Karnataka SSLC Examination: A Comprehensive Overview of the State’s Gateway to Higher Education

The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination, conducted by the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB), stands as a pivotal milestone for students in Karnataka. This annual examination, equivalent to Class 10 board exams in other Indian states, serves as the crucial gateway for students aspiring to pursue higher secondary education (Pre-University Courses – PUC), diplomas, or vocational training.

Evolution of the Examination System: The “Three Annual Examinations” Model

In a significant move to enhance student support and provide multiple opportunities for success, the KSEAB has transitioned from the traditional “supplementary exam” model to a “three annual examinations” framework. This innovative system, introduced to ease pressure and improve overall pass percentages, allows students to appear for three examinations (Exam 1, Exam 2, and Exam 3) within an academic year. The final consolidated result for each student considers their highest marks obtained in each subject across all three attempts, offering a safety net and promoting continuous improvement.

For the 2025 academic year, the SSLC examinations were conducted as follows:

• Exam 1: Held from March 21 to April 4, 2025.
• Exam 2: Conducted from May 26 to June 2, 2025.
• Exam 3: Took place from July 5 to July 12, 2025.

Examination Structure and Assessment

The Karnataka SSLC examination is conducted offline, in pen-and-paper mode, across numerous examination centers throughout the state. The curriculum and syllabus are prescribed by the KSEAB, ensuring a standardized assessment of students’ knowledge and skills.

Students typically appear for six main subjects:

• First Language: (e.g., Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, English, Sanskrit) – Carries 125 marks (100 for theory, 25 for internal assessment).
• Second Language: (e.g., English, Kannada) – Carries 100 marks (80 for theory, 20 for internal assessment).
• Third Language: (e.g., Hindi, Kannada, English, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Sanskrit, Konkani, Tulu) – Carries 100 marks (80 for theory, 20 for internal assessment).
• Mathematics: Carries 100 marks (80 for theory, 20 for internal assessment).
• Science: Carries 100 marks (80 for theory, 20 for practical assessment).
• Social Science: Carries 100 marks (80 for theory, 20 for internal assessment).

Each subject typically has a duration of 3 to 3.5 hours. The question papers comprise a mix of objective-type questions (MCQs), very short answer, short answer, long answer, and essay-type questions, designed to evaluate both recall and analytical skills. A grading system, ranging from A+ (91-100%) to C (35-50%), is employed to categorize student performance. To pass the examination, students generally need to secure a minimum of 33% marks in each subject and an overall aggregate of 35%.

Results and Performance Trends

The KSEAB typically announces the results for each examination attempt separately. For 2025, the SSLC Exam 1 results were declared on April 30, with a pass percentage of 62.34%. Exam 2 results were released on June 13, showing a pass rate of 30.39%. The SSLC Exam 3 results were most recently announced on July 23, 2025.

The multi-attempt system has a noticeable impact on the cumulative pass percentage. For instance, the combined pass percentage across Exams 1 and 2 for 2025 stood at 71.43%. With the inclusion of Exam 3 results, the overall pass percentage for all categories of students (including private candidates and repeaters) in SSLC 2025 reached approximately 74.31%. This reflects the board’s commitment to providing ample opportunities for students to succeed.

Historically, the overall pass percentage for the Karnataka SSLC examinations hovers around 70-80%. Girls have consistently outperformed boys in recent years, a trend observed across multiple examination cycles.

Accessing Results and Post-Result Procedures

Students can access their SSLC examination results on the official KSEAB websites: karresults.nic.in and kseab.karnataka.gov.in. Results are typically released online and can be accessed by entering the student’s registration number and date of birth. Provisional mark sheets are available for download, with original mark sheets distributed through schools at a later date.

For students who wish to improve their scores or were unable to clear certain subjects, the “three annual examinations” system provides a structured pathway. Additionally, options for revaluation and re-totaling of answer scripts are typically made available by the board after each result declaration.

The Karnataka SSLC examination remains a cornerstone of the state’s education system, continually evolving to support student achievement and ensure a robust foundation for their future academic and professional endeavors.