Karnataka to reduce SSLC, II PU pass marks to 33%: What students need to know
Bengaluru: The Karnataka govt has notified draft rules to change the evaluation pattern of SSLC and II PU exams starting from the 2025-26 academic year, with two key suggestions are: Reduce the pass mark and allow inclusion of internal marks to calculate the passing score.In SSLC exams, a student should secure 33% of the total marks to pass. Until today, it was 35%. Moreover, the candidates can secure the 33% marks as a total of internal assessment and external examination scores. The candidate shall be declared pass if he/she secures at least 206 out of a total of 625 marks, including at least 30% marks in each subject.The total marks for the first language – 125 – will remain unchanged. And the total marks in each of the other subjects is also unchanged at 100. The regulations will be called Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board First Regulations (Amendment) 2025.According to the draft proposal released on Thursday, a II PU student can pass the exam if he/she secures 33% of aggregate marks across all subjects. Currently, the pass mark is 35%. Further, the student should secure not less than 30% of the total marks in each subject. This will include marks obtained in the written examination and internal assessment or practical examination.In subjects with no practical examination or internal assessment, the student should secure a minimum of 24 marks in each such subject in the written examination of 80 marks. In subjects with a practical examination or internal assessment, the candidate needs 21 marks in each subject out of 70 marks in the written examination.The pass percentage of SSLC and II PU exams Karnataka was one of the lowest in the country. Now, changes suggested are in sync with what central boards follow.There are changes for the practical exam, too. In deviation from the existing allotment of 30 marks for the practical examination, the practical exam will be conducted for a maximum of 20 marks. The remaining 10 marks will be awarded to a candidate who fulfils the following conditions: A minimum of 75% attendance in each subject (including theory and practical classes), thereby becoming eligible to appear for the practical exam; conducted the minimum number of practicals specified for each practical subject; duly recorded and submitted the practicals in a record book certified by the lecturer; and has appeared for the practical examination.Many of the changes are in sync with what central boards like Central Board of Secondary Education follows. It may be recalled that the pass percentage of SSLC and II PUC in the state has remained one of the lowest in the country. The reasons attributed for it includes the exclusion of internal marks and a higher passmark.In SSLC, 8.68 lakh students appeared for the exam. In exam-1, only 5.28 lakh passed. The pass percentage was 62%. In II PUC-1, the pass percentage was 69.16%. 6.37 lakh students appeared for the exam.
