The number of students achieving scores above 90% and 95% in the CBSE Class XII board examinations for 2026 has witnessed a significant decline compared to the previous year. This trend underscores a gradual departure from the exceptionally high scores that were prevalent during the pandemic years. Data released by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) reveals that 94,028 students secured 90% and above this year, a decrease from nearly 1.1 lakh in 2025. Furthermore, the count of candidates who achieved 95% and above fell sharply to 17,113 from 24,867 in the preceding year.
Overall Pass Percentage Drops
The reduction in the number of top scorers coincided with a downturn in the overall Class XII pass percentage, which slipped from 88.39% in 2025 to 85.2% in 2026. This marks a notable shift in the academic landscape as the board returns to more conventional evaluation standards.
Pandemic-Era Spike and Subsequent Reversal
CBSE’s data highlights a sharp spike in high scores during the Covid-19 period, when board examinations were disrupted and alternative assessment methods were adopted. In 2021 alone, over 70,000 students scored 95% and above, representing the highest figure in recent years. Post-pandemic, this trend has steadily reversed. The number of students scoring above 95% fell to 33,432 in 2022 and 22,622 in 2023, before experiencing a slight uptick to around 24,000 in both 2024 and 2025. However, 2026 has recorded a marked decline. A similar pattern was observed among those scoring above 90%, with the count dropping below one lakh for the first time in recent years.
Expert Insights on Evaluation Standards
Education experts attribute the pandemic-era spike to relaxed evaluation norms and moderation practices. A board official commented, “The latest figures indicate a return to more rigorous and conventional marking standards.” This year, CBSE also implemented an on-screen marking system for evaluating Class XII answer sheets, which may have contributed to the more stringent assessment.
Additional Information
For further details, readers can check gold rates, silver rates, bank holidays, public holidays, Delhi AQI, and weather updates. This report is contributed by Meghna Dhulia, Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, who specializes in education reporting with over a decade of experience in journalism.
