The board results are out, and a student stares at a number that does not match the paper they wrote. The answers felt right, the preparation was solid, yet the marks say otherwise. In that moment, most students ask the same question: can the answer sheet be checked again? For students of the Central Board of Secondary Education, the answer is yes — through a process called revaluation, in which the answer book is looked at afresh and the marks are reviewed.
Revaluation is the formal re-examination of an evaluated answer sheet. A student who believes the marks awarded do not reflect the answers written can apply to the board, and the board arranges for the answer book to be reviewed again. This guide explains what revaluation is, how the CBSE revaluation process works stage by stage, how it differs from rechecking, and what a student should expect after applying.
Revaluation at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | Re-examination of an evaluated answer sheet on the student’s request |
| Who offers it | CBSE for Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations |
| First step | Verification of marks (rechecking) — revaluation usually follows it |
| Who reviews the paper | A different examiner, appointed by the board |
| Possible outcomes | Marks stay the same, increase, or in rare cases decrease |
| What it cannot do | Change the question paper, the marking scheme, or the syllabus |
What Is Revaluation?
Revaluation means that an answer book which has already been marked is marked again. The second examiner goes through the answers afresh, checking whether the marks awarded match the marking scheme, whether any answer was left unevaluated, and whether the marks were added up correctly. It is a second look at the same paper — not a new examination, and not a retest.
It is important to understand what revaluation is not. It is not a chance to improve an answer, because the answers cannot be changed after the examination. It is not a guarantee of higher marks, because the second examiner may agree with the first. And it is not a shortcut around the board’s rules: the application has to be made in the order the board sets out, and within the dates the board announces.
Revaluation is also different from simply asking the school for help. The school can guide the student and can explain the process, but the application goes to the board, and the decision is the board’s. That is why the steps matter, and why a student who understands them is less likely to miss a date or apply for the wrong thing.
Rechecking vs Revaluation: The Difference
Students often confuse rechecking with revaluation. They sound similar, and both are ways of asking the board to look at an answer book again, but they are different checks, done by different people, with different results.
| Feature | Rechecking | Revaluation |
|---|---|---|
| What is checked | Whether the marks were added correctly, and whether any answer was left unevaluated | Whether the marks awarded for each answer match the marking scheme |
| Who checks it | The board’s office staff | A fresh subject examiner |
| Are answers read again | No — the answers themselves are not re-read | Yes — each answer is read again |
| Marks can change | Only if a totalling or omission error is found | Yes, if the fresh examiner judges differently |
| Fee | Lower, per subject | Higher, per subject |
| When to use it | When the student suspects a totalling error | When the student believes an answer was under-marked |
The order matters. Rechecking comes first, and it is the only step that can be taken without a photocopy of the answer book. A student who wants revaluation must first apply for verification of marks, and then for a photocopy of the evaluated answer book, and only then can the student apply for revaluation. Each stage has its own fee and its own last date, and a missed date at any stage closes the process.
The other difference is cost. Rechecking costs less because it is a clerical check. Revaluation costs more because it is a full academic review by a subject expert. A student should not pay for revaluation without first using the cheaper steps to decide whether it is worth it.
The CBSE Revaluation Process, Stage by Stage
The CBSE revaluation process runs in stages. Each stage has its own dates and its own fee, and each stage must be completed before the next one opens. The order is fixed, and skipping a stage is not possible.
Stage 1: The Result Is Declared
The process begins when the board declares the Class 10 or Class 12 results. The student checks the marks subject by subject on the board’s result portal and on the marksheet issued afterwards. This is the moment to compare the marks with expectations — not casually, but subject by subject, and with the question paper in hand where possible.
Stage 2: Verification of Marks
The first application a student makes is for verification of marks. The application is submitted online through the board’s portal, within the window the board announces after the results. The board then checks the totalling and whether any answer was left unevaluated. The result of verification is communicated to the student, and if an error is found, the marks are corrected and a revised marksheet is issued.
Stage 3: Photocopy of the Answer Book
If the student still has doubts after verification, the next step is to apply for a photocopy of the evaluated answer book. The photocopy shows the marks given for each answer, the examiner’s ticks and remarks, and the totalling. This is the stage at which a student can see the actual evaluation, and can judge whether an answer was marked fairly. The photocopy is issued only to the student who appeared for the examination, and it must be applied for within the dates the board sets.
Stage 4: Application for Revaluation
After seeing the photocopy, a student who believes an answer was under-marked can apply for revaluation. The application is made online, for specific questions and not for the whole paper, and it carries a fee for each question. The board sets a limit on the number of questions that can be sent for revaluation, and the application must be made within the window the board announces.
Stage 5: Re-Evaluation by a Fresh Examiner
Once the application is accepted, the answer book is sent to a different examiner. That examiner reads the answers again and awards marks afresh, following the same marking scheme. The first examiner’s marks are not shown to the second examiner, so the review is independent.
Stage 6: The Outcome
When the fresh examiner has finished, the board compares the two sets of marks. If the marks are the same, the result stands. If the marks have changed, the result is updated and a revised marksheet is issued. The result after revaluation is final, and no further application is entertained for the same answer book.
What Revaluation Can and Cannot Change
Revaluation can correct marks that were awarded wrongly. If an answer was left unevaluated, it can be evaluated. If the marks were added incorrectly, the total can be corrected. If a correct step was missed, the marks for it can be given. In all of these cases, the change comes from the answer book itself, and from nothing else.
What revaluation cannot do is just as important. It cannot add marks for an answer that is wrong. It cannot change the marking scheme, or ask the examiner to be generous. It cannot turn a wrong answer into a right one, and it cannot improve a paper that was weak in the first place. A student who expects revaluation to fix a poor performance will be disappointed.
The most important point is that revaluation is a review of the marking, not of the student’s knowledge. The paper is the same, the answers are the same, and the marking scheme is the same. Only the judgement is fresh, and that judgement can go either way.
How to Decide Whether to Apply
Deciding whether to apply for revaluation is a matter of three questions. The first is whether there is a specific answer, or a specific set of answers, that the student believes was under-marked. The second is whether the student has seen the photocopy and can point to the place where the marks seem wrong. The third is whether the student is ready for the result to go either way — up, or down.
A student who can answer all three questions has a clear case. A student who cannot point to a specific answer, or who has not seen the photocopy, is applying on hope rather than evidence. And hope is a poor reason to spend the fee and risk the marks.
Before deciding, the student should also consider the grade boundaries. A student applying for a subject where the marks are already comfortably above the passing marks out of 100 may gain little and risk something. A student on the edge of a grade boundary, with a clear case from the photocopy, has the most to gain.
Common Mistakes in the Revaluation Process
The process is straightforward, but students repeat the same mistakes every year. Avoiding them costs nothing, and it saves the fee and the time.
- Skipping verification and going straight to revaluation. The board’s sequence is verification first, then photocopy, then revaluation. Trying to jump stages wastes the window and the application is not accepted.
- Applying without seeing the photocopy. A student who applies for revaluation without seeing the answer book is guessing. The photocopy is the evidence on which the decision should be based.
- Applying for too many subjects. Revaluation is charged per question and per subject. Applying for every subject multiplies the fee, and it also multiplies the risk that marks in one subject go down.
- Missing the window. Each stage has its own dates. A student who applies late for verification cannot apply for revaluation at all, however strong the case.
- Expecting the whole paper to be re-marked. Revaluation is for specific questions, not for the whole paper. A student who expects the entire answer book to be read again will be disappointed.
- Treating revaluation as a second attempt. Revaluation is not a second attempt at the examination. The answers are the same, and the only thing that changes is the judgement of those answers.
After Revaluation: What Happens Next
When the process is complete, the board issues a revised marksheet if the marks have changed, or confirms the original result if they have not. The new marks, if any, are the marks that count. The student can then use the revised marksheet for admissions, for scholarships, and for the provisional certificate that follows the final result.
If the marks have gone up, the student’s total and percentage also go up. If the marks have gone down, the total and percentage go down as well, and the revised marksheet replaces the original. There is no way to keep the higher of the two marks — the later result is the final result.
Once the result is final, the student can work out the new percentage and the new grade. Students who want to see where the result stands can use the free CGPA calculator to see where the result stands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is revaluation?
Revaluation is the re-checking of an evaluated answer book by a second examiner, appointed by the board. The second examiner reads the answers again and checks whether the marks awarded match the marking scheme. The marks can stay the same, go up, or go down.
What is the difference between rechecking and revaluation?
Rechecking is a check of the totalling and of whether any answer was left unevaluated. Revaluation is a fresh reading of the answers by a second examiner, who awards marks afresh. Rechecking is a clerical check; revaluation is an academic review.
Can marks decrease after revaluation?
Yes. If the second examiner finds that an answer was marked too generously, the marks can be reduced. The revised marks are final, whether they are higher or lower than the original marks.
How many subjects can a student apply for revaluation?
The board sets the limit each year, and it is usually a small number of subjects, with a limit on the number of questions per subject. Students should check the board’s notification for the year they appeared, on the official CBSE website, for the exact rules.
Is revaluation available for practical and internal assessment marks?
No. Revaluation is for the theory papers only. Practical marks and internal assessment marks are awarded by the school, and they are not sent for revaluation. A student who has a concern about those marks should speak to the school.
Conclusion
Revaluation is a careful, step-by-step process, and it rewards the student who follows it in order. Verification first, then the photocopy, then the application, and then the outcome. A student who skips a step, or who applies without looking at the answer book, is likely to waste the fee and the time.
The best time to think about revaluation is before the results are declared, not after. A student who knows the process in advance can act quickly when the window opens, and can make a decision based on evidence rather than on hope. And once the result is final, the student can work out the new percentage with the free CGPA calculator — enter the grades, and the average appears at once.
