Explore the Indian Education System
A comprehensive guide to understanding the structure, grading systems, and top institutions of education in India
Education System Overview
The Indian education system is one of the largest in the world, covering various stages from pre-primary to doctoral levels. It follows a structured pattern with specific grading systems at different levels.
School Education
Includes pre-primary, primary, upper primary, secondary, and senior secondary levels from various boards like CBSE, ICSE, and State Boards.
Higher Education
Includes undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across various disciplines from prestigious institutions like IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS.
Comprehensive Structure
Detailed information about each educational level, from pre-primary to doctoral studies.
Grading Systems
Understand different grading patterns used across various educational boards and universities.
Easy Navigation
Find specific information about any grade or educational level with our intuitive interface.
Top Institutions
Discover India's premier educational institutions and their admission requirements.
Indian Grading Systems
India has various education boards and institutions, each with their own grading systems. Understanding these grading systems is crucial for students, parents, and educators.
CBSE
SchoolSystem: Grading System (Class 10)
Introduced in 2010-11 to reduce stress and pressure on students
Uses a nine-point grading system from A1 to E2
No student is failed; those who score very low get essential repeat grade (E1 or E2)
Grading Scale
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| A1 | 91-100% (Excellent) |
| A2 | 81-90% (Very Good) |
| B1 | 71-80% (Good) |
| B2 | 61-70% (Above Average) |
| C1 | 51-60% (Average) |
| C2 | 41-50% (Below Average) |
| D | 33-40% (Pass) |
| E1 | 21-32% (Essential Repeat) |
| E2 | 00-20% (Essential Repeat) |
CBSE
SchoolSystem: Percentage System (Class 12)
Class 12 results are given as percentages
Marks are given out of 100 for each subject
Pass percentage is 33% in theory and practical combined
ICSE
SchoolSystem: Percentage System
Indian Certificate of Secondary Education examination for Class 10
Results are given as percentages
Pass percentage is 35% in each subject and 35% overall
ISC
SchoolSystem: Percentage System
Indian School Certificate examination for Class 12
Results are given as percentages
Pass percentage is 40% in each subject
IB
SchoolSystem: IB Diploma Program
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
Uses a 7-point grading scale for each subject
Maximum possible score is 45 points (42 from 6 subjects and 3 from TOK & Extended Essay)
Minimum passing score is 24 points with certain additional criteria
Grading Scale
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Very poor performance |
| 2 | Poor performance |
| 3 | Mediocre performance |
| 4 | Satisfactory performance |
| 5 | Good performance |
| 6 | Very good performance |
| 7 | Excellent performance |
State Boards
SchoolSystem: Varies by State
Different states in India have their own education boards
Most follow percentage system for Class 10 and 12
Pass percentage typically ranges from 33% to 35%
IITs & NITs
UndergraduateSystem: Relative Grading (0-10 Scale)
Indian Institutes of Technology and National Institutes of Technology
Use a 10-point relative grading system
Grades are assigned based on statistical distribution of marks in class
Grading Scale
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 10 (A+) | Outstanding |
| 9 (A) | Excellent |
| 8 (B+) | Very Good |
| 7 (B) | Good |
| 6 (C+) | Above Average |
| 5 (C) | Average |
| 4 (D) | Pass |
| F | Fail |
Delhi University
UndergraduateSystem: CGPA (10-point Scale)
Uses a 10-point grading scale
Updated from percentage system to CGPA in recent years
Each subject has specific credits and grade points
Grading Scale
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| O (10) | 90-100% (Outstanding) |
| A+ (9) | 80-89% (Excellent) |
| A (8) | 70-79% (Very Good) |
| B+ (7) | 60-69% (Good) |
| B (6) | 50-59% (Above Average) |
| C (5) | 40-49% (Average) |
| P (4) | 30-39% (Pass) |
| F (0) | Below 30% (Fail) |
Medical Colleges
UndergraduateSystem: Percentage System
Most medical colleges use percentage system
MBBS programs typically follow semester or annual examination patterns
Pass percentage varies from 50% to 60% depending on the institute
IIMs
PostgraduateSystem: GPA (0-4 Scale)
Indian Institutes of Management for MBA programs
Most IIMs use a 4-point grading scale
Follows trimester pattern with continuous evaluation
Grading Scale
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| A (4.00) | Excellent |
| B (3.00) | Good |
| C (2.00) | Average |
| D (1.00) | Below Average |
| F (0.00) | Fail |
UGC
PostgraduateSystem: 10-point Scale
University Grants Commission recommends a standardized 10-point scale
Many universities have adopted this for postgraduate programs
Allows for better comparison across different institutions
Grading Scale
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| O (10) | 80% and above (Outstanding) |
| A+ (9) | 70% to 79.9% (Excellent) |
| A (8) | 60% to 69.9% (Very Good) |
| B+ (7) | 55% to 59.9% (Good) |
| B (6) | 50% to 54.9% (Above Average) |
| C (5) | 45% to 49.9% (Average) |
| P (4) | 40% to 44.9% (Pass) |
| F (0) | Below 40% (Fail) |
Explore India's Educational Journey
From ancient Gurukuls to modern digital classrooms, India's education system has evolved while maintaining its core values of knowledge, wisdom, and character building.
Learn about our historyTop Institutes in India
Top MBA Institutes
IIM Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Ranking: 1st in India
Grading System: GPA Scale: 0-4
Details: Uses relative grading system with A, B, C, D grades
IIM Bangalore
Bangalore, Karnataka
Ranking: 2nd in India
Grading System: GPA Scale: 0-4
Details: Follows trimester system with relative grading
IIM Calcutta
Kolkata, West Bengal
Ranking: 3rd in India
Grading System: GPA Scale: 0-4
Details: Term-based evaluation with relative grading
Top Medical Schools
AIIMS Delhi
New Delhi
Ranking: 1st in India
Grading System: Percentage based (0-100%)
Details: Internal assessment and final examination system
JIPMER
Puducherry
Ranking: 2nd in India
Grading System: Percentage based (0-100%)
Details: Continuous evaluation with semester system
CMC Vellore
Vellore, Tamil Nadu
Ranking: 3rd in India
Grading System: Grade Point System (A+ to F)
Details: Comprehensive evaluation system
Top Engineering Institutes
IIT Madras
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Ranking: 1st in India
Grading System: GPA Scale: 0-10
Details: Relative grading system with semester pattern
IIT Delhi
New Delhi
Ranking: 2nd in India
Grading System: GPA Scale: 0-10
Details: Credit-based semester system
IIT Bombay
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Ranking: 3rd in India
Grading System: GPA Scale: 0-10
Details: Continuous evaluation with semester system