IGNOU TEE Passing Marks & Evaluation Criteria (Complete Beginner Guide)

The IGNOU Term-End Examination (TEE) is a crucial part of every IGNOU student’s academic journey. Whether you are in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diploma, Certificate, BCA, MCA, MBA, or any other program, it’s important to know the passing marks and evaluation system to score well and avoid confusion.

Many new IGNOU students feel stressed because they don’t fully understand:

What are the passing marks in IGNOU TEE?
How are assignments and theory combined?
What percentage is needed to pass?
What should you score in theory and assignments individually?
How is the grade card calculated?
What happens if you fail the TEE?
How are practicals, pro jects, and vivas evaluated?
What are the rules for backlogs and revaluation?

This guide answers everything in simple terms so beginners can easily grasp the IGNOU TEE passing criteria and evaluation system.

This article serves as your detailed, student-friendly guide, created for those who find complicated rules, notifications, and circulars confusing.

Let’s begin with the basics.

What is IGNOU TEE and Why Are Passing Marks Important?

IGNOU holds the Term-End Examination (TEE) twice a year:

June Session
December Session

These exams assess your understanding of IGNOU’s self-learning materials (blocks, units, PDFs, videos, audio lectures).

Passing the TEE is essential because:

You cannot finish your program without passing the TEE.
Even if you do well in assignments, you MUST pass the TEE separately.
The TEE accounts for 70% (for most programs) of your final score.
Many students fail because they don’t fully understand the passing rules.

Understanding the evaluation criteria helps you study effectively and prevents wasting a year.

IGNOU TEE Passing Marks (Program-Wise Breakdown)

IGNOU has a clear passing rule for almost all programs.

Minimum Passing Marks for IGNOU TEE (Theory Exam)

40% is needed to pass the TEE (minimum)

Examples:
If your theory exam is out of 70 marks, you need at least:

28 marks (since 40% of 70 = 28)

If your theory exam is out of 100 marks, you need:

40 marks

Minimum Passing Marks for IGNOU Assignments

Assignments carry 30% weight in most programs.

To pass assignments, students must score:

50% marks (minimum)

Examples:
If the assignment is out of 100 marks, passing marks = 50
If the assignment is out of 50 marks, passing marks = 25

Passing Marks For Practicals (If Applicable)

The same rule applies:

40% in the practical exam
40% in the practical file/viva

Combined Passing Requirement

Many IGNOU students get confused here:

You MUST pass both:

Assignments (minimum 50%)
Theory (TEE) (minimum 40%)

Even if your combined score is high, you will not pass the course unless both components are cleared individually.

IGNOU TEE Evaluation System: Complete Breakdown

IGNOU uses a continuous evaluation system, which includes:

Assignments
Theory Exams (TEE)
Practical Exams
Project & Viva (for some courses)
Internship (for certain programs)
Lab work (BCA/MCA/BSc)

Each component has its own passing criteria.

Assignment Evaluation – Weightage, Passing Marks, Rules

Assignments play a significant role in your final score.

Assignment Weightage

Most IGNOU programs follow this structure:

Component	Weightage
Assignment	30%
Theory TEE	70%

Table of Contents

(Except for programs like BCA/MCA where assignments are 25%)

Why Assignments Matter

Assignments increase your percentage.
If you fail the assignment, YOU FAIL the subject—even if you score full marks in the TEE.
You cannot take the TEE without submitting assignments.
The grade card will not update until assignment marks are recorded.

Assignment Passing Marks

50% is necessary to pass

Where to Check Assignment Status

Official IGNOU link:
https://admission.ignou.ac.in/changeadmdata/StatusAssignment.asp

IGNOU Term-End Exam (TEE) Evaluation Rules

The TEE is the key exam component.

Here’s how IGNOU evaluates your performance:

Theory Evaluation (Main TEE Paper)

The TEE generally consists of:

100 marks → 70 for TEE + 30 for assignments
Or 70 marks (for some courses)

Passing Marks in Theory

40% is required
Students scoring 39.5 is considered 40 only in rare cases (depends on the evaluator)

How IGNOU Checks Answer Sheets

IGNOU uses a manual evaluation system:

Sheets are manually checked by qualified subject experts
Evaluators follow strict marking patterns
Marks depend heavily on how well the answers are written
Evaluators assess:
Concept clarity
Use of IGNOU material
Presentation
Examples
Introduction and conclusion
Logical structure
Neat handwriting

IGNOU Marking Style

The evaluator may give:

Full marks if the answer is complete
Partial marks if the content is correct but incomplete
Zero if the answer is off-topic

IGNOU does NOT have negative marking.

IGNOU Practical Evaluation Criteria (If Applicable)

Programs with practical exams include:

BSc
BCA
MCA
BLIS / MLIS
Some diploma and certificate courses

Typical practical components include:

Practical file
Hands-on tasks
Lab output
Viva

Each component requires a minimum of 40% to pass.

IGNOU Project/Dissertation Evaluation Criteria

Many programs require project work:

BCA (BCSP 064)
MCA (MCSP 060)
MBA
MSW
MTM
MLIS
PG Diploma programs

Evaluation consists of:

Project Report
Viva Voce
Topic relevance
Originality
Research quality

Minimum passing marks:

40% (TEE style)

IGNOU Combined Result Calculation (Example)

Let’s take an example to clarify the combined passing rule.

Course Total Marks = 100

Assignment = 30
TEE = 70

If a student scores:

Assignment = 18/30
TEE = 40/70

Total = 58/100 → Pass?

❌ No, because assignment marks are below 50%
Even though the total is high, the student fails.

Another example:

Assignment = 20/30
TEE = 25/70

Total = 45/100 → Pass?

❌ No, because TEE marks are below 40%

Final example:

Assignment = 22/30
TEE = 32/70

Total = 54/100 → Pass?

✅ Yes – Passed both components individually

IGNOU Grading System Explained (10-Point Scale)

IGNOU’s grade card uses:

Grade	Marks Range	Performance
A	80–100	Excellent
B	60–79	Very Good
C	50–59	Good
D	40–49	Satisfactory
E	Below 40	Fail

Your final letter grade is based on the total combined score.

Grade card link:
https://gradecard.ignou.ac.in

IGNOU Passing Rules (Course-Wise)

Bachelor’s Degree (BAG, BComG, BScG)

Assignment 30%
TEE 70%
Passed in both required

Master’s Degree (MA, MCom, MSc)

Same rule: 30% + 70%
More analytical questions

BCA/MCA

Assignments (25%)
Theory (75%)
Practical exams required

MBA

Case-based evaluation
Viva + projects

Diploma/Certificate Programs

Some have 60:40 evaluation
Shorter exam duration

IGNOU Fail, Backlog, and Reappear Rules

If you fail TEE

You can reappear in the next:

June TEE
December TEE

There are no limits on attempts until program duration expires.

If you fail Assignments

You must submit new assignments next cycle.

If both are failed

You must repeat both components.

IGNOU Revaluation Rules (If You Think Marks Are Low)

If you believe your marks are unfairly low:

Revaluation link:
https://onlinerr.ignou.ac.in/

You can apply within 30 days of the result announcement.

IGNOU Answer Script Photocopy

You can request a copy of your answer sheet.

Link:
https://onlinerr.ignou.ac.in/Photocopy.aspx

IGNOU Improvement Exam Rules

If you PASS but want BETTER marks.

Improvement is allowed if:

UG score < 55%
PG score < 50%

Link:
https://www.ignou.ac.in

IGNOU Exam Preparation Based on Evaluation Criteria

To pass comfortably, follow this plan:

Focus on Assignments First

Because:

They yield easy marks
They boost your percentage
They help understand exam topics

Read:
IGNOU Assignment Tips
https://academicvox.com/ignou-assignment-status-not-updating-reasons-solutions/

Study from IGNOU Books Only

TEE questions come directly from IGNOU study material.

Practice Writing Long Answers

Use:

Introduction
Body with headings
Examples
Conclusion

Solve Previous Year Question Papers

IGNOU often repeats concepts.

Why Students Fail in IGNOU (Real Reasons)

Not understanding the passing rules
Not submitting assignments correctly
Writing incomplete answers
Using complex language instead of simple words
Not reading IGNOU material
Leaving answers half-finished
Poor time management during the TEE
Weak handwriting and messy presentation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is 40% enough to pass TEE?

Yes.

Is 50% required in assignments?

Yes.

What if I pass the TEE but fail the assignment?

You fail.

Does IGNOU have negative marking?

No.

How many times can I reappear?

Unlimited attempts within the program duration.

Conclusion

The IGNOU TEE evaluation system is straightforward once you grasp the two main rules:

40% minimum in TEE
50% minimum in Assignments

Passing both components separately is crucial for smoothly clearing IGNOU exams. By studying IGNOU books, writing clear answers, and practicing past papers, scoring well becomes much easier.

IGNOU is designed for flexible, easygoing learning—you just need the right information and strategy.