CBSE Releases Subject-Wise Marks Distribution for Classes 10 and 12. What Students Need to Know

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the subject-wise marks distribution for Class 10 and Class 12 students appearing in the 2026–27 board examinations.

The circular was issued on November 6, 2026. It explains how marks will be divided between written examinations, practical tests, projects and internal assessment for different subjects.

This information is important because not every subject follows the same marking pattern. Some subjects give more weight to written exams, while others include practical work or project marks.

How will Class 10 marks be divided?

For many Class 10 subjects, the written examination will carry 80 marks, while internal assessment will carry 20 marks.

This pattern applies to subjects such as Mathematics Standard, Mathematics Basic, Science, Social Science and several language subjects.

However, some subjects have a different structure.

For example:

Home Science: 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practical work.

Computer Applications: 50 marks for theory and 50 marks for practical work.

Information Technology: 50 marks for theory and 50 marks for practical work.

Retail: 50 marks for theory and 50 marks for practical work.

Elements of Business: 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for project work.

Painting: 30 marks for theory and 50 marks for practical work, with 20 marks for internal assessment.

This means students should check the marking pattern of their own subjects instead of assuming that every paper follows an 80:20 split.

What changes for Class 12 students?

Class 12 has a wider range of subject combinations, so the marks distribution also varies.

For example:

Physics: 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practical work.

Chemistry: 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practical work.

Biology: 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practical work.

Mathematics: 80 marks for theory and 20 marks for internal assessment.

History: 80 marks for theory and 20 marks for project work.

Political Science: 80 marks for theory and 20 marks for project work.

Geography: 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practical work.

Business Studies: 80 marks for theory and 20 marks for project work.

Psychology: 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practical work.

Skill-based subjects also have different patterns. For example, Retail, Banking, Marketing and Healthcare have a 60:40 theory-to-practical split.

Why should students check this circular?

The marks distribution can help students decide how to divide their preparation time.

A student with a practical-based subject should not focus only on written examinations. Practical files, experiments and other required work also contribute to the final score.

Similarly, students with project-based subjects need to give proper attention to research, presentation and timely submission.

Teachers and schools can also use the circular to plan practical examinations, project assessments and internal evaluation.

Does this change the board exam date sheet?

No. The marks distribution circular and the examination date sheet serve different purposes.

CBSE released the 2027 Class 10 and Class 12 board examination date sheet on November 6. Both examinations are scheduled to begin on February 16, 2027.

The board has also stated that the timetable covers 83 subjects in Class 10 and 121 subjects in Class 12.

Students should use the date sheet to plan when to study each subject and the marks distribution circular to understand how each subject will be assessed.

Where can students check the official details?

Students can visit the official CBSE website at cbse.gov.in and download the circular titled “Subject-wise Marks Bifurcation of Class X/XII, Examination 2026-27”.

They should check the subject name and code carefully because the marks distribution can differ even between related subjects.

The main takeaway is simple: preparing for board exams is not only about the written paper. Students must understand how their practicals, projects and internal assessments contribute to the final result.

This article is based on CBSE’s subject-wise marks distribution circular dated November 6, 2026. Students should refer to the official circular and their school for subject-specific instructions.