The CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education states that the CBSE Class 12th exam 2026 will be conducted via offline pen & paper based mode. The paper pattern for each subject varies. The board exam will be conducted in a single session for a duration of 3 hours (2 hours for Vocational subjects). The medium of instruction will be English / Hindi & each subject chosen by the students will have a total weightage of 100 marks (theory + practical). Moreover, there will be no negative marking done for un-attempted / wrong answers.
Following the National Education Policy 2020, CBSE has introduced some major changes in the CBSE 12th Class pattern 2026. According to the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF), the number of competency-based questions will increase. The theory question paper will comprise 50% competency-based questions (in the form of case-based / MCQs, source-based integrated / other questions), 20% questions will be select response type questions (MCQs) & the remaining 30% will be constructed response questions (short / long answer type questions).
Students can go through this article to understand more about the CBSE 12th Class 2026 exam pattern including detailed information on the medium & mode of the board exam, duration, subject-wise pattern, chapter / unit-wise weightage of marks, marking pattern and much more.
Students who will be taking the CBSE Class 12th exam are suggested to understand the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 of the respective subjects that they have opted for. Being well-acquainted with the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 will ultimately aid the students in avoiding any confusion on the actual exam day.
The important highlights of the CBSE Class 12th paper pattern 2026 are given in the table outlined below:
|
Particular |
CBSE Class 12th Exam Pattern 2026 Details |
|
Exam Mode |
Offline - Pen & Paper Based |
|
Exam Medium / Language |
English / Hindi |
|
Sessions |
Single Session |
|
Number of Subjects |
5 / 6 (as opted by the students) |
|
Exam Duration |
180 Minutes (3 Hours) * 2 hours (120 minutes) in case of Vocational subjects. |
|
Total Marks |
100 (Theory + Practical) |
|
Marking Scheme |
No negative marking |
|
Type of Questions |
* Competency-based questions are asked in the form of case-based, source-based, or as other types of questions. |
For the Arts discipline, the CBSE 12th Class 2026 theory board exam paper for each subject will be for a total of 100 marks. The detailed CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 for a few subjects is discussed below in detail:
Geography
As per the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 for Geography subject, the maximum marks of the theory paper will be 70 & 30 for the Practical exam. Further, the book-wise & unit-wise distribution of marks is as follows:
|
Unit / Chapter Number |
Marks Weightage |
|
Book: Fundamental of Human Geography |
|
|
Unit 1 |
3 |
|
Unit 2 |
8 |
|
Unit 3 |
19 |
|
Map Work (Based on the identification of features on the World Political Map) |
5 |
|
Book: India People and Economy |
|
|
Unit 1 |
5 |
|
Unit 2 |
3 |
|
Unit 3 |
10 |
|
Unit 4 |
7 |
|
Unit 5 |
5 |
|
Map Work (On the basis of locating & labeling on the political map of India) |
5 |
|
Total Marks |
70 Marks |
|
Book: Geography Practical II |
|
|
Chapter 1: Data - Its Source and Compilation |
18 |
|
Chapter 2: Data Processing |
|
|
Chapter 3: Graphical Representation of Data |
|
|
Chapter 4: Spatial Information Technology |
7 |
|
Practical Record Book & Viva Voce |
5 |
|
Total Marks |
30 Marks |
|
Grand Total Marks (Theory + Practical) |
100 Marks |
Political Science
In Political Science, students have to attempt the theory paper for 80 marks & 20 for practical. The details of the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 are described in the table below:
|
Chapter Number |
Name of the Chapter |
Marks Weightage |
|
Part A: Contemporary World Politics |
||
|
1 |
The End of Bipolarity |
6 |
|
2 |
Contemporary Centres of Power |
6 |
|
3 |
Contemporary South Asia |
6 |
|
4 |
International Organizations |
6 |
|
5 |
Security in the Contemporary World |
6 |
|
6 |
Environment and Natural Resources |
6 |
|
7 |
Globalisation |
4 |
|
Total Marks |
40 Marks |
|
|
Part B: Politics In India Since Independence |
||
|
1 |
Challenges of Nation-Building |
6 |
|
2 |
Era of One-Party Dominance |
4 |
|
3 |
Politics of Planned Development |
2 |
|
4 |
India’s External Relations |
6 |
|
5 |
Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System |
4 |
|
6 |
The Crisis of Democratic Order |
4 |
|
7 |
Regional Aspirations |
6 |
|
8 |
Recent Developments in Indian Politics |
8 |
|
Total Marks |
40 Marks |
|
|
Part C |
||
|
Project / Practical |
20 Marks |
|
|
Grand Total Marks |
100 Marks |
|
For the Commerce discipline, the students have to cover various parts for the theory paper. Its exam pattern also comprises project work; the details of the paper pattern for certain subjects are as follows:
Business Studies
The unit-wise CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 for Business Studies subject is given in detail below:
|
Unit Number |
Name of the Unit |
Marks Weightage |
|
Part A: Principles and Functions of Management |
||
|
1 |
Nature and Significance of Management |
16 |
|
2 |
Principles of Management |
|
|
3 |
Business Environment |
|
|
4 |
Planning |
14 |
|
5 |
Organising |
|
|
6 |
Staffing |
20 |
|
7 |
Directing |
|
|
8 |
Controlling |
|
|
Total Marks |
50 Marks |
|
|
Part B: Business Finance and Marketing |
||
|
9 |
Financial Management |
15 |
|
10 |
Financial Markets |
|
|
11 |
Marketing Management |
15 |
|
12 |
Consumer Protection |
|
|
Total Marks |
30 Marks |
|
|
Part C |
||
|
Project Work |
20 Marks |
|
|
Grand Total Marks |
100 Marks |
|
Economics
Students who have opted for Economics for the CBSE exam 2026 Class 12th must be thorough with the exam pattern. It includes a theory paper of 80 marks & project work for 20 marks. Follow the below-outlined table for detailed CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026:
|
Chapter Number |
Name of the Chapter |
Marks Weightage |
|
Part A: Introductory Macroeconomics |
||
|
1 |
National Income and Related Aggregates |
10 |
|
2 |
Money and Banking |
6 |
|
3 |
Determination of Income and Employment |
12 |
|
4 |
Government Budget and the Economy |
6 |
|
5 |
Balance of Payments |
6 |
|
Total Marks |
40 Marks |
|
|
Part B: Indian Economic Development |
||
|
6 |
Development Experience (1947-90) and Economic Reforms Since 1991 |
12 |
|
7 |
Current Challenges facing Indian Economy |
20 |
|
8 |
Development Experience of India – A Comparison with Neighbours |
8 |
|
Total Marks |
40 Marks |
|
|
Part C |
||
|
Project Work |
20 Marks |
|
|
Grand Total Marks |
100 Marks |
|
The CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 for Science discipline is based on a theory paper & practical work / internal assessment as per the respective subjects. Students can go through the paper pattern for a few subjects which are given in detail below:
Biology
In accordance with the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 for the Biology subject, the theory paper will be conducted for 70 marks while the practical exam will be for 30 marks. The details are as follows:
|
Unit Number |
Name of the Unit |
Marks Weightage |
|
Theory Exam |
||
|
6 |
Reproduction |
16 |
|
7 |
Genetics and Evolution |
20 |
|
8 |
Biology and Human Welfare |
12 |
|
9 |
Biotechnology and its Applications |
12 |
|
10 |
Ecology and Environment |
10 |
|
Total Marks |
70 Marks |
|
|
Practical Exam |
||
|
One Major Experiment |
5 |
|
|
One Minor Experiment |
4 |
|
|
Slide Preparation |
5 |
|
|
Spotting |
7 |
|
|
Practical Record + Viva Voce |
4 |
|
|
Investigatory Project & its Project Record + Viva Voce |
5 |
|
|
Total Marks |
30 Marks |
|
|
Grand Total Marks |
100 Marks |
|
Mathematics
Students who have opted for the Mathematics subject must be aware about the unit-wise distribution of marks & the marks allotted in the internal assessment. Given-below are the details of the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026:
|
Unit Number |
Name of the Unit |
Marks Weightage |
|
1 |
Relations and Functions |
8 |
|
2 |
Algebra |
10 |
|
3 |
Calculus |
35 |
|
4 |
Vectors and Three - Dimensional Geometry |
14 |
|
5 |
Linear Programming |
5 |
|
6 |
Probability |
8 |
|
Total Marks |
80 Marks |
|
|
Internal Assessment |
||
|
Periodic Tests (Best 2 out of 3 conducted) |
10 |
|
|
Mathematics Activities |
10 |
|
|
Total Marks |
20 Marks |
|
|
Grand Total Marks |
100 Marks |
|
According to the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026, students are supposed to answer all the questions asked in the respective question paper. The CBSE Class 12th marking scheme states that there will be no negative marking done in case students have not attempted a question / written incorrect answer.
The CBSE 12th Class Syllabus 2026 is designed & prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (conducting body). The syllabus for every subject is different. Students should be mindful that the questions asked as per the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026 will be based on the content mentioned in the syllabus. Additionally, following the syllabus will help the students in securing better marks in the board exam.
The syllabus of CBSE Class 12th exam for Arts discipline includes subjects such as History, Home Science, Geography, and so on. For the field of Commerce, students have to cover the content of the syllabus for subjects like Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, etc. Students who have opted for Science discipline have to follow the syllabus of subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and more, as applicable.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (conducting authority) will be responsible for designing the CBSE 12th Class pattern 2026.
Yes, students should be aware that there are some changes made in the paper pattern according to the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF). In the CBSE 12th Class exam 2026 pattern, the weightage of competency-based questions has been increased to 50% from 40%.
The theory CBSE exam 2026 Class 12th will be held for a period of 3 hours whereas for Vocational subjects the duration will be 2 hours.
According to the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026, there is no negative marking for wrong answers / un-answered questions.
In accordance with the CBSE Class 12th exam pattern 2026, the paper will consist of 50% competency-based questions, 20% select response type questions (MCQs), and the other 30% will be constructed response questions.
