The new session of the CBSE Class 12th has begun and now students are wondering about the new marking scheme and exam pattern. While the official update is yet to come, it is expected that CBSE Class 12th marking scheme 2026 and exam pattern will be similar to the previous academic session. Students can check the CBSE Class 12 marking scheme and exam pattern 2026 here so that they can know how to prepare to maximize their marks in the upcoming board exam.
CBSE Class 12th Marking Scheme
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) releases an official notice stating the detailed CBSE Class 12th Marking Scheme for the upcoming board examinations. The comprehensive CBSE Marking Scheme for Class 12th subjects outlines the weightage given to each topic, enabling students to plan their studies effectively. You can obtain the latest CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme Notice pdf from the official site or by clicking the link given below in this article.
CBSE Class 12th Marking Scheme 2026
The CBSE Class 12 examination for the academic year 2025-26 would be held in pen and paper format between February and April 2026 (tentative). The CBSE Class 12th Marking Scheme is an invaluable information that will help you align your studies with exam preparations and steer your academic achievement in the proper way.
Along with the CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme, students are recommended to completely review and understand the most recent CBSE 12th Exam Pattern for their respective subjects to approach the real exam with the proper strategy.
CBSE Marking Scheme 2025-26 Class 12th Overview
In the CBSE Class 12 Exams, each subject will carry a total of 100 marks, which will be divided into written and practical exams. The written/theory test lasts 3 hours and 15 minutes, with the first 15 minutes serving as the cooling-off period. To qualify for the CBSE 12th exams 2026, students must score at least 33% in each subject and overall. Check the key highlights of the CBSE Class 12 Exam pattern and marking scheme.
Particulars | Details |
Examination Name | CBSE Class 12 Annual Examination 2025-26 |
Exam conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education |
Streams | Science, Arts, Commerce |
Frequency | Once in a Year |
Level of the Examination | National Level |
Mode of the Examination | Offline (Pen paper mode) |
Duration
|
3 hours |
Medium
|
English / Hindi |
Maximum Marks
|
|
Number of subjects
|
5 or 6 (as elected by the student) |
Passing marks | for each subject as well as the overall exam aggregate 33% of Total marks |
CBSE Class 12th Marking Scheme 2025-26 for all Subjects
The CBSE releases the detailed CBSE Class 12th Marking Scheme 2026 for each subject, allowing pupils to identify high-weightage themes. Understanding the mark distribution allows students to better manage their study time and emphasize critical topics. Download the official Notice mentions the latest CBSE Class 12th Marking scheme by clicking the link below.
The CBSE uploads the notification PDF regarding the mark distribution for the Class 12 board exams in 2025-26 on its official portal. Students who are preparing for the exam can download the CBSE 12th Marking scheme PDF by Clicking the link given below
CBSE Class 12th Exam Pattern 2025-26 Subject wise
According to the new Class 12 exam Pattern 2025-26, the weightage of competency-based questions, such as MCQ, has increased from 40% to 50%. However, the weightage of short-answer and long-answer questions has been reduced to 30%. Additionally, MCQ-based ‘Select Response Type’ questions are weighted at 20%. Check out the subject-specific Class 12 exam pattern for major subjects one by one.
CBSE Class 12 Maths Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern
Written Examination |
||||
Sections | Type of Questions | No of Questions | Marks | Total Marks |
A | Question no. 1 to 18 are MCQs and question no. 19 and 20 are Assertion-Reason Based Questions | 20 | 1 Mark Each | 20 |
B | Very Short Answer Type Questions | 5 | 2 Marks Each | 10 |
C | Short Answer Type Questions | 6 | 3 Marks Each | 18 |
D | Long Answer Type Questions | 4 | 5 Marks Each | 20 |
E | Source-Based/ Case-Based/ Passage-Based/ Integrated Units of Assessment | 3 | 4 Marks Each | 12 |
Total Marks | 80 | |||
Internal Assessment | ||||
Periodic Tests (2 out of 3 tests conducted)
|
10 Marks | |||
Mathematics Activities | 10 Marks | |||
Total Marks | 20 |
CBSE Class 12 Accounts Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern
Sections | Topics | Weightage | ||
Part A: Accounting For Partnership Firms And Companies (Compulsory For All)
|
Accounting For Partnership Firms | 36 | ||
Accounting For Companies | 24 | |||
Part B (Contains Internal Choice, Students Must Attempt Either Of The Two Options) | Option (I) Financial Statement Analysis – Analysis Of Financial Statements – Cash Flow Statement Or Option (Ii) Computerized Accounting – Computerized Accounting |
20 | ||
Total Marks (Theory) | 80 | |||
Total Marks (Internal Assessment) | 20 | |||
Grand Total | 100 |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern
Written Examination | ||||||
Sections | Type of Questions | No of Questions | Marks | Total Marks | ||
A | MCQs and Assertion-Reason Based Questions | 16 | 1 Mark Each | 16 | ||
B | Very Short Answer Type Questions | 5 | 2 Marks Each | 10 | ||
C | Short Answer Type Questions | 7 | 3 Marks Each | 21 | ||
D | Case-Study Based Questions | 2 | 4 Marks Each | 8 | ||
E | Long Answer Type Questions | 3 | 5 Marks Each | 15 | ||
Total | 33 | 70 | ||||
Practical Examination | ||||||
1 |
Two Experiments, one from each section
|
7 + 7 Marks | ||||
2 |
Practical Record (Experiments & Activities)
|
5 Marks | ||||
3 |
One Activity from any section
|
3 Marks | ||||
4 |
Investigatory Project
|
3 Marks | ||||
5 |
Viva on Experiments, Activities and Project
|
5 Marks | ||||
Total Marks | 30 |
CBSE Class 12th Sample Papers with Solutions
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern
Written Examination | ||||
Sections | Type of Questions | No of Questions | Marks | Total Marks |
A | MCQs | 16 | 1 Mark Each | 16 |
B | Very Short Answer Type Questions | 5 | 2 Marks Each | 10 |
C | Short Answer Type Questions | 7 | 3 Marks Each | 21 |
D | Case-Study Based Questions | 2 | 4 Marks Each | 8 |
E | Long Answer Type Questions | 3 | 5 Marks Each | 15 |
Total Marks | 33 | 70 | ||
Practical Examination | 30 |
CBSE Class 12 Biology Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern
Theory/Written Examination | ||||
Sections | Type of Questions | No of Questions | Marks | Total Marks |
A | MCQs and Assertion-Reason Based Questions | 16 | 1 Mark Each | 16 |
B | Very Short Answer Type Questions | 5 | 2 Marks Each | 10 |
C | Short Answer Type Questions | 7 | 3 Marks Each | 21 |
D | Case-Study Based Questions | 2 | 4 Marks Each | 8 |
E | Long Answer Type Questions | 3 | 5 Marks Each | 15 |
Total Marks | 70 | |||
Practical Examination | ||||
1 |
One Major Experiment (5)
|
5 Marks | ||
2 |
One Minor Experiment (2 & 3)
|
4 Marks | ||
3 | Slide Preparation (1 & 4) | 5 Marks | ||
4 | Spotting | 7 Marks | ||
5 |
Practical Record and Viva Voce
|
4 Marks | ||
6 |
Investigatory Project and its Project Record + Viva Voce
|
5 Marks | ||
Total Marks | 30 |
Class 12 English Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern
Section | Topics | Marks | |
Section A (Reading Skills) | Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passage Discursive passage Case-based factual passage |
12 + 10 Marks |
|
Section B (Writing Skills)
|
Notice (up to 50 Words)
|
4 Marks | |
Formal/ Informal Invitation & Reply (up to 50 Words)
|
4 Marks | ||
Letter Writing (120-150 Words)
Application for Job/ Bio Data/ Resume/ Letter to the Editor |
5 Marks | ||
Article/ Report Writing (120-150 Words)
|
5 Marks | ||
Section C (Literature Text Book and Supplementary Reading Text)
|
One extract out of two from Poetry (Flamingo)
|
6 Marks | |
One extract out of two from Prose (Vistas)
|
4 Marks | ||
One extract out of two from Prose (Flamingo)
|
6 Marks | ||
Short Answer Type
|
|||
Prose & Poetry [Flamingo (5 out of 6 questions)]
|
2×5 = 10 Marks |
||
Prose [Vistas (2 out of 3 questions)]
|
2×2 = 4 Marks |
||
Long Answer Type
|
|||
Pros/Poetry [Flamingo (1 out of 2 Questions)]
|
5 Marks | ||
Vista (1 out of 2 Questions) | 5 Mark |