Benefits of an Additional Subject in CBSE Class 10 & 12 – Best of Five Rule & Career Scope
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  • Benefits of an Additional Subject in CBSE Class 10 & 12 – Best of Five Rule & Career Scope

Benefits of an Additional Subject in CBSE Class 10 & 12 – Best of Five Rule & Career Scope

Garima SihagUpdated on 09 Sep 2025, 04:02 PM IST

Opting for a 6th subject can help safeguard the overall percentage. If students perform better in this extra subject, their marks can replace their lowest-scoring core subject when calculating their final percentage, offering a backup against weak performance in a difficult subject. Check the other benefits of an additional subject in CBSE.

This Story also Contains

  1. 1. The "Best of Five" Rule
  2. 2. How Adding Subject Enhances Your Academic Edge
  3. 3. Increase the Total Percentage Marks
  4. 4. More Channels will be opened for Higher Studies
  5. 5. Open Doors for Different Career Opportunities and Academic
Benefits of an Additional Subject in CBSE Class 10 & 12 – Best of Five Rule & Career Scope
Benefits of an Additional Subject in CBSE Class 10 & 12

1. The "Best of Five" Rule

One of the most beneficial provisions, particularly in CBSE Class 10, is the “Best of Five” rule. Students who opt for a sixth subject can have it replace their lowest-scoring main subject if they score higher in that sixth subject. For example, suppose a student’s marks are:

  • English- 85

  • Hindi- 76

  • Mathematics- 42 (lowest)

  • Science- 68

  • Social Science- 74

  • 6th subject- 91

Because the 6th subject has a higher score than Maths, CBSE allows replacing Mathematics with the 6th subject in the final percentage calculation, which offers a safety net for students struggling with one core subject.

2. How Adding Subject Enhances Your Academic Edge

CBSE offers students a valuable opportunity to explore interests beyond their core stream, adding both flexibility and depth to their academic profile. For example, a Science student might choose Computer Science as their sixth subject, opening doors to tech fields and reinforcing programming skills. Meanwhile, a Commerce student could add Psychology, enriching their understanding of human behaviour and broadening their career scope. A Humanities student, on the other hand, might take Mathematics, strengthening analytical skills and expanding options for future studies in areas like data analytics or economics. This interdisciplinary approach not only showcases a student’s diverse interests but also enhances their appeal to universities by signalling well-rounded adaptability.

3. Increase the Total Percentage Marks

One of the most practical strategies for boosting your overall percentage under the CBSE "Best of Five" rule is to choose an additional subject that is relatively easy to score well in, such as Physical Education, Painting, or Home Science. Let’s say you scored:

  • 85 in English

  • 78 in Mathematics

  • 60 in Science

  • 82 in Social Science

  • 70 in Hindi

  • And Physical Education (6th subject): 90

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Since Physical Education is your highest-scoring subject, you can replace Science (your lowest) with it when calculating your percentage. This swap allows your percentage to rise significantly, which is especially beneficial for college admissions

4. More Channels will be opened for Higher Studies

Many competitive exams, particularly in the fields of engineering, medicine, and management, require a strong foundation across multiple disciplines. By selecting an additional subject aligned with these aspirations, students can deepen their knowledge and gain a competitive edge. For example, if a student in Science also takes Computer Science as their sixth subject, they not only reinforce their understanding of tech but also enhance their profile for engineering entrance exams like JEE, as well as future IT-related paths like BCA or B.Tech

5. Open Doors for Different Career Opportunities and Academic

In today's interconnected world, having skills and knowledge in diverse fields is highly valued. Taking an additional subject, particularly one that offers a new skill set (like a programming language or a creative art), can make you a more well-rounded candidate for both higher education and future jobs. It provides more career options and can prove invaluable if you decide to change fields later on.

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Questions related to CBSE Class 10th

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CBSE Class 10th ?

Hello,

If you want to get your 10th marksheet online, you just need to visit an official website like https://www.cbse.gov.in/ or https://results.cbse.nic.in/ for the CBSE board, and for the state board, you can check their website and provide your roll number, security PIN provided by the school, and school code to download the result.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello, if you are searching for Class 10 books for exam preparation, the right study material can make a big difference. Standard textbooks recommended by the board should be your first priority as they cover the syllabus completely. Along with that, reference books and guides can help in practicing extra questions and understanding concepts in detail. You can check the recommended books for exam preparation from the link I am sharing here.
https://school.careers360.com/ncert/ncert-books-for-class-10
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-best-reference-books-for-cbse-class-10-exam

Hello Dinesh !

As per CBSE board guidelines for internal assessment for class 10th you will have to give a 80 marks board exam and 20 marks internal assessment. The internal assessment will be at the end of your year.

For knowing the definite structure of the internal assessment you will have to ask your teachers or your seniors in the school as CBSE has provided flexibility in choosing the methods of internal assessment to schools. For more details related to assessment scheme for class 10 given by CBSE you can visit: Assessment scheme (http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/CurriculumMain2Sec/Curriculum_Sec_2021- 22.pdf)

I Hope you have understood it!

Hello

You asked about Class 10 sample paper board exam and most important questions. Practicing sample papers and previous year questions is one of the best ways to prepare for the board exam because it gives a clear idea of the exam pattern and types of questions asked. Schools and teachers usually recommend students to solve at least the last five years question papers along with model papers released by the board.

For Class 10 board exams, the most important areas are Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English, and Hindi or regional language. In Mathematics, questions from Algebra, Linear Equations, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, and Probability are repeatedly seen. For Science, the key chapters are Chemical Reactions, Acids Bases and Salts, Metals and Non metals, Life Processes, Heredity, Light and Electricity. In Social Science, priority should be given to Nationalism, Resources and Development, Agriculture, Power Sharing, Democratic Politics, and Economics related topics. In English, focus on unseen passages, grammar exercises, and important writing tasks like letter writing and essays.

CBSE Sample Papers 2026: How to Download

Follow these steps to access the SQPs and marking schemes:

Step 1: Visit https://cbseacademic.nic.in/

Step 2: Click on the link titled “CBSE Sample Papers 2026”

Step 3: A PDF will open with links to Class 10 and 12 sample papers

Step 4: Select your class (Class 10 or Class 12)

Step 5: Choose your subject

Step 6: Download both the sample paper and its marking scheme





If you are looking for Class 10 previous year question papers for 2026 preparation, you can easily access them through the links I’ll be attaching. These papers are very helpful because they give you a clear idea about the exam pattern, marking scheme, and the type of questions usually asked in board exams. Practicing these will not only improve your time management but also help you identify important chapters and commonly repeated questions.
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-previous-year-question-papers-class-10
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-previous-year-question-papers