Courses
By Swati Singh
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Updated on 1 Apr 2025, 19:13 IST
In every exam, there is a certain score or percentage that you need to achieve in order to pass. These passing marks can vary depending on the type of exam and the rules of the institution or exam board. Let's look at the passing marks for different types of exams:
CBSE/ICSE Boards: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) are two major educational boards in India. These boards require students to score a minimum of 33% in each subject to pass the exams. This means that if a student is giving an exam under CBSE or ICSE, they need at least 33% in each subject to clear the exam and move on to the next grade or get their certificate.
State Boards: In addition to CBSE and ICSE, various state boards also conduct exams for students in their respective states. The passing marks for these boards are usually around 35%. This means that students need to score at least 35% in each subject to pass the exam in state board schools.
Example: If your exam is out of 100 marks, you need at least 33 marks to pass.
Some schools or boards may have different passing criteria for practical exams or internal assessments, so it's always good to check.
JEE Mains:JEE Mains is one of the most competitive exams in India for students who want to join engineering colleges. To qualify for the JEE Advanced exam (the second stage of the exam), students typically need to score above 75% in their Class 12 exams. Additionally, students need a minimum of 24% in the JEE Mains exam itself to clear it.
JEE Advanced: After qualifying in JEE Mains, students appear for JEE Advanced, which is the next stage. The passing marks for JEE Advanced are not fixed but depend on the difficulty of the exam each year. On average, the qualifying marks are around 10% of the total possible score.
General Category:NEET is the entrance exam for medical colleges in India. The passing marks for the general category students typically require them to score 50% of the total marks.
SC/ST/OBC Categories: For students belonging to the SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe), and OBC (Other Backward Classes) categories, the passing marks are generally lower, around 40% of the total marks. This is to give these groups an opportunity to compete fairly.
UK (GCSEs and A-Levels): In the United Kingdom, students take exams like the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) and A-Levels (Advanced Levels). To pass the GCSEs, students need to score at least 40% to 50% in each subject. For A-Levels, which are taken after GCSEs, students typically need a 40% to pass.
USA (High School Exams): In the United States, high school exams (like finals or state exams) usually require students to score a minimum of 60% to pass. The exact percentage can vary, but 60% is typically the threshold for passing most high school exams.
SSC (Staff Selection Commission) Exam: The SSC exams are conducted for recruitment in various government positions in India. The passing marks for SSC exams depend on the difficulty of the exam and the category of the candidate (General, OBC, SC, ST, etc.). On average, candidates need to score around 35% to 50% to pass the exam.
Banking Exams (SBI PO, IBPS PO): The State Bank of India (SBI) and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conduct exams for recruitment in banks. The passing marks in these exams are usually set by the exam authorities and can vary each year. Generally, candidates need to score at least 40% to 50% to pass these exams.
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering): GATE is an entrance exam for students who want to pursue postgraduate studies in engineering and technology. The passing marks for GATE exams depend on the exam and the category of students, but typically, candidates need to score around 25% to 30% to qualify.
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test): CLAT is an entrance exam for law schools in India. The passing marks can vary each year depending on the difficulty of the exam. Generally, students need to score around 40% to 45% to qualify for admission to top law colleges.
School exams: Passing marks are usually 33-40% depending on the exam and board.
Competitive exams: Passing marks are determined by the cut-off set by the exam authority, which can vary each year.
Professional exams (e.g., JEE, NEET): Passing marks depend on the category and the cut-off for that particular year.
This section helps to summarize that passing marks vary depending on the exam, board, and category of students. It’s important to check the specific passing requirements for each exam you’re preparing for, whether it’s a school exam, a professional entrance exam, or a competitive test. Each exam sets the passing criteria to ensure students have the right level of knowledge and skills to proceed to the next stage, whether it’s higher education or a job.
For most school exams in India, the passing marks are typically 33% of the total marks. This means that if your exam is out of 100 marks, you need to score at least 33 marks to pass.
The passing marks for competitive exams like JEE and NEET are not fixed. Instead, the cutoff marks are decided by the exam authorities each year based on the exam difficulty level and the number of students appearing.
For JEE (Main), the qualifying marks vary each year. However, students generally need to score at least 50-60% to be eligible for the next stage, which is JEE Advanced. The specific cutoff varies each year and depends on your category (General, OBC, SC/ST).
For NEET, the minimum qualifying marks are typically:
50% for General category students.
40% for SC/ST/OBC students. The cutoff marks can vary each year based on the exam difficulty and the performance of students.
For most state board exams in India, the passing percentage is typically around 35-40% in each subject. However, specific criteria may vary depending on the state and the exam.
In university exams, the passing marks are usually around 40-50% depending on the institution and the course. However, passing criteria may vary, so it is always a good idea to check with your university for the exact requirements.
The UPSC Civil Services Exam does not have a fixed passing score. The cutoff marks depend on the exam difficulty, the number of candidates, and the available vacancies for that year.
For SSC exams, the passing marks depend on the specific exam and category. The cutoff marks are set by the SSC and vary for each exam, so candidates must check the official notifications for details.
Yes, the passing marks for exams like JEE, NEET, and SSC vary depending on the candidate's category (General, OBC, SC/ST). Generally, students from reserved categories like SC/ST/OBC may have lower cutoff marks compared to General category candidates.
Yes, the passing or cutoff marks for competitive exams like JEE and NEET can change each year. These marks are determined based on the number of candidates, the difficulty of the exam, and the number of available seats.
