CBSE Board Exams for Classes 10th and 12th began on 15th February 2024. As per the schedule, The CBSE Class 10th Board Exams will conclude on March 13th, and for CBSE Class 12th the board exams will conclude on April 2nd, 2024. Students can check the CBSE Revised datesheet from the link provided below.
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CBSE follows a 10-point grading system for Classes 10th and 12th. This year, CBSE has proposed major changes in the CBSE Exam Pattern. Read the article about these proposed changes, and the updated grading and marking scheme for CBSE Class 10th and 12th.
Changes in CBSE Exam Pattern: An Overview
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) intends to make some changes in the educational structure for classes 9th to 12th that coincide with the National Education Policy (NPE) 2020. The amendments will include changes in the overall credit system, compulsory subjects, learning hours, and more.
Read: How to score 90% in CBSE Board Exams
What is the Credit System?
In the education structure proposed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the credit system is a 10-point system that aims to create an educational parity between vocational and general education for a smooth transition between the two educational systems as proposed in the NPE 2020. To implement this, the University Grants Commission, the governing body for higher education, introduced the National Credit Framework in 2022.
Understanding the National Credit Framework
NCRF is a rich credit framework that aims to embed an education system based on training and skill development for schools and higher education curriculums. As per the NCRF 2022, Class 9th students need to have a specified number of credits to be promoted to Class 10th. Over time, the students accumulate these credits which make them eligible for admission to universities and colleges. These earned credits are stored in the Education Credit Bank of the student and can be accessed through a linked DigiLocker account.
The NCRF guidelines for schools emphasize cultural development and critical skills among students. Under this approach, the school is envisioned as a coherent, multi-learning initiative that is integral to the spirit of the nation.
National Credit Framework: Important Features
Below are some of the most important features of the National Credit Framework being used by CBSE currently.
Credits: Each subject will be allotted a specific number of credits, which is determined based on the time required to learn it. A full academic year will result in 1,200 notional learning hours, which will be considered equivalent to 40 credits.
Learning hours: Notional learning hours represent the time that is required for an average student to acquire education for a subject. It includes both in-classroom and outside-classroom learning. Simply put, each subject is assigned a fixed number of hours, ensuring that a student dedicates a total of 1,200 learning hours in a year to achieve a ‘pass’ status.
Grading: Despite the transition to a credit-based system, students will still receive grades from A1 to E. However, these grades will be based on their relative performance in the classroom and not on their scores. For example, students in the top one-eighth of the range will receive an A1 grade, followed by the next one-eighth will receive an A2 grade, and so on.
Flexibility: The credit system will provide students with greater flexibility to select their subjects and manage their studies. They will have the option to take more subjects than are currently allowed and repeat the subjects if necessary.
Holistic Development: The credit system will give greater emphasis to holistic development by including credit for ethical activities such as sports, arts, and community service.
Changes in CBSE Class 9th & 10th Credit System
Some major changes have been made in the CBSE Class 9th and 10th Grading scheme and these changes have been listed below.
Enhanced passing subjects: Under the current scheme, students of CBSE classes 9 to 10 have to pass five subjects (2 languages and 3 subjects) to pass. However, under the proposed guidelines, students will have to pass in 3 languages, including at least two Indian languages, and a total of 7 subjects. To pass in each of the 10 subjects, it is necessary to pass in each subject.
The seven subjects are mathematics and computational thinking, social sciences, science, arts education, physical education and wellness, vocational education, and interdisciplinary areas.
Increased learning hours: The board has proposed to increase the total learning hours to 1,200 hours against 1,050 hours in the earlier scheme. Specifically, 120 hours each for interdisciplinary areas such as languages and environmental education, 150 hours each for mathematics and computational thinking, social sciences, science, and business education, and 60 hours each for arts education and physical education and wellness. Students who pass 10 subjects in classes 9th and 10th will get 40 credits.
Changes in CBSE Class 11th & 12th Credit System
For CBSE Class 11th and 12th students, it is mandatory to study and pass 6 subjects with 2 languages and 4 subjects to obtain 40 credits. Of these, 180 learning hours are allotted for 2 languages, one of which is an Indian native language, and 210 hours for the remaining 4 subjects. Students passing in 7 subjects will get 47 credits. The fifth subject is considered optional.
Students will be graded in each academic subject, with grades ranging from A1 to D2 awarded to students who pass. Students receiving an E grade will be placed under “Required Repetition”.
The below table mentions the credit distribution scheme based on the learning hours.
Particulars | Learning Hours | Credits |
Language 1 | 180 hours | 6 credits |
Language 2 | 180 hours | 6 credits |
Subject 3 | 210 hours | 7 credits |
Subject 4 | 210 hours | 7 credits |
Subject 5 | 210 hours | 7 credits |
Subject 6 | 210 hours | 7 credits |
Elective Subject 7 | 210 hours | 7 credits |
Total | 1,200 hours | 40-47 credits |
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Changes in CBSE Class 10th to 12th Credit System: A comparison
As per the new system guidelines, the CBSE Exam Pattern 2024 will have more competency-based questions to assess students for the application of concepts in real-life situations. The question paper in year-end board examinations will have an increased number of application-based questions in the form of MCQs, Case-Based Questions, Source-based Integrated Questions, or any other format.
The below table shows a comparison of the CBSE Exam Pattern between 2023 and 2024.
Class | 2023 | 2024 |
10th |
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12th |
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CBSE CGPA Grading Table
The below table specifies the marks range against each grade and also states the CGPA obtained against each range.
Marks Range | Grade | Grade Point | Percentage (CGPA x 9.5) |
91-100 | A1 | 10.0 | 10 x 9.5 = 95% |
81-90 | A2 | 9.0 | 9 x 9.5 = 85.5% |
71-80 | B1 | 8.0 | 8 x 9.5 = 76% |
61-70 | B2 | 7.0 | 7 x 9.5 = 66.5% |
51-60 | C1 | 6.0 | 6 x 9.5 = 57% |
41-50 | C2 | 5.0 | 5 x 9.5 = 47.5% |
33-40 | D1 | 4.0 | 4 x 9.5 = 38% |
21-32 | D2 | C | Eligible to appear in compartment exams |
00-20 | E | C | Eligible to appear in compartment exams |
Formula to calclate the CGPA Add the grade points, and divide the sum by the number of subjects. For Ex: There are 5 subjects and the grade points are 4,7,8,6, and 5. The CGPA is: 4+7+8+6+5 = 30/5 -> 6.0 |
