Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry continued to dominate as the most opted and highest-performing subjects across Cambridge International's IGCSE and International AS (Grade 11) and A (Grade 12) Level examinations in India's March 2026 session. This reflects sustained student preference for science and quantitative disciplines across secondary and senior secondary education. As many as 2,000 Cambridge board students across Mumbai received their results on Tuesday. Approximately 5,000 students sat for the exams across India, representing 447 schools.
School-Level Performance Highlights
School-level results showed a mixed but generally upward shift in top-end performance. At D.G. Khetan International School, Principal Kavita Aggarwal, who is also Chairperson of the Members of International Schools Association (MISA), reported that the school's highest scorer achieved 97.3%, improving on last year's 96%, while two students secured a perfect 100 in English. “The performance this year is much better than last year,” Aggarwal said, adding that the number of students scoring above 95% rose sharply from around 4–5 last year to 18 this year, while those above 90% increased from 48 to 58.
However, the grade distribution showed some variation at the top end, with A+ grades declining from 103 to 59 and A grades marginally dipping from 80 to 76. Aggarwal attributed part of the fluctuation to a tougher Mathematics paper this year.
At Jamnabai Narsee School, Principal Jasmine Madhani noted a noticeable rise in high performers. “There has been an increase in high scorers,” she said, adding that the proportion of students securing A and A+ grades rose from 83% last year to 93% this year, alongside a 100% pass rate.
Overall Trends and Subject Performance
Educators across institutions also reported stronger outcomes in English and science subjects overall. According to Anushka Chatterji from Cambridge University Press and Assessment, the examination pattern across subjects remained balanced this year, with Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry emerging as the strongest-performing subjects. She also noted a significant rise in scores overall.
Cambridge International Education stated that the March 2026 examination series recorded a 7% year-on-year rise in total entries from 447 schools across India. The sharpest growth came at the senior secondary stage, with AS Level entries rising 16% and A Level entries increasing 8%, while overall AS and A Level registrations grew 12%. IGCSE entries also rose by 6%.
(Inputs by Meghna Rewachand and Srimoyee Palit)
