Kerala's Class 10 examinations have seen a slight dip in the overall pass percentage, with 99.07% of students eligible for higher studies this year. This marks a decrease from the 99.5% recorded in 2025. A more striking shift is observed in the number of students achieving perfect scores; 30,514 students secured full A+ grades, a significant drop of over 50% from the 61,449 who attained the same distinction last year.
The examination, which saw 4.14 lakh regular students appear, resulted in 4.10 lakh passing. The data also reveals a gendered performance difference, with girls outperforming boys in securing top grades.
Performance Metrics Under Scrutiny
The stark reduction in perfect scores suggests a potential re-evaluation of grading or a more rigorous examination standard this cycle. While the overall pass rate remains impressively high, the precipitous fall in full A+ achievers warrants closer examination of the factors contributing to this trend.
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Gendered Outcomes
Girls demonstrated a higher success rate and a greater propensity for achieving top marks:
| Gender | Appeared | Passed | Success Rate | Full A+ Grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Girls | 2,03,563 | 2,01,982 | 99.22% | 20,771 |
| Boys | 2,10,727 | 2,08,474 | 98.93% | 9,743 |
Girls secured more than double the number of full A+ grades compared to boys, despite a slightly lower overall appearance number.
Regional Disparities
Geographic areas exhibited varied outcomes. While Kuttanad celebrated a perfect 100% pass rate with all 1,787 candidates qualifying, Tirur recorded the lowest pass percentage among education districts at 96.61%. Malappuram district led in the total number of full A+ scorers, whereas Kollam district reported the highest share of full A+ achievers at 11.6%.
School Success and Examination Logistics
A total of 2,105 schools achieved 100% success rates, with government-run institutions accounting for 767 and aided schools for 930 of these perfect outcomes. The examination results were announced on May 16, 2026, and students could access their scores through official portals like results.kite.kerala.gov.in and pareekshabhavan.kerala.gov.in, as well as via SMS services and DigiLocker.
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Historical Context
In 2025, the Kerala SSLC examination saw over 4.2 lakh students appear, with a pass percentage of 99.5%. That year, 61,449 students achieved full A+ grades, and 856 government schools reported 100% success. Notably, in the previous year, Thiruvananthapuram district had registered the lowest pass rate, a stark contrast to its 98% pass rate reported in the current cycle.
