CBSE Class 12 guide
The Class 12 board examination for the 2026–27 session, from CBSE’s own Senior Secondary curriculum and circulars — which subjects a student offers, how they are marked and how grades are awarded.
- Conducted by
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- Examination
- Annual, on the entire Class XII syllabus
- Main subjects
- Five, the first a Hindi or English course
- Additional subject
- One optional sixth subject
- Mark sheet
- Marks in each subject; no aggregate percentage
- Grading
- 9-point scale in each elective subject
What is the CBSE Class 12 board examination?
The annual examination CBSE conducts for Class 12. Under its 2026–27 Senior Secondary curriculum, a student offers at least five subjects, the first of them Hindi or English, and may add an optional sixth.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Source: cbseacademic.nic.in (official document)
Who can sit the CBSE Class 12 board examination?
A regular student needs at least 75% attendance, under CBSE’s Examination Bye-Laws, to sit the Class 12 board examination. CBSE allows a 25% relaxation only for exigencies such as medical emergencies or national and international sports events.
The rule is set by Rules 13 and 14 of CBSE’s Examination Bye-Laws, which CBSE’s attendance circular of 4 August 2025 (for 2025–26) restates.
| Attendance | At least 75% under Rules 13 and 14 of the Examination Bye-Laws, with a 25% relaxation only for exigencies |
|---|---|
| Continuity | Class XI and XII are a composite course: the same subjects are continued from Class XI into Class XII |
| Languages | Hindi or English must be one of the two languages; the same language cannot be offered at both Core and Elective level |
| Combinations not allowed | Mathematics with Applied Mathematics; Business Studies with Business Administration; more than one of Informatics Practices, Computer Science and Information Technology |
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Source: cbse.gov.in (official document)
How is the CBSE Class 12 board examination marked?
Each subject has its own split. In 2026–27, Physics, Chemistry and Biology are 70 theory and 30 practical; Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and English Core are 80 theory and 20 internal assessment.
| Subject | What it can be |
|---|---|
| Subject 1 (compulsory) | Hindi Elective, Hindi Core, English Elective or English Core |
| Subject 2 (compulsory) | A language from Group L not taken as Subject 1, or an elective from Group A |
| Subjects 3 and 4 | An elective from Group A or Group S |
| Subject 5 | An elective from Group A |
| Subject 6 (optional) | An elective or a language from Group L or Group A |
Health and Physical Education, Work Experience and General Studies are taken by all regular candidates and assessed internally.
| Subject | Theory | Practical or IA |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 70 | 30 practical |
| Chemistry | 70 | 30 practical |
| Biology | 70 | 30 practical |
| Mathematics | 80 | 20 internal assessment |
| Applied Mathematics | 80 | 20 internal assessment |
| English Core | 80 | 20 internal assessment |
IA: internal assessment. Every other subject’s split is given in the curriculum’s subject table.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Source: cbseacademic.nic.in (official document)
Where is the CBSE Class 12 syllabus for 2026–27?
On CBSE’s Curriculum 2026–27 page at cbseacademic.nic.in: a Senior Secondary introduction setting the scheme of studies, assessment and grading, then a separate curriculum document for each subject.
- Languages (Group L)
- Academic electives (Group A)
- Skill electives (Group S)
- Health and Physical Education, Work Experience, General Studies
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Source: cbseacademic.nic.in
Where will the 2026–27 Class 12 question paper design appear?
With the sample question papers. CBSE’s 2026–27 Senior Secondary curriculum says the detailed design is not in the curriculum document and will be notified with the sample question paper.
The board examination still follows the weightage the curriculum allocates to each area or unit of a subject.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Source: cbseacademic.nic.in (official document)
CBSE Class 12 boards at Zigyan
Zigyan prepares students for the CBSE Class 12 board examinations. Boards are one of the target examinations listed for the Class XII Achiever programme.
CBSE Class 12, answered
Does CBSE give a Class 12 percentage?
No. CBSE’s mark sheet cum certificate shows the marks in each subject separately, and no aggregate score or percentage is mentioned. A college or institution calculates one by its own norms.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Source: cbseacademic.nic.in (official document)
What happens if a student fails one of the five main subjects?
If they took a sixth subject, it replaces the failed main subject, provided Hindi or English still remains one of the five main subjects after the replacement.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Source: cbseacademic.nic.in (official document)
Can Mathematics and Applied Mathematics be taken together?
No. CBSE’s scheme of studies does not allow Mathematics (041) with Applied Mathematics (241), nor more than one of Informatics Practices, Computer Science and Information Technology.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Source: cbseacademic.nic.in (official document)
How are CBSE Class 12 grades awarded?
On a 9-point scale in each elective subject: CBSE ranks the passed students and awards A-1 to the top one-eighth, then A-2, B-1, B-2, C-1, C-2, D-1 and D-2 by eighths; E* means Essential Repeat.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Source: cbseacademic.nic.in (official document)
Where are CBSE Class 12 sample question papers published?
On cbseacademic.nic.in. When this guide was checked on 14 September 2026, the most recent Class XII sample question papers listed there were for 2025–26.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Source: cbseacademic.nic.in
Official sources
Every fact in this guide was read from the conducting bodies’ own pages and documents. Confirm on them before you rely on a date or rule — they change from cycle to cycle.
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