Grace Marks for Tough CBSE Papers? Class 10 & 12 Students Await Big Decision

CBSE Board Exam 2026: Grace Marks Demand Grows After Class 10 Maths, 12 Physics Difficulty Row

The CBSE Board Exam 2026 has come under scrutiny after students and educators raised concerns over varying difficulty levels across different question paper sets. Social media platforms, schools, and coaching institutes are actively debating whether CBSE should award grace marks or adopt lenient checking for comparatively tougher sets.

What Sparked the CBSE Board Exam Controversy?

The issue first surfaced after the Class 10 Mathematics exam, where students reported major differences in difficulty levels between sets. While some described their paper as easy and scoring, others alleged that certain questions were of JEE Main and Advanced-level difficulty.

The debate intensified following the Class 12 Physics exam, with educators criticizing CBSE for not maintaining uniform difficulty across sets. Concerns were raised about fairness, equal opportunity, and student morale.

Educators Call for Grace Marks and Liberal Evaluation

Several teachers and coaching experts have urged CBSE to consider:

Granting grace marks for unusually tough questions
Ensuring lenient checking for difficult sets
Reviewing paper-setting mechanisms to avoid disparities

Educator Prashant Kirad even announced his intention to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), claiming that inconsistent difficulty levels have shaken students’ confidence despite months of preparation.

However, no official statement regarding blanket grace marks has been issued by CBSE so far.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

CBSE introduced a dual-session exam format for Class 10 starting in 2026: The first exam (mandatory) will be conducted in February–March. An optional second exam will be held in May. This move aims to provide students with an additional opportunity to improve their scores within the same academic year. The syllabus and evaluation criteria remain unchanged.

CBSE may award grace marks in specific situations, such as: When a student misses the passing mark by one or two marks If there is an error in the question paper If a question is found to be out of syllabus or exceptionally difficult Grace marks are granted after review by subject experts and evaluators.

CBSE prepares multiple sets of question papers to prevent malpractice and maintain exam integrity. However, critics argue that differences in difficulty levels across sets can create disparities in student performance.

As of now, CBSE has not made any official announcement regarding special grace marks or lenient checking for all students. Any such decision is typically taken after detailed review and analysis by the board.