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
| Marks (out of 100) | Grade | Grade Point | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91–100 | A1 | 10 | Excellent — top percentile |
| 81–90 | A2 | 9 | Very Good |
| 71–80 | B1 | 8 | Good |
| 61–70 | B2 | 7 | Above Average |
| 51–60 | C1 | 6 | Average |
| 41–50 | C2 | 5 | Below Average |
| 33–40 | D | 4 | Pass |
| 21–32 | E1 | — | Fail — Compartment |
| 20 and below | E2 | — | Fail — Essential Repeat |
⚠️ Important: Grades E1 and E2 both indicate failure. E1 means the student can appear in a compartment exam to pass. E2 means the student must repeat the year. Grades A1 through D all indicate passing.
How Are Grades Calculated?
Your marks in each subject (Theory + Internal Assessment) are added to get a total out of 100. This total is then mapped to the grade using the table above. Each subject gets its own grade independently.
Example: A student scores 72 in Science Theory (out of 80) + 15 in Internal Assessment (out of 20) = Total 87. 87 falls in the 81–90 range → Grade A2 in Science.
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 declare a CGPA on the marksheet for Phase 1 students.
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 |
| E1/E2 in any subject | Fail — must clear compartment before stream selection |
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: 10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 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 → Grade B1. If they scored 70/80, total would be 88 → Grade A2. The 10-mark theory improvement moved them up a full grade band.
- 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 E1 or E2?
E1 (21–32 marks): You are placed in Compartment. You must appear for a compartment exam (typically conducted 2-3 months after board results). If you pass the compartment exam, your grade is upgraded to D (pass). For the 2025–26 batch, the Phase 2 improvement exam (May-June 2026) may also provide a route to improving E1 scores.
E2 (20 and below): This indicates Essential Repeat — the student must repeat Class 10 entirely. E2 grades are uncommon and typically indicate very poor attendance combined with low exam performance.
How IT 402 Affects Your Overall Grade Profile
If you scored A1 in IT 402 (91+) but only B2 in Maths (61-70), 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 (61-70) to B1 (71-80) in Science could mean the difference between getting into a Science stream at your preferred school or not. Target the specific mark range you need — you only need 71 in Science to move from B2 to B1, for example — and focus your preparation precisely on that gap.