CBSE Best of Five Rule - Read Complete Features, Insights and Benefits of this Rule
  • CBSE Class 12th Exam
  • CBSE Best of Five Rule - Read Complete Features, Insights and Benefits of this Rule

CBSE Best of Five Rule - Read Complete Features, Insights and Benefits of this Rule

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CBSE Class 12th Exam Date:17 Feb' 26 - 17 Feb' 26

Manasvini GuptaUpdated on 12 Aug 2025, 03:01 PM IST

The ‘CBSE Best of Five Rule’ introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education is an evaluation strategy intended to benefit students by considering their top-performing subjects while calculating their final aggregate in CBSE 12th exams and CBSE 10th exams. The CBSE’s Best of Five rule aims to reduce academic stress and provide students with a fair opportunity to achieve better scores based on their strengths.

This Story also Contains

  1. What is the CBSE Best of Five Rule?
  2. CBSE Best of Five Rule - Important Insights
  3. Benefits of the CBSE Board Best of Five Rule
  4. Passing Criteria for CBSE Board Examination
CBSE Best of Five Rule - Read Complete Features, Insights and Benefits of this Rule
CBSE Best of Five Rule

On May 13, 2025, the board released the CBSE results. Students must note that the board does not calculate or officially declare the percentage of marks for students. If the percentage is required for higher education admissions or employment purposes, the admitting institution or employer can calculate the percentage by considering the marks in the top-performing five subjects or use the CGPA calculator. This ensures consistency in percentage determination based on institutional criteria. In this article, we have explored several benefits of the CBSE Best of Five Rule and explained its primary elements and other relevant details.

What is the CBSE Best of Five Rule?

  • The CBSE Best of Five Rule applies primarily to the CBSE results of Class 10, and 12th students.

  • According to this rule, the marks obtained in the five best-performing subjects are considered while calculating the aggregate percentage.

  • This Best of Five rule enables students to showcase their calibre in their strong subjects, ensuring that lower scores in other subjects do not disproportionately affect their final scores.

CBSE Best of Five Rule - Important Insights

Selection of Subjects:

  • Out of all the subjects studied, the five subjects in which the student scored the highest marks are chosen for calculating the percentage.

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Mandatory Inclusion of Core Subjects:

  • While selecting the best five, English or Hindi (whichever is higher) is to be included as a compulsory language subject.

Subjects Eligible for Consideration:

  • Subjects such as Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and other elective or vocational subjects are included in the pool for selection.

Role of Institutions in the Calculation of Scores

  • If a student has studied more than five subjects, the decision to determine the best five subjects is often taken by the admitting institution or employer. The CBSE itself does not calculate, declare, or inform the percentage of marks.

Weightage Adjustment

  • Internal and external assessment marks, such as theory and practical exams, are combined and included in the calculations for eligible subjects.

Exception for Compartment Exams

  • The CBSE Best of Five rule applies to regular annual examinations and not to compartment or supplementary exams.

Benefits of the CBSE Board Best of Five Rule

  • There is great stress reduction. By focusing on top-performing subjects, students experience less anxiety about underperforming in difficult areas.

  • It ensures fair assessment criteria and a balanced evaluation, highlighting the student's strengths.

  • The rule can significantly boost the overall percentage, benefiting students during admissions to higher secondary schools.

Passing Criteria for CBSE Board Examination

Along with understanding the Best of Five rule, it is important for students and parents to also be aware of the passing criteria for CBSE examinations, which vary for Class 10 and Class 12. Also, the board can replace core subjects with optional subjects in CBSE Class 10, if a student is unable to pass the core subject. Students can read details after clicking on the link provided.

The CBSE passing criteria for both Class 10 and Class 12 are intended to ensure that students meet the academic standards necessary to progress in their education. These criteria complement the Best of Five rule by further clarifying how students' results are assessed across different subjects. Read below to know details:

Pass Criteria for CBSE Class 10 (Secondary School Examination)

To be eligible for the Pass Certificate, the following conditions must be met:

  • A student must obtain a grade higher than 'E' in all subjects of internal assessment unless exempted. If this condition is not met, the result of the external examination will be withheld, but not for more than one year.

  • In order to pass, a candidate must achieve a grade higher than 'E' (i.e., at least 33%) in all five subjects in the external examination, whether the main or compartmental exams. For subjects with practical work, students must obtain at least 33% marks in both the theory and practical components, in addition to 33% in aggregate.

  • If a student offers an additional subject, the following norms apply:


    • A language may replace a failed language, provided English/Hindi is still one of the languages.

    • An elective subject may replace another elective, or a language may replace an elective, provided that English/Hindi remains a language.

  • No overall division or distinction is awarded at the Class 10 level.

Passing Criteria for Class 12 (Senior School Certificate Examination)

The following criteria apply to pass the CBSE Class 12 exams:

  • A student must obtain a grade higher than 'E' in all internal assessments unless exempted.

  • Students need to secure at least 33% marks in the external examination for each subject, including practicals, and in aggregate to pass.

  • In Class 12, if a student offers an additional language or elective subject, they can replace a failed subject with one of these additional offerings, as long as the conditions on language requirements are met (English/Hindi as one of the languages).

  • No overall division or distinction is awarded in Class 12.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who decides the Best of Five subjects for a student?
A:

If more than five subjects are offered, the choice of the Best of Five can vary. The admitting institution or employer makes this decision if percentages are required for further studies or employment.

Q: Are practical marks included in the calculation?
A:

Yes, practical marks are combined with theory marks for calculating the Best of Five aggregate.

Q: What happens if two subjects have the same score?
A:

If there is a tie between two subjects, both can be considered among the top five. The final choice depends on the subject's relevance to the student's academic stream.

Q: Can additional subjects be included in the Best of Five?
A:

Yes, if a student has taken an additional subject and scored well in it, the marks can be considered among the top five.

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Questions related to CBSE Class 12th

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CBSE Class 12th ?

Hello,

The date of 12 exam is depends on which board you belongs to . You should check the exact date of your exam by visiting the official website of your respective board.

Hope this information is useful to you.

Hello,

Class 12 biology questions papers 2023-2025 are available on cbseacademic.nic.in , and other educational website. You can download PDFs of questions papers with solution for practice. For state boards, visit the official board site or trusted education portal.

Hope this information is useful to you.

Hello Pruthvi,

Taking a drop year to reappear for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) is a well-defined process. As a repeater, you are fully eligible to take the exam again to improve your score and secure a better rank for admissions.

The main procedure involves submitting a new application for the KCET through the official Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) website when registrations open for the next academic session. You must pay the required application fee and complete all formalities just like any other candidate. A significant advantage for you is that you do not need to retake your 12th board exams. Your previously secured board marks in the qualifying subjects will be used again. Your new KCET rank will be calculated by combining these existing board marks with your new score from the KCET exam. Therefore, your entire focus during this year should be on preparing thoroughly for the KCET to achieve a higher score.

For more details about the KCET Exam preparation, CLICK HERE.

I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

Yes, you can switch from Science in Karnataka State Board to Commerce in CBSE for 12th. You will need a Transfer Certificate from your current school and meet the CBSE school’s admission requirements. Since you haven’t studied Commerce subjects like Accountancy, Economics, and Business Studies, you may need to catch up before or during 12th. Not all CBSE schools accept direct admission to 12th from another board, so some may ask you to join Class 11 first. Make sure to check the school’s rules and plan your subject preparation.



Hello

For the 12th CBSE Hindi Medium board exam, important questions usually come from core chapters like “Madhushala”, “Jhansi ki Rani”, and “Bharat ki Khoj”.
Questions often include essay writing, letter writing, and comprehension passages. Grammar topics like Tenses, Voice Change, and Direct-Indirect Speech are frequently asked.
Students should practice poetry questions on themes and meanings. Important questions also cover summary writing and translation from Hindi to English or vice versa.
Previous years’ question papers help identify commonly asked questions.
Focus on writing practice to improve handwriting and presentation. Time management during exams is key to answering all questions effectively.