CBSE Class 12 Physics Paper 2025: Tough Challenge or Bold Step Towards higher-quality exam?

Experts' View on CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Difficulty Level

Ravichandran Venkataraman, Educationist and Social Enterprise Leader also shared his views on CBSE 12th physics question paper 2025. Go through the entire article to read his views:

Students & Schools Found it Too Lengthy & Difficult

There have been mixed reactions to this year's CBSE 12th Grade Physics Exam Paper—some found it too lengthy, others deemed it very difficult, and many felt it tested conceptual understanding alongside numerical problem-solving rather than treating them separately.

Some school principals have strongly criticized the paper, questioning why CBSE is increasing pressure on students. Some parents have gone as far as blaming the Education Minister for the stress their children faced. One parent likened their child’s post-exam daze to experiencing the edge of a black hole, underscoring the emotional turmoil caused by a more challenging paper.

But what is the real reason behind these reactions from school principals, parents, and students?

Over time, many schools have shifted their focus from being true learning centres to becoming institutions obsessed with board exam scores. They proudly advertise their students' high marks, often aiming for an unrealistic 100% success rate with 95%+ scores rather than emphasising true conceptual learning.

CBSE has been long accused of encouraging rote learning with predictable exam papers. Many parents previously considered switching to other boards that focus on deeper understanding but refrained because college admissions are largely dependent on 12th-grade marks and competitive exams. Coaching institutes and integrated school programs took charge of preparing students for these exams. But now, with CBSE raising the bar on its own exam difficulty, parents find themselves conflicted—they don't want rote-based exams, but they also want their children to score high marks.

Similarly, school principals are reluctant to embrace difficult question papers because their reputation depends on consistently high student scores. If students score lower, schools cannot boast of their "track record," potentially affecting admissions. Many teachers, too, feel unprepared to teach in a way that builds true competency and problem-solving skills, making them resistant to this shift.

But should we ask CBSE to return to the old system of predictable, rote-based papers?

Absolutely not. This is the moment of reckoning—the inflection point where the rubber meets the road. CBSE is right to introduce more challenging assessments that test true understanding.

Parents and schools must adjust their expectations. It is perfectly fine if students score 70-80% instead of 99%. Schools must invest in training their teachers to emphasize competency and deeper understanding rather than just exam techniques. When students are encouraged to engage with concepts and answer higher-order thinking questions, they develop into better professionals in the future. If competency-based learning is fully embraced, coaching institutes will eventually become unnecessary.

I commend CBSE for taking a bold step in setting higher-quality exam papers. I hope this marks the beginning of similar reforms across all subjects, not just Science and Mathematics. Quality education must move beyond memorization, and this is a significant step in the right direction.