CBSE 12th Exams 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts the class 12th board exams every year. Students enrolled in the 12th class at a CBSE-affiliated school can appear in these exams. Around 16 lakh students appear in the Class 12th exam, which is held for 114 subjects.
Latest CBSE Board 12th Exams 2026 Updates:
Based on their score in the 12th CBSE exam, students can apply for admission to colleges and universities in various undergraduate programs as per their choice.

| Full Exam Name | Central Board of Secondary Education Class 12th Examination |
| Short Exam Name | CBSE Class 12th |
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education |
| Frequency Of Conduct | Once a year |
| Exam Level | Intermediate |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
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CBSE Class 12th Central Board of Secondary Education Class 12th Examination (session 2026)
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Go through the list of documents that will be needed to fill out the CBSE 12th Application Form 2026:
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Download NowKnowing 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
| Exam duration | 3 Hours |
| Practical Marks | 30 Marks |
| Theory marks | 70 marks |
| Total no. of questions | 37 |
| Very short answer-type questions (1 mark each) | 20 |
| Short answer type questions (2 marks each) | 7 |
| Long answer type -I questions (3 marks each) | 7 |
| Long answer type-II questions (5 marks each) | 3 |
CBSE Class 12 Mathematics Exam Pattern
| Exam duration | 3 Hours |
| Internal Marks | 20 Marks |
| Theory marks | 80 marks |
| Total no. of questions | 36 |
| Very short answer-type questions (1 mark each) | 20 |
| Short answer type questions (2 marks each) | 6 |
| Long answer type-I questions (4 marks each) | 6 |
| Long answer type-II questions (6 marks each) | 4 |
CBSE Class 12 Biology Exam Pattern
| Exam duration | 3 Hours |
| Practical Marks | 30 Marks |
| Theory marks | 70 marks |
| Total no. of questions | 27 |
| Very short answer-type questions (1 mark each) | 5 |
| Short answer type-I questions (2 marks each) | 7 |
| Short answer type-II questions (3 marks each) | 12 |
| Long answer type questions (5 marks each) | 3 |
CBSE 12th English Core Exam Pattern
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
| Maximum marks | 100 marks (80 Marks for Theory + 20 Marks for assessment of listening and speaking skills) |
| Total number of questions | 33 |
| MCQ and objective-type questions (1 mark each) | 20 |
| Short Answer type-I questions (2 marks each) | 5 |
| Short Answer type-II questions (4 marks each) | 3 |
| Long Answer type questions (6 marks each) | 3 |
| Very Long Answer type questions (10 marks each) | 2 |
CBSE 12th Accountancy Exam Pattern
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
| Theory marks | 80 |
| Practical marks | 20 |
| Total number of questions | 32 |
| MCQ and objective-type questions (1 mark each) | 20 |
| Short answer I type questions (3 marks each) | 2 |
| Short answer II type questions (4 marks each) | 5 |
| Long answer I type questions (6 marks each) | 3 |
| Long answer II type questions (8 marks each) | 2 |
CBSE 12th Business Studies Exam Pattern
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
| Theory marks | 80 |
| Internal marks | 20 |
| Total number of questions | 34 |
| MCQ and objective-type questions (1 mark each) | 20 |
| Short answer I type questions (3 marks each) | 5 |
| Short answer II type questions (4 marks each) | 3 |
| Long answer I type questions (6 marks each) | 3 |
| Long answer II type questions (8 marks each) | 3 |
CBSE Class 12 Geography Marking Scheme
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
| Total marks | 100 marks |
| Theory marks | 70 marks |
| Practical marks | 30 marks |
CBSE 12th History Marking Scheme
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
| Total marks | 100 marks |
| Theory marks | 80 marks |
| Project work | 20 marks |
| Total number of questions | 31 |
| MCQ and objective type questions (1 mark each) | 20 |
| Short answer type questions (3 marks each) | 4 |
| Source-based questions (6 marks each) | 3 |
| Long answer type questions (8 marks each) | 3 |
| Map Work (6 marks) | 1 |
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-
Steps to Download the CBSE 12th Admit Card 2026:
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
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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CBSE 12th exam date sheet 2026-27 will be released in October 2026.
It is mandatory to carry the admit card and school ID card to the exam hall.
You will have to study sincerely to score good marks in the CBSE 12 exams and practice with CBSE 12th sample papers to boost exam preparation.
A student will have to score at least 33% marks separately in CBSE 12th theory exam and practical exam/Internal assessment/Project work along with 33% marks in aggregate.
CBSE Class 12 sample papers 2026-27 will be released soon on cbseacademic.nic.in.
In the verification, the marks will be verified only along with the total. Whereas re-evaluation is a different thing in which the answers are re-checked by a teacher.
For this, students will have to apply for NIOS admission under Transfer of Credit.
The admit card will be made available to download online for private students at pariksha sangam portal. Regular students can collect their admit cards from their respective schools.
The CBSE 12th Class result will be released in May 2027.
The difficulty level of the CBSE 12th Class exam is moderate based on the previous year exam analysis.
On Question asked by student community
Dear Student,
Please go through the link to check 12th CBSE Chemistry question paper: https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-previous-year-question-papers-class-12-chemistry
The Class 9th Social Science (SST) annual exam 2025-26 follows a standardised structure across CBSE and most State Boards. The exams for most of the boards are being held in February- March 2026. Check the marking scheme here for the SST exams
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I am assuming the CBSE Board Physics Exam 2026 question paper. Download it here .