FA and SA Marks Explained: How CCE Grading Works in State-Board Schools

If your child studies in a Telangana or Andhra Pradesh state-board school, the report card probably shows rows of letters like FA1, SA1 and A2 instead of plain marks. Many parents find this confusing, and even new teachers sometimes struggle to explain how a final grade is reached. This guide walks through the system step by step, using the official Telangana SCERT grading register as the main reference, and points out where practice differs.

One honest warning before we start: the details of CCE have been revised several times. Mark splits, the number of tools and even the use of grades for the Class 10 public exam have changed over the years. Treat the numbers below as the standard pattern, and check your school's circular for the current academic year.

What is CCE?

CCE stands for Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation. The Right to Education Act, 2009 asks schools to use continuous and comprehensive evaluation of a child's understanding and ability to apply knowledge, and state boards built their own systems around that idea.

• Continuous means the child is assessed throughout the year, not only in one big exam at the end.
• Comprehensive means the assessment covers more than written answers. It includes speaking, projects, reading, experiments and co-curricular areas such as art, physical education and value education.

In practice, this gives two kinds of assessment: formative (small, regular checks during learning) and summative (term-end written exams).

Formative Assessments: FA1 to FA4

Formative Assessments happen four times a year, usually spread so that two fall before SA1 and two before SA2. They are meant to show how a child is learning, so the teacher can adjust teaching early.

The four FA tools

The Telangana SCERT high-school CCE register lists four tools for each FA in curricular subjects:

So a child who scores 8/10 in participation, 7/10 in written work, 9/10 in the project and 14/20 in the slip test gets 4 + 3.5 + 4.5 + 3.5 = 15.5 out of 20 for that FA.

Summative Assessments: SA1 and SA2

Summative Assessments are the term-end written exams. SA1 is held in the middle of the year and SA2 at the end. In the SCERT high-school register, the SA paper is out of 80 marks in curricular subjects.

For classes 6 to 8, teachers record SA marks under each subject's academic standards. For example, mathematics has standards such as problem solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections and representation. For classes 9 and 10, the register records SA marks as a single total rather than standard by standard.

How the grade is calculated

Here is the method described in the Telangana SCERT high-school register:

1. SA1 term result (out of 100): average of FA1 and FA2 (out of 20) + SA1 written exam (out of 80).
2. Annual result (out of 100): average of all four FAs (out of 20) + SA2 written exam (out of 80). This is the 20% and 80% split.
3. Convert to a grade: the total out of 100 is matched to the grade table below.

A worked example

Suppose a Class 8 student scores 16, 15, 17 and 18 out of 20 in FA1 to FA4 in science, and 62 out of 80 in SA2.

• Average of four FAs = (16 + 15 + 17 + 18) / 4 = 16.5 out of 20
• Annual total = 16.5 + 62 = 78.5 out of 100
• Grade = B1 (71 to 80), 8 grade points

Notice that a steady FA record lifts the final result. If the same student had averaged 10 in FAs, the total would drop to 72, still B1 but only just.

The grade table

The SCERT register gives two scales: one for Telugu, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies, and a separate one for the second language (usually Hindi).

The register also gives a band table for an FA score out of 20, so teachers can show a grade for each FA:

Where the pattern differs

• Class 10 public exam: the SSC exam is conducted by the state board, not the school. For years it used the same A1 to E grades with 20 internal (FA) marks and 80 exam marks. Recent reports say Telangana has removed internal marks and moved SSC results to marks, but sources disagree on the exact year. Check the latest board notification.
• Andhra Pradesh: AP schools also run FA1 to FA4 and SA exams, and some years have used class-based assessments with different paper sizes. AP circulars set their own marks and weightage, which may not match the Telangana register.
• Primary classes: classes 1 to 5 often use simpler formats and fewer tools. Ask the school which scale it uses.
• Private state-board schools: many follow the SCERT pattern but adjust tool marks or rounding rules. The school should explain its method in writing.

School software (such as Nipun Schools) can be set up to calculate FA averages, SA totals and grades automatically, which reduces copying errors, but the rules it uses should still match your board's circular.

How parents should read the report card

1. Look at the trend, not one grade. Compare FA1 with FA2, and SA1 with SA2. A move from C1 to B2 is real progress.
2. Check FA tool scores if they are shown. Low project or participation marks often point to missed work, not weak understanding.
3. Compare subjects. If one subject is two grades lower than the rest, that is where to focus.
4. Read the remarks. Teachers' comments usually explain what the grade cannot. Our guide to report card comments shows what good remarks look like.
5. Ask specific questions. At the next meeting, ask which academic standard is weak and what the child can practise at home. See questions to ask at a parent-teacher meeting.

How teachers can record FA evidence fairly

Because three of the four FA tools rely on teacher judgement, fairness matters. These habits help:

• Use a simple rubric for each tool. For a project, decide in advance how many marks go to content, presentation and effort, and share it with students.
• Record as you go. Mark participation within the same week. Filling it in from memory at the end of the term leads to guesswork.
• Keep evidence. Store slip test sheets, project titles and notes on oral responses. If a parent questions a mark, you can show the basis.
• Give every child a fair chance to participate. Quieter children may need a written option or a one-to-one moment to show what they know.
• Apply the reduction rule the same way for everyone. If a tool is marked out of 10 and reduced to 5, use one rounding rule for the whole class.
• Use FA results to teach. If half the class scores low on one tool, reteach that skill before the next FA.

Frequently asked questions