What is Good Score in CBSE Class 10 & 12 for Admission at Top College?

Number of Students Passed in CBSE 2026

For the academic year 2026, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will release the CBSE 10th and 12th results in May 2026. This year, the 10th-grade exam will be held twice. Phase 1 has started from February 17, 2026 and will be concluded on March 11, 2026, and Phase 2 will be held from May 15 to June 1, 2026. For class 12th, the board is going to start on February 17, 2026, as well, and will be concluded on April 10, 2026.

Last year, the board announced the Class 10th results on May 13, 2025. Out of approximately 2371939 students who took the exam, 2221636 passed, resulting in an overall pass percentage of 93.66%. This represents a slight increase of 0.06% compared to the previous year's results.

Also, a total of 1692794 students appeared for the CBSE Class 12 exams. The overall pass percentage was 88.39%, with boys achieving a pass percentage of 85.70% and girls achieving a pass percentage of 91.64%.

Number of Students Scored above 90% marks in 2025

CBSE Previous Topper Marks 2026

The CBSE has discontinued the practice of releasing official merit lists or announcing CBSE toppers. This change was implemented to reduce unhealthy competition among students. However, we can still get an idea of high-achieving scores from previous years.

• Unofficial Toppers: While CBSE doesn't officially declare toppers, many schools and media outlets compile lists of high-scoring students based on the information they receive. These lists can give you a general idea of the kind of marks that are considered top scores.

• Perfect Scores: In some recent years, students have achieved perfect scores of 100% in CBSE Class 10 exams. This indicates that it is possible to achieve such high marks.

• Near Perfect Scores: Even without official toppers, it's clear that students scoring in the high 90s (97%, 98%, 99%) are considered top performers. These scores often open doors to prestigious colleges and programs.

• School-Specific Toppers: Many individual schools still recognise their top-performing students. Students can find the list of toppers on school websites or here.

What is a Good Score in CBSE 2026?

There's no fixed rule for "good score" in CBSE 10 board exams and CBSE 12th exams. Each board sets its own rules and passing marks; a good score is ultimately determined by a student's individual goals and objectives. For instance, a student aspiring to join an IIT must score above 75%, while a student seeking a scholarship must meet that scholarship's specific score requirements. In general, though, scores between 80-85% are considered "good" or "decent," and anything above 90% is considered "excellent.

A "good score," however, is subjective and depends entirely on a student's individual goals, aspirations, and desired future path.

• A student aiming for admission to an IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) will need to score above 75%.

• A student seeking a CBSE scholarship or other scholarships in India will need to achieve the scores specified by the scholarship requirements.

• A student must achieve a minimum of 60% in the CBSE Class 10 examination to be eligible for the CBSE Single Girl Child (SGC) scholarship.

• Above 90%: This is generally considered an excellent score and can open doors to top colleges and courses.

• 80-89%: This is a very good score and can still get you into many good colleges.

• 70-79%: This is a good score and is often enough to get into decent colleges.

• Below 70%: This may be considered an average or below-average score, but it doesn't mean you can't achieve your goals.

Also, check

• Is 75% good marks in CBSE?
• Is 85% good marks in CBSE?
• Is 95% good marks in CBSE?