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As the CBSE Class 10 Result 2025 has been announced, some students and parents are eager to understand how the final percentage is calculated—specifically in cases where a student takes more than five subjects. One of the key considerations involved in this process is the "Best of Five" rule, a student-friendly policy that has helped thousands of students every year.
What is the "Best of Five" Rule?
The "Best of Five" rule in CBSE Class 10 allows students who appear for six subjects to have their final marks calculated on the basis of their best five scoring subjects. This implies that effectively the subject with the lowest marks is not taken into account while calculating the percentage, and thus students have a greater chance to improve their overall score.
Example of How It Works
Let us take an example: A student has studied six subjects — English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and Information Technology (IT) — and got lowest marks in Science, then the marks of Science will be omitted. The percentage will be calculated on the basis of the other five high-scoring subjects.
Organization of Subjects in CBSE Class 10
CBSE Class 10 students follow a subject framework consisting of academic as well as skill-based ones:
Core Subjects:
These include the five broad academic subjects:
- English
- Hindi (or any other second language)
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science
Optional Subject:
A student can choose a sixth one, typically a skill or vocation subject like:
- Information Technology (IT)
- Music
- Painting
- Home Science
- Artificial Intelligence, and others.
How the Rule is Applicable
The functioning of the "Best of Five" rule differs depending on a number of conditions:
- Eligibility: This clause applies only when a student has opted for six subjects.
- Dropping of Lowest Marks: The subject on which the student obtains the lowest marks is automatically dropped while calculating the percentage.
- Skill Subject Replacement: If a student scores better marks in the optional (skill) subject, the subject can replace a lower-marked core subject (except Language 1 and Mathematics in most cases) for aggregate marks calculation.
CBSE Circular and Policy Insights
As per guidance and clarification, skill subjects have gained great importance in the last couple of years. CBSE clarified that if a student performs better in a skill subject, then it can be used to offset one of the poor scholastic subjects while determining the final result, and thus this provision is especially useful for students who have non-traditional courses of study.
Advantages of the CBSE 10th "Best of Five" Policy
This policy has several key benefits:
- Less Stress: Students do not have to worry as much about one difficult subject bringing their average down.
- Encourages Discovery: It encourages students to study talent subjects, giving them an opportunity to learn more and discover new things.
- Improved Grades: By dropping the lowest score, students tend to get a higher percentage, which can lead to improved academic prospects in the future.
Important Note
Although the "Best of Five" rule is critical in internal scholastic judgments and decisions like promotions or cutoff eligibility at school, CBSE still announces marks for all six subjects. The board never says "Best of Five" on the marksheet. However, most institutions and schools use this rule while analyzing overall student performance.
The CBSE "Best of Five" policy is a thoughtful policy that helps reduce academic pressure, promotes diverse learning, and recognizes students' strengths. As 2025 Class 10 students review their performance, it's better for them to know about this policy so that they can better comprehend their scores and make their academic decisions confidently and with clarity.
