CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026 Minimum Passing Marks: Subject-Wise Criteria

CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026 minimum passing marks are 33 out of 100 in each subject, with students required to clear the theory and practical or internal assessment components separately at a minimum of 33% each.

Students who failed in one or two subjects in CBSE Class 12 Board Exams 2026 can appear for the Compartment Exam scheduled on July 28, 2026. The compartment exam tests only the theory component for students who passed their practicals in the main board exam; practical and internal assessment marks are carried forward automatically. Knowing the exact subject-wise passing marks helps you set a clear preparation target.

• Minimum overall passing marks: 33 out of 100 per subject.
• For science subjects with a 70-mark theory paper: minimum 23 out of 70 in the compartment theory paper.
• For subjects with an 80-mark theory paper: minimum 27 out of 80 in the compartment theory paper.
• For practical (30 marks): minimum 10 out of 30; for internal assessment (20 marks): minimum 7 out of 20.
• Practical and internal assessment marks from the main board exam carry forward if you passed those components; otherwise you must re-appear for practicals too.

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CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026: Quick Overview

CBSE conducts the Class 12 Compartment Exam every year for students who could not clear one or two subjects in the main board examination. The 2026 compartment exam is scheduled on July 28, 2026, with the paper running from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. It gives students a second chance to pass and obtain their Class 12 certificate without losing an academic year.

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CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026 Minimum Passing Marks Explained

Students must score a minimum of 33 out of 100 in each subject to pass the CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026. However, meeting the overall total alone is not enough — you must also clear the theory and practical or internal assessment components individually at 33% of their respective maximum marks.

The three thresholds you must meet simultaneously are:

1. Theory component: Score at least 33% of the theory maximum marks in the compartment paper.
2. Practical or Internal Assessment component: Score at least 33% of the practical or IA maximum marks (assessed from the main board exam).
3. Combined total: Score at least 33 out of 100 overall after both components are added.

Failing even one of these three conditions means you fail the subject, even if the other components are strong enough. This is identical to the passing rule applied in the main CBSE Class 12 Board Exam.

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CBSE Class 12 Compartment 2026 Subject-Wise Minimum Passing Marks

Different subjects in CBSE Class 12 carry different theory and practical weightages. The minimum marks required in the compartment theory paper therefore vary by subject. The table below covers all major subject categories:

In the compartment exam students appear only for the theory paper. The practical and internal assessment marks shown above come from the main CBSE Class 12 Board Exam 2026 and are carried forward automatically — provided you passed those components in the main exam.

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How CBSE Class 12 Compartment 2026 Marks Are Calculated

The formula for computing your final compartment result is straightforward:

Final Subject Marks = Theory Marks (Compartment Exam) + Practical / IA Marks (Main Board Exam)

If the combined total is 33 or above out of 100, and both components individually clear the 33% threshold, you pass. The two worked examples below illustrate this:

Example 1: Science Subject (Physics — 70 + 30 pattern)

Example 2: Humanities / Commerce Subject (Economics — 80 + 20 pattern)

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Practical Marks and Carry Forward Rules for CBSE Class 12 Compartment 2026

Whether your practical marks carry forward depends on your performance in the main board exam. Here are the rules:

• Passed practical in the main exam: Your practical marks are carried forward automatically. You only appear for the theory paper in the compartment exam.
• Failed practical in the main exam: You must re-appear for both the theory paper and the practical exam during the compartment cycle.
• Internal Assessment (projects, assignments): These marks from the main exam are retained as-is and added to your compartment theory score. They are not re-evaluated.

Students should review their main exam marksheet before beginning compartment preparation. If your practical marks are already well above the minimum threshold, your entire preparation effort can go into the theory paper where you have complete control over the outcome.

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What Happens If You Fail the CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026

Students who do not clear the compartment exam have several paths available:

• Additional attempts: CBSE provides up to three attempts across different examination cycles — the July-August compartment window, the March-April main exam of the following year, and the subsequent July-August compartment of that year.
• Essential Repeat classification: Students who failed in three or more subjects in the main exam are classified as Essential Repeat and must re-enroll for the full Class 12 examination in the 2026-27 academic year. They are not eligible for the compartment exam.
• NIOS alternative: Students can transfer to the National Institute of Open Schooling and appear for the relevant subjects there under a flexible schedule.
• Improvement exam: Students who have already passed all subjects but want a higher score can appear in the improvement exam in the following year’s board cycle.

Students who clear the compartment exam in all required subjects receive the Class 12 pass certificate and become eligible for undergraduate admissions in subsequent admission cycles.