CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam Pattern 2025-26: The CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam Pattern helps students understand the structure of the paper, including the question type and marking scheme. It allows them to prepare strategically, manage time effectively, and focus on high-weightage topics to score better in the exam. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the Class 12 Maths Exam Pattern and marking scheme for the 2025-26 academic year. Based on the official question paper design shared along with the syllabus, the board will follow the same exam pattern and marking scheme as in 2024-25. In this article, we will explain the exam format for CBSE Class 12 Maths 2026, including the types of questions, unit-wise weightage, and marking scheme in a simple manner.
CBSE Class 12 Maths Question Paper Design 2025-26
CBSE has officially released the Class 12 Maths question paper design for the 2025–26 academic year along with the syllabus PDF. This year, the board has kept the same question paper design as last year. The internal choice rule also remains unchanged, there will be no overall choice in the question paper, but about 33% internal choices will be provided within all sections, just like the previous year's pattern. The following table shows the question paper design for years 2024-25 and 2025-26, including question Typology, total marks and weightage percentage.
|
S. No. |
Typology of Questions |
2024-25 | 2025-26 | ||
| Total Marks | % Weightage | Total Marks | % Weightage | ||
| 1 | Remembering: Exhibit memory of previously learned material by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts, and answers. Understanding: Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main ideas |
44 | 55% | 44 | 55% |
| 2 | Applying: Solve problems to new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way. |
20 | 25% | 20 | 25% |
| 3 | Analysing: Examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalizations Evaluating: Present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas, or quality of work based on a set of criteria. Creating: Compile information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions |
16 | 20% | 16 | 20% |
| Total | 80 | 100% | 80 | 100% | |
Also Check,
CBSE 12th Maths Case Study Questions 2025-26, Check Important Questions and Tips to Solve
CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam 2025-26: Overview
The CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam 2025-26 is an important milestone for students across Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams. Mathematics not only holds significant weight in board exams but also forms the foundation for higher studies in fields like engineering, economics, data science, and research. The exam tests students on a wide range of topics such as Calculus, Algebra, Probability, Vectors, and 3D Geometry. Knowing the exam structure, syllabus, and marking scheme in advance helps students plan their preparation more effectively and score well. This overview provides key details about the Class 12 Maths exam for the academic year 2025-26. Check the overview of CBSE Class 12th Maths Exam 2025-26 given in the table below.
| Conducting Body | CBSE |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Pen and Paper (Offline) |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Marks | 80 |
| Total Number of Questions | 38 |
| Sections | 5 (A, B, C, D, and E) |
| Question Types |
|
CBSE Class 12 Maths Paper Format 2025-26
The CBSE Class 12 Mathematics question paper is structured into different sections based on difficulty level and types of questions. For the academic year 2025–26, the question paper is expected to be divided into five sections and contain 38 questions, similar to the previous year. All questions are compulsory, with no overall choice. However, internal choices are provided within specific sections. The detailed CBSE Class 12 Maths Board Exam Pattern is given below:
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks | Type of Questions | Internal Choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A (Q.1 - Q.20) | 20 | 1 | 20 | MCQs, A&R | No |
| Section B (Q.21 - Q.25) | 5 | 2 | 10 | VSA | 2 |
| Section C (Q.26 - Q.31) | 6 | 3 | 18 | SA | 3 |
| Section D (Q.32 - Q.35) | 4 | 5 | 20 | LA | 2 |
| Section E (Q.36 - Q.38) | 3 | 4 | 12 | Case Study-based | 2 (In Subparts) |
CBSE Class 12 Maths Previous Year Question Paper
CBSE 12th Maths Marking Scheme 2025-26
The CBSE Class 12 Maths Board Exam Marking Scheme ensures fair evaluation by incorporating stepwise marking for problem-solving questions. Below is the detailed expected section-wise marking distribution for the Class 12 Board Exam for the academic year 2025–26.:
- Section A - 20 MCQs of 1 mark each
- Section B - 5 VSA Questions of 2 marks each
- Section C - 6 SA Questions of 3 marks each
- Section D - 4 LA Questions of 5 marks each
- Section E - 3 Case Study-based Questions of 4 marks each
CBSE Class 12 Maths Syllabus 2025-26
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the Maths Syllabus for Class 12 Science, Commerce, and Humanities (Arts) streams for the 2025-26 academic year. This Maths Syllabus outlines the course structure, chapters, and topics that students will need to study in the subject. The CBSE Class 12 Maths syllabus covers a wide range of topics including Calculus, Algebra, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Probability, and Linear Programming. It is divided into units with specific weightage, helping students plan their preparation effectively. The unite-wise chapters and weightage is provided below :
| Unit | Chapter | Weightage |
|
Relations and Functions |
1. Relations and Functions |
8 |
| 2. Inverse Trigonometric Functions | ||
|
Algebra |
3. Matrices |
10 |
| 4. Determinants | ||
|
Calculus |
5. Continuity and Differentiability |
35 |
| 6. Applications of Derivatives | ||
| 7. Integrals | ||
| 8. Applications of Integrals | ||
| 9. Differential Equations | ||
|
Vectors and 3D Geometry |
10. Vectors |
14 |
| 11. Three-Dimensional Geometry | ||
| Linear Programming | 12. Linear Programming | 5 |
| Probability | 13. Probability | 8 |
Check the latest and detailed CBSE Class 12 Maths Syllabus 2025-26; Check Latest Unit-wise Weightage, Download PDF.
Expert Tips to Prepare for CBSE Class 12 Maths Board Exam 2026
Preparing for the CBSE Class 12 Maths Board Exam 2026 requires a smart strategy along with consistent practice. Mathematics is a subject where clarity of concepts, accuracy, and speed play a major role in scoring well. Many students often feel stressed about lengthy problems and tricky case study questions, but with the right approach, it can become one of the most scoring subjects. Below, we are sharing the expert tips that will help you plan your preparation effectively, focus on important topics, manage time wisely, and build the confidence needed to excel in the exam.
- Understand the syllabus and focus on high-weightage chapters.
- Practice previous years' question papers and identify frequently asked questions.
- CBSE follows a step-marking pattern, so focus on writing solutions step by step.
- Allocate specific time for each section during practice.
- Solve past years' board papers within 3 hours to improve speed and accuracy.
- NCERT is the key resource for conceptual clarity, so revise it thoroughly.