CBSE 12th Exam 2026: Dates, Syllabus, Pattern, Preparation Tips, Result

• Regular students who cleared Class 11 from CBSE and are currently studying in Class 12 are eligible to appear for CBSE 12th exam.
• Private candidates are eligible to sit for the CBSE 12th exams 2026 provided they fulfil the below criteria:
• A candidate who fails CBSE class 12 will be eligible to reappear at a subsequent examination as a private candidate. The candidates will be required to follow the syllabus and textbooks of the year in which he/she will reappear.

Also read - 

• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Maths
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology

• In order to apply for CBSE board exams 12th Class 2026, regular students are required to fill out the examination form as instructed by the officials of their respective schools. 
• Private candidates have to submit the application form along with the prescribed fee and three copies of passport-sized photographs to the regional officer of CBSE of the state/UT they reside in.

Go through the list of documents that will be needed to fill out the CBSE 12th Application Form 2026:

• Email-ID
• Aadhar number or ID proof
• Caste Category Certificate
• Contact number
• Photo in JPEG format
• Address  
• Signature

Knowing exam pattern enables a student to prepare for the CBSE 12th exams 2026 in a better way by making them aware of important aspects of an exam. CBSE class 12 exam pattern is divided into three main streams: Science, Commerce and Arts. Some subjects of CBSE 12th are common for all stream students. The exam pattern and marking scheme of CBSE 12th major subjects is given in the following tables:

CBSE Class 12 Physics & Chemistry Exam Pattern

CBSE Class 12 Mathematics Exam Pattern

CBSE Class 12 Biology Exam Pattern

CBSE 12th English Core Exam Pattern

CBSE 12th Accountancy Exam Pattern

CBSE 12th Business Studies Exam Pattern

CBSE Class 12 Geography Marking Scheme

CBSE 12th History Marking Scheme

To qualify for the CBSE 12th exams 2026 with flying colours, students should be aware of how what and when to prepare for the board exam. Read the CBSE 12th preparation tips below to make the preparation easier-

• Know the syllabus and start early: Before starting CBSE Class 12th preparation, candidates should first check the syllabus prescribed by the board for both theory and practical. This helps in knowing the most important topics to cover for the CBSE Class 12 board exams.
• Solve as many question papers as possible: CBSE provides previous year question papers and model papers officially. Students can download the same from the official site of CBSE in the curriculum section and solve the maximum number of question papers to get an understanding of the types of questions asked in the CBSE 12th exam 2026.   
• Eat healthily: This is a very important point. Yes, you have your 12th CBSE exams knocking at your door. But that does not mean that you can stop eating and keep mugging from your textbooks. Take time to relax. Have your meals on time and, more importantly, don't skip any of them. 
• Exercise: Do not just sit on your study desk and read all the time. Take time to move around. Learn some basic exercises, especially those that involve breathing and moving your arms.  
• Sleep well: Along with eating and exercising, you mustn't lose your sleep over your 12th CBSE exam. Many students stay up late when they are preparing. This is to be avoided at all costs. Less sleep will only hamper your memory. As a result, you might forget what you have studied in the examination hall. 
• Make notes: Keep a pen and notepad handy. Keep taking notes. Keeping a note helps in remembering the important points.

• The Central Board of Secondary Education releases the admit card for CBSE 12th exams 2026 for regular students.
• The CBSE 12th admit card will be released in February 2026. Last year, the CBSE admit card was released on February 3, 2025.
• Regular students can collect their Class 12th board exams admit card from their respective schools.
• Private students could download it from the official website of CBSE. 
• The CBSE Class 12 admit card will contain the exam schedule, student name, date of birth, CBSE 12th roll number and exam day instructions.
• Students should keep their admit cards safe till they get admission to higher studies, as the CBSE 12th roll number and mark sheet are the minimum requirements to get admission. 

Steps to Download the CBSE 12th Admit Card 2026:

• Visit the official website at cbse.nic.in.
• Click on the CBSE 12th admit card link.
• Enter the application number and roll number.
• The admit card will be displayed on the screen.
• Download the CBSE Class 12 admit card 2026 and take a printout of the same.

The Central Board of Secondary Education provides the CBSE Class 12 answer key 2026 to the respective exam centres. The officials of exam centres can download the answer key through the link given by the board. Students can access the unofficial answer key 2026 through the link given above and calculate their probable score.

The CBSE will tentatively declare the Class 12 results on May 20, 2026. Students can view their scores on the CBSE 12th result on the official website at cbseresults.nic.in. They should have their admit card number, roll number, school number and test centre number to access their results. Last year, the board released the CBSE 12th exam results on May 13, 2025.

Steps to Check the CBSE Class 12 Result 2026

• Visit the CBSE class 12 official link.
• Enter your class XII board roll number, admit card number, school number and test centre number and click on the 'Submit' button.
• Your result of the CBSE Board 12th Class 2026 will be displayed on the screen.
• Download and take a printout of it and keep it safe for future reference.

Students who are unsatisfied with their scores in the CBSE Class 12 Board exams 2026 can either apply for re-evaluation or appear in the compartment exam if they fail in one subject.

• Students are advised to practice the sample papers or the previous year's question papers as prescribed by CBSE to know the exam pattern well. 
• By solving last year's sample papers, students can check the type of questions to be asked in the CBSE 12th exams 2026.
• CBSE has released the class 12 sample papers on its official website.
• Moreover, they also know how to answer, the type of questions and other important aspects.