out the information from the pointers given below:
- The Board will award Merit Certificates in each subject to the top 0.1 % of candidates passing that subject, provided that they have passed the examination as per the pass criteria of the Board.
- The number of Merit Certificates in a subject will be determined by rounding the number of candidates passing the subject to the nearest multiple of a thousand. If the number of candidates passing a subject is less than 500, no merit certificate will be issued.
- In the matter of a tie, if one student gets a Merit Certificate, all candidates getting that score will get the Merit Certificate.
CBSE Class 12 Grading System 2026
Students will be provided with grades from A1 to E. You can refer to the information about the grading system from the table given below:
Grade | Grade Points | Proportion of Students |
|---|---|---|
A-1 | 10 | Top 1/8th of the passed candidates |
A-2 | 9 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
B-1 | 8 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
B-2 | 7 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
C-1 | 6 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
C-2 | 5 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
D-1 | 4 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
D-2 | C | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
E | C | Failed Candidates |
CBSE Class 12 Grading Criteria 2026
There are some rules and regulations put forward by the Central Board of Secondary Education regarding the grading system:
- Minor variations in the proportion of candidates to adjust ties will be made.
- In case of a tie, all the students getting the same score will get the same grade. If the number of students at a score point needs to be divided into two segments, the smaller segment will go with the larger.
- The method of grading will be used in subjects where the number of candidates who have passed is more than 500.
- In respect of subjects where the total number of candidates passing in a subject is less than 500, the grading would be adopted on the pattern of grading and distribution in other similar subjects.
It is important to have detailed information, such as what the passing marks out of 70 are in CBSE Class 12 and more. Students must refer to the subject-wise passing marks before drafting their study plan for the different subjects.
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FAQs
Yes, CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks are the same for all streams including Arts, Science, and Commerce. You are required to score a minimum of 33% marks in language papers and also the minimum passing marks separately in both theory and practical/internal assessment to be eligible for the pass certificate.
CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks out of 20 are 7. In class 12th, you are required to score the minimum passing marks separately in both theory and internal assessment to be eligible for the passing certificate and other important documents.
CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks out of 70 are 23. You must score the minimum passing marks which is 33% separately in both theory and practical papers to be eligible for the passing certificate as per the rules and regulations set by CBSE.
The students who fail to score the passing marks will have to appear for the compartment exams.
Students will only be considered "passed" in the board exams if they get the CBSE Passing Marks for Class 12th separately in theory and practical exams for the subjects with practical papers.
No, CBSE Passing Marks for Class 12th are not different for compartment exams. The candidate will be declared 'Pass' if he/she get 33% marks in the compartmental subject/subjects in which he/she had failed.
Students who have passed the Practical Examination are not required to appear for the Practical Examination again because the previous practical marks will be carried forward and accountant as per the curriculum released by the CBSE authorities. Student who has failed in CBSE Board theory must only appear for the theory exams.
If the students have written the correct answer in the answer sheet or if any answer has been skipped by the examiner to be checked or counted in the final result then the marks will be increased. However, if there are no such cases then the marks will remain as it is. If the examiner comes across a mistake then the marks will decrease however the students will have to accept the revised result after verification of marks.
If any particular student is falling short of passing a particular subject then CBSE does give Grace Mark to that particular student. CBSE always tries to pass as many students as possible so that there is a high passing percentage.
No, CBSE is not very strict or stingy when giving marks to the students. If a student has written a wrong answer then the marks will be provided on the steps that the students have written leading up to that answer given that those steps are correct.
Yes, CBSE will give grace marks. If the students are falling short to pass a particular subject with up to 3 marks then CBSE will provide Grace marking to that particular student.
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