What is Compartment Exam? Who Can Apply, Rules, Scrutiny & Pass Criteria Explained
Receiving a compartment or supplementary status on your Class 10 or 12 board marksheet can be overwhelming, but it is not the end of the road. Every year, lakhs of students use compartment examinations to successfully clear their deficient subjects and progress to higher education without losing a single academic year.
What Exactly Is a Compartment Examination?
A compartment examination (also termed Supplementary Examination or Second Examination by various state boards) is a second-chance testing opportunity offered by educational boards to candidates who have failed to secure minimum passing marks in one or two subjects while passing the remaining subjects.
Who Is Eligible to Appear in Compartment Exams?
Eligibility guidelines vary slightly across examination authorities:
- CBSE Class 10: A student who fails in one or two subjects out of the five main subjects is placed in Compartment category. If the student opted for a 6th additional subject and passed it, the board automatically replaces the failed main subject under the skill subject substitution rule.
- CBSE Class 12: A student who fails in only ONE subject is eligible for Compartment. Failing two or more subjects results in Essential Repeat (ER).
- State Boards (UP, Bihar, Maharashtra): Most state boards permit compartment/re-exam for up to two subjects in Matriculation. Maharashtra board offers the ATKT (Allowed To Keep Term) provision allowing provisional entry to junior college.
Differences: Compartment vs. Supplementary vs. Improvement vs. Scrutiny
| Examination Type | Purpose | Who Can Apply? | Impact on Marksheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compartment Exam | Clearing 1 or 2 failed subjects | Students placed in ‘Compartment’ status | Original marksheet updated with passing grades |
| Improvement Exam | Enhancing passing scores to meet eligibility cutoffs | Passed students dissatisfied with scores | Higher score between attempts is retained |
| Scrutiny / Rechecking | Retotalling marks and checking unevaluated questions | Any candidate doubting evaluation | Marks may increase, remain unchanged, or decrease |
| NIOS Stream 2 (On-Demand) | Saving an academic year via open schooling | Failed board students seeking immediate credit transfer | Valid central government certification |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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