CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2026: Subject-wise Marking Scheme & Paper Pattern
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) releases the CBSE Class 12 exam pattern and marking scheme. According to the latest CBSE Class 12 exam pattern 2026, the theory papers will carry either 80 marks or 70 marks. Additionally, 20 or 30 marks are reserved for internal assessment and practicals, depending on the subject. The CBSE 12th exams will be held from February 17 to April 10, 2026, and students are advised to go through the complete CBSE 12th syllabus and exam pattern to obtain their desired scores in the final exams. Read further to get in-depth information on subject-wise CBSE 12th marking scheme and exam pattern for the academic year 2026.
Download CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme 2025-26
LiveCBSE 2026 Admit Card LIVE: CBSE Class 10, 12 hall tickets at cbse.gov.in soon; exam dates, link, latest updateJan 16, 2026 | 4:43 PM ISTRead More
The CBSE 2026 for Class 12th examination will be held from February 17 to April 10, 2026. The exam conducting authority has announced the CBSE Class 12 date sheet on the official website.
This Story also Contains
- CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2026 Overview
- CBSE 2026 Class 12 Exam Pattern - Types of Questions
- CBSE Class 12 English Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Paper Exam Pattern and Scheme
- CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern for Biology 2026
- CBSE 12th Business Studies Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Accountancy Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026
- How to Prepare with CBSE Class 12th Syllabus 2026?
CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2026 Overview
Students can refer to the table given below to get the major highlights of the new CBSE 12th exam pattern 2026. They can find the complete CBSE 12th paper pattern PDFs for all subjects from the official website, cbseacademic.nic.in.
Highlights of CBSE Class 12th Exam Pattern 2026
| Name of the Exam | CBSE Higher Secondary Examination 2026 |
| The Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Examination Mode | Offline |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Maximum marks | 100 |
| Total duration for theory paper | 3 Hours |
CBSE 2026 Class 12 Exam Pattern - Types of Questions
As per the recent modifications in the CBSE Class 12 exam pattern, more multiple-choice questions (MCQs) will be incorporated into the exams. The significant alterations encompass the following:
- A cumulative of 50% of the questions in the final exams will be competency-based, encompassing MCQs, source-based, and case-study-based questions.
- CBSE will integrate approximately 20% of MCQ-based questions for Class 12 in the final board exams of 2026.
- The remaining 30% of the total questions will consist of short and long answer-type questions.
Subject-wise Bifurcation of CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern
| Subjects | Theory Exam | Practical Exam |
| English | 80 | 20 |
| Sociology | 80 | 20 |
| Political Science | 80 | 20 |
| Physics | 70 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 80 | 20 |
| History | 80 | 20 |
| Geography | 70 | 30 |
| Economics | 80 | 20 |
| Computer Science | 70 | 30 |
| Chemistry | 70 | 30 |
| Business Studies | 80 | 20 |
| Accountancy | 80 | 20 |
| Biology | 70 | 30 |
| Hindi | 80 | 20 |
CBSE Class 12 English Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026
The CBSE 12th English paper includes Reading skills, Writing skills, and a Literature section. Students can check the section-wise marking scheme below:
CBSE Class 12th English Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
Section | Total Marks |
Reading Skills | 22 |
Creative Writing Skills | 18 |
Literature Textbooks and Supplementary Reading Texts | 40 |
Total | 80 |
Internal Assessment | 10 |
Project Work | 10 |
Grand Total | 100 |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026
The CBSE 12th Physics paper will consist of 70 marks for the theory exam, while 30 marks are reserved for practical/internal assessment. Students can check the complete marking scheme below:
CBSE Class 12th Physics Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
1 Mark Questions | 16 | 16 |
2 Mark Questions | 5 | 10 |
3 Mark Questions | 7 | 21 |
4 Marks Questions | 2 | 08 |
5 Mark Questions | 3 | 15 |
Total | 33 | 70 |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Practical Exam Marking Scheme for IA
CBSE Class 12th Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
Select your preferred subject to view the chapters
CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026
The CBSE 12th board exam Mathematics theory paper will carry 80 marks, while 20 marks are reserved for internal assessment. Check out the marking scheme and paper pattern for CBSE 12th Mathematics subject below:
CBSE 12th Mathematics Paper Pattern and Scheme
Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks |
1 Mark | 20 | 20 × 1= 20 |
2 Marks | 5 | 5 × 2= 10 |
3 Marks | 6 | 6 × 3= 18 |
4 Marks | 3 | 3 × 4= 12 |
5 Marks | 4 | 5 × 4 = 20 |
Total | 38 | 80 |
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Paper Exam Pattern and Scheme
The CBSE 12th Chemistry exam will carry 70 marks for the written paper, while 30 marks will be awarded for practical/internal assessment work. Check out the CBSE 12th exam pattern for the Chemistry paper below:
CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern for Chemistry 2026
Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks |
1 Mark | 16 | 16 |
2 Marks | 5 | 10 |
3 Marks | 7 | 21 |
4 Marks | 2 | 8 |
5 Marks | 3 | 15 |
Total | 33 | 70 |
CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern for Biology 2026
The CBSE 12th Bio exam will carry 70 marks for the written paper and 30 for the internal assessment/practical work. Mentioned below is the marking scheme and paper pattern for CBSE 12th Biology subject:
CBSE 12th Biology Exam Pattern 2026
Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks |
1 Mark | 16 | 16 |
2 Marks | 5 | 10 |
3 Marks | 7 | 21 |
4 Marks | 2 | 8 |
5 Marks | 3 | 15 |
Total | 33 | 70 |
CBSE 12th Business Studies Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026
The B.St CBSE 12th paper will carry 80 marks for the written exam, while 20 marks are reserved for internal assessment. Checkout the exam pattern of CBSE 12th Business Studies subject below:
CBSE Class 12 Business Studies Exam Pattern 2026
Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks |
1 Mark | 20 | 20 |
3 Marks | 4 | 12 |
4 Marks | 6 | 24 |
6 Marks | 4 | 24 |
Total | 34 | 80 |
CBSE Class 12 Accountancy Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026
CBSE conducts an 80-mark theory exam and a 20-mark practical exam for the CBSE 12th Accountancy paper. Below is a table that contains the CBSE Class 12 Accountancy exam pattern:
CBSE Class 12th Accountancy Exam Pattern 2026
Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks |
1 Mark | 20 | 20 × 1= 20 |
3 Marks | 6 | 6× 3= 18 |
4 Marks | 3 | 3 × 4= 12 |
6 Marks | 5 | 6 × 5 = 30 |
Total | 34 | 80 |
How to Prepare with CBSE Class 12th Syllabus 2026?
Good scores can be achieved in the CBSE 12th board exam result with proper preparation and knowledge of the syllabus. Students should create a timetable to determine what topics have to be covered first. For good preparation, students should follow the CBSE Class 12 preparation tips provided below:
- Develop a Timetable - List the topics and allocate your daily time wisely. Establish a schedule and adhere to it strictly. It is recommended that students finish the CBSE Class 12 syllabus 2026 at least one month before the announcement of CBSE 12th exam dates 2026.
- Prepare Notes - Take the time to create handwritten notes, as this will help you comprehend complex subjects more quickly and aid in topic revision.
- Solve Last Year’s Papers - Students must solve the latest CBSE 12th sample papers and previous year's question papers. This will help them assess their preparation and identify their weak areas.
CBSE Exam Grading System for Class 12
| Grades | Particulars |
| 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* | *Essential Repeat |
Also, Check: CBSE Class 12 Previous Years’ Question Papers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: When will the CBSE 12th result 2026 be declared?
A:
The board will announce the CBSE Class 12 result on May 20, 2026 (tentatively).
Q: Where can I find the CBSE Class 12 syllabus 2026?
A:
The CBSE board 12th syllabus 2026 can be downloaded from cbseacademic.nic.in.
Q: Do CBSE board exams have negative markings?
A:
Board exams for the CBSE 12th class 2026 do not comprise negative markings.
Q: When will the CBSE conduct the Class 12 board exams 2026?
A:
The CBSE Class 12 board exam 2026 will be held from February 17 to April 10, 2026.
Articles
Related Stories
|
Upcoming School Exams
Certifications By Top Providers
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
Questions related to CBSE Class 12th
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to CBSE Class 12th ?
Hello,
Yes, it's completely fine to skip this year's 12th board exams and give them next year as a reporter or private candidate, allowing you to prepare better; the process involves contacting your current school or board to register as a private candidate or for improvement exams during the specified
HELLO,
Yes i am giving you the link below through which you will be able to download the Class 12th Maths Book PDF
Here is the link :- https://school.careers360.com/ncert/ncert-book-for-class-12-maths
Hope this will help you!
Failing in pre-board or selection tests does NOT automatically stop you from sitting in the CBSE Class 12 board exams. Pre-boards are conducted by schools only to check preparation and push students to improve; CBSE itself does not consider pre-board marks. What actually matters is whether your school issues your
The CBSE Sahodaya Class 12 Pre-Board Chemistry Question Paper for the 2025-2026 session is available for download on the provided page, along with its corresponding answer key.
The Sahodaya Pre-Board exams, conducted in two rounds (Round 1 typically in December 2025 and Round 2 in January 2026), are modeled precisely
Hello,
You can get the Class 11 English Syllabus 2025-26 from the Careers360 website. This resource also provides details about exam dates, previous year papers, exam paper analysis, exam patterns, preparation tips and many more. you search in this site or you can ask question we will provide you the
Applications for Admissions are open.
As per latest syllabus. Physics formulas, equations, & laws of class 11 & 12th chapters
JEE Main Important Chemistry formulas
Get nowAs per latest syllabus. Chemistry formulas, equations, & laws of class 11 & 12th chapters
JEE Main high scoring chapters and topics
Get nowAs per latest 2024 syllabus. Study 40% syllabus and score upto 100% marks in JEE
JEE Main Important Mathematics Formulas
Get nowAs per latest syllabus. Maths formulas, equations, & theorems of class 11 & 12th chapters
CBSE Class 12th Notifications
Never miss CBSE Class 12th update
Get timely CBSE Class 12th updates directly to your inbox. Stay informed!