CBSE 12th Arts Exam Pattern 2025-26: Get Latest Paper Pattern & Marking Scheme Here

CBSE 12th 2026 ( CBSE 12th )

Jasleen Taneja
Updated on Aug 20, 2026 18:45 IST

By Jasleen Taneja

CBSE 12th Exam Pattern 2027: Students gearing up for CBSE 12th 2027 exam must thoroughly understand the exam pattern. CBSE 12th exam pattern plays a crucial role in the preparation. CBSE has updated the exam pattern for 2027. The board increased the emphasis on competency-based questions and reduction in constructed response questions. CBSE Class 12 exam pattern helps students to understand the marking scheme and overall exam structure, distribution of questions, in CBSE 12th exam, etc. Read below for more details on CBSE Class 12 exam pattern.

Table of contents
  • Overview of CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2027
  • CBSE 12th Subject wise weightage
  • Subject-wise Marking Scheme for Class 12 CBSE 2027
  • Passing Marks in CBSE Class 12 2027
  • FAQs on CBSE 12th Exam Pattern 2027
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Overview of CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2027

In the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern, the board increased the weightage for competency-based questions. These include MCQs, case-based, and source-based questions, focusing on practical knowledge and concept application. Constructed response questions like short and long answers have a reduced weightage. The total marks of each subject is 100, with 80 marks for theory and 20 for practical/internal assessment. Students need to score a minimum of 33% in each subject and in aggregate to clear the exams. In the Accountancy subject, there will be no answer books wherein tables were provided. The highlights related to CBSE Class 12th exam pattern are given below.

Particulars

Details

Conducting Body 

Central Board of Secondary Education 

Question Paper Pattern 

  • MCQs 
  • Competency-based questions (MCQs, case-based, source-based)
  • Short answer/long answer type questions

Duration 

3 hours 

Mode 

Offline 

Number of subjects 

5 or 6 (as elected by the student) 

Maximum Marks 

100 (theory + practical)

  • 80 marks theory + 20 marks Project works for Commerce subjects (Accountancy, Business Studies & Economics) 
  • 70 marks theory +30 marks practical for Physics, Chemistry & Biology 
  • 80 marks Maths written exam + 20 marks internal assessment 

Passing marks for each subject 

33%

Passing marks for the overall exam 

Aggregate 33%

Revised Distribution of Questions

Particulars

Type of Questions

Academic Session 2026-27 (Weightage)

Composition of question paper for year-end exam/ Board Exams (Theory)

Competency Focused Questions in the form of MCQs/ Case-Based Questions, Source-based Integrated Questions, or any other type

50%

Select response-type questions (MCQ)

20%

Constructed response questions (Short Answer Questions/Long Answer type Questions, as per existing pattern)

30%

 

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CBSE 12th Subject wise weightage

The subject-wise CBSE 12th Exam Pattern is given below.

CBSE 12th Maths Exam Pattern

For CBSE Class 12 Maths the theory part has a total weightage of 80 marks and the internal assessment is for 30 marks. Chapter-wise CBSE class 12 exam pattern and the marking scheme for Mathematics is explained below.

Topic

Marks

Relations & Functions

08

Calculus

35

Algebra

10

Vectors & 3-Dimensional Geometry

14

Linear Programming 

05

Probability 

08

Total

80

Internal Assessment

20

CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern

For CBSE Class 12 Physics, the theory part has a total weightage of 70 marks. The remaining 30 marks belong to the practicals. CBSE Class 12 Physics chapter-wise exam pattern and the marking scheme are explained below. 

Unit

Topics 

Marks 

Unit-1

Electrostatics

Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields
Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

16

Unit-2

Current Electricity

Chapter 3: Current Electricity

Unit-3

Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism
Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter

17

Unit-4

Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents

Chapter 6: Electromagnetic Induction
Chapter 7: Alternating Current

Unit-5

Electromagnetic Waves

Chapter–8: Electromagnetic Waves

18

 

Unit-6

Optics

Chapter–9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

Chapter–10: Wave Optics

Unit-7

Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Chapter–11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

12

 

Unit-8

Atoms and Nuclei

Chapter–12: Atoms

Chapter–13: Nuclei

Unit-9

Electronic Devices

Chapter 7 –14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices
and Simple Circuits

7

 Practicals: The record to be submitted by the students at the time of their annual examination has to include:

  • Record of at least 8 Experiments [with 4 from each section], to be performed by the students.
  • Record of at least 6 Activities [with 3 each from section A and section B], to be performed by the students.
  • The Report of the project carried out by the students.

2 experiments 1 from each section 

7+7

 Practical record 

5

1 activity from any section 

3

Investigatory project 

3

Viva 

5

Total

CBSE 12th Chemistry Exam Pattern

For Chemistry, the theory part has a total weightage of 70 marks. The remaining 30 marks are assigned to the practicals. The table below contains CBSE class 12 exam pattern for Class 12 Chemistry Chapters and the marking scheme.

Topics 

Marks 

Theory

Solutions 

7

Electrochemistry 

9

Chemical Kinetics 

7

d -and f- block elements 

7

Coordination Compounds 

7

Haloalkaline s & Haloarnes

6

Alcohol, Phenols & Ethers 

6

Aldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids 

8

Amines 

6

Biomolecules 

7

Total

70

Practicals 

Volumetric Analysis 

8

Salt Analysis 

8

Content-Based Experiment 

6

Project 

4

Class record & viva 

4

Total

30

CBSE 12th Biology Exam Pattern 

For CBSE Class 12 Biology the theory part has a total weightage of 70 marks and Practicals constitute of the remaining 30 marks. It is explained below in tabular form CBSE Class 12 Biology chapter-wise exam pattern and the marking scheme. 

Topics 

Marks 

Theory

Reproduction 

16

Genetics & Evolution 

20 

Biology & Human Welfare 

12

Biotechnology & its Applications 

12

Ecology & Environment 

10

Total

70

Practical 

1 major experiment 

5

1 minor experiment 

4

Slide preparation 

5

Spotting 

7

Practical record + viva voce 

4

Investigatory Project and its Project Record + Viva Voce

5

Total

30

CBSE 12th Accoutancy Exam Pattern

The Theory part is of 80 marks, which are divided into Part A: 60 marks & Part B: 20 marks. The project is of 20 marks, which comes under Part C. Chapter-wise Accountancy exam pattern and the marking scheme according to topics is as follows: 

Topic 

Marks 

Part A: Accounting for Partnership Firms & Companies

Unit 1: Accounting for Partnership Firms
Unit 2: Accounting for Companies 

36
24

 

60

Part B: Financial Statement Analysis 

Unit 3: Analysis of Financial Statements
Unit 4: Cash Flow Statement 

12
08

 

20

Part C: Project work, which includes:
Project file
Viva voce

12
08

OR

 

Part B: Computerised Accounting

 

Unit 4. Computerized Accounting

20

Part C: Practical Work, which includes:

Practical File 12 marks

Viva Voce 8 marks

20

CBSE 12th BS Exam Pattern

The theory section is divided into 2 parts, carrying 40 marks each. The remaining 20 marks fall under the project work. The Business Studies chapter-wise exam pattern and the marking scheme according to the topics are provided below.

Topic 

Marks 

Part A: Principles & Function of Management

 
  • Nature & Significance of Management 
  • Principles of Management 
  • Business Environment 

16

  • Planning 
  • Organising

14

  • Staffing 
  • Directing 
  • Controlling

20

Total

50

Part B: Business Finance & Marketing

 
  • Financial Management 
  • Financial Markets

15

  • Marketing Management 
  • Consumer Protection

15

Total

30

Project Work (One)

20 

CBSE 12th Economics Question Paper 

The theory part has a total weightage of 80 marks, which is equally divided into 2 parts. The Practical part has a total weightage of 20 marks. For Class 12 Economics, the chapter-wise CBSE class 12 exam pattern and the marking scheme according to the topics are as follows:

Topic 

Marks 

Part A: Introductory Macroeconomics 

  • National Income & Related Aggregate 
  • Money & Banking 
  • Determination of Income & Employment 
  • Government Budget & Economy 
  • Balance of Payments

10
06
12
06
06

Total

40

Part B: Indian Economic Development 

  • Development Experience (1947-90) & Economic Reforms since 1991
  • Current Challenges facing the Indian Economy
  • Development Experience of India- A Comparison with Neighbors

12
20
08

Total

40

Part C: Project 

CBSE 12th English Exam Pattern

The class 12 English paper contains sections for reading skills, creative writing, literature, and assessments. The marks contained by each section are mentioned below:

Topics 

Marks 

Reading Skills 

26

Grammar and Creative Writing Skills

23

Literature Text Book and Supplementary Reading Text

31

Total

80

Internal Assessment - Assessment of Listening + Speaking Skills (5+5)

10

Project work 

10

Grand Total

100

 

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Subject-wise Marking Scheme for Class 12 CBSE 2027

The exam pattern and marking scheme of CBSE 12th of all subjects are given in the following table. Students can download them by clicking on the subject name below. The CBSE 12th marking scheme provides answers to all the questions mentioned in the CBSE sample papers. Students can download the CBSE 12th marking scheme for all subjects below:

Accountancy Home Science
Assamese Informatics Practices
Arabic Japanese
Bengali Kannada
Bharatnatyam Kashmiri
Bhutia Kathak
Bhoti  
Biology Kathakali
Biotechnology Kuchipudi
Bodo Legal Studies
Business Studies Lepcha 
Carnatic Melodic Limboo
Carnatic Percussion Malayalam
Carnatic Vocal Manipuri
Chemistry  Marathi
Computer Science Applied Arts (Commercial arts)
Dance Manipuri Applied Mathematics
Dance Odissi Mathematics
Economics Mizo
Engg Graphics NCC
English Core Nepali
English Elective Kokborok
Entrepreneurship KTPI
French Odia
Geography Painting
German Graphic
Gujarati Sculpture
Hindi Elective Urdu Core
Hindi Core Physical Education
History Physics
Hindustani Music (melodic) Political Science
Hindustani Music (percussion) Psychology
Hindustani Music (vocal) Punjabi
Russian Sanskrit Elective
Sindhi Tamil
Sociology Tangkhul
Spanish Telugu (AP)
Sanskrit Core Telugu Telangana
Tibetan Urdu Elective

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Passing Marks in CBSE Class 12 2027

The passing marks out of 70 in CBSE Class 12 is 33%. In a subject involving practical work, candidates must obtain 33 per cent in the Theory paper and 33% in practical separately. For awarding the grades, the Board place all the passed students in a rank order and award grades as follows :

  • A-1 Top 1/8th of the passed candidates
  • A-2 Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
  • B-1 Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
  • B-2 Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
  • C-1 Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
  • C-2 Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
  • D-1 Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
  • D-2 Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
  • E Failed candidates

 

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FAQs on CBSE 12th Exam Pattern 2027

Students can check below the FAQs related to CBSE 12th exam pattern 2027.

Q:   What are the different streams offered by CBSE in Class 12?
A: 

CBSE offers three main streams in Class 12, namely Science, Commerce and Arts/Humanities. 

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