Maharashtra HSC Paper Pattern 2026 (Out); Check Latest HSC Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme Here!

Maharashtra High School Certificate 2026 ( Maharashtra HSC )

Anangsha Patra
Updated on Apr 21, 2026 10:48 IST

By Anangsha Patra, Deputy Manager – Editorial

Overview

MSBSHSE released the Maharashtra HSC exam pattern 2026 for all the subjects. The exam is conducted offline in pen and paper mode. It carries very objective, short, and long-answer questions.  Maharashtra exam pattern highlights the overall structure of the exam. Maharashtra HSC exam is divided into 80-mark theory paper and 20 are allotted to internal assessments. Total marks allotted to the test are 600. The pass marks in each subject are 35 per cent. Questions in the exam are based on Maharashtra HSC syllabus. Students must practice Maharashtra HSC previous years question papers to understand the nature of questions. Read below for more details on Maharashtra HSC exam pattern.

 

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Table of contents
  • Subject-wise Maharashtra Board 12th Class Exam Pattern 2026
  • Maharashtra Paper Pattern of HSC 2026 - Marking Scheme
  • FAQs on Maharashtra HSC Exam Pattern 2026
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Subject-wise Maharashtra Board 12th Class Exam Pattern 2026

Subject Total marks Duration
(A) Compulsory Subjects
1. English
2. Environment Education
3. Health and Physical Education
Modern Indian Languages
1. Marathi
2. Hindi
3. Gujarati
4. Urdu
5. Kannada
6. Tamil
7. Telugu
8. Malayalam
9. Sindhi
10. Bengali
11. Punjabi
Modern Foreign Languages
12. German
13. French
14. Russian
15. Japanese
Classical Languages
16. Sanskrit
17. Pali
18. Ardhamagadhi
19. Persian
20. Arabic
21. Avesta-Pahlavi
(B)Elective Subjects
1. A Modern Indian Language
2. A Modern Foreign Language
3. A Classical Language
4. Marathi Literature
5. Hindi (Applied)
6. English Literature
7. History
8. Geography
9. Mathematics and Statistics
(For Arts and Science)
10. Mathematics and Statistics (For Commerce)
11. Geology
12. Political Science
13. Home Management (For Std. XI only)
14. Food Science (For Std. XI only)
15. Child Development (For Std. XII only)
16. Textiles
17. Sociology
18. Logic
19. Philosophy
20. Psychology
21. Economics
22. Book-keeping and Accountancy
23. Organization of Commerce and Management
24. Secretarial Practice
25. Cooperation
26. Physics
27. Chemistry
28. Biology
29. Drawing
30. Design and Colour
31. Pictorial Composition
32. History of Art and Appreciation
33. History and Development of Indian Music
34. Vocal Light Music
35. Vocal Classical Music
36. Instrumental Music
37. Percussion Instruments
38. Agriculture Science & Technology
39. Animal Science & Technology
40. Defense Studies
41. Education
42. Occupational Orientation
i) Library and Information Science
ii) Stenography: English, Marathi
43. Information Technology (Science)
44. Information Technology (Arts)
45. Information Technology (Commerce)
46. General Knowledge (for Military schools)
100 3 hours
Health and Physical Education 50 1.5 hours
Percussion
Information Technology
100 2.5 hours

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Maharashtra Board HSC exam preparations

1. Addition of more objective-type questions comes with an additional advantage for students as they will be able to spare more time to write long and subjective type answers in their exams, hence will increase their chances of scoring better marks. To prepare for objective-type questions, students must clear all their concepts and learn all definitions, formulae and important terms/facts by heart.

While writing the exam:

  • Read the question and options carefully
  • Calculate the answer first in the mind and take out the suspected answers
  • Eliminate the options that do not match your answer
  • Work with the options that are near to the correct answer (according to you) to arrive at the correct one

2. As far as the reduction in the overall score is concerned, students need not make any different preparation arrangements for this change as it has nothing to do with their course syllabus or preparation techniques. They just need to work hard in each subject to score good marks so that they can have a decent aggregated score at the time of the final assessment. They should practice with model papers and previous years' question papers to get an idea of topics that are frequently asked in exams and also know the type of questions asked over years.

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3. Internal assessment aims at estimating a student’s educational progress and ability of learning. This requires students to be consistent in their performance throughout the year as the internal marks will be based on continuous evaluation instead of year-end evaluation. They should actively participate in the different activities conducted as a part of the internal assessment like test of listening and speaking skills in language subjects, conducting experiments for practical examinations, etc.

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Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the question paper pattern of HSC 2026 exams?
A: 

The question paper pattern of HSC 2026 is different for all exams. The exam is held in the offline mode and students have to answer in one word, very short, long and essay type questions. The questions are asked from the syllabus which is available on Maharashtra board official site.

Q:   What is the marking scheme for HSC exams 2026 Maharashtra Board?
A: 

Each exam of HSC 2026 will be for 100 marks. You have to appear for 5 compulsory subjects including English. You have the option to choose 6th additional subject. Maharashtra State Board 12th total marks are 500 or 600, depending on the number of subjects you chose. Minimum 35% marks in each subject are compulsory to pass the Maharashtra HSC exam 2026.

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Maharashtra Paper Pattern of HSC 2026 - Marking Scheme

Subjects Number
Mathematics and Statistics 100 (80+20)
English 100 (80+20)
Chemistry 100 (70+30)
Biology 100 (70+30)
Physics 100 (70+30)

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Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Where and when can I get the Maharashtra HSC question papers of previous years?
A: 

Shiksha.com releases Maharashtra 12th question papers after the conduct of the examinations of major subjects. Students can click on Maharashtra 12th question papers to download and start practising them. 

The Board will likely release the Maharashtra 12th question papers for all subjects on the official website. Students will be able to download them from the link provided above.

Q:   Is it necessary to practice from Maharashtra HSC previous year question papers? I am done with my syllabus.
A: 

Students should solve and practice Maharashtra HSC sample papers and old question papers to get familiar with pattern and marking scheme. This will help them to find  important questions and manage time.  

Q:   How many Maharashtra Board 12th Mathematics question papers should I practice?
A: 

Students must ensure to solve atleast one previous year Maharashtra 12th Mathematics question paper every day to efficiently prepare for the Maharashtra 12th Mathematics board exam. Make sure to practice the question papers during the last month of the preparation. 

Maharashtra HSC Logo

FAQs on Maharashtra HSC Exam Pattern 2026

Students can check the fAQs on Maharashtra HSC exam pattern 2026 below:

Q:   Are Maharashtra HSC sample papers and previous year question papers really helpful to get through board exams?
A: 

If you need any idea about the type of questions that can come in the exam, you must go through the Maharashtra 12th sample papers and Maharashtra HSC previous year question papers. In addition, you can also understand the most important questions and those that get repeated. Hence, students are advised to practice the previous years' Maharashtra 12th question papers and sample papers for better preparation. 

Q:   How can I improve my writing and presentation skills for the Maharashtra HSC board exams?
A: 

Following are some tips to improve the writing and presentation skills for the Maharashtra 12th board exams.

  • Students must write the answers neatly. The hand writing should be legible.
  • Write the answers with proper heading and subheading.
  • Highlight your important points.
  • Cross out the errors neatly with single line.
  • Divide the time for each question to avoid rushing.  
  • Practice writing the previous year question papers.
Q:   What is the minimum marks required to pass in HSC Exam 2026 Maharashtra Board?
A: 

Each student is required to attain 35% marks in each subject and in aggregate to clear their HSC examination.

Q:   What things are not allowed in Maharashtra HSC board exam?
A: 

Students must not carry the follow items to exam hall.

  • Mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, headphones, pagers, fitness bands, cameras, etc.
  • Wallets, goggles, handbags, and purses. 
  • They must carry all the stationary items that are required to appear for the Maharashtra HSC board exams since sharing of stationary is not allowed.
  • Do not forget to carry your Maharashtra HSC admit card on all exam days.
Q:   When should I start solving Maharashtra HSC sample papers and previous year question papers?
A: 

Once you finish learning with the Maharashtra HSc syllabus, you can start solving the Maharashtra Class 12 sample papers and previous year question papers. You can solve the question papers and understand your weaknesses. Thus you can concentrate more on the topics on which you are weak.

Q:   Where can I download the Maharashtra 12th syllabus 2026 for all subjects?
A: 

Maharashtra 12th syllabus 2026 for all subjects can be downloaded by clicking here. The Board released the detailed syllabus for Maharashtra board 12th exams 2026 on the official website. The syllabus mentions the units, chapters and topics that are to be studied to score well in the exam. 

Students are advised to finish the entire syllabus 2026 at least a month before the commencement of the exams. They must also know the exam pattern well to know the types of questions asked, the difficulty level of exam and more.  

Q:   Will I get enough time to finish my Maharashtra HSC board exam Mathematics question paper?
A: 

It is actually different for everyone since everyone has their own speed. It also depends on the paper- if its lengthy or not. There is a Cool-off time of 15 minutes in addition to the writing time. Use the 'Cool-off time' to get familiar with questions and to plan your answers. Read questions carefully before answering. Read the instructions carefully and you can analyze your entire question paper no matter which subject is it, and mentally set time for each sections. Since there are mcqs too, you can solve them in the 15 mins cool off time and thus save you a lot of time.

Q:   Can I wear digital watch in Maharashtra HSC 2026 exams?
A: 

You will be allowed to wear a simple analogue watch, which shows time. Any other electronic device, head phones, smart watch or digital watch will not be allowed inside the examination hall. A student is well informed before his/ her exam that he/she should only carry their stationary items in a clear pouch with their roll number sheet provided by Maharashtra Board.

Q:   Are Maharashtra HSC sample papers and previous year question papers really helpful to get through board exams?
A: 

If you need any idea about the type of questions that can come in the exam, you must go through the Maharashtra 12th sample papers and Maharashtra Class 12 previous year question papers. In addition, you can also understand the most important questions and those that get repeated. Hence, students are advised to practice the previous years' Maharashtra 12th question papers and sample papers for better preparation. 

Q:   What is the difference between Maharashtra HSC sample papers and Maharashtra HSC question paper?
A: 

Sample papers is the question paper released by the Board at the beginning of the academic session. It shares the questions in a pattern similar to what you should expect in the main exam. They are provided to you to download and practice for better preparation.  However, Maharashtra 12th question paper is the question paper you receive on the day of the exam. You need to go through the questions and answer them in the answer sheet provided by the board. You cannot know or practice the questions on the Maharashtra Class 12 question paper prior to the exam.

Q:   Is downloading of Maharashtra HSC previous years' question papers free of cost?
A: 

Yes, downloading the Maharashtra HSC question papers of previous years' is free of cost. However, you might be asked to sign up using the required credentials. Students can click the link given here to download them. It can be downloaded in PDF format for free. Students can use the previous years' Maharashtra 12th question papers and sample papers for revision. 

Q:   Is Maharashtra Board syllabus same as CBSE?
A: 

No, CBSE syllabus and Maharashtra Board are not the same. There are certain key differences between these two boards which parents and students should consider before choosing which board they want to study in. Here are some of the main differences between Maharashtra and CBSE boards:

  1. CBSE is a central board that falls under the purview of the central government, while Maharashtra board falls under state government purview, which means that it is managed by the government of Maharashtra. 
  2. The syllabus, curriculum, subjects and course material of both boards differ quite a bit. CBSE curriculum is formed by the NCERT while Maharashtra curriculum is formed by the State government department of education. 
  3. Since CBSE is a national board, it gives priority to English as the medium of education and communication. However, since Maha board is a state managed board, it gives priority to regional languages like Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, etc. with English being taught as the first or second language, depending on the schools.
  4. Most CBSE schools are private and thus the overall cost of education in CBSE board is usually higher than state board. Since Maharashtra board schools are state-managed, it is widely available in most public schools, as well as private ones, and so it has lower fees. 
  5. The CBSE board is uniform throughout the country, which means that children can transfer from one school to another in a different state, while still learning the same syllabi. On the other hand, since the Maharashtra board syllabi is state-specific, changing schools inter-state is not very feasible. 
  6. Another point of difference between the two boards is the range of subjects offered. Again, since CBSE is a centralised board, it offers a limited variety of subjects,  especially in languages, arts and humanities. On the other hand, Maha board offers quite a range of subjects in all disciplines, including numerous languages. 
  7. Since CBSE is also the board that controls a lot of national competitive exams, the board focuses a lot on preparing children for such exams. However, Maharashtra board focuses more on holistic academic knowledge,  without focusing on any particular competitive exams. 
Q:   Will there be 'out of syllabus' questions in the Maharashtra HSC board exam question papers?
A: 

Chances are less for out of syllabus questions in Maharashtra 12th board exam question papers. Maharashtra HSC board exams will be based on Maharashtra HSC syllabus entirely. If any questions are out of syllabus, students will be awarded the marks for it. 

You are advised to go through the Maharashtra HSC 12th syllabus and study all the topics mentioned there.

Q:   How can I know if the answers to my questions in Maharashtra 12th sample papers will fetch me full marks?
A: 

You can share your solved Maharashtra 12th sample paper with your teacher who shall help you know if the answers to the questions are correct and will fetch you full marks. You can thereby start practising writing such questions and take care of not missing any step so as to not lose any mark. 

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Maharashtra HSC Exam

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
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Answered 6 days ago

Maharashtra State Board released the updated academic year syllabus. MSBSHSE has reduced the syllabus of the class 12 Maharashtra board by 25 per cent.

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Chanchal Jain

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 6 days ago

The chapters that are included in Maharashtra HSC Economics are given below.

  • Introduction to Microeconomics

  • Consumers behavior

  • Analysis of Supply

  • Types of Market & Price Determination

  • Factors of Production

  • Introduction to Macroeconomics

  • National Income

  • Determinants of Aggregates

  • Money

  • Commercial Bank

  • Central B

...Read more

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Raushan Pradhan

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 6 days ago

Wave Theory of Light in Maharashtra HSC Physics include chapters Huygens' Principle, Construction of the plane and spherical wavefront, Wavefront and wave normal, Reflection at plane surface, Refraction at plane surface, Polarization, Polaroids, Plane polarized light, Brewster's law, Doppler effect

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Anangsha Patra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

Chapters included in Gravitation carry Newton's law of gravitation, Projection of satellite, Periodic time, Statement of Kepler's laws of motion, Binding energy and escape velocity of a satellite, Weightlessness condition in orbit, depth, and motion, Communication satellite and its uses.

A

Abhishek Kumar

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 6 days ago

Maharashtra HSC Physics syllabus includes Rotational Dynamics, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Current, Wave Optics, etc. Prepare these chapters properly for the exam.

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Sumridhi Singh

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, you can apply for admission at Avinash College of Commerce with a cutoff percentile of 48%. The institute's admission process is based on the merit of class 12. 

The college offers admission on the basis of merit in Class 12 to BCom and BBA courses. Candidates have to clear the eligibility rules

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Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Maharashtra HSC result 2026 will be announced anytime soon. It will be made available online. Students can check their results by logging with the required details.

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Sumridhi Singh

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 weeks ago

Maharashtra HSC passing marks for Arts are given below.

SubjectTheory MarksTheory Passing Marks (35%)Practical MarksPractical Passing Marks (35%)
History8028207
Political Science8028207
Sociology8028207
Philosophy8028207
Geography8028207
Defence Studies8028207
Home Management8028207

I

Indrani Thakur

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 weeks ago

Maharashtra HSC passing marks for Commerce are given below.

SubjectTheory MarksTheory Passing Marks (35%)Practical MarksPractical Passing Marks (35%)
Bookkeeping & Accountancy8028207
Secretarial Practice8028207
Economics8028207
Organization of Commerce8028207

I

Ishita Aggarwal

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 weeks ago

Maharashtra HSC passing marks for Science Stream is given below.

SubjectTheory MarksTheory Passing Marks (35%)Practical MarksPractical Passing Marks (35%)
Physics7024.53010.5
Chemistry7024.53010.5
Biology7024.53010.5
Mathematics8028207
Information Technology5017.55017.5
Environmental Education5017.5--
Psychology7024.53010.5

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Bhumika Arora

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