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CBSE Marking Scheme 2025 – Class 9, 10, 11 & 12

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Exam Pattern & Evaluation Process for CBSE Marking Scheme 2025

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) follows a structured marking scheme for Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 to ensure fair and systematic evaluation. Understanding the CBSE marking scheme helps students plan their studies effectively by focusing on weightage-based topics, exam patterns, and answer presentation techniques to maximise scores.


CBSE’s marking scheme includes section-wise weightage, internal assessment criteria, question paper format, and grading system. For subjects like Mathematics and Science, stepwise marking is followed to award partial credit for correct attempts. The evaluation also considers competency-based questions, practical assessments, and internal marks in specific subjects. This article provides a detailed breakdown of CBSE's 2025 marking scheme for Class 9 to Class 12

CBSE Marking Scheme from Classes 9 to 12

The links to get the CBSE Marking Scheme for Classes 9 to 12 are provided in the table below:




CBSE Class 9 Scheme of Studies

The subjects under CBSE Class 9 are categorised into table different groups based on their importance and learning outcomes:


Subject Category

Subjects Included

Core Academic Subjects

Language 1 (English/Hindi/Other Regional Language), Language 2 (Second Language – Hindi, Sanskrit, or Other Options), Mathematics (Standard/Basic), Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), Social Science (History, Geography, Civics, Economics)

Internal Assessment & Co-curricular Activities

Art Education (Visual and Performing Arts), Health & Physical Education (Sports, Yoga, and Fitness Activities), Work Education (Practical Skills and Vocational Training), Disaster Management & Life Skills (Practical Problem-Solving and Awareness Programs)



CBSE Class 9 Marking Scheme 2025

CBSE follows a structured marking scheme that balances written exams and internal assessments.


Assessment Component

Weightage

Theory Exam

80 Marks

Competency-Based Questions

40% (Case study, real-life application, and HOTS questions)

Objective-Type Questions

20% (MCQs, fill-in-the-blanks, assertion-reasoning, etc.)

Short & Long Answer Questions

40% (Concept-based descriptive questions)

Internal Assessment

20 Marks

Periodic Tests

10 Marks (Regular assessments to track progress)

Notebook Submission

5 Marks (Evaluating consistency and presentation)

Subject Enrichment Activities

5 Marks (Lab work, practicals, projects)



CBSE Class 10: Scheme of Studies

Introducing the CBSE Class 10: Scheme of Studies for marking scheme for class 10 CBSE 2024-25, this comprehensive guide unveils the details of the marking scheme, providing insights into chapter-wise marking schemes for subjects like Social Science and Mathematics. Explore the blueprint of CBSE class 10 and marks distribution, ensuring a thorough understanding of the class 10 CBSE curriculum.


Type

Subject Name

Compulsory Subjects

Language 1(Hindi – Course A or Course B or English Language and Literature or English Communicative)

Language 2 (Anyone from the Group of Languages)

Science

Mathematics (Basic or Mathematics Standard)

Social Science

Optional

Skill-based Subject/ Elective Subject

Language 3 / Any Academic subject other than those opted for above

Subjects of Internal Assessment

Art Education

Health and Physical Education



The CBSE Class 10 exam pattern for 2024-25 has been modified to include a single annual exam instead of Term 1 and Term 2 exams. The revised structure includes objective, short-answer, and long-answer questions, with clear weightage distribution across topics. Internal assessments will still contribute to the final grade, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation.


Type of Questions

Weightage

Competency-Based Questions

40.00%

Objective Type Questions

20.00%

Short/Long Answer Type Questions

40.00%



CBSE Class 11 Scheme of Studies

CBSE Class 11 offers flexibility in subject selection, allowing students to choose streams based on their career aspirations.


Stream

Subjects Included

Science Stream

Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology, English, Elective Subject (Computer Science, Physical Education, etc.)

Commerce Stream

Business Studies, Accountancy, Economics, English, Mathematics/Informatics Practises, Elective Subject (Entrepreneurship, Physical Education, etc.)

Humanities (Arts) Stream

History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, English, Elective Subject (Psychology, Sociology, Fine Arts, Physical Education, etc.)



Apart from core subjects, students also engage in internal assessments, project work, and co-curricular activities to enhance their learning experience.


CBSE Class 11 Marking Scheme

Question Type

Weightage (%)

Competency-Based Questions

50%

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

20%

Constructed Response Type Questions

30%



CBSE Class 12 Subject Scheme (2024-25)

Category

Subjects Offered

Compulsory Language

English (Core/Elective) or Hindi (Core/Elective)

Second Language / Elective

Anyone from: Sanskrit, French, German, Spanish, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Assamese, Kannada etc.

Three Elective Subjects (Any three)

Science Stream: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Biotechnology, Computer Science, Informatics Practises, Psychology, Physical Education.

Commerce Stream: Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, Mathematics/Applied Mathematics, Entrepreneurship.

Arts/Humanities Stream: History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Fine Arts, Legal Studies, Home Science, Media Studies, Fashion Studies.

Additional Subject (Optional)

Anyone more elective or language from the above groups (if opted)

Skill Electives (Optional)

Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Financial Markets, Retail, Tourism, Agriculture, Healthcare, etc.

Internal Assessment Subjects

Health and Physical Education, Work Experience, General Studies



CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme 2025

Assessment Component

Weightage

Theory Exam

70 Marks

Competency-Based Questions

30% (Case study, real-life application, and HOTS questions)

Objective-Type Questions

20% (MCQs, fill-in-the-blanks, assertion-reasoning, etc.)

Short & Long Answer Questions

50% (Concept-based descriptive questions)

Internal Assessment

30 Marks

Periodic Tests

10 Marks (Regular assessments to track progress)

Practical/Project Work

14 Marks (Lab work, experiments, projects)

Notebook Submission

6 Marks (Evaluating consistency and presentation)



Conclusion

The CBSE Marking Scheme 2025 is designed to ensure a fair and structured evaluation for Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12. It includes theory exams, internal assessments, and practical or project work. The exam pattern gives weightage to competency-based questions, MCQs, objective-type, and short/long answer questions to test understanding and application skills. Internal assessments include periodic tests, notebook submissions, and subject enrichment activities to track student progress. For Class 10 and 12 board exams, there will be a single annual exam with case study and real-life application questions. This marking scheme helps students focus on learning and applying concepts effectively.


CBSE Study Materials for Class 1 to 12

CBSE study materials for Classes 1 to 12, covering FREE PDFs of sample papers, revision notes, NCERT solutions, important questions and more to enhance your exam preparation. 


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FAQs on CBSE Marking Scheme 2025 – Class 9, 10, 11 & 12

1. What are the passing criteria for CBSE Classes 10 and 12?

Students must score at least 33% marks in each subject, including both theory and internal assessment/practical marks combined, to pass the CBSE Class 10 and 12 exams.

2. How is the CBSE Class 10 Marking Scheme structured for 2025?

For Class 10, the marking scheme consists of an 80-mark theory exam and a 20-mark internal assessment. The question paper includes 40% competency-based questions, 20% objective-type questions, and 40% short/long-answer questions.

3. What is the marking distribution for CBSE Class 12 board exams?

CBSE Class 12 theory exams carry 70 marks, while 30 marks are allotted for internal assessments, including periodic tests, project work, and notebook submission. The theory exam includes 30% competency-based questions, 20% objective-type questions, and 50% descriptive questions.

4. What are competency-based questions in CBSE exams?

Competency-based questions assess students’ analytical and application skills through case studies, real-life scenarios, and higher-order thinking skills (HOTS).

5. How are internal assessments conducted in CBSE board exams?

Internal assessments include periodic tests (10 marks), notebook submission (5-6 marks), and subject enrichment activities or project work (5-14 marks depending on the subject). These assessments ensure continuous evaluation throughout the academic year.

6. Has CBSE introduced any changes in the 2025 marking scheme?

Yes, CBSE has revised the Class 10 and 12 board exam structure, eliminating the Term 1 and Term 2 pattern and introducing a single annual exam. The weightage for competency-based questions has also increased.

7. How is stepwise marking applied in subjects like Mathematics and Science?

Stepwise marking is followed in subjects like Mathematics and Science to award partial credit for correctly attempted steps, even if the final answer is incorrect.

8. Is practical or project work included in CBSE Class 11 and 12?

Yes, CBSE mandates practical and project work for various subjects in the Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams, with separate marks allocated in the internal assessment.

9. Can a student pass if they fail one subject in Class 10 or 12 board exams?

If a student fails in one subject but has taken an additional (sixth) subject, the sixth subject may replace the failed subject based on CBSE's passing criteria.

10. Where can I download the CBSE Marking Scheme 2025 for different classes?

You can access the detailed CBSE Marking Scheme 2025 for Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 on the official CBSE website or through Vedantu’s CBSE Marking Scheme 2025 page.