CBSE OSM 2026: Students Question Marks After High JEE Percentiles, Low Class 12 Scores

Prof. Swapnil Bisht — Sun, 17 May 2026 08:30:51 +0000

The CBSE OSM results for 2026 have created a lot of confusion for students who scored a high percentile in JEE Main but got surprisingly low marks in their Class 12 exams. Many students and parents are asking about the evaluation process and emphasizing the difference between practical performance, marks in board exam and competitive exam results. Experts attribute the variations to this year’s introduction of a new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system by CBSE. Students want to know how the subjective and objective parts were marked, and if the overall marks may have been affected by digitisation or marking errors.

Impact on Students and Parents

Students scoring above 99 percentile in JEE Main have scored less than 75% marks in their Class 12.
Parents worried about career implications for engineering admissions.
Stress over difference between board and competitive exam scores
CBSE helplines are receiving requests for review or re-evaluation of marks
Experts say it’s best for students to remain calm and focus on the admission processes.

Understanding OSM Evaluation System

OSM or On-Screen Marking used for the digitization of the evaluation process.
Trained evaluators will scan and evaluate the answer sheets online.
Algorithmic moderation to ensure consistent marking.
Errors caused either by technical problems or by interpretation by the evaluators.
CBSE offers online grievance redressal for disputed marks.

Technical Challenges in OSM

Some scanned sheets might be hard to read and could impact the marks.
Evaluator bias was reduced but was not eliminated.
Totals can also be wrong due to software errors.
Because of the large number of papers there may be some minor inconsistencies.
The digital marking is still in the early implementation years of being refined.

Steps Students Can Take

Apply online for re-evaluation/photocopy of answer sheets.
Cross check marks with expected scoring pattern and JEE answers.
Lodge formal complaints through CBSE helpline or portal.
Consult teachers or counseling centers.
Careers and entrance exams in focus.

Comparison Table of Marks

Student Name	Class 12 Score (%)	JEE Main Percentile	Expected Score (%)
Aman Sharma	72	99.2	88-90
Riya Verma	74	99.5	90+
Vikram Singh	70	99.0	87-89
Sanya Kapoor	73	99.3	88-90

Expert Advice for Students

There are always small variations in the first year OSM implementation, don’t panic.
Prepare all documents and digital evidence in order for review requests
Focus on the entrance tests. One criterion is board scores.