Updated · 5 min read · By the EduRit team
Short answer
Under the CBSE-style scale schools use for their own exams, a percentage becomes a grade: A1 for 91–100, A2 for 81–90, B1 71–80, B2 61–70, C1 51–60, C2 41–50, D 33–40, and E below 33. The pass mark is 33%. CBSE's Class 10 and 12 board exams grade differently, by a student's position among those who passed.
The grade scale
| Grade | Marks (%) | Grade point (old CCE scheme) |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 91–100 | 10 |
| A2 | 81–90 | 9 |
| B1 | 71–80 | 8 |
| B2 | 61–70 | 7 |
| C1 | 51–60 | 6 |
| C2 | 41–50 | 5 |
| D | 33–40 | 4 |
| E | Below 33 | — |
Under the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) scheme that CBSE used for Class 9 and 10 until 2017, the E grade was split in two: E1 for 21–32 and E2 for 0–20. Many schools still use the single E for anything below the pass mark.
How to work out a grade from marks
- Work out the percentage: marks obtained ÷ maximum marks × 100. For example, 68 out of 80 is 85%.
- Find the band the percentage falls in. 85% is in 81–90, so the grade is A2.
- Do the same for the overall result, using the total marks across subjects.
The 33% pass mark
CBSE's pass mark is 33% in each subject. In subjects with practicals, students need 33% in the theory and the practical separately. Anything below 33% is graded E.
Board exams are graded differently
For the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams, CBSE does not use the fixed marks bands above. Grades there are positional: the top eighth of students who passed a subject get A1, the next eighth A2, and so on, while the marksheet also shows the marks. Use the fixed bands for your school's own exams and report cards.
CGPA, if you still see it
Under CCE, a Class 10 student's CGPA was the average grade point of their five main subjects, and CBSE suggested multiplying it by 9.5 to get an indicative percentage. CBSE dropped CCE for Class 10 from the 2017–18 session, so current results come with marks instead.
How EduRit applies it
EduRit grades every subject and every overall result on this scale automatically once marks are entered, and works out rank, class average, and pass percentage for each section. Report cards print with the grades and remarks, a whole section at a time.