CBSE Class 12 exams for the 2026-27 session will follow the same question-paper design and assessment pattern used in 2025-26. The exact paper is different for each subject. Physics, Chemistry and Biology have a 70-mark theory paper, while Mathematics, English Core, Accountancy and several other subjects have an 80-mark theory paper.

CBSE released the 2026-27 Class 12 sample papers and marking schemes on September 21, 2026. These papers show the section order, number of questions, marks and internal choices for each subject.

CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2027 Highlights

CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2027

The board exam covers the theory part of a subject. Schools conduct the practical, project or internal assessment part and submit those marks to CBSE. A 70-mark theory subject normally has 30 marks for practical work, while an 80-mark theory subject normally has 20 marks for practical, project or internal assessment.

The theory paper is not identical across subjects. Mathematics has five sections and 38 questions. Physics, Chemistry and Biology have 33 questions each. English Core has 13 main questions divided among Reading, Creative Writing and Literature. The subject sample paper is therefore the best guide for the exact structure.

CBSE Class 12 Question Paper Pattern 2027

Class 12 theory papers include questions that test recall, understanding and the use of concepts. The broad design keeps 50% competency-focused questions, 20% select-response MCQs and 30% short or long constructed responses. The competency share can include MCQs, case-based questions, source-based questions and other application questions, so it should not be read as a separate block added on top of every MCQ.

The section pattern still depends on the subject. Science papers use one-mark, two-mark, three-mark, case-based and five-mark questions. History includes source-based and map questions. Political Science uses passage, picture and map material. Computer Science includes Python, database and computer-network questions of different marks.

The percentages describe the broad Class 12 theory-paper design. The number and order of questions come from the sample paper for each subject.

CBSE Class 12 Subject-wise Marks Distribution

Most common subjects follow either a 70+30 or an 80+20 split. The second part may be a practical, project, speaking assessment or internal assessment, depending on the subject.

CBSE Class 12 Subject-wise Exam Pattern 2027

Physics, Chemistry and Biology

Each of these sample papers has 33 questions for 70 marks and a three-hour duration. Section A carries 16 marks, Section B 10 marks, Section C 21 marks, Section D 8 marks and Section E 15 marks. Physics includes 12 MCQs and four assertion-reason questions in Section A. Chemistry and Biology also use MCQs, followed by very short, short, case-based and long-answer questions.

Mathematics

The Mathematics sample paper has 38 questions for 80 marks. Section A has 18 MCQs and two assertion-reason questions. Sections B and C have five two-mark and six three-mark questions. Section D has four five-mark questions, while Section E has three case-study questions of four marks each. Calculators are not allowed.

English Core

English Core has 13 main questions for 80 marks. Reading Skills carry 22 marks, Creative Writing Skills carry 18 marks and Literature carries 40 marks. The paper gives choices within several writing and literature questions, but all 13 main questions remain compulsory under their stated instructions.

Accountancy and Business Studies

Accountancy and Business Studies are 80-mark, three-hour papers with 34 questions. In Accountancy, Part A is compulsory. Part B gives a choice between Analysis of Financial Statements and Computerised Accounting. The paper has one-mark, three-mark, four-mark and six-mark questions. Business Studies also has 34 questions, with answers increasing from brief one-mark responses to three-mark, four-mark and six-mark answers.

History and Political Science

History has 34 questions for 80 marks. Its five sections cover MCQs, short answers, long answers, source-based questions and a map question. Political Science has 30 questions for 80 marks and includes MCQs, two-mark answers, four-mark answers, picture or passage or map-based questions, and six-mark answers. Both subjects provide internal choices in selected longer questions.

Computer Science

The Computer Science theory paper has 37 questions for 70 marks. Its five sections contain 21 one-mark, seven two-mark, three three-mark, four four-mark and two five-mark questions. Programming answers use Python, and the paper also covers databases and computer networks.

CBSE Class 12 Practical and Internal Assessment

The school-based part is not the same in every subject. Physics, Chemistry and Biology use practical work, records, activities and viva. Computer Science includes practical programming and related work. Geography has a practical component. English Core uses listening and speaking assessment with project work, while Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, History and Political Science include project or internal assessment marks.

Schools conduct these assessments within the CBSE schedule and upload the marks. The detailed component-wise split is given in the curriculum for the selected subject, so the 20 or 30 marks should not be treated as one common practical format.

CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks 2027

Class 12 students need at least 33% separately in theory and practical examinations where both parts apply. For a 70-mark theory paper, 33% comes to 23.1 marks; the final result follows CBSE's whole-mark and result rules. For an 80-mark theory paper, 33% is 26.4 marks.

Passing the practical part does not make up for a failed theory part, and passing theory does not make up for a failed practical. The board's final result applies the subject rules to the marks submitted for both parts.

CBSE Class 12 Sample Papers and Marking Scheme

The sample question paper shows the paper structure. The marking scheme shows the expected answer points and how marks are divided. In calculation-based subjects, the marking scheme may award marks for correct steps even when the final answer is wrong.

Open the official Class 12 SQP and marking scheme page, find the subject, and use the SQP and MS links in the same row. The Class 12 syllabus gives the unit coverage, while the Class 12 question papers show how the pattern appeared in earlier exams.