Internal assessment

In most CBSE Class 10 subjects, internal assessment is worth 20 of the 100 marks. The board paper gives the other 80. CBSE's Secondary Curriculum for 2026-27 splits the 20 into four parts of 5 marks each:

• Periodic assessment - tests held through the year.
• Multiple assessment - quizzes, projects, oral work and group tasks.
• Portfolio - a file of your child's own work across the year.
• Subject enrichment - lab work in Science and Maths, speaking and listening in languages.

A small example

The school holds three periodic tests, and the average of the best two is used. Say your child scores 12, 16 and 18 out of 20. The 12 is dropped. The average of 16 and 18 is 17.

Why it matters

• It is passed on its own. Your child needs 33% of the school marks as well as 33% of the paper. See passing marks.
• It has one attempt. It is held once, before February. The second board exam in May re-tests only the written paper.
• It is not rechecked by the board. Re-evaluation covers the written paper only.

CISCE's regulations for the 2028 exam give ICSE internal assessment in every subject. Schools mark assignments, project work, practicals and course work. These marks are added to the written paper. Internal assessment: 20 marks, one attempt explains each part in full.

About the author

Mohit Sardana

Chief Architect

An engineer (B.Tech, Computer Science) with over 20 years of preparing students for entrance exams, including as Dean at FIITJEE and Vice-President at Aakash. He is the chief architect of the TRUpreBoards evaluation engine.

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