In short: In CBSE Maths, Physics and Chemistry, a multi-mark answer is split into steps and each step carries part of the marks. A correct method with a calculation slip usually still earns most of the marks, but only if the steps are visible. "Missed step marking" was one of the headline complaints about On-Screen Marking in 2026. The mark splits below are illustrative, not copied from a specific CBSE paper. The real splits are in CBSE's published marking schemes, which you should study alongside.
Last updated: October 28, 2026. Figures come from the cited news reports and may change as CBSE publishes more information.
Why Step Marking Matters More Under OSM
Officials told The Indian Express that the on-screen platform requires an examiner to mark each step and answer, and that an answer book with unmarked entries cannot be submitted (Indian Express). That is good for you, as long as your steps are easy to find. A step buried in a paragraph or skipped in your head is a step the examiner cannot reward.
The same coverage listed missed step marks among the problems students found when they compared scanned answer books to their expectations. That is exactly why you should know how steps are rewarded.
How a Multi-Mark Answer Is Usually Split
Marking schemes differ by paper, but the logic is consistent:
| Component | What earns marks |
|---|---|
| Formula or principle | Writing the correct formula or stating the correct law |
| Substitution | Putting the given values in correctly |
| Working | Correct algebra or arithmetic |
| Final answer | Correct value with the correct unit |
| Diagram | Correct, labelled diagram where asked |
| Reasoning line | A short justification for a choice or conclusion |
CBSE publishes marking schemes along with sample papers and previous papers on its academic website. Published schemes also generally allow credit for any other correct method, so your approach need not match theirs word for word. Always check the exact scheme for the paper you are practising.
Illustrative Examples
The splits below are examples to show how steps are rewarded. They are not taken from an official CBSE marking scheme.
Maths: a 3-mark quadratic equation
Question: Solve x² - 5x + 6 = 0.
| Step | Illustrative marks | What to write |
|---|---|---|
| Correct method set up (factorise or formula) | 1 | x² - 3x - 2x + 6 = 0 |
| Correct working | 1 | x(x - 3) - 2(x - 3) = 0, so (x - 3)(x - 2) = 0 |
| Both roots stated | 1 | x = 3 or x = 2 |
If you factorise correctly but write only x = 3, you can lose the final mark but typically keep the first two. If you write only "3, 2" with no working, you risk all three being questioned.
Physics: a 3-mark numerical
Question: A 2 kg body is pushed with a force of 10 N. Find the acceleration.
| Step | Illustrative marks | What to write |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | 1 | F = ma |
| Substitution | 1 | 10 = 2 × a |
| Answer with unit | 1 | a = 5 m/s² |
The unit is the commonest lost mark. A correct "5" with no unit may lose the last mark.
Chemistry: a 2-mark balanced equation and a reasoning line
| Step | Illustrative marks | What to write |
|---|---|---|
| Correct reactants and products | 1 | Write the equation clearly |
| Balanced with states or conditions if asked | 1 | Balance, add conditions such as catalyst or heat |
For organic reactions, named reactions and mechanisms are often awarded per step or per product, so write each intermediate rather than jumping to the end.
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Seven Ways Students Lose Partial Marks
| Habit | Why it costs marks | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Skipping the formula line | The "formula" mark has nowhere to go | Write the formula even if it is obvious |
| Doing substitution in your head | Substitution mark is lost | Write the numbers in |
| Missing units | Final-answer mark lost | Put the unit on every final answer and often on intermediate lines |
| Burying steps in a paragraph | Examiner cannot find the step | One step per line |
| Crossing out a correct step | Mark can be lost with the step | Do not cancel what is right |
| Wrong sign carried forward silently | A single slip can cascade | Check signs at each line |
| Stopping when stuck | Zero marks for the rest | Write the next logical step anyway |
What to Do When You Are Stuck
Write what you know. State the formula. Substitute the values. Draw the diagram if one applies. Even an incomplete attempt can earn the first one or two marks, while a blank earns none. This is the most reliable way to collect partial credit.
Check Your Scanned Copy for Missed Steps
After results, you can request your scanned copy. Here is a simple checking routine:
- Open the published marking scheme for your paper.
- For each question, compare the marks you were given with the steps you wrote.
- Flag any question where every step is present and correct but the marks given are lower than the scheme suggests.
- Apply for verification or re-evaluation of those questions only, since the 2026 re-evaluation fee was charged per question.
The full process is in our guide to re-evaluation after OSM. To understand how marks are awarded more generally, read our CBSE marking scheme guide and the physics derivations with stepwise marking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get marks if my final answer is wrong but my method is right?
Usually you can earn the method and working marks, and lose only the final-answer mark. That depends on the specific marking scheme, so practise with the official ones.
Do I need to follow the exact method in the marking scheme?
No. Published schemes generally allow credit for any other correct method. Make sure your alternative is complete and clearly laid out.
Are the mark splits in this post official?
No. They are illustrations of how steps are rewarded. Official splits are in CBSE's published marking schemes for each paper.
Does OSM change step marking?
CBSE says the marking scheme did not change. What changed is that the platform pushes the examiner to mark every step, which makes visible steps even more valuable.
Should I write long explanations to collect more marks?
No. Write the steps the question needs, concisely. Extra text does not earn extra marks and can hide your steps.
How do I practise step marking?
Solve past papers, then mark yourself against the official marking scheme line by line. Our guide to writing answers with marking examples helps.
The Bottom Line
Step marking rewards students who make their thinking visible. Write the formula, substitute the numbers, show the working and box the answer with its unit. Do that in every practice paper and the habit will carry into the exam hall.
Related Guides
- CBSE Marking Scheme 2027 — How Examiners Award Marks
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Top 20 Derivations with Stepwise Marking
- How to Write Answers for On-Screen Marking — 15 Rules
- CBSE Re-Evaluation After OSM — Step by Step
- How to Write Answers in Board Exams with Subject-Wise Marking Examples
- How to Avoid Silly Mistakes in Board Exams
Sources
- Indian Express: how the OSM platform makes examiners mark each step
- NDTV: CBSE says marking scheme unchanged under OSM
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