CBSE and ICSE Grading: How to Calculate Marks and Grades

A teacher enters 90.5 in the marks sheet. One report shows A1. Another shows A2. Both used the same marks, but they handled the decimal differently.

Small differences like this can delay report cards and leave parents confused. A clear grading policy helps everyone use the same calculation, from the first class test to the final report.

For CBSE and ICSE schools, start by deciding which result you are preparing: a school term report or an official board examination result. The grade labels and calculation rules can be different. Below, we explain the board systems and suggest an A1, A2 grade chart for internal school reports, with worked examples.

CBSE grading system: what do A1 and A2 mean?

CBSE uses relative grading for its Class 10 and Class 12 board examination subject results. A grade depends on a student's position among successful candidates in that subject. It is not a universal marks-to-grade conversion.

The official CBSE explanation of its grading system describes the groups as follows:

Ties and subjects with smaller candidate groups have specific handling rules. CBSE also explains that identical marks in two subjects may lead to different grades.

So, when a parent asks, "Does 91 always mean A1 in CBSE?", explain that a fixed school grade chart cannot predict the board's relative grade.

ICSE grading system: does ICSE use A1 and A2?

For ICSE board examination results, CISCE describes subject performance using numeric grades from 1 to 9, with 1 the highest. Its ICSE examination regulations for 2027 explain these groups:

Socially Useful Productive Work and Community Service has a separate A–E grading system.

If an ICSE school's internal report shows A1 or A2, check the school's published grading key. Those labels should be explained as part of that school report. There is no direct A1-to-ICSE-grade conversion in the table above.

For both boards, use the regulations and circulars for the relevant examination year when preparing official records.

Suggested A1, A2 grade chart for internal school report cards

A fixed percentage scale can make internal reports easier to read, where the school's applicable assessment rules allow it. The academic team should approve the scale, class coverage, and rounding policy before teachers use it.

The following is a suggested school scale. It does not reproduce CBSE's relative board grades or ICSE's numeric board grades.

For this example, calculate the final percentage first, then round it to the nearest whole number, with .5 rounded up.

For example, 94 gives A1, 86 gives A2, and 76 gives B1 under this sample policy.

Keep the grade and the promotion or pass decision separate. A grade band alone does not check subject requirements, component minimums, attendance, or other applicable conditions. Schools may also need a different assessment approach for younger classes or learning indicators.

How to calculate a percentage and convert it to a grade

Use this formula when the components are intended to be added by their marks:

Percentage = (marks obtained ÷ maximum marks) × 100

Suppose a student scores 36 out of 40:

(36 ÷ 40) × 100 = 90%

Using our suggested internal scale, the grade is A2. Apply the percentage to the chart, rather than looking up the raw score of 36.

Example: written exam and internal assessment

Suppose a school's subject assessment has these components:

The final percentage is 92%, so the suggested school grade is A1.

Here, the marks already represent an 80:20 split. Multiplying the written score by 80% and the internal score by 20% again would apply the weighting twice.

This is a calculation example. Use your school's prescribed components and maximum marks for the subject concerned.

How to calculate grades when exams have different weightages

Sometimes two assessments have different maximum marks and contribute different shares to the final result. Convert each score to a percentage, then apply its assigned weight.

Suppose a school gives a class test 40% weight and a term exam 60% weight:

Final percentage = (80 × 0.40) + (90 × 0.60) = 86%

The suggested internal grade is A2.

Simply adding the raw marks would give 104 out of 120, or about 86.67%. That is a different calculation because the maximum marks do not represent the chosen 40:60 weightage.

Decide how decimals affect the grade

Rounding needs its own rule. Under the sample policy in this guide:

• 90.49% rounds to 90 and receives A2.
• 90.50% rounds to 91 and receives A1.
• 80.50% rounds to 81 and receives A2.

Keep the original values during calculation and round once at the agreed final step. Rounding every component can change the final result.

A school may instead grade using exact decimal percentages. If it does, it needs a scale with clear decimal boundaries. State the chosen method in the report's grading key so parents can understand why a particular grade appears.

Common mistakes when preparing school grades

Averaging grade labels. A1 and B1 are categories. To calculate a combined result, use the underlying marks or percentages and the approved weightages, then assign the final grade.

Mixing marks and percentages. A score of 45 out of 50 is 90%, while 45 out of 100 is 45%. Always check the maximum marks before applying a grade chart.

Treating an absence as a zero without checking the policy. An absent student and a student who attempted the paper and scored zero are different records. Decide how absence, exemption, and pending assessments should appear before processing results.

Using one scale for every type of assessment. A subject marksheet and a learning indicator report may need different grading language. Our NEP 2020 and Holistic Progress Card guide explains how schools can plan competency assessment records.

Preparing marksheets with InstiKit

InstiKit helps schools organise exams, assessment components, grading scales, and marks records. Teachers can enter marks or use the supplied Excel import formats, and the school can process results and prepare exam, term, or cumulative marksheets according to its configured format.

Bring a sample report card when evaluating the setup. Ask to review a subject with multiple components, a score close to a grade boundary, and an absent student. Check the required weightage and rounding behaviour against your approved school policy during the walkthrough.

Explore InstiKit's school management software, or request a demo with your report card and grading requirements.

Questions teachers and parents often ask

Is 90% A1 or A2?

In the suggested internal chart above, 90% is A2 and 91% is A1. For an official CBSE board result, read the relative grade awarded by the board. Check the grading key whenever you compare reports.

Can an ICSE school use an A1, A2 grade chart?

For an internal report, check the applicable school and board assessment requirements before choosing a scale. If letter grades are used, explain their meaning on that report. Keep CISCE's official numeric subject grades in board result records.

Can a grade be converted back into exact marks?

An internal grade covers a range. A2 in our example could represent several different percentages, so it cannot tell you the exact marks. Keep the original marks alongside the grade when the report requires them.

Should we use a CGPA-to-percentage formula for these examples?

These examples start with marks, so calculate the percentage directly from the marks and maximum marks. If a separate record uses CGPA, use the conversion method specified for that record. Do not add a CGPA conversion to a marks calculation unless the reporting rules require it.