Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board

Karnataka SSLC: how the exam works, and what is in it

The Karnataka SSLC exam totals 700 marks across three languages and three core subjects. Each non-language subject is 80 marks written plus 20 internal. You need 35% overall and 30% in every subject, and from 2026 there are no grace marks. Full chapter lists and free practice papers are below.

Total
700 marks
Per subject
80 + 20
To pass
35% / 30%
Exams
March

The rules that decide your result

Two thresholds, not one

35% in aggregate and 30% in each individual subject. A strong total does not rescue one subject that falls below the floor — this is the single most common way a candidate is caught out.

No grace marks from 2026

KSEAB has stopped topping up borderline results. The per-subject 30% now has to come off the paper itself. If one subject is weak, that is where the next month goes.

80 written, 20 internal

Every non-language subject splits 80/20. The internal 20 is awarded by your school across the year — it is quietly the easiest 20 marks on your certificate, and the easiest to throw away.

First Language is different

The First Language paper is 100 marks written with no internal component, which is why it moves your aggregate more than any other single paper.

Social Science is six subjects in one paper

This table is the one most SSLC students have never seen written down. The 80-mark Social Science paper is not evenly split — History and Geography together are 48 of the 80. Revise accordingly.

SSLC Social Science — marks by strand
SectionMarks
History 25
Geography 23
Political Science 10
Sociology 8
Economics 7
Business Studies 7
Total80

The heaviest chapters

If you have two weeks and have to choose, choose these first.

Science

  • Electricity7 marks
  • Light — Reflection and Refraction7 marks

Mathematics

  • Triangles8 marks
  • Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables8 marks

Every SSLC subject, chapter by chapter

82 chapters. KSEAB splits most subjects across two textbook Parts and the numbering restarts in Part 2 — so “Chapter 5” means nothing without the Part. Both are shown here.

Mathematics

14 chapters

KSEAB Mathematics, Parts 1 and 2

80-mark written paper. Triangles and Pair of Linear Equations carry the most marks.

Part 1

  1. 1 Real Numbers
  2. 2 Polynomials
  3. 3 Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables
  4. 4 Quadratic Equations
  5. 5 Arithmetic Progressions
  6. 6 Triangles
  7. 7 Coordinate Geometry

Part 2

  1. 8 Introduction to Trigonometry
  2. 9 Some Applications of Trigonometry
  3. 10 Circles
  4. 11 Areas Related to Circles
  5. 12 Surface Areas and Volumes
  6. 13 Statistics
  7. 14 Probability

Science

12 chapters

KSEAB Science, Parts 1 and 2

80-mark written paper. Electricity and Light carry 7 marks each — the two heaviest chapters.

Part 1

  1. 1 Chemical Reactions and Equations
  2. 2 Acids, Bases and Salts
  3. 3 Life Processes
  4. 4 Control and Coordination
  5. 5 Electricity
  6. 6 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current

Part 2

  1. 7 Metals and Non-metals
  2. 8 Carbon and its Compounds
  3. 9 Heredity
  4. 10 Light — Reflection and Refraction
  5. 11 The Human Eye and the Colourful World
  6. 12 Our Environment

Social Science

33 chapters

KSEAB Social Science, Parts 1 and 2

One 80-mark paper covering six strands. History 25 and Geography 23 are nearly two-thirds of it.

Part 1

  1. 1 The Advent of Europeans to India History
  2. 2 The Extension of the British Rule History
  3. 3 The Impact of the British Rule in India History
  4. 4 Opposition to British Rule in Karnataka and Wodeyars of Mysore History
  5. 5 Social and Religious Reform Movements History
  6. 6 Public Administration: An Introduction Political Science
  7. 7 Challenges of India and Their Remedies Political Science
  8. 8 Social Stratification Sociology
  9. 9 Work and Economic Life Sociology
  10. 10 India: Geographical Position and Physical Features Geography
  11. 11 India: Seasons Geography
  12. 12 India: Soils Geography
  13. 13 India: Forest Resources Geography
  14. 14 India: Water Resources Geography
  15. 15 Economy and Government Economics
  16. 16 Bank Transactions Business Studies

Part 2

  1. 17 The First War of Indian Independence (1857) History
  2. 18 The Freedom Struggle History
  3. 19 India After Independence History
  4. 20 World Wars and India's Role History
  5. 21 India's Foreign Policy and Global Challenges Political Science
  6. 22 World Organisations Political Science
  7. 23 Collective Behaviour and Protests Sociology
  8. 24 Social Challenges Sociology
  9. 25 India: Land Use and Agriculture Geography
  10. 26 India: Mineral and Power Resources Geography
  11. 27 India: Transport and Communication Geography
  12. 28 India: Major Industries Geography
  13. 29 India: Natural Disasters Geography
  14. 30 Rural Development Economics
  15. 31 Public Finance and Budget Economics
  16. 32 Entrepreneurship Business Studies
  17. 33 Consumer Education and Protection Business Studies

English (First Language)

23 chapters

KSEAB English First Language, Parts 1 and 2

Part 1

  1. 1 A Wrong Man in Workers' Paradise
  2. 2 The Elixir of Life
  3. 3 The Gift of the Magi
  4. 4 Louis Pasteur, Conqueror of Disease
  5. 5 What is Moral Action?
  6. 6 To a Pair of Sarus Cranes
  7. 7 Abraham Lincoln's Letter
  8. 8 Vachana
  9. 9 Lochinvar
  10. 10 A Poison Tree
  11. 11 Treasure Island
  12. 12 Karna

Part 2

  1. 13 The Eyes are not Here
  2. 14 The Girl who was Anne Frank
  3. 15 A Village Cricket Match
  4. 16 Consumerist Culture
  5. 17 The Pie and the Tart
  6. 18 Sonnet 73
  7. 19 The Stolen Boat
  8. 20 Mending Wall
  9. 21 Buttoo
  10. 22 C.L.M.
  11. 23 Ulysses and the Cyclops

Karnataka SSLC — common questions

How many marks is the Karnataka SSLC exam out of?
625 or 700 depending on the subject combination taken; the standard combination totals 700 marks. The First Language paper is 100 marks written. Every other subject is 80 marks written plus 20 marks of internal assessment.
What are the SSLC passing marks?
You need 35% in aggregate and at least 30% in each individual subject. From 2026 onwards KSEAB no longer awards grace marks, so the 30% per-subject floor has to be met on the paper.
How is the Social Science paper divided?
One 80-mark paper covering six strands: History 25 marks, Geography 23, Political Science 10, Sociology 8, Economics 7 and Business Studies 7. History and Geography together are 48 of the 80 marks.
When are the Karnataka SSLC exams held?
The main SSLC examination is normally held in March. KSEAB publishes the exact timetable on kseab.karnataka.gov.in — always confirm dates there rather than from a news site.

Exam rules and marks on this page were last checked on 23 August 2026. Boards do change them. Always confirm dates and the final syllabus against kseab.karnataka.gov.in.

Everything on this page is free to read — no sign-in, no question limit. IndiaSchool.ai builds lessons and practice for CBSE, ICSE and Karnataka board, Classes 6–10.

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