The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced that the Class 10 passing criteria will remain at 33 per cent for the academic session of 2026-27. This means that students will continue to be assessed based on a combined total of theory and internal assessment marks. The announcement was made alongside the release of Sample Question Papers (SQPs) and Marking Schemes for both Class 10 and Class 12 for the same academic year.

Reason Behind Initial Confusion Regarding Passing Rules

The confusion surrounding the Class 10 passing rule was largely due to the recent publication of the CBSE curriculum and assessment framework for the academic session of 2026-27. Many interpreted this document as suggesting that students would need to achieve the minimum qualifying marks separately in both external examinations and internal assessments. Such a change would have deviated from the existing combined scoring system, leading to concerns among students, parents, and educational institutions.

This uncertainty was particularly acute for students who typically perform better in internal assessments compared to written examinations. Realising the potential repercussions of this misunderstanding, CBSE took steps to clarify the situation, assuring stakeholders that the current passing criteria will remain in effect.

During a CBSE-organised webinar on Tuesday, clarification regarding the passing criteria was reinforced. CBSE Controller of Examinations, Sanyam Bhardwaj, announced that the proposal for individual 33 per cent marks in different components had been rescinded. The existing system, which aggregates theory and internal assessment scores, will be upheld.

Guidance for Students Appearing in Class 10 Board Exams 2027

Students preparing for the CBSE Class 10 Board Exams in 2027 should note that the assessment pattern and passing criteria will be identical to those applied in the previous academic session of 2025-26. It is essential to understand that this clarification does not signify a rollback of the entire 2026-27 curriculum. Students must continue to adhere to the syllabus, subject structure, and assessment requirements as stated by CBSE.

Currently, no tentative datesheet has been published for the 2027 Class 10 and Class 12 Board Exams. For reference, the provisional datesheet for the 2026 board exams was released on September 24 of the previous year. During the webinar, schools were also urged to ensure accuracy when entering student details at every stage of registration and submission of the List of Candidates (LOC).

The CBSE has already initiated the LOC process for the Class 10 and 12 Board Examinations scheduled for 2027, followed by the registration process as per the board’s timetable. Until the official datesheet is unveiled, students are encouraged to rely solely on official CBSE notifications for the final examination schedule and any potential updates.

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