BREAKING
Revolutionary climate technology breakthrough announced • Championship finals draw record 150M+ viewers • Global markets surge following policy changes • New discovery in quantum computing promises faster processors
The Cliff News
Education

CBSE Class 12 Results: PCM Scores Dip

CBSE acknowledges slight dip in pass rates and average scores.

May 18
2 min read
CBSE Class 12 Results: PCM Scores Dip

Top Summary

  • What happened: CBSE Class 12 results show a minor dip in pass percentage and average marks, particularly in PCM subjects.
  • Why it matters: Students are raising concerns about evaluation accuracy, especially with the introduction of On-Screen Marking (OSM).
  • What changes for people: Cut-offs for A1 grades in Science and Commerce streams have generally decreased compared to previous years.
  • Who is affected: Students who appeared for the CBSE Class 12 exams, especially those in Science and Commerce streams.

CBSE Responds to Evaluation Concerns

Following the release of CBSE Class 12 results on May 13, 2026, students have expressed concerns about the evaluation process, specifically On-Screen Marking (OSM).

Students claim that poor scan quality may have led to marking errors. Discontent is strongest in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.

PCM Scores See a Decline

CBSE acknowledged a minor dip in pass percentage and average marks in a media brief on May 17, 2026.

Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, noted a 1-3 mark drop in cut-offs for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Accountancy.

The board attributes this to evaluators strictly adhering to the marking scheme.

Stream-wise Score Analysis: Science

Data reveals shifts in A1 grade cut-offs in the Science stream:

  • Mathematics: A1 starts at 85, down from 86 (2025) and 88 (2024).
  • Physics: A1 drops to 79 from 82 (2025) and 84 (2024).
  • Chemistry: A1 cut-off at 87, compared to 89 (2025) and 92 (2024).
  • Biology: A1 remains stable at 91.

Commerce Stream Trends

The Commerce stream also shows a slight decrease in cut-offs.

In Economics, the A1 grade now begins at 89 marks, down from 91 in 2025. Accountancy saw the sharpest decline, with A1 falling from 93 in 2024 to 89 in 2026.

Humanities: Largely Stable

The Humanities stream remains mostly stable.

History saw a slight increase in the A1 cut-off to 87 from 86 in 2025. English Core remained unchanged, with A1 consistently at 92.

CBSE's Response and Revaluation

CBSE maintains that the system ensures fairness and consistency.

 

CBSE offers students the option of revaluation and verification to address grievances.

 

What to Watch Next

Students can apply for revaluation or verification if they have concerns about their marks. Further analysis of the long-term effects of On-Screen Marking will be crucial.