10 Do or Die Topics for CBSE Class 12 Physics 2025 Exam - High Scoring Topics

Criteria for Selecting 10 Do or Die Chapters for CBSE Class 12 Physics

While choosing the 10 do-or-die chapters for CBSE class 12 physics, one question will arise in your mind how can I select these chapters, worry not some of the pointers are listed below which will help you to choose these chapters and we have already given these chapters in this page.

>> High Weightage in Exams: Some chapters keep on repeating in the CBSE Class 12 board exam question papers and also have high marks weightage. These are the chapters students should try to master first because most topics are likely to reoccur. Reading these chapters helps you pass with improved grades.

>> Conceptual Importance: Some of the chapters are basic chapters which help in clearing the basic concepts. When you completely study these chapters well then it is easy to understand other topics of the syllabus easily. And it is always the best approach to first clear the basic concepts before diving into the actual problem-solving.

>> Ease of Scoring: Certain chapters appear easier to understand and even also contain high weightage in board exams. These are the simple topics where students can obtain good grades if they prepare well by clearing all the basics. By studying them, you can increase your total score with comparatively less time invested into it.

Top 10 Do or Die Chapters for CBSE Class 12 Physics

In this section we are going to discuss the 10 do-or-die chapters for CBSE class 12 physics along with key topics and why these chapters are important.

1. Electrostatics

Key Topics:

• Coulomb’s Law

• Electric Field

Why Important: This chapter is important because it involves both theoretical derivations and numerical problems. It involves the basics of electric charges and electric forces. By completely memorizing the formula and derivations, students can fetch good marks and increase their overall score.

Preparation Tip:

• Learn all the basic formulas for the calculation of Coulomb’s Law, electric field, and potential.

• Practice problems with different point charges, and line charges arrangements.

• Practice and solve derivations like the expression for the electric field of a dipole.

• Solve numerical problems involving the Combination of capacitors in series and parallel.

2. Current Electricity

Key Topics:

• Ohm’s Law

• Kirchhoff’s Laws

• Wheatstone Bridge

• Potentiometer

Why Important: This chapter contains basically numerical-type questions and direct definitions. Mastering the numerical and repeatedly revising the correct definition will help in fetching good marks in the board exams.

Preparation Tip:

• Solve numerical questions that involve analyzing the circuits and applying Kirchhoff’s Laws.

• Start by solving the combination circuits (series and parallel resistances).

• Practice questions based on Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s Laws in solving complex circuits.

• Revise the concepts based on Wheatstone Bridge and Potentiometer concepts, as they are repeated topics.

• Use circuit analysis techniques like nodal and mesh analysis for challenging problems

3. Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

Key Topics:

• Biot-Savart Law

• Ampère’s Circuital Law

• Lorentz Force

• Magnetic Materials

Why Important: This chapter holds significant weightage in the CBSE syllabus. Key derivations like the magnetic field due to a current-carrying wire or solenoid, and numerical problems involving Biot-Savart Law, Ampère’s Circuital Law, and Lorentz Force are frequently asked. It bridges theoretical concepts with practical applications, such as electric motors, making it essential for scoring well in both theory and numerical.

Preparation Tip:

• Perform derivations and calculations on magnetic fields for different setups, such as loops and wires.

• Derive and understand Biot-Savart and Ampère’s Laws for various current configurations.

• Solve problems on the force between parallel conductors carrying current.

• Practice numerical calculations involving Lorentz Force and motion of charged particles in magnetic fields.

• Study the properties and classifications of magnetic materials.

4. Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents

Key Topics:

• Faraday’s Law

• Lenz’s Law

• Inductance

• AC Circuits

• Resonance

Why Important: This chapter involves high-scoring and direct application-based questions which makes it important for the board exams

Preparation Tip:

• Understand the working of AC Circuits, power, and resonance in Circuits and solve numerical problems based on that.

• Revise definitions of Faraday’s and Lenz’s Laws with their numerical problems.

• Work on the numerical problems based on mutual and self-inductance in the circuital diagram.

• AC circuits, focusing on impedance and resonance are important topics for numerical problems.

• Understand the phase relationships between voltage and current in inductive and capacitive circuits.

5. Optics

Key Topics:

• Reflection and Refraction

• Lens Maker’s Formula

• Optical Instruments

• Wave Optics (Interference and Diffraction)

Why Important: This chapter is important because it contains diagram-based questions (Optics, reflection, and refraction), derivations, and Numerical questions (lens formula) making it essential for scoring.

Preparation Tip:

• Regularly practice ray diagrams and their related numerical problems.

• Revise all the formulas based on lens and mirror.

• Understand and derive formulas for interference (Young’s Double-Slit Experiment) and diffraction.

• Solve questions related to optical instruments like microscopes and telescopes.

6. Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation

Key Topics:

• Photoelectric Effect

• De Broglie Hypothesis

• Compton Effect

Why Important: A conceptual chapter with straightforward numerical and theoretical questions.

This chapter basically contains all the straightforward numerical and theoretical concepts. It requires less time than other chapters and also helps in boosting the score.

Preparation Tip:

• Discover the experiments used in the photoelectric effect and Compton effect.

• Apply concepts of De Broglie wavelength on numerical problems and calculate the wavelength.

• Understand energy level diagrams and transitions in atomic physics.

• Revise the questions on the wave-particle duality of matter as practice for the test.

7. Atoms and Nuclei

Key Topics:

• Atomic Models

• Radioactivity

• Nuclear Reactions

• Binding Energy

Preparation Tip:

• Recite formulae related to binding energy, radioactivity as well as nuclear reactions.

• Examples of problems to be solved to cover the half-life and activity of radioactive substances.

• Revise calculations of the energy yield in nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

• Students must be able to differentiate between various atomic models that exist in explanation (Bohr Model, Rutherford Model)

8. Semiconductor Electronics

Key Topics:

• Diodes

• Transistors

• Logic Gates

Why Important: High-scoring and practically relevant for electronics.

Preparation Tip:

• Understand the diodes and transistor working principles and perform the logic gate circuits.

• On a regular basis practice, drawing the working of diodes and transistors in circuits.

• Solve problems based on rectifiers, amplifiers, and basic Gates like AND OR, NOT Gates, and NAND and NOR gates.

• Find the fact tables and functionalities of elementary gates such as AND, OR, NOT, NAND, and NOR gates.

9. Thermodynamics

Key Topics:

• First Law of Thermodynamics and Second Law of Thermodynamics

• Heat Engines

• Entropy

Why Important: This chapter is the foundation chapter for other topics, and learning this chapter will help you easily understand the other topics as well.

Preparation Tip:

• Write the derivatives for the first and second laws of thermodynamics and memorize them.

• Practice solving numerical problems based on efficiency and work done by heat engines.

• Memorize definitions of entropy and its connection with irreversible phenomena.

• Revise possible problems for the Carnot engine and refrigeration together with their formulas.

10. Modern Physics

Key Topics:

• Relativity

• Quantum Mechanics

• Recent Developments

Preparation Tip:

• Focus on derivations and numerical problems related to relativity and time dilation.

• Solve numerical problems based on photoelectric equations and the energy of photons.

• Study the basics of quantum mechanics, including wave functions and probability.

General Preparation Tips to Score Full Marks in CBSE Class 12 Physics

• Focus on NCERT: CBSE Board exams and competitive examinations like JEE and NEET are based on the NCERT textbooks. They make use of simple language and are prepared in such a manner that all the concepts are explained sequentially. It is advised to spend most of your time on reading chapters, and doing exercises from the NCERT. Questions in NCERT are usually very closely related to the exam patterns themselves.

• Practice Regularly: As we know practice is the key to achieving success, so to achieve good marks it is advised to solve previous years’ question papers regularly. After solving the question paper analyze the mistakes and work on them.

• Revise Formulas: As we know physics paper is a combination of theory and numerical. Formulas play an important role in the physics exam. It is better to prepare a formula sheet for better revision during exam time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Only focusing on reference books will not help in getting good marks, NCERT books are very crucial for fetching good marks. Neglecting the NCERT textbook can prove to be a disadvantage.

• It is very important to prepare strategically. Focusing on less important chapters will result in fewer marks and time wastage, but if you prepare according to the weightage of the chapters then it will result in good marks with less effort.

• Topics such as Current Electricity and Optics can have a number of problems in examinations. It is not easy to answer these questions fast and accurately when one relies less on numerical practice. Solve problems as often as you can to help increase your rate of solving them.