In a major reorientation towards more substantial learning outcomes, the 2025 CBSE Class X and XII results have indicated a significant rise in the percentage of students scoring 90% and above. Close to two lakh students attained this feat, a development that has its basis in profound transformations in the examination system, instructional techniques, and support structures at various levels.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a series of academic reforms in recent years, with a major focus on competency-based education. This year, 50% of the total questions in board exams were competency-based, designed to test students’ understanding and application of concepts rather than rote memorisation. This reform aligns with the National Education Policy’s vision of fostering critical thinking and analytical skills in students.

The new trend, with the backing of a liberal and structured marking scheme, seems to have contributed significantly towards enhancing student performance. CBSE instructions now encourage examiners to eschew unnecessary deductions and to give adequate reasons for any marks reduced. Above all, examiners are also judged on the basis of student pass rates, leading them to think student-centered while conducting evaluations. As Indra Mani Upadhyay, a teacher at PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya CRPF in Lucknow, pointed out, the combination of liberal marking—especially in short-answer questions—and rigorous revisions conducted by schools, allowed many students to gain the crucial extra marks needed to cross the 90% mark. Moreover, most of the theory exams were worth 80 marks while practicals were worth 20 marks, where students often got full marks, adding to the overall high percentages.

Strategic and focused teaching approaches also played a crucial role in enabling students to obtain high marks. Through the inclusion of conceptual clarity into everyday teaching, periodic mock tests, and familiarity with the new exam patterns, students became more assertive and better prepared, says Theresa Rebeiro, principal of Whitefield’s Winmore Academy, Karnataka. Online learning modules, interactive software, and access to various digital resources provided additional layers of depth to student preparation for a complete understanding of the curriculum. These initiatives were usually supported by intensive parental engagement and a controlled home study atmosphere, elements that contributed to the upkeep of student discipline and motivation throughout the school year.

Schools also adopted CBSE’s capacity-building programmes, which sought to prepare instructors with the equipment required for the establishment of contemporary learning climate. These programs were launched across the country, which facilitated uniformity in teaching standards and methodologies. Sanyam Bhardwaj, the controller of examinations in CBSE, stated that the board also remained pro-active by giving the curriculum a clear warning in advance and posting model and sample question papers well in advance in the session. This provided enough time for students as well as teachers to come in accordance with the new standards. Moreover, announcement of the datesheet for the examination three months in advance allowed students to prepare for board examinations as well as competitive exams simultaneously, making them more confident and well-prepared.

According to available data, almost 24 lakh students appeared for the Class X exams and about 17 lakh for Class XII. Of these, around 2 lakh students have received 90% to 95%, that is, around 8.43% of Class X students and 6.59% of Class XII students. While this is a matter of pride, teachers also stress that academic rigour has to be sustained. Jyoti Arora, the principal of Mount Abu Public School in Delhi, welcomed the systematic assessment system for appreciating the depth and simplicity of responses from students. She also noted that the move towards competency-based testing is a welcome move, but one that also carries with it the responsibility to keep the tests rigorous and an accurate reflection of skills used in everyday life.

The 2025 results are not only an indicator of student performance, but also a reflection of the collective efforts of the educational stakeholders—CBSE, schools, teachers, parents, and the students themselves. With a vision for the future, the focus on competency, critical thinking, and planned preparation is creating a new benchmark in the Indian education system—a one that prioritises understanding over memorization and accessibility over competition. The board’s holistic and planned strategy is indeed laying the way for greater purposeful academic excellence.