IITM BS Pass Mark: Is It 40 or 50 Out of 100?

The official sources do not agree. The IITM BS Data Science student handbook says you pass a course when your Total Course Score (T) is 40 or more out of 100, which gives you an E grade. The DS academics page on study.iitm.ac.in says T must be 50 or more. The grading document for your term is the one to follow, so check the pass line there for each course.

What each source says

Both handbooks also say T is the sum of the parts defined in the grading document of that term. So the handbook itself sends you to the grading document.

The grade table in the handbook

The conflict matters in one band only: a T from 40 up to just below 50. The handbook calls that a pass with an E. The academics page rule would make it a fail.

Three worked examples

• T is 45. Handbook: pass, E grade, 4 points. Academics page: fail. This is the case where you must read your grading document.
• T is 52. Pass under both. The handbook gives a D with 6 points.
• T is 38. Fail under both. You get a U and repeat the full course.

Why the page and the handbook may differ

We can only show what the pages say, not why. The detailed assessment text on the DS academics page also differs from the handbook in other places:

• It uses the best 5 of the first 9 weekly assignments. The handbook says the best 5 of the first 7.
• It gives T as the average quiz score out of 50 plus the end term score out of 50, with no assignment part.
• The DS FAQ page still mentions three quizzes a term. The handbook and the academics page say two.

So some website text does not match the current handbook. That is our reading of the pages, not an official statement.

What you should do

1. Open the grading document for your term on the student portal and find the pass line for each course.
2. If it is not clear, raise a support ticket and ask which pass mark applies. See support tickets and escalation.
3. Aim for 50 or more anyway. It passes under both rules, and it gives you a D (6 points) instead of an E (4 points).

The jump from E to D is 2 grade points, so it moves your CGPA more than a normal one-grade step. See how to calculate your CGPA.

The pass mark is not the only condition. To write the end term you need an assignment average of 40 or more and at least one quiz. Courses with a programming exam also have an OPPE cut-off. Our post on pass criteria covers these.

Common questions

Is the pass mark different for foundation and diploma courses?

Neither handbook gives a different pass mark by level. Both state one rule for all learners in a course. What changes between courses is the weight of each part, and that is set in the grading document.

My result shows an E. Did I pass?

Yes. The handbook lists E as a pass grade with 4 grade points. Once a grade is shown, the grading rules for your term have already been applied.

Will my certificate say first class or pass class?

No. A letter from the Dean (Academic Courses) dated 14 June 2024 says no class, division or rank is awarded at the end of the programme. For a percentage, the Senate-approved formula is CGPA multiplied by 10.

Can bonus marks lift me over the pass mark?

Not under the January 2026 grading document. It adds bonus marks only after you pass. See the January 2026 grading change.