Marking scheme

Every board paper has its own marking scheme. CBSE's Examination Bye-Laws, from 1995 and last updated in 2004, say the paper setter writes it along with the question paper. It shows the value points for each answer, and the marks for each one. A value point is one thing the examiner looks for.

How examiners use it

Examiners must follow the scheme, not their own view. The instructions on CBSE's 2026 board schemes say it should be "strictly adhered to". They also say the value points are a guide, not the only right wording. A correct answer in the student's own words earns its marks.

The same Bye-Laws let a group of head examiners amend the scheme after reading sample answer books. So the final scheme can differ from the first draft.

Where to find one

CBSE publishes a sample paper with a marking scheme for each subject every year. In the 2026-27 Maths Standard scheme, Question 24 splits 2 marks into three parts. CISCE's yearly reports on ICSE papers print each question with its marking scheme too.

Checking practice answers against the scheme, not just an answer key, shows which steps earned marks. That is the idea behind step marking. Our guide to what a CBSE marking scheme contains shows how to read one.

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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