2nd PUC Passing Marks 2027 (Theory, Practical, Internal)

October 31, 2026

Karnataka lowered the 2nd PUC pass mark for the 2026 board exams. The old rule was 35 percent. A student now passes with at least 30 marks in each subject and 198 out of 600 overall. Many older pages still quote 35 percent, so here is the current rule, how theory, practical and internal marks fit into it, and why passing is not the same as being eligible for the course you want.

Key takeaways

From the 2026 exams, a student needs at least 30 marks out of 100 in each subject, counting theory and internal or practical marks together, plus 198 out of 600 (33 percent) in aggregate.

Science subjects with practicals are marked 70 theory plus 30 practical. Languages, Mathematics and most Commerce and Arts subjects are 80 theory plus 20 internal assessment.

Do not count on grace marks. Plan to clear every subject on your own score.

Passing is far below entrance eligibility: KCET engineering needs 45 percent in PCM, NEET needs 50 percent in PCB for General category, and NITs need 75 percent (65 for SC and ST) or the top 20 percentile of your board.

2nd PUC passing marks from 2026

KSEAB’s notification for the 2026 exams set the minimum at 30 marks in each subject, including both theory and internal assessment, with an aggregate of at least 33 percent, which is 198 out of 600 (Careers360, 8 April 2026). The change was proposed in a draft notification in 2025 and confirmed by School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa (Careers360, 17 October 2025).

Both conditions have to be met. A student who scores 30 in every subject has only 180, which is below 198, and does not pass. A student with 300 overall but 25 in one subject also does not pass. The 2027 exams are expected to follow the same rule; confirm in KSEAB’s circular for the year.

Theory, practical and internal marks by subject

Subject type	Theory	Practical or internal	Total	Minimum to pass
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Electronics	70	30 practical	100	30 combined
Languages (English, Kannada, Hindi, Sanskrit and others)	80	20 internal	100	30 combined
Mathematics and Statistics	80	20 internal	100	30 combined
Most Commerce and Arts subjects	80	20 internal	100	30 combined
All six subjects			600	198 aggregate

Mark split as followed in recent cycles. Subject-wise practical and internal arrangements are set by KSEAB and the Department of Pre-University Education; check your college’s circular for your exact combination.

Practical and internal marks are awarded during the year, before the theory exam. Ask your college for your practical or internal marks before the theory exam. Under the combined rule, subtracting your practical or internal score from 30 gives the theory marks you need to reach the subject minimum. Check with your college whether any separate theory minimum applies for your year before you rely on that number. Do not treat internal marks as guaranteed, though. They depend on attendance, records and assignments being complete, and colleges can withhold them when work is missing.

Grace marks

We found no published KSEAB grace marks rule for 2nd PUC that a student can plan around, and for SSLC the state withdrew grace marks in 2025 (Careers360). With the pass mark already lowered to 30, assume that what you score is what you get. If you fall short in one or two subjects, the realistic route is Exam 2 or Exam 3, not grace marks.

Exam 1, Exam 2 and Exam 3

Karnataka now holds three 2nd PUC board exams a year. Exam 1 is the main exam. Exam 2 and Exam 3 follow within weeks, for students who failed a subject or want to improve their marks. The best score is kept. For 2027, KSEAB’s final timetable, released at the end of October 2026, is reported to schedule Exam 1 from 27 February to 18 March, with Exam 2 to follow; check the official timetable on kseab.karnataka.gov.in.

Students with entrance plans should check the dates before choosing Exam 2. Its dates can sit close to KCET and NEET, and the improved marks come later, which can affect counselling timelines.

Result classes

Class	Percentage	Marks out of 600
Distinction	85 and above	510 and above
First class	60 to below 85	360 to 509
Second class	50 to below 60	300 to 359
Pass class	33 to below 50	198 to 299

Bands as used in KSEAB result reporting in recent years. Pass class assumes every subject is also at 30 or above.

For scale: about 86 percent of students passed Exam 1 statewide in 2026 (Careers360, 9 April 2026).

Passing is not the same as eligible

The pass mark tells you whether you have a PUC certificate. Every major entrance route asks for far more.

- KCET engineering: 45 percent aggregate in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (40 percent reserved), and those marks are also half of your rank. See how KCET weightage works.

- NEET: 50 percent in Physics, Chemistry and Biology for General category, 40 percent for OBC, SC and ST.

- NITs and IIITs through JEE Main: 75 percent in second PU (65 percent for SC and ST) or the top 20 percentile of your board.

A student aiming at any of these should be planning for first class at the least, not for the pass line.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 2nd PUC passing marks in 2027?

Under the rule introduced for 2026, you need at least 30 out of 100 in each subject, theory and internal or practical combined, and 198 out of 600 overall. Confirm in KSEAB’s 2027 circular.

How many marks do I need in Physics theory to pass?

Theory and practical together must reach 30 out of 100. The 2026 notification, as reported, counts them together and does not mention a separate theory minimum, but confirm with your college before relying on a low theory score. Aim far higher anyway: Physics marks also count towards your KCET rank and entrance eligibility.

Are there grace marks in 2nd PUC?

We found no published grace marks rule you can plan around. Exam 2 and Exam 3 are the reliable route if you fall short.

What happens if I fail one subject?

You can write that subject again in Exam 2 or Exam 3 in the same year, and the better score is kept.

Aim above the line

The lower pass mark makes failure less likely. It does nothing for entrance eligibility or your KCET rank. Know the pass rule so you are not anxious about it, then set your target by the course you want.

At Canara Vikaas, board preparation and entrance coaching are planned together, so second PU marks are treated as part of the entrance result, not a separate hurdle.

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