Amid concerns over the difficulty level of the CBSE Class 10 Maths paper, students and parents are demanding grace marks. Here’s how the board decides.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently conducted the Class 10 board examinations for 2026. As discussions over the difficulty level of the Mathematics paper gained traction online, many students and parents have begun asking an important question: Will CBSE award grace marks this year?
Grace marks are a provision used by the board to help students who narrowly miss the minimum passing criteria. However, the board has not issued any official clarification regarding whether grace marks will be awarded specifically for the Class 10 Mathematics exam this year.
What are grace marks in CBSE Class 10?
Grace marks are additional marks awarded by the board in certain circumstances to prevent students from failing by a narrow margin. The policy is typically applied when a student falls short of the passing requirement by one or two marks.
CBSE requires students to secure at least 33 per cent marks to pass in each subject. This requirement applies to the combined score of theory and internal assessments.
If a student narrowly misses this threshold, the board may grant between one and five grace marks, depending on the situation. These marks are added to the final score and are not shown separately in the marksheet.
The policy is meant to ensure fairness in evaluation, particularly in cases where students may have been affected by factors such as an unusually difficult question paper or errors in the exam.
Grace marks rules in CBSE Class 10
| Situation | Class 10 rule | Grace marks given |
| Minimum passing marks | 33% overall (theory + internal combined) | No grace needed |
| Short by 1 mark | Grace mark applicable | Up to 1 mark |
| Difficult question | Grace marks may be given to all students | Question-wise marks |
| Step marking in answers | Partial marks given for correct steps | Extra step marks |
| Marksheet display | Grace marks included in final marks | Not shown separately |
Why grace marks may be awarded
CBSE does not follow a fixed formula when granting grace marks. Instead, the decision is taken after analysing the exam and the performance of students. Grace marks may be considered under the following circumstances:
- Errors in the question paper
- Questions outside the prescribed syllabus
- Unusually difficult question papers
- Borderline cases where students narrowly miss passing
- The board may also instruct examiners to award partial marks for correct steps in long-answer questions, especially in subjects such as Mathematics.
Controversy over the 2026 Maths paper
Following the Class 10 Mathematics exam this year, several students and parents took to social media claiming that the question paper was unusually difficult. Many demanded that the board provide grace marks to ensure students are not unfairly affected.
Despite the online debate, CBSE has not confirmed whether grace marks will be granted for the Maths paper in 2026.
In most cases, the board evaluates the difficulty level of the paper, reviews student performance data, and then decides whether moderation or grace marks are necessary. Until the official results are announced, students will have to wait for the board’s final decision regarding any possible grace marks.
Published: 14 Mar 2026, 05:13 pm IST
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