
CBSE 12th Exam Pattern 2026: CBSE released the CBSE 12th marks distribution scheme 2026 on the official website. It shares the distribution of marks between theory and internal assessment exams for all subjects. It also shares whether any external examiner will be present or not for the practical exams.
Students can click on the links below to check the detailed CBSE 12th marks distribution scheme 2026.
CBSE 12th Marks Distribution Scheme 2026
Latest Update
Nov 12: CBSE Marks Distribution 2026 Class 10, 12 for Theory, Practical Exams OUT! Check here
The CBSE practical exams 2026 Class 10, 12 will begin on January 1, 2026, for regular schools. The Board is conducting the CBSE practical exams 2026 for winter-bound schools between November 6 and December 6, 2025 in students' own school, however, there will be an external examiner to mark students. The Board released the guidelines for conducting practical exams. Students can click here to download and read them in detail.
CBSE released the CBSE Exam Pattern 2026 Class 12 on the official website. Students can check and download the CBSE Class 12 exam pattern 2026 for all subjects below. The CBSE 12th exam pattern 2026 shares the marking scheme, types of questions asked in the exam, difficulty level, and more.
CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 includes 50% competency-based questions (MCQs, case-based, source-based), 20% select-response type questions (MCQs), and 30% constructed response questions (short/long answers), bringing to the total to 100%. This emphasis is on concept understanding and application over memorization, to test students' real-life application of learning. 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.
CBSE Class 12 exams 2026 will be conducted in pen and paper format between February 17 and April 9, 2026.
- CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2026: Highlights
- Subject-wise Marking Scheme for Class 12 CBSE 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Maths exam pattern 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Exam Pattern 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Biology Exam Pattern 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Accountancy Exam Pattern 2026
- CBSE 12th Business Studies Exam Pattern 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Economics Exam Pattern 2026
- CBSE Class 12 English (Core) Exam Pattern 2026
- FAQs on CBSE 12th Exam Pattern 2026
CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2026: Highlights
Check out the table below:
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body |
Central Board of Secondary Education |
| Question Paper Pattern |
|
| Duration |
3 hours |
| Mode |
Offline |
| Number of subjects |
5 or 6 (as elected by the student) |
| Maximum Marks |
100 (theory + practical)
|
| Passing marks for each subject |
33% |
| Passing marks for the overall exam |
Aggregate 33% |
Subject-wise Marking Scheme for Class 12 CBSE 2026
The exam pattern and marking scheme of CBSE 12th 2026 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 2026 provides answers to all the questions mentioned in the CBSE sample papers for 2026. To download the subject-wise CBSE 12th sample papers, students can click on the Question Papers/Sample Papers tab above.
Students preparing for competitive examinations like JEE Mains, NEET, CLAT, DU JAT etc, can check the NEET exam pattern, CLAT exam pattern, DU JAT exam pattern and JEE Mains exam pattern .
Students can download the CBSE 12th marking scheme 2026 for all subjects below:
CBSE Class 12 Maths exam pattern 2026
| Topic |
Marks |
|---|---|
| Relations & Functions |
08 |
| Calculus |
35 |
| Algebra |
10 |
| Vectors & 3-Dimensional Geometry |
14 |
| Linear Programming |
05 |
| Probability |
08 |
| Total |
80 |
| Internal Assessment |
20 |
Also Read:
CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern 2026
CBSE Class 12 Science subject-wise exam pattern 2026 along with the marks weightage is provided below.
CBSE Class 12 Physics: Chapter-Wise Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
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 |
16 |
| Unit-2 Current Electricity |
Chapter 3: Current Electricity |
|
| Unit-3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism |
Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism |
17 |
| Unit-4 Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents |
Chapter 6: Electromagnetic Induction |
|
| 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 |
7 |
| Practicals: The record to be submitted by the students at the time of their annual examination has to include:
|
||
| 2 experiments 1 from each section |
7+7 |
|
| Practical record |
5 |
|
| 1 activity from any section |
3 |
|
| Investigatory project |
3 |
|
| Viva |
5 |
|
| Total |
30 |
|
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Exam Pattern 2026
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 Class 12 Biology Exam Pattern 2026
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 Class 12 Accountancy Exam Pattern 2026
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 |
36 |
|
|
60 |
| Part B: Financial Statement Analysis |
|
| Unit 3: Analysis of Financial Statements |
12 |
|
|
20 |
| Part C: Project work, which includes: |
12 |
| 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 Business Studies Exam Pattern 2026
CBSE Class 12 Economics Exam Pattern 2026
Explore subject-wise topics asked in CBSE 12th
Select your preferred subject
CBSE Class 12 English (Core) Exam Pattern 2026
FAQs on CBSE 12th Exam Pattern 2026
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CBSE 12th Exam
Student Forum
Answered 23 hours ago
Class 12 marks are important for fulfilling the admission criteria and tie breaking criteria (if any) during admissions. Admission to Central Universities are conducted through CUET scores, however, candidates must fulfil the minimum marks requirement for admissions.
D
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 5 days ago
Students must prepare well for the entrance exams such as JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and others. After 12th, the available programmes are BTech, BSc, and others. Students must get 60% to 70% in 12th and good marks in accepted entrance exams for a successful admission to the available programmes.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Hey, getting into LPU after 12th is pretty straightforward and one of the best choices for a solid college life with great placements and scholarships. Just head to admission.lpu.in, sign up online, and fill out the form for your dream UG course like BTech or BBA—usually need 50-60% in 12th dependin
S
Beginner-Level 2
Answered a week ago
For girls with a Science background after 12th, high-salary courses include Engineering (CS, AI, ECE), Medicine (MBBS, Nursing), Data Science/IT, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Psychology and Architecture. Fields like Data Science and AI are also emerging fields for girls after 12th science.
J
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 weeks ago
For admission to RIE courses through the CEE, a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate in your 12th class (or equivalent qualifying examination) is required for general category candidates.
Reserved Categories: A relaxation of 5% is provided, requiring a minimum of 45% aggregate marks for candidates belon
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
Yes, for B.E. admission at Chandigarh University, students must meet the basic eligibility criteria of Class 12, irrespective of their JEE score. Generally, candidates should have passed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, along with one additional relevant subject. The minimum
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
Chandigarh University follows a holistic admission approach, giving importance to both Class 12 performance and JEE Main scores, depending on the route chosen. For JEE-qualified students, the JEE score primarily determines merit-based scholarships and priority counseling, while Class 12 marks ensure
G
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 3 weeks ago
Hi...
I need to clarify first: are you asking about admission to Chandigarh University for B.Tech/B.E, or admission to a medical/paramedical course (like B.Sc Nursing, MBBS, BPT, etc.)
The marks required and exam rules differ a lot depending on the stream.
h
Scholar-Level 17
Answered 3 weeks ago
Yes, Yale University accepts international students after 12th CBSE. International students can apply for the Yale University bachelor's courses. Given below are the admission requirements for students applying for the UG courses here -
- A strong academic record
- High scores in SAT or ACT (In SAT: 680
Answered 4 weeks ago
Hi.
If your 12th result has not been announced yet then
Upload expected / provisional marks for now.
Final admission depends on the official 12th mark sheet after results are announced.
Colleges are used to this situation, especially for students applying in early cycles.
h
Scholar-Level 17
Popular Courses After 12th
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Exam On - 17 Feb '26 - 5 Mar '26
Is 12th marks important in CUET?