What is the Passing Marks Out of 80 in 2nd PUC Karnataka 2025-26?

The 2 nd PUC (Pre-University Course) in Karnataka is one of the most critical steps in the life of students in the state. It decides their eligibility for higher education, professional courses, and even competitive examinations. Each year, lakhs of Karnataka students take the 2nd PUC examinations that are conducted by the Department of Pre-University Education (PUE). The most frequently asked question by the students before the exams is the passing marks out of 80 in 2nd PUC Karnataka 2025-26?

This blog will provide a detailed description of the marking system, subject-wise passing marks, internal assessment distribution, frequently asked questions and useful information that every student must know.

Understanding the Karnataka 2nd PUC Examination Structure

The Karnataka 2nd PUC exams are held in Science, Commerce, and Arts streams. Every subject is usually assessed for 100 marks. Out of these, 80 marks will be awarded to the final board examination and 20 marks to internal assessment, like assignments, tests, and attendance.

A student has to obtain a minimum marks as specified by the PUE in both components to pass. As the internal marks (out of 20) are provided by respective colleges, the state-level board exam (out of 80) is assessed.

What are the Passing Marks Out of 80 in 2nd PUC Karnataka 2025-26?

According to the Karnataka Pre-University Education Board:

• A student must score at least 24 marks out of 80 in the final board examination.

• Additionally, they must score at least 30 marks out of 100 overall (including internal assessment + board exam).

This means that if a student secures 24/80 in the board exam and has at least 6/20 from internal assessments, they will meet the passing criteria.

Read More: Karnataka 2nd PUC 2025 Blueprint: Chapter-wise Weightage & Important Topics

Passing Marks in Karnataka 2nd PUC 2025-26

Thus, securing 24 marks out of 80 in the theory exam is mandatory, irrespective of the internal marks, to avoid failure in that subject.

Why 24 Marks Out of 80 is Crucial?

The 24/80 rule guarantees that the students have at least a basic understanding of the concepts of the subject. Even the student who scores full marks in the internal component (20/20) will not pass unless he/she score 24 marks in the main board exam.

Students should keep this in mind, because some of them put too much emphasis on internal marks. But they will not be declared as Pass without attaining the 24 marks threshold in the board exam.

Subject-Wise Passing Marks in 2nd PUC Karnataka

Although the passing rule of 24/80 applies to all subjects, some papers, like practicals in Science subjects, have a slightly different distribution.

Subject-Wise Passing Marks

For subjects like History, students often refer to resources like the 2nd PUC History book for preparation, but the evaluation structure remains the same.

What Happens If I Score Less Than 24 Out of 80?

In case a student gets less than 24 marks in the board examination of 80 marks, then he/she will be declared a failure in that subject, and it will not matter what marks he/she has obtained in the internal assessment.

For example:

• If you get 23 marks in theory (out of 80) and 15 in internal (out of 20), your total = 38/100.

• Even though your total is above 30, you will still be marked “Fail” because you did not meet the minimum 24 in theory requirement.

Can Grace Marks Help in Passing 2nd PUC Karnataka?

Yes, the Karnataka PUE board follows the policy of grace marks. Students who fall short of a few marks (1-5, depending on rules) may be given grace marks so that they may pass. This, however, is not irrevocable and is at the discretion of the board.

For example:

• If you have scored 22/80 in a subject, you might receive 2 grace marks to make it 24.

• But if you scored very low (like 15/80), grace marks will not help you.

How Internal Marks Affect Passing Criteria?

Internal marks are extremely important for the final aggregate of 100. They are awarded by the college based on tests, assignments, and attendance.

Role of Internal Assessment

This shows how even if you perform well in internal assessments, failing to score 24/80 in the board exam will still fail.

Importance of Referring to Proper Study Material

To score well, students rely on the 2nd PUC book of every subject to brush up on their basics. It may be Maths, History, or Science, but regular revision and practice of the past question papers is the key.

Students also use a question bank 2nd PUC, which can help them grasp exam patterns, frequently asked questions, and weightage-based preparation. These resources can be quite helpful in making sure that you do not only aim at passing marks but also high scores.

What is the Total Percentage to Pass the 2nd PUC?

The overall pass percentage required to pass in 2 nd PUC is 35% in each subject. Each subject is out of 100, and a student must therefore score at least 30 marks in each subject (both internal and external).

Although the theory passing mark is 24/80, the total mark when added to internal marks must exceed 30 to pass a student as being passed.

Will I pass 2nd PUC with just Practicals?

No. Although practical marks in the Science subjects (such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science) are useful in increasing the overall score, you will still need to score 24 marks out of 80 in the theory exam. Practical marks will not assist you to pass in case you fail in theory.

What happens in case I fail in one subject in the 2nd PUC Karnataka?

In case a student fails in a subject, he/she get an opportunity to appear in the Supplementary Exam which is conducted a few weeks after the main result. This will allow students a chance to clear their backlog and salvage their academic year.

However, consistently failing in multiple subjects may result in repeating the year.

How Students Should Approach Exam Preparation?

Passing should not be the only aim while preparing for Karnataka 2nd PUC. Students should target scoring well above the minimum marks. For this, they should:

• Regularly revise with their 2nd PUC book.

• Solve previous year papers and question bank 2nd PUC.

• Refer to subject-specific resources like a 2nd PUC history book for the Arts stream.

• Take mock tests to build confidence.

Final Thoughts

To summarize, the passing marks out of 80 in 2nd PUC Karnataka 2025-26 is 24 marks. Along with this, students must also secure a minimum aggregate of 30 out of 100, including internal marks, to be declared as “Pass.”

The evaluation system has been designed to ensure that students develop a minimum conceptual understanding and not just rely on internal scores or practicals. By following a disciplined study plan, using proper resources like a 2nd PUC book, practicing with a question bank 2nd puc, and revising with subject-specific guides such as a 2nd PUC history book, students can easily achieve passing marks and even score a distinction.