There is no cut-off in a board exam; there is a pass mark. To pass Class 10 you need at least 33% in each subject. For an 80 + 20 subject this means 33 out of 100, with board theory and internal assessment marks added together. CBSE said the passing criteria for 2026-27 are the same as in 2025-26. If you fall short in a subject, you can try to clear it in the second board exam in May.
Minimum marks to pass (Class 10)
| Subject type | Total marks | Minimum to pass |
|---|---|---|
| 80 theory + 20 internal (Maths, Science, Social Science, languages) | 100 | 33 (theory and internal together) |
| Any subject | 100 | 33% |
Metric: marks out of 100 per subject. Whether theory and internal are counted together is from a coaching site summary of CBSE's clarification; one other site says each part needs 33% separately, so confirm on cbse.gov.in.
Source: pw.live