Kerala Plus Two SAY Exam 2026: Is 35 Marks a Safe Score? Minimum Pass Marks Explained

Yes, 35 marks is above the minimum passing threshold in the Kerala Plus Two SAY Exam 2026. The minimum aggregate pass mark is 30 out of 100 (30%), so scoring 35 marks clears the aggregate bar with a five-mark buffer — but students must also separately score at least 30% in the Terminal Examination (theory paper) to be declared passed.

The DHSE Kerala (Department of Higher Secondary Education) conducts the SAY (Save A Year) examination for students who could not clear one or more subjects in the annual Plus Two examination. The SAY exam follows the same evaluation structure and passing criteria as the regular Plus Two examination. Understanding the exact minimum marks helps students set the right target for their SAY attempt.

• Minimum aggregate pass marks: 30 out of 100 (30%) per subject
• Minimum theory (Terminal Examination) pass marks: 24 out of 80 for non-practical subjects; 18 out of 60 for practical subjects
• 35 marks = 35% — five marks above the aggregate minimum, providing a small safety buffer
• Kerala Plus Two SAY Exam 2026 dates: June 29 to July 3, 2026
• Conducting body: DHSE Kerala — dhsekerala.gov.in

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Kerala Plus Two SAY Exam 2026 Minimum Pass Marks

DHSE Kerala sets the passing bar at 30% marks in aggregate and 30% in the Terminal Examination (theory paper) separately. Both conditions must be satisfied to pass a subject. Meeting one but not the other results in a fail for that subject.

Students appearing in the SAY exam sit only the Terminal Examination (theory paper). Internal Assessment (CE) marks from the annual examination are carried forward automatically to the SAY marksheet and added to the theory marks to compute the aggregate.

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Subject-wise Marks Breakdown and Minimum Scores

Every Kerala Plus Two subject carries 100 marks in total, split between theory and internal or practical components. The split determines how many marks you need in each part to be declared passed.

For practical subjects, Practical Examination (PE) marks are also carried forward to the SAY marksheet. Only the Terminal Examination (theory) component is re-attempted during the SAY exam.

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Is 35 Marks a Safe Score in SAY Exam 2026?

35 marks (35%) clears the minimum aggregate pass mark of 30 marks (30%), making it a safe score — provided the theory minimum is also met. The table below shows how different mark distributions determine the final result for a student targeting 35 total.

The key takeaway: 35 marks is a safe passing score only when at least 24 marks come from the theory paper (for non-practical subjects such as English and Mathematics) or at least 18 marks (for practical subjects such as Physics and Chemistry). Students whose CE and Practical marks are already high benefit from a lower theory requirement to reach 35 total — but the theory minimum is non-negotiable regardless of aggregate.

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Grading System and What 35 Marks Means on Your Marksheet

DHSE Kerala uses a letter-grade system. A score of 35 marks out of 100 falls in the D+ grade band (30–39 marks), which is the minimum passing grade awarded by the board.

A D+ grade on the SAY marksheet is a valid passing grade accepted for undergraduate college admissions in Kerala. Students aiming for competitive programmes should note that many courses set their own minimum percentage requirements above 30%. If your target institution requires 45% or 50%, scoring just 35 marks will not meet that bar — aim higher where possible.

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Tips to Score Above 35 Marks in SAY Exam 2026

Since the SAY exam covers the same syllabus as the annual Plus Two examination, targeted revision over a few weeks can comfortably push you above the 35-mark threshold.

• Prioritise high-weightage chapters: Identify which chapters carry the most marks in your subject’s Terminal Examination and revise those first.
• Solve previous-year question papers: DHSE Kerala past papers help you understand question patterns and manage time better during the exam.
• Aim for 30+ marks in theory: Even if your CE marks are solid, target at least 28–30 in the theory paper to stay comfortably above the TE minimum of 24 marks for non-practical subjects.
• Attempt every question: There is no negative marking in the Kerala Plus Two SAY exam — leaving questions blank only hurts your score.
• Verify your carry-forward marks before the exam: Log in to the DHSE Kerala portal and check your CE and Practical marks so you know exactly how many theory marks you need to clear 30 in aggregate.