CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2026 — Subject-Wise Marks & Strategy
CBSE Class 12 exam pattern 2026 — 70+30 marks (Science) and 80+20 (Commerce/Maths), MCQ + subjective question types, 3-hour papers, and internal assessment split.
CBSE Class 12 board exam 2026: Science subjects are 70 marks theory + 30 marks practical. Maths and Commerce subjects are 80 marks theory + 20 marks internal. Duration: 3 hours + 15 minutes reading time. No negative marking. Passing: 33% per subject.
Marks Split by Subject Type
| Subject Type | Theory | Practical/IA | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 70 | 30 (Practical) | 100 |
| Chemistry | 70 | 30 (Practical) | 100 |
| Biology | 70 | 30 (Practical) | 100 |
| Mathematics | 80 | 20 (Internal Assessment) | 100 |
| English Core | 80 | 20 (Internal Assessment) | 100 |
| Accountancy | 80 | 20 (Project) | 100 |
| Business Studies | 80 | 20 (Project) | 100 |
| Economics | 80 | 20 (Project) | 100 |
Physics Paper Pattern (70 marks)
| Section | Type | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | MCQs (including assertion-reason) | 16 (attempt 12) | 12 |
| B | Very Short Answer (2 marks) | 7 (attempt 5) | 10 |
| C | Short Answer (3 marks) | 7 (attempt 5) | 15 |
| D | Case Study / Source Based | 3 | 12 |
| E | Long Answer (5 marks) | 3 (attempt 2) | 10 |
Physics Unit-Wise Weightage
| Unit | Marks |
|---|---|
| Electrostatics & Current Electricity | 16 |
| Magnetic Effects & EMI | 12 |
| Optics | 14 |
| Dual Nature & Atoms & Nuclei | 12 |
| Electronic Devices | 7 |
| EM Waves | 4 |
| Communication Systems | 5 |
Chemistry Paper Pattern (70 marks)
| Section | Type | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A | MCQs + Assertion-Reason | 12 |
| B | Very Short Answer (2 marks) | 10 |
| C | Short Answer (3 marks) | 15 |
| D | Case Study / Competency-Based | 12 |
| E | Long Answer (5 marks) | 10 |
Mathematics Paper Pattern (80 marks)
| Section | Type | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | MCQs | 20 (attempt 18) | 18 |
| B | Very Short Answer (2 marks) | 5 | 10 |
| C | Short Answer (3 marks) | 6 | 18 |
| D | Long Answer (5 marks) | 4 | 20 |
| E | Case Study / Source Based (4 marks) | 3 (attempt 2 internal each) | 12 |
Maths scoring tip: Calculus = 35 marks (44% of paper). Linear Programming (5 marks) and Probability (8 marks) are the easiest scoring chapters.
Practise the exact exam pattern
Super Tutor mock tests follow the CBSE 2026 blueprint — same sections, same marks, same time limit for Class 12.
Take a Mock Test — FreeEnglish Core Paper Pattern (80 marks)
| Section | Content | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 2 unseen passages (comprehension + case-based) | 22 |
| Creative Writing | Notice/invitation, letter/article, report | 18 |
| Grammar | Gap filling, editing, sentence reordering | 8 |
| Literature | Flamingo + Vistas (extracts + short answers + long answers) | 32 |
Commerce Subjects Pattern
Accountancy (80 marks)
| Part | Content | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Part A | Partnership Accounts (admission, retirement, dissolution, goodwill) | 36 |
| Part B | Company Accounts + Analysis of Financial Statements | 44 |
Business Studies (80 marks)
| Part | Content | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Part A | Principles of Management (Nature, Planning, Organising, Staffing, Directing, Controlling) | 40 |
| Part B | Business Finance & Marketing (Financial Management, Financial Markets, Consumer Protection, Marketing) | 40 |
Time Management Strategy
| Activity | Time | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Reading time | 15 min | Read full paper. Categorise questions as easy/medium/hard. |
| MCQs | 20–25 min | 1 min per MCQ. Mark unsure ones and return later. |
| Short answers (2–3 marks) | 40–50 min | Concise, point-wise. Include formulas and diagrams. |
| Case study / Source based | 20–25 min | Read case carefully. Answers are often within the case. |
| Long answers (5 marks) | 30–35 min | Full steps, diagrams, derivations. Use choice wisely. |
| Review | 15–20 min | Check calculations, fill in any blanks, verify MCQ answers. |
Internal Assessment / Practical Breakdown
| Component | Science (30 marks) | Non-Science (20 marks) |
|---|---|---|
| Experiments / Practicals | 8–10 marks | — |
| Practical Exam | 10–15 marks | — |
| Record / Viva | 5–7 marks | — |
| Investigatory Project | 3–5 marks | — |
| Periodic Tests | — | 10 marks (best 2 of 3) |
| Notebook Submission | — | 5 marks |
| Subject Enrichment | — | 5 marks |
Exam pattern based on CBSE 2025–2026 sample papers and curriculum document. Question distribution may have minor variations. Always check the official CBSE sample paper for the exact blueprint. Last updated: February 2026.
Turn this into board-exam marks
Super Tutor gives you chapter summaries, previous-year questions, and full mock exams matched to your board syllabus — so you revise smarter, not longer.
Start preparing — freeFrequently Asked Questions
What is the total marks in CBSE Class 12 board exam?
Each subject has 100 marks: Theory (70 or 80 marks depending on subject) + Internal Assessment/Practical (20 or 30 marks). Science subjects: 70 theory + 30 practical. Maths, English, Commerce subjects: 80 theory + 20 internal assessment. Total across 5 subjects: 500 marks.
How long is the CBSE Class 12 board exam?
3 hours (180 minutes) for the theory paper + 15 minutes reading time. Total time in exam hall: 3 hours 15 minutes. Use reading time to: read the full paper, identify easy questions, plan your answering order, and mentally note which optional questions to attempt.
Is there negative marking in CBSE Class 12?
No negative marking in CBSE board exams. Attempt every question — even partial answers get step marks. A blank answer = guaranteed 0. A partially correct answer can still earn 1-3 marks out of 5.
What is the passing marks for CBSE Class 12?
33% overall (theory + practical/internal combined) in each subject. For a subject with 70 theory + 30 practical: you need 23 in theory + 10 in practical (minimum). If your practical marks are high, you need fewer theory marks to pass. Failing in 1-2 subjects allows compartment exam.
How are practical marks calculated in Class 12?
Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology): 30 marks practical — includes: experiments (8-10 marks), record/viva (5-7 marks), investigatory project (3-5 marks), practical exam (10-15 marks). Your school conducts the practical exam, and CBSE moderates the marks. Most sincere students score 25-28/30.