Thousands of students who are appearing for the CBSE Class 10 Exam 2026 keep asking the same question: What are the maximum marks of the CBSE Class 10 Exam 2026? The confusion is justified since both numbers are correct but for different reasons. This guide explains the exact marking scheme, the new CBSE passing criteria of Class 10, the Best of 5 rule in CBSE Class 10, and how to calculate your final percentage.
CBSE Class 10 Total Marks: 500 or 600?
CBSE Class 10 board exam students are required to study 5 subjects: English, a second language (typically Hindi), Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. Many schools also allow students to choose a “6th subject” as an alternative, which can be Information Technology or another skill subject.
- If a student registers for 5 subjects, the total of the paper will be 500 marks.
- When a student appears in 6 subjects, the total of the paper is increased to 600 marks.
- Regardless of the number of subjects a student has appeared in, CBSE always considers the first 5 best subjects for the final percentage, and this is what is used in the CBSE Class 10 Percentage Calculation.
So the answer when someone asks you: If you have to choose an extra subject, the marksheet will take the form of 600, but your grade will always be based on 500 in the official percentage.
Subject-Wise Marks Distribution
The theory paper has 100 marks, and internal assessment has 100 marks for each subject in the CBSE Class 10 Exam.
| Component | Marks |
| Theory exam | 80 |
| Internal assessment (periodic test, portfolio, subject enrichment) | 20 |
| Total per subject | 100 |
There are only a few exceptions to this, such as Science, which has a greater amount of practical work included in the internal exam, but most subjects are 80% internal and 20% external.
CBSE Class 10 Passing Marks
In the CBSE exam rules from session 2025 onwards, the passing condition of a subject is not merely based on the total of the scores. A student now has to satisfy three conditions in order to pass a subject:
- 33% or more in the theory test (approx. 27 out of 80).
- At least 33% in internal assessment (about 7 out of 20)
- A score of 33 or higher on the combined score out of 100
Previously, a poor mark in the internal assessment could be compensated for by a high mark in the theory component of the examination, provided that the overall mark was at least 33. It’s not as flexible as it used to be. If a student gets a mark of 26 in theory and 7 in internal assessment, they don’t get the grade even though the total is 33. Thus, internal assessment marks accumulated throughout the year through class tests and submissions are far more significant than ever before.
Those who miss one or two subjects can attend the compartment exam, which has the same passing criteria of 33%.
The Best of 5 Rule is explained below:
The subjects that will contribute towards your percentage are determined by the CBSE Best of 5 Rule.
The process is as follows:
- English is always compulsory and will always be included in the final calculation.
- CBSE selects the four subjects which have the highest marks out of the remaining subjects.
- If a sixth subject is added, it is only included if it improves the percentage, and a lower six-subject grade is dropped.
This means a student who has taken 6 subjects and has lower marks in one of the subjects will not be penalised. This lowest score is automatically dropped, and only the best 5 (English plus the best 4 others) are calculated.
How to Calculate CBSE Class 10 Percentage
Once you know the 5 subjects that are being counted, the formula to calculate the percentage of CBSE Class 10 will be simple:
Percentage = (Sum of marks in best 5 subjects ÷ 500) × 100
For instance, if a student has the best 5 subjects with a total of 445 marks:
445 ÷ 500 × 100 = 89%
If the student has taken just 5 subjects and this is the only step they are required to do, this is straightforward, and all 5 scores are used as they are. If the sixth subject is recorded, then the lowest score out of the 5 non-English subjects is dropped first, followed by the remaining 5 scores, then applying the formula.
CBSE Grading System
In addition to the marks, CBSE also gives a grade to each subject on a point scale, contributing to the CGPA mentioned on the marksheet. The lowest passing band in the new CBSE grading system is a D grade (33 to 40 marks), and the above bands are indicative of improving performance. Schools usually announce these grade bands more precisely the day of the results, as they are subject to change from session to session.
FAQs
Is CBSE Class 10 total marks 500 or 600?
It varies according to the number of subjects a student takes. The sum of five subjects is 500 marks, and the sum of six subjects is 600 marks. However, the last percentage is always based on the Best of 5 rule and is always 500.
What is the passing criteria for CBSE Class 10th Board Examination 2026?
The criteria for a student to achieve at least a 33% mark in theory, at least a 33% mark in internal assessment, and a minimum overall of 33% in every subject. These three are all necessary.
What is the Best of 5 rule in CBSE Class 10?
English is always counted, and the 4 highest-scoring subjects from the remaining subjects are added to English. If it is a 6th additional subject, it is only included if it adds to the total; if not, the lowest mark is dropped.
How to find out the percentage in CBSE Class 10?
Calculate the average of the top 5 of your marks (including English) and multiply by 100.
In case a student fails a subject in CBSE Class 10, what will he receive?
A student can appear for the compartment exam in a single subject or in two subjects, where 33% is required for passing the exam. One normally retakes the year if they fail two subjects or more.