CBSE Class 8 Grading System (2026-27): Complete Guide
Understanding the cbse class 8 grading system is important for both students and parents, especially since Class 8 is the final year of middle school before Class 9 introduces a notably different academic pace. This guide covers exactly how cbse assessment class 8 works for the 2026-27 session, including marks distribution, the grading scale, co-scholastic evaluation, and promotion rules.
How Class 8 Is Assessed
Like Classes 6 and 7, Class 8 does not have a centralized board examination conducted directly by CBSE. Instead, CBSE-affiliated schools design and conduct their own internal assessments, following structural guidelines issued by the board. Most schools follow the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) model or a closely related periodic-assessment-based structure, combining ongoing internal evaluation with formal term-end exams.
The core philosophy remains consistent across middle school: evaluate students through the year rather than relying on one single high-stakes exam, and convert marks into grade bands so that small differences in raw scores don't create outsized pressure.
Term Structure for Class 8
The academic year for Class 8 is generally divided into two terms.
|
Term |
Components |
|
Term I |
Internal Assessment 1, Half-Yearly Examination |
|
Term II |
Internal Assessment 2, Annual Examination |
Marks Distribution Per Term
Each term carries a maximum of 100 marks per subject, split between internal assessment and the term-end theory exam.
|
Term I Component |
Marks |
|
Internal Assessment 1 |
20 |
|
Half-Yearly Examination (Theory) |
80 |
|
Total |
100 |
|
Term II Component |
Marks |
|
Internal Assessment 2 |
20 |
|
Annual Examination (Theory) |
80 |
|
Total |
100 |
Term-Wise Weightage Breakdown
The 20-mark internal assessment component is itself distributed across several smaller activities throughout the term.
|
Assessment Component |
Term I Weightage |
Term II Weightage |
|
Periodic Test / Midterm |
10% |
10% |
|
Multiple Assessments (quiz, debate, role play, viva, group discussion, concept maps) |
5% |
5% |
|
Assignments, Submissions & Portfolio |
5% |
5% |
|
Half-Yearly / Final Examination |
80% |
80% |
The 8-Point Scholastic Grading Scale
Class 8 scholastic subjects, including Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English, Hindi, and Sanskrit, follow the same 8-point grading scale used across Classes 6, 7, and 8, keeping the system consistent through middle school.
|
Marks Range |
Grade |
|
91–100 |
A1 |
|
81–90 |
A2 |
|
71–80 |
B1 |
|
61–70 |
B2 |
|
51–60 |
C1 |
|
41–50 |
C2 |
|
33–40 |
D |
|
21–32 |
E1 |
|
0–20 |
E2 |
A1 represents the highest band of achievement, while E2 sits at the bottom. A grade below D typically indicates a need for remedial support, given that the minimum passing requirement is 33% in each subject.
Co-Scholastic Assessment in Class 8
Beyond scholastic subjects, Class 8 students are also evaluated in co-scholastic areas, which reflect skills and personal development outside the core academic syllabus.
|
Co-Scholastic Area |
Focus |
|
Work Education |
Skill-based, hands-on learning |
|
Art Education |
Visual and performing arts |
|
Health and Physical Education |
Sports, fitness, physical activities |
|
Discipline |
Attendance, behaviour, punctuality, respect for rules |
These areas are graded on a simpler 3-point scale.
|
Grade |
Remark |
|
A |
Outstanding |
|
B |
Very Good |
|
C |
Fair |
Promotion Criteria for Class 8
To be promoted from Class 8 to Class 9, a student must satisfy the following conditions, consistent with the broader CBSE middle-school framework.
A student must score at least 33% in each subject, calculated from the combined internal assessment and final examination marks for that subject. CBSE does not compute one combined overall grade by averaging all subjects; each subject must independently clear the passing threshold.
If a student scores below 33% in exactly one subject in the final exam, the student typically becomes eligible for a compartment exam in that subject, based on the same syllabus as the final exam, with only one attempt permitted. If a student fails in two or more subjects, the school generally requires the student to repeat the class, since Class 8 does not have CBSE's centralized compartment system available to board classes. Any case of unfair means during an exam results in a zero for that subject.
Quick Reference: Class 8 Grading at a Glance
|
Aspect |
Detail |
|
Evaluation Model |
Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) |
|
Number of Terms |
2 (Term I and Term II) |
|
Marks Per Term |
100 (20 Internal + 80 Theory) |
|
Scholastic Grading Scale |
8-point (A1 to E2) |
|
Co-Scholastic Grading Scale |
3-point (A to C) |
|
Minimum Passing Marks |
33% per subject |
|
Centralized Board Exam |
No |
Why This Matters Going Into Class 9
Because Class 8 is the immediate precursor to Class 9, where CBSE introduces structured subject areas and a faster academic pace, the habits built around internal assessment in Class 8, such as consistent notebook work, periodic test preparation, and active classroom participation, carry forward directly. A student accustomed to treating internal assessment seriously throughout Class 8 transitions far more smoothly into the heavier evaluation load of Class 9 and beyond.
Final Word
The cbse class 8 grading system rewards steady, well-distributed effort across the academic year rather than a single strong performance in the Annual Examination. Understanding exactly how the 20-mark internal assessment and 80-mark theory exam combine, and what the promotion criteria require, helps students approach both terms with realistic, well-paced preparation. For chapter-wise practice material that supports consistent performance across both internal assessment and term exams, Oswaal Books workbooks are widely used alongside the current NCERT Class 8 textbooks.
