Quick Summary: In the new CBSE Class 12 exam pattern for 2025-26, the emphasis is more on competency-based questions, which will rely on understanding and practicing various concepts rather than memorizing them. One of the major changes is that 50% weightage is provided to competency-based questions, which may be MCQs, case-based, source-based, etc. The other 50% will be divided between short-answer and long-answer questions. This article also provides the full description of the CBSE Class 12 exam pattern 2025-26, marking scheme, subject-wise weightage, etc, in order to help the students prepare well.
Latest CBSE Exam Pattern 2025-26: CBSE has released a new exam pattern for Classes 11 & 12 from the Academic Session 2025-26. The new format is intended to measure student understanding and application of concepts, rather than rote memorization. With the new CBSE syllabus and exam pattern, the emphasis will be on testing how students can apply their learning in real life. So, rather than insisting on basic definitions or direct answers, the questions will demand judgment and problem-solving. These are also in accordance with the vision of the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that encourages more practical learning and that aims to reduce the burden of rote learning, and to, in turn, make the education system in India of better quality.
In order to help students prepare for the exams, the CBSE has uploaded the Class 12 marking scheme on the official website (idioms website) cbse.gov.in. This clearly explains to students how many marks are allocated to a chapter and what the weightage of a particular subject is. It’s crucial for students to continue checking in for any updates regarding the exam pattern. This article provides you with the complete information regarding the CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025-26, Marking Scheme, and Subject-wise weightage so that you can prepare well in advance.
Read More:
- CBSE Class 10 & 12 Syllabus 2025-26: Major Changes & Key Highlights You Must Know
- Download CBSE Class 12th Syllabus 2025-26
CBSE Board Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025-26
The following table provides a glimpse of the CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025-26. It also mentions some of the important details such as the name of the exam conducting body, types of questions, marking scheme, minimum passing marks, duration of exam, mode of the exam, along with the official site (idiom site) for further facts.
| Component | Description |
| Organising Authority | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Exam Format |
|
| Exam Timing | 3 hours |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper Based) |
| Subjects to Appear For | Minimum 5 and Maximum 6 (based on the student’s selection) |
| Marking Scheme |
|
| Passing Criteria (Per Subject) | 33% marks required |
| Overall Qualifying Requirement | At least 33% aggregate across all subjects |
CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025-26: Latest Modifications
According to the new updation, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will start holding board exams for Class 10 and 12 in the new format from 2026. The reforms have been billed as an effort to ease the academic burden on students and become more flexible, along with an exercise to introduce a competency-based assessment that tests concept knowledge instead of rote learning.
The goal, to reduce the stress levels of the board exams and make it more inclusive by reducing external coaching to a minimum. “In continuation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, CBSE is aiming to have a fairer examination pattern that allows students from regular schools to succeed with consistent study, without much dependence on tuitions.”
CBSE Board Exam 2025-26: Major Updates
Here’s one of the major changes in CBSE Board Exams 2026. According to this, two exam attempts will be made available in a single academic year for students of Classes 10 and 12. This new system is intended to provide more flexibility and take (take with a grain of salt idiom synonym) the pressure off students.
Two Phases of CBSE Board Exam 2026:
- Main Exam – The first attempt of the Main Exam will be held as per the usual timetable.
- Improvement Exam – It is a secondary opportunity for students to raise their scores if they seek an improvement.
CBSE 2026: Reforms That Support Students
- Competency-Based Questions: Greater emphasis on assessing understanding and problem-solving rather than rote memorization.
- Conceptual Learning & Critical Thinking: Tests will focus on testing the application aspect of the students’ knowledge in real-life scenarios.
- Less Need for Coaching: Regular school learning will be enough to perform well in the exams.
These changes reflect the vision of NEP 2020, making board exams more balanced, flexible, and student-friendly.
Check Out: Best NCERT Books for JEE Mains 2025: Class 11 and 12 PCM Books FREE PDF Download
Changes in CBSE Exam Pattern 2025-26: Detailed Breakdown
The exam pattern of CBSE for classes 11 and 12 has been changed to provide more practical knowledge and inspire critical thinking rather than rote learning. Below is a detailed breakdown of the latest changes:
- 50% Weightage for Competency-Based Questions: Now, 50% of the question paper will be based on competency-based questions. These are meant to check if students can apply their knowledge in real-life situations and think critically. Types of questions under this section include:
- MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions): Students have to select the correct option from several choices.
- Case-Based Questions: Based on a situation or scenario, these require applying concepts to solve related questions.
- Source-Based Integrated Questions: These involve using given data from sources like charts, articles, or graphs to answer related questions.
- 20% Weightage for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): MCQs will make up another 20% of the total marks. These are included to help students develop quick thinking and analytical skills. Practicing MCQs also improves accuracy and confidence in identifying correct answers quickly.
- 30% Weightage for Constructed Response Type Questions: Short and long answer-type questions will now carry 30% weightage, reduced from the earlier 40%. These questions are still crucial as they test how well students understand the topic and how clearly they can explain their answers in writing.
Subject-wise Exam Pattern for CBSE Class 12 2025-26
The exam pattern for CBSE Class 12 science stream in the 2025-26 academic year has been updated, especially in terms of question-wise weightage. As per the new format, the weightage for competency-based questions such as MCQs, case-based, and source-based types has been increased from 40% to 50%. Meanwhile, the constructed response questions, which include short and long answers, now carry only 30% weightage, down from 40%.
CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam Pattern 2025-26
From the academic session 2025-26, the CBSE Class 12 Mathematics examination will be of 100 marks, including 80 marks for the theory paper and 20 marks for internal assessment. The written test will be of 3 hours duration, which will consist of multiple sections containing objective-type questions. Students will also have internal choices in every section of the paper. You can go through the complete exam pattern as follows:
| Exam Component | Information |
| Total Score | 100 Marks (divided into 80 for the written exam and 20 for the internal assessment) |
| Written Paper Structure |
|
| Internal Evaluation | periodic tests (best 2 out of 3 will be counted) and subject-based activities in Mathematics, each carrying 10 marks. |
| Time Duration | 3 Hours for the theory exam |
| Qualifying Marks | Minimum 33% required per subject and overall total |
CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme For Mathematics
| Topic | Marks |
| Relations & Functions | 08 |
| Calculus | 35 |
| Algebra | 10 |
| Vectors & 3-Dimensional Geometry | 14 |
| Linear Programming | 05 |
| Probability | 08 |
Check Out: CBSE Class 12 Sample Papers with Solutions 2025-26
CBSE Class 12 Science Exam Pattern 2025-26
The exam pattern for the CBSE Class 12 Science for the 2025-26 stream is likely to include a combination of competency-based, MCQs, as well as constructed-response type questions. The tests will be held offline for 3 hours. The same pattern is repeated in all three 3 Science Papers: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
| Part | Question Format | Marks Allotted |
| Part A | 16 Questions (mix of MCQs, very short and short responses) | 16 Marks |
| Part B | 5 Questions – Short Answer (2 marks each) | 10 Marks |
| Part C | 7 Questions – Short Answer (3 marks each) | 21 Marks |
| Part D | 2 Questions – Case-Based (4 marks each) | 8 Marks |
| Part E | 3 Questions – Long Answer (5 marks each) | 15 Marks |
| Theory Total | — | 70 Marks |
| Practical Exam | Activities, experiments, viva, and record work | 30 Marks |
| Grand Total | Combined score of theory and practical | 100 Marks |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern 2025-26
The CBSE Class 12 Physics exam for 2025-26 will be a 70-mark theory paper and a 30-mark practical paper, totaling 100 marks. The Theory paper will comprise several sections, such as MCQs, strategic questions, short answers, and long answers. Example formatting is shown below:
| Category | Information |
| Marks Distribution |
|
| Type of Questions |
|
| Exam Duration | The total duration of the written paper is 3 hours. |
CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme For Physics
| Topics | Marks |
| Unit 1: Electrostatics Unit 2: Current Electricity |
16 |
| Unit 3: Magnetic Effects of Current & Magnetism Unit 4: Electromagnetic Induction & Alternating Currents |
17 |
| Unit 5: Electromagnetic Waves Unit 6: Optics |
18 |
| Unit 7: Dual Nature of Radiation & Matter Unit 8: Atoms & Nuclei |
12 |
| Unit 9: Electronic Devices | 7 |
| Practical | |
| Two experiments (one from each section) | 7+7 |
| Practical file (with activities and experiments recorded) | 5 |
| One hands-on activity from any section | 3 |
| Project work (investigatory type) | 3 |
| Viva, based on experiments and a project | 5 |
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Exam Pattern 2025-26
In the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry exam in 2025-26, the written exam will be of 70 marks, and the remaining 30 marks are for the practical. The theory paper will comprise five sections containing different types of questions and carrying different weightage. The full breakdown is below.
| Category | Information |
| Marks Distribution | Theory: 70 marks Practical/Project Work: 30 marks |
| Type of Questions |
|
| Exam Duration | The total duration of the written paper is 3 hours. |
CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme For Chemistry
| Topics | Marks |
| Solutions | 7 |
| Electrochemistry | 9 |
| Chemical Kinetics | 7 |
| d -and f- f-block elements | 7 |
| Coordination Compounds | 7 |
| Haloalkaline s & Haloarnes | 6 |
| Alcohol, Phenols & Ethers | 6 |
| Aldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids | 8 |
| Amines | 6 |
| Biomolecules | 7 |
| Practicals | |
| Volumetric Analysis | 8 |
| Salt Analysis | 8 |
| Content-Based Experiment | 6 |
| Project | 4 |
| Class record & viva | 4 |
CBSE Class 12 Biology Exam Pattern 2025-26
The CBSE Class 12 Biology exam in 2025-26 paper will also follow the 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practical’s structure. Students will be assessed through various sections with different kinds of questions. More detailed distribution is explained below:
| Category | Information |
| Marks Distribution |
|
| Type of Questions |
|
| Exam Duration | The total duration of the written paper is 3 hours. |
CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme For Biology
| Topics | Marks |
| Reproduction | 16 |
| Genetics & Evolution | 20 |
| Biology & Human Welfare | 12 |
| Biotechnology & Its Applications | 12 |
| Ecology & Environment | 10 |
| Practical | |
| 1 Major experiment | 5 |
| 1 Minor experiment | 4 |
| Slide preparation | 5 |
| Spotting | 7 |
| Practical record + viva voce | 4 |
| Investigatory Project and Project record + viva voce | 5 |
CBSE Class 12 English (Core) Exam Pattern 2025-26
The CBSE Class 12 English Core exam in 2025 will be divided into three sections – Reading, Writing & Grammar, and Literature. The theory paper will carry 80 marks, and 20 marks will be for the Internal Assessment. The paper format includes a mix of MCQs, competency-based questions, and short/long answer types:
| Component | Marks | Included Question Types |
| Section A: Reading | 22 | Comprehension based on unseen passages — narrative, descriptive, and factual formats, including case-based passages with visual/verbal cues. |
| Section B: Writing & Grammar | 18 | Writing formats such as notices, invitations (formal/informal) with replies, letters (applications, editorial), reports or articles, and grammar-based sentence transformation. |
| Section C: Literature | 40 | Questions from prose, poetry, and plays in the prescribed textbooks and supplements focused on comprehension, interpretation, analysis, and inference |
CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme For English
| Components | Marks |
| Reading Comprehension | 20 |
| Creative Expression (Writing Tasks) | 20 |
| Literary Section (Main & Supplementary Texts) | 40 |
| Internal Assessment Breakdown | |
| Listening Test | 5 |
| Speaking Test | 5 |
| Project-Based Assessment | 10 |
CBSE Class 12 Preparation Tips for 2025-26
To top the CBSE Class 12 exams 2025-26, it is essential to have a proper strategy in place: Know the syllabus, follow a study plan, refer to NCERT books, go through reference books, Practice with sample papers, and focus on stress. Stress weak areas, get into a regular study routine, and be healthy in your preparation.
- Be Aware of Syllabus and Exam Pattern: First of all, read the CBSE Class 12 syllabus and exam pattern of all subjects. Know the pattern of questions and marks. That helps you understand where you’re strong and need to improve.
- Make a Smart Study Schedule: Plan a subject-wise study timetable based on how well you know each subject and how important it is. Set small daily goals that you can actually complete.
- Use NCERT Books as a Base: Base your preparation on NCERT books. Read through each chapter in detail and answer all in-text and end-of-chapter questions. Utilize reference books and the internet to study concepts in depth.
- Practice with Sample and Past Papers: Practice from sample papers as well as the previous year’s question papers to become accustomed to the exam format. Read more Numerical, Application, and concept from day to day life questions.
- Revise Frequently: Allocate time (race against time phrase meaning) for regular review. Write short notes, diagrams, and flowcharts for quick revision before exams.
- Work on Weak Topics: Concentrate more on your weaknesses. Ask teachers, friends, or join online study groups if you are not sure.
- Ask for Help When Stuck: If you have any doubts, consult your teachers or friends. Find quick explanations and extra help within educational websites and online tools.
- Manage Stress and Stay Healthy: Try meditating, deep breathing, or gentle exercise to keep stress away. Get a good night’s sleep, eat healthy food, and be physically active to keep your mind sharp and focused.
- Stay Positive and Consistent: Stay positive while you prepare. Get back to your studying schedule and don’t procrastinate. Even the smallest wins can keep you motivated.
FAQs on CBSE Board Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025-26
Q1: What is the question paper pattern for CBSE Class 12 Science exams?
The pattern of the Class 12 CBSE Science exam comprises MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions), Competency-based questions, and Short/Long answer-type questions. From which 20% will be MCQs, 30% will be case-based and source-based, and 50% will be descriptive type.
Q: How are CBSE Class 12 marks calculated for the final result?
The marks from your best five subjects are added, divided by 500, and then multiplied by 100. To calculate the CBSE Class 12 percentage. This gives the final percentage used in your result.
Q: Will CBSE conduct Class 12 board exams online or offline in 2026?
The CBSE 2026 class 12 exams would be conducted in offline mode. These are pen and paper-based tests and are of 3 hours duration.
Q: What are the best reference books for CBSE Class 12 exam preparation in 2026?
When it comes to preparing for CBSE Class 12, the NCERT Books and Exemplars have the most dependable content. Students can consult other standard reference books for in-depth study and additional practice.
Q: Can students use a scientific calculator in CBSE 12th board exams?
No, scientific calculators of any type are not allowed in CBSE Class 12 board exams. Students should not use a calculator to solve any of these questions.
Q: Is the CBSE Class 12 board paper considered difficult?
In normal circumstances, CBSE Class 12 board exams are not very tough. Toughness varies for the individual aspirants and is subject to different candidates’ levels of preparation.
Q: Are grace marks given in CBSE Class 12 exams?
CBSE may give grace marks in Class 12, but only in exceptional cases. They are awarded when a student is just (just in case definition) a few marks away from a passing grade, usually 1 to 2 marks.
Q: What subject streams are offered in Class 12 by CBSE?
Three main streams are offered by the CBSE at this level: Science, Commerce, and Humanities (Arts). Every stream comprises a set of subjects, which can be chosen by the students according to their interests.
Q: How strict is the evaluation process in CBSE Class 12 board exams?
The checking in the CBSE Class 12 boards is balanced fairly. It is considered moderately strict, not extremely harsh, and not too easy either.
Q: Do Class 12 CBSE board exam marks affect college admissions?
Yes, Class 12 marks are a big factor in getting into college. But their importance depends on the course or university requirements.
