Continuous Internal Evaluation (CIE) is the portion of your course mark awarded by your college rather than by the University examination. It is built from day-to-day work, periodic tests, assignments and attendance, and the faculty member handling the course is responsible for carrying it out. The remainder comes from the End Semester Examination (ESE).
Almost every number below changed between the 2019 and 2024 schemes, so check which one applies to you before relying on any figure.
How much CIE is worth
| Course type | 2019 scheme (CIE : ESE) | 2024 scheme (CIE : ESE) |
|---|---|---|
| Theory | 1 : 2 | 2 : 3 |
| Laboratory | 1 : 1 | 1 : 1 |
| Project-Based Learning (PBL) | — | 3 : 2 |
| HMC courses | — | 1 : 1 |
| Project | CIE only | CIE only |
| Seminar | CIE only | CIE only |
| Internship | — | CIE only |
For a theory course that is the single biggest shift: internal marks went from a third of the total to two fifths, and PBL courses are now weighted towards CIE rather than the exam.
What the CIE mark is made of
Under the 2019 scheme the split is fixed by regulation:
| Course | Attendance | Tests | Assignment / class work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory | 20% | 50% | 30% |
| Drawing / Practical | 20% | 40% | 40% |
Under the 2024 scheme there is no single fixed split. CIE may draw on day-to-day work, periodic tests, assignments, case studies, activities, micro projects, mini projects, MCQs and quizzes, and the evaluation pattern and weightage for each parameter is detailed in the syllabus of each individual course. If you are on the 2024 scheme, your course syllabus is the authority, not a general rule.
Internal tests
- 2019: a minimum of two internal tests, each 2 hours, each covering 50% of the syllabus, each for 50 marks. Three days are set aside for conducting them.
- 2024: internal written examinations are conducted as specified in each course syllabus, of 2 hours duration carrying 40 marks. Where there are two, each covers 50% of the syllabus.
Both regulations allow a retest for students who missed a test on genuine or valid grounds. The 2024 regulation adds that retests should be held within a week of the original test date as far as possible.
Attendance marks inside CIE
Attendance is a scored component, not just an eligibility gate. Under the 2019 scheme it is 20% of CIE, awarded in full only at 90% attendance or above, reduced proportionally below that.
Under the 2024 scheme full marks come at 85%, and the reduction below that is banded rather than proportional:
| Attendance in the course | Attendance marks |
|---|---|
| 85% and above | Full marks |
| Above 80%, below 85% | 4 |
| Above 75%, below 80% | 3 |
| Above 70%, below 75% | 2 |
| Above 60%, below 70% | 1 |
| Below 60% | 0 |
Both regulations require duty leave to be taken into account when awarding these marks; the 2024 regulation extends that to special leave.
When marks are published, and how to object
2019: CIE marks for all subjects must be published at least 5 days before the University examinations begin. 2024: at least 7 days before.
Under the 2024 regulation, grievances about published CIE marks must be submitted individually, in writing, to the course faculty and the Senior Faculty Advisor within two days of publication. The Head of Department, Dean and Principal are responsible for ensuring genuine complaints are resolved. Separately, internal marks and attendance must be displayed on the department notice board for at least two working days before being uploaded to the portal.
The normalisation cap — 2019 only
The 2019 regulation caps CIE against your exam performance: your CIE mark percentage may not exceed your ESE mark percentage by more than 30 points, and CIE is normalised accordingly. Score 40% in the exam and your maximum eligible CIE is 70%.
The 2024 regulation does not carry this clause. Nothing equivalent appears in its assessment chapter.
Passing, and CIE-only courses
The pass minimum is 40% in the ESE and 50% for CIE and ESE combined under both schemes. For courses assessed solely through CIE, the 2024 regulation sets a pass minimum of 50%, and a student who fails one is awarded an FE grade rather than an F.
Under the 2024 scheme there is also no option to improve CIE marks. The one exception is University-level: if the Syndicate identifies significant procedural lapses affecting an entire class at a college, the University may itself conduct the CIE, and its decision is final.
Two special cases under the 2024 scheme
- Level 5 courses have a single internal examination, marked as attendance 5, internal exam 15, Analyze 5, Evaluate 5 and a viva 10 — the viva conducted by an external expert from another KTU-affiliated college, in the last week of the semester.
- Challenge courses are exempt from CIE entirely. Grades are awarded on the End Semester Examination percentage alone.
What this means in practice
CIE is the part of your result you can still influence after the semester starts, and under the 2024 scheme it carries more weight than it used to while offering no route to improve it afterwards. The two-day objection window is short and starts from publication, not from when you notice — so check the notice board display rather than waiting for the portal.
Related KTU rules
- How are KTU internal (CIE) marks calculated?
- KTU internal vs external marks: what is the CIE to ESE ratio?
- Is there a cap on how much KTU internal marks can help you?
- How does attendance affect KTU internal marks?
- How to raise a complaint about KTU internal marks or attendance
Source: KTU Academic Manual (2022) — R6.3, R6.4, R6.14; B.Tech (Regular) Academic Regulations 2024 — R7.3, R7.5, R7.7, R7.8, R7.17, R7.18