When CBSE declares Class 10 results, your marksheet shows grades — not just marks. Many students (and their parents) find the A1-to-E grading system confusing. This guide explains every grade clearly, how grades are calculated from marks, and exactly what each grade means for your future options.
The CBSE 9-Point Grading Scale (Relative)
CBSE does not use fixed marks ranges to assign grades. Instead, all passed candidates in a subject are ranked, then divided into eight equal groups — each group gets one grade. This is called relative grading.
| Ranking of Passed Candidates | Grade | Grade Point | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top 1/8th | A1 | 10 | Outstanding |
| Next 1/8th | A2 | 9 | Excellent |
| Next 1/8th | B1 | 8 | Very Good |
| Next 1/8th | B2 | 7 | Good |
| Next 1/8th | C1 | 6 | Above Average |
| Next 1/8th | C2 | 5 | Average |
| Next 1/8th | D1 | 4 | Pass |
| Bottom 1/8th of passed | D2 | 3 | Pass (Minimum) |
| Failed candidates | E | — | Essential Repeat (Fail) |
⚠️ Key points: Grades A1 through D2 (all eight groups of passed candidates) indicate passing. Grade E — Essential Repeat — is the only failing grade. CBSE does not print "Pass" or "Fail" on the marksheet; the presence of grade E in any subject signals failure. Students must achieve at least Grade D2 in all five subjects to pass.
How Are Grades Calculated?
Your marks in each subject (Theory + Internal Assessment) are added to get a total out of 100. Each subject is graded independently. CBSE then ranks all passed candidates in that subject nationally and divides the ranked list into eight equal groups — each group receives one grade (A1 through D2). Failed candidates all receive Grade E.
Example: A student scores 72 in Science Theory (out of 80) + 15 in Internal Assessment (out of 20) = Total 87 out of 100. CBSE ranks all students who passed Science — if this student falls in the top 1/8th of passed candidates, they receive A1; if in the next 1/8th, they receive A2; and so on. The exact grade depends on how the entire nation performed, not just the raw marks.
This is why two students with the same marks in different years may receive different grades — the grade reflects your position among all students who appeared that year.
The grading is done per-subject — there is no single "overall grade" for Class 10. CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) can be calculated by averaging grade points across subjects, but this is done manually — CBSE does not print a combined CGPA on the Phase 1 marksheet — individual subject grades are shown. CGPA can be self-calculated by averaging the grade points of the best 5 subjects.
What Does Each Grade Mean for Stream Selection?
| Grade in Key Subjects | Typical Stream Options |
|---|---|
| A1/A2 in Science and Maths | Science PCM, Science PCB at top schools — all options open |
| B1/B2 in Science and Maths | Science PCM/PCB at most schools, Commerce with Maths easily |
| C1/C2 in Science | Commerce, Arts; Science possible at less selective schools |
| D in any subject | Pass — most stream options open but Science at competitive schools difficult |
| Grade E in any subject | Essential Repeat (Fail) — must resolve before stream selection can proceed |
CGPA — What It Is and How to Calculate It
CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) is the average of grade points across your best 5 subjects:
CGPA = (Sum of Grade Points of Best 5 Subjects) ÷ 5
To convert CGPA to approximate percentage: Percentage ≈ CGPA × 9.5 (this is CBSE's official conversion formula).
Example: Grade points across 5 subjects: A1(10) + A2(9) + B1(8) + B2(7) + A2(9) = 43. CGPA = 43 ÷ 5 = 8.6. Approximate percentage = 8.6 × 9.5 = 81.7%.
ℹ️ Note: The CGPA × 9.5 formula gives an approximation, not the exact percentage. For precise percentage calculation — especially accounting for the Best of 5 Rule — use our CBSE Percentage Calculator.
Internal Assessment — How It Affects Your Grade
Internal Assessment (IA) is awarded by your school and counts for 20 out of every 100 marks. Schools conduct periodic tests, practicals, projects and activities. Key points:
- IA marks from Phase 1 carry forward to Phase 2 automatically — students don't repeat practicals
- A student with 18/20 in IA who scored 60/80 in theory has a total of 78 out of 100. Depending on where 78 falls in the national ranking of passed candidates, they may receive B1 or B2. Improving theory marks to 70/80 gives a total of 88 — a student with 88 marks is likely to rank in a higher group, potentially receiving A2 or A1. The grade ultimately depends on the national distribution that year.
- Schools are required to submit IA marks to CBSE before board exams. If you believe your IA marks were wrong, contact your school principal with evidence promptly after results.
What Happens If You Get Grade E?
Grade E (Essential Repeat) is the only failing grade in CBSE Class 10. It is awarded to candidates who fail a subject — i.e., who are not among the passed candidates being ranked. Because CBSE uses relative grading among passed candidates only, all failed students sit outside the ranking system and receive Grade E.
The marksheet does not explicitly print "Fail" — but Grade E in any subject indicates failure in that subject. Students who receive Grade E must re-appear in that subject. For the 2025–26 batch, the Phase 2 improvement exam (May–June 2026) provides an opportunity to clear a failed subject and avoid repeating the full year. Always confirm eligibility with your school and the CBSE office.
Passing requires: Grade D2 or above in all five subjects. Receiving D2 in even one subject while passing the rest still means a student has passed — D2 is the minimum passing grade, not a fail.
How IT 402 Affects Your Overall Grade Profile
If you scored A1 in IT 402 but only B2 in Maths, the Best of 5 Rule may replace Maths with IT 402 in your aggregate calculation — improving your overall percentage to a higher grade band. This doesn't change your individual subject grades on the marksheet, but it does improve the aggregate percentage used for admissions and scholarships. Read more: CBSE Best of 5 Rule Explained.
Improving Your Grade in Phase 2
For students appearing in the Phase 2 improvement exam (May 15–June 1, 2026), every grade improvement represents a real difference: moving from B2 to B1 in Science could mean the difference between getting into a Science stream at your preferred school or not. Because grading is relative, there is no fixed marks cutoff to "move from B2 to B1" — it depends on how all students perform nationally. The best strategy is to maximise your marks as much as possible: every additional mark improves your rank among all candidates, increasing the chance of a higher grade.