CBSE 12th Exam Pattern 2026: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced on screen marking for the evaluation of CBSE 12th answer sheets of students. The exam pattern is prescribed by the examination authority. CBSE 12th exam pattern 2026 shares the marking scheme, types of questions asked in the exam, difficulty level, and more. Students must be thorough with the exam pattern of CBSE 12th 2026 in order to know the overall exam structure. Read below for more details on CBSE Class 12 exam pattern.
Also Read: CBSE12th Answer Key 2026 PDF
- CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2026
- 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
- Passing Marks in CBSE Class 12 2026
- FAQs on CBSE 12th Exam Pattern 2026
CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2026
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). This makes 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. The highlights related to CBSE Class 12th exam pattern is given 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 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 |
|
Commonly asked questions
Yes, you can attempt questions in any sequence in CBSE board class 12. Just ensure that while attempting your CBSE board exam that you have attempted all the question with a question number written in such a way that examiner can see it properly. And in order to get good marks, it is important to make an impression which can be made by attempting those questions first that you know well. Thus, if you know question no. 12, then instead of 1, 2, attempt those question that you remember properly.
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
CBSE Class 12 English (Core) Exam Pattern 2026
Passing Marks in CBSE Class 12 2026
Commonly asked questions
The maximum marks allotted in CBSE 12th exam are 500. Each subject carries 100 marks. Students can also take sixth subject, the final percentage is calculated using the best five subjects. 80/70 marks are allotted for Theory paper and 20/30 marks for internal assessment/practicals.
In case of a tie, all the students getting the same score and grade will be divided into two segments, the smaller segment will go with the larger. Method of grading will be used in subjects where the number of candidates who have passed is more than 500.
In respect of subjects where total number of candidates passing in a subject is less than 500, the grading would be adopted on the pattern of grading and distribution in other similar subjects.
CBSE 12th marking scheme for is such that 80 marks are allotted for Theory and 20 marks for Internal Assessment. The marking scheme for Science subjects have 70 marks and 30 for practicals.
FAQs on CBSE 12th Exam Pattern 2026
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CBSE 12th Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
Absolutely, after passing Class 12, you can choose among BCA, BSc, and B.Tech programmes with the cyber security specialisation. Bangalore has more than 40 colleges offering UG degrees on the same. The eligibility for them are below.
- BCA colleges in Bangalore require Class 12 passouts from any strea
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, you can take admission in Class 12 with 60%—no problem.
And no, there isn't any SC/ST reservation in Class 12 admissions based on marks.
🏫 Admission to Class 12 (how it actually works)
Class 12 admission isn't like college entrance exams. It's mostly a continuation from Class 11.
- If you're alread
S
Beginner-Level 4
Answered a week ago
No. You have to pursue higher school from science stream for it .
C
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 2 weeks ago
JKBOSE 12th Result 2026 was declared on April 22. Last year, it was announced on April 30. The result can be checked online by logging with the required details.
I
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, you cannot apply. MANET strictly requires candidates to have completed their Senior Secondary Examination (10+2) through a regular, full-time mode of education. The maritime industry demands rigorous physical and academic preparation that distance or correspondence courses cannot provide. Theref
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
No. MANET only accepts candidates who completed their education through regular schooling. Applications for B.Tech Marine Engineering or B.Sc. Nautical Science involving part-time, distance learning, or correspondence courses will not be considered for any of the maritime programs.
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
| Parameter | Your Score | Impact |
| CAT | 72.33%ile | Tier-2/3 Eligibility |
| NMAT | 187 | Target non-Mumbai NMIMS campuses |
| 10th/12th | 72.6% / 65.4% | Average; may limit "Old IIMs" even if scores were higher |
| BE | 77.6% | Strong Point helps in engineering-preferred pools |
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, you can apply for B.Tech CSE at IES University now, even though your CBSE Class 12th results are not released yet.
IES University, Bhopal, allow students to apply under the "Result Awaited" category. You can start your application process online or offline to secure a tentative spot or register
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The Bihar School Education Board (BSEB), Patna, released the Bihar Board Class 12th Compartment Exam Date 2026 on April 13, 2026. As per the announced date, Bihar Board Intermediate compartment exams 2026 will be conducted from May 2 to 11, 2026.
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Students are charged an associated fee for the Class 12 compartment marksheet. This includes the fees for issuances of the new marksheet.
M
Contributor-Level 8
Popular Courses After 12th
Exams accepted
CA FoundationExams accepted
ICSI ExamExams accepted
BHU UET | GLAET | GD Goenka TestBachelor of Business Administration & Bachelor of Law
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CLAT | LSAT India | AIBEExams accepted
IPMAT | NMIMS - NPAT | SET
Exams accepted
BHU UET | KUK Entrance Exam | JMI Entrance ExamBachelor of Design in Animation (BDes)
Exams accepted
UCEED | NIFT Entrance Exam | NID Entrance ExamBA LLB (Bachelor of Arts + Bachelor of Laws)
Exams accepted
CLAT | AILET | LSAT IndiaBachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication (BJMC)
Exams accepted
LUACMAT | SRMHCAT | GD Goenka Test
Can a 12th pass apply for cyber security in Bangalore?