AP Intermediate Board Brings Relief – Half Mark Grace for Science Students

Good news for Andhra Pradesh Intermediate students! The AP Board of Intermediate Education (BIEAP) has announced key reforms in the exam system following the implementation of the NCERT syllabus from this academic year. Among the major changes, science students will now receive a half-mark grace in their pass marks — meaning, even if a student scores 59 marks instead of 59.5, they will still be declared pass.

 New Pass Mark Policy Explained

This rule applies to Physics, Chemistry, and Biology subjects. Earlier, students needed a minimum of 59.5 marks across both years’ written exams to pass, but now it has been reduced to 59 marks.
The half mark will be adjusted in the second-year practical exam scores. Accordingly, the passing marks for practicals have been revised from 10.5 to 11 marks.

 Other Key Reforms

• One-mark questions introduced in First Year exams for the first time.

• No choice options for 1-mark or 2-mark questions.

• Botany and Zoology papers merged into a single Biology paper — 43 marks from Botany and 42 marks from Zoology.

 Old Rules Continue

Some older rules remain unchanged. Students who score high marks in one subject and at least 30% in other subjects will still be considered pass.
The Geography syllabus remains the same with no modifications.

Additionally, passing the sixth optional subject is no longer mandatory — the board will issue a separate memo for it.