EXAM SYLLABUS

The CBSE Board Exam syllabus covers the topics and chapters prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for the respective subject. Students should prepare all the prescribed topics as per the latest syllabus and follow the official CBSE guidelines for the examination.

Unit I: Electrostatics

Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields

Electric Charges; Conservation of charge, Coulomb's law force between two point charges, forces between multiple charges; superposition principle and continuous charge distribution.

Electric field, electric field due to a point charge, electric field lines, electric dipole, electric field due to a dipole, torque on a dipole in a uniform electric field.

Electric flux, statement of Gauss's theorem and its applications to find field due to infinitely long straight wire, uniformly charged infinite plane sheet and uniformly charged thin spherical shell (field inside and outside).

Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Electric potential, potential difference, electric potential due to a point charge, a dipole and system of charges; equipotential surfaces, electrical potential energy of a system of two point charges and of electric dipole in an electrostatic field.

Conductors and insulators, free charges and bound charges inside a conductor. Dielectrics and electric polarization, capacitors and capacitance, a combination of capacitors in series and in parallel, the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with and without dielectric medium between the plates, energy stored in a capacitor.

Unit II: Current Electricity

Chapter 3: Current Electricity

Electric current, flow of electric charges in a metallic conductor, drift velocity, mobility and their relation with electric current; Ohm's law, V-I characteristics (linear and non-linear), electrical energy and power, electrical resistivity and conductivity, temperature dependence of resistance, Internal resistance of a cell, potential difference and emf of a cell, combination of cells in series and in parallel, Kirchhoff's rules, Wheatstone bridge.

Unit III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism

Concept of the magnetic field, Oersted's experiment.

Biot - Savart law and its application to the current carrying circular loop.

Ampere's law and its applications to an infinitely long straight wire. Straight and toroidal solenoids (only qualitative treatment), force on a moving charge in uniform magnetic and electric fields.

Force on a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field, the force between two parallel current-carrying conductors-definition of an ampere, torque experienced by a current loop in a uniform magnetic field; moving coil galvanometer-its current sensitivity and conversion to ammeter and voltmeter.

Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter

Bar magnet, bar magnet as an equivalent solenoid (qualitative treatment only), magnetic field intensity due to a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) along its axis and perpendicular to its axis (qualitative treatment only), torque on a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) in a uniform magnetic field (qualitative treatment only), magnetic field lines.

Magnetic properties of materials- Para-, dia- and ferro – magnetic substances with examples, Magnetization of materials, effect of temperature on magnetic properties.

Unit I

EXAM SYLLABUS

The CBSE Board Exam syllabus covers the topics and chapters prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for the respective subject. Students should prepare all the prescribed topics as per the latest syllabus and follow the official CBSE guidelines for the examination.

Unit I: Electrostatics

Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields

Electric Charges; Conservation of charge, Coulomb's law force between two point charges, forces between multiple charges; superposition principle and continuous charge distribution.

Electric field, electric field due to a point charge, electric field lines, electric dipole, electric field due to a dipole, torque on a dipole in a uniform electric field.

Electric flux, statement of Gauss's theorem and its applications to find field due to infinitely long straight wire, uniformly charged infinite plane sheet and uniformly charged thin spherical shell (field inside and outside).

Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Electric potential, potential difference, electric potential due to a point charge, a dipole and system of charges; equipotential surfaces, electrical potential energy of a system of two point charges and of electric dipole in an electrostatic field.

Conductors and insulators, free charges and bound charges inside a conductor. Dielectrics and electric polarization, capacitors and capacitance, a combination of capacitors in series and in parallel, the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with and without dielectric medium between the plates, energy stored in a capacitor.

Unit II: Current Electricity

Chapter 3: Current Electricity

Electric current, flow of electric charges in a metallic conductor, drift velocity, mobility and their relation with electric current; Ohm's law, V-I characteristics (linear and non-linear), electrical energy and power, electrical resistivity and conductivity, temperature dependence of resistance, Internal resistance of a cell, potential difference and emf of a cell, combination of cells in series and in parallel, Kirchhoff's rules, Wheatstone bridge.

Unit III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism

Concept of the magnetic field, Oersted's experiment.

Biot - Savart law and its application to the current carrying circular loop.

Ampere's law and its applications to an infinitely long straight wire. Straight and toroidal solenoids (only qualitative treatment), force on a moving charge in uniform magnetic and electric fields.

Force on a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field, the force between two parallel current-carrying conductors-definition of an ampere, torque experienced by a current loop in a uniform magnetic field; moving coil galvanometer-its current sensitivity and conversion to ammeter and voltmeter.

Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter

Bar magnet, bar magnet as an equivalent solenoid (qualitative treatment only), magnetic field intensity due to a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) along its axis and perpendicular to its axis (qualitative treatment only), torque on a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) in a uniform magnetic field (qualitative treatment only), magnetic field lines.

Magnetic properties of materials- Para-, dia- and ferro – magnetic substances with examples, Magnetization of materials, effect of temperature on magnetic properties.

Unit IV: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents

Chapter 6: Electromagnetic Induction

Electromagnetic induction; Faraday's laws, induced EMF and current; Lenz's Law, Eddy currents. Self and mutual induction.

Chapter 7: Alternating Current

Alternating currents, peak and RMS value of alternating current/voltage; reactance and impedance; LC oscillations (qualitative treatment only), LCR series circuit, resonance; power in AC circuits, power factor, wattless current. AC generator and transformer.

Unit V: Electromagnetic waves

Chapter 8: Electromagnetic Waves

The basic idea of displacement current, Electromagnetic waves, their characteristics, and their Transverse nature (qualitative ideas only).

Electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) including elementary facts about their uses.

Unit VI: Optics

Chapter 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

Ray Optics: Reflection of light, spherical mirrors, mirror formula, refraction of light, total internal reflection and its applications, optical fibres, refraction at spherical surfaces, lenses, thin lens formula, lensmaker's formula, magnification, power of a lens, a combination of thin lenses in contact, refraction of light through a prism.

Optical instruments: Microscopes and astronomical telescopes (reflecting and refracting) and their magnifying powers.

Chapter 10: Wave Optics

Wave optics: Wave front and Huygen’s principle, reflection and refraction of plane wave at a plane surface using wave fronts. Proof of laws of reflection and refraction using Huygen’s principle. Interference, Young's double slit experiment and expression for fringe width (No derivation final expression only), coherent sources and sustained interference of light, diffraction due to a single slit, width of central maxima (qualitative treatment only).

Unit VII: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Chapter 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Dual nature of radiation, Photoelectric effect, Hertz and Lenard's observations;

Einstein's photoelectric equation-particle nature of light.

Experimental study of the photoelectric effect

Matter waves-wave nature of particles, de-Broglie relation.

Unit VIII:   Atoms and Nuclei

Chapter 12: Atoms

Alpha-particle scattering experiment; Rutherford's model of atom; Bohr model of hydrogen atom, Expression for radius of nth possible orbit, velocity and energy of electron in nth orbit, hydrogen line spectra (qualitative treatment only).

Chapter 13: Nuclei

Composition and size of nucleus, nuclear force

Mass-energy relation, mass defect; binding energy per nucleon and its variation with mass number; nuclear fission, nuclear fusion.

Unit IX: Electronic Devices

Chapter 14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits

Energy bands in conductors, semiconductors and insulators (qualitative ideas only) Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors- p and n type, p-n junction

Semiconductor diode - I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias, application of junction diode -diode as a rectifier.

PRACTICALS

The record to be submitted by the students at the time of their annual examination has to include:

1. Record of at least 8 Experiments [with 4 from each section], to be performed by the students.

2. Record of at least 6 Activities [with 3 each from section A and section B], to be performed by the students

3. The Report of the project carried out by the students.

Evaluation Scheme

Time Allowed: Three hours

Max. Marks: 30

SECTION – A

Experiments

1. To determine the resistivity of two / three wires by plotting a graph for potential difference versus current.

2. To find the resistance of a given wire / standard resistor using a metre bridge.

3. To verify the laws of combination (series) of resistances using a metre bridge. 

OR

To verify the laws of combination (parallel) of resistances using a metre bridge.

4. To determine resistance of a galvanometer by half-deflection method and to find its figure of merit.

5. To convert the given galvanometer (of known resistance and figure of merit) into a voltmeter of desired range and to verify the same. 

OR

To convert the given galvanometer (of known resistance and figure of merit) into an ammeter of desired range and to verify the same

6. To find the frequency of AC mains with a sonometer.

Activities

1. To measure the resistance and impedance of an inductor with or without an iron core.

2. To measure resistance, voltage (AC/DC), and current (AC) and check the continuity of a given circuit using a multimeter.

3. To assemble a household circuit comprising three bulbs, three (on/off) switches, a fuse and a power source.

4. To assemble the components of a given electrical circuit.

5. To study the variation in potential drop with length of a wire for a steady current.

6. To draw the diagram of a given open circuit comprising at least a battery, resistor/rheostat, key, ammeter and voltmeter. Mark the components that are not connected in proper order and correct the circuit and also the circuit diagram.

SECTION - B

Experiments

1. To find the value of v for different values of u in the case of a concave mirror and to find the focal length.

2. To find the focal length of a convex mirror, using a convex lens.

3. To find the focal length of a convex lens by plotting graphs between u and v or between 1/u and 1/v.

4. To find the focal length of a concave lens, using a convex lens.

5. To determine the angle of minimum deviation for a given prism by plotting a graph between the angle of incidence and the angle of deviation.

6. To determine the refractive index of a glass slab using a travelling microscope.

7. To find the refractive index of a liquid by using the convex lens and plane mirror.

8. To find the refractive index of a liquid using a concave mirror and a plane mirror.

9. To draw the I-V characteristic curve for a p-n junction diode in forward and reverse bias.

Activities

1. To identify a diode, an LED, a resistor and a capacitor from a mixed collection of such items.

2. Use of a multimeter to see the unidirectional flow of current in the case of a diode and an LED and check whether a given electronic component (e.g., diode) is in working order.

3. To study the effect of intensity of light (by varying distance of the source) on an LDR.

4. To observe refraction and lateral deviation of a beam of light incident obliquely on a glass slab.

5. To observe the diffraction of light due to a thin slit.

6. To study the nature and size of the image formed by an (i) convex lens, and (ii) concave mirror, on a screen by using a candle and a screen (for different distances of the candle from the lens/mirror).

7. To obtain a lens combination with the specified focal length by using two lenses from the given set of lenses.

Prescribed Books:

1. Physics, Class XI, Part -I and II, Published by NCERT

2. Physics, Class XII, Part -I and II, Published by NCERT.

3. Laboratory Manual of Physics for class XII Published by NCERT.

4. The list of other related books and manuals brought out by NCERT (consider multimedia also).

EXAM FORMAT

The CBSE Board Exam will be conducted as per the prescribed examination format and guidelines issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The format includes details related to the question paper structure, types of questions, marking scheme, duration of the examination, and other applicable examination guidelines.

Paper Type - Theory + Practical

Paper Marks - Theory (70 Marks) + Practical (30 Marks)

Maximum Total marks - 70 + 30 = 100 Marks

Time duration - 3 hours (Only For Theory Exam) + 3 hours (Only For Practical Exam)

Unit & their Weightage

Paper I: Theory

Paper II: Practical

EXAM FORMAT

The CBSE Board Exam will be conducted as per the prescribed examination format and guidelines issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The format includes details related to the question paper structure, types of questions, marking scheme, duration of the examination, and other applicable examination guidelines.

Paper Type - Theory + Practical

Paper Marks - Theory (70 Marks) + Practical (30 Marks)

Maximum Total marks - 70 + 30 = 100 Marks

Time duration - 3 hours (Only For Theory Exam) + 3 hours (Only For Practical Exam)

Unit & their Weightage

Paper I: Theory

Paper II: Practical

EXAM SCHEDULE

The CBSE Class 12 examination timetable specifies the date, day, and timing of each subject’s Board examination. Exams are generally conducted in multiple shifts/dates, with each subject allotted a specific examination date and duration. The timetable is released officially by CBSE before the Board examinations and may include separate schedules for practical/project assessments. Students should check the latest official timetable for their academic session to confirm examination dates, reporting time, and subject-wise instructions.

TIME TABLE

EXAM SCHEDULE

The CBSE Class 12 examination timetable specifies the date, day, and timing of each subject’s Board examination. Exams are generally conducted in multiple shifts/dates, with each subject allotted a specific examination date and duration. The timetable is released officially by CBSE before the Board examinations and may include separate schedules for practical/project assessments. Students should check the latest official timetable for their academic session to confirm examination dates, reporting time, and subject-wise instructions.

TIME TABLE

EXAM ANALYSIS

The CBSE Class 12 Physics examination was conducted on Friday, 20 February 2026, in the morning shift from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Students received 15 minutes of reading time before writing their answers. The examination carried 70 marks for theory and followed the five-section format from A to E.

Section-Wise Marking Scheme and Duration

The paper contained 33 compulsory questions divided into five sections. The total duration was three hours, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The reading period began at 10:15 AM.

Section A – Multiple-Choice and Assertion–Reason Questions: 16 questions carrying 1 mark each, for a total of 16 marks. This section tested basic concepts, formula knowledge, and conceptual understanding.

Section B – Very Short-Answer Questions: 5 questions carrying 2 marks each, for a total of 10 marks. These questions required brief explanations, definitions, and short calculations.

Section C – Short-Answer Questions: 7 questions carrying 3 marks each, for a total of 21 marks. This section included numerical problems, explanations, and applications of physical laws.

Section D – Case-Study-Based Questions: 2 questions carrying 4 marks each, for a total of 8 marks. Students needed to interpret the given information and apply relevant concepts.

Section E – Long-Answer Questions: 3 questions carrying 5 marks each, for a total of 15 marks. These questions tested detailed explanations, derivations, and numerical-solving skills.

The total was 70 marks. Internal choices were available in selected questions, but there was no overall choice allowing students to skip entire sections.

Important Topics Covered and Their Weightage

The CBSE Class 12 Physics paper covered concepts from Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction, Optics, Modern Physics, and Electronic Devices. According to the prescribed syllabus, the unit-wise weightage was grouped as follows.

Electrostatics and Current Electricity – 16 marks: Important topics included electric charges and fields, electric potential, capacitance, Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, resistance, and electrical circuits.

Magnetic Effects of Current, Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Current – 17 marks: Students should revise magnetic forces, magnetic fields, Faraday’s law, Lenz’s law, inductance, alternating current, and transformers.

Electromagnetic Waves and Optics – 18 marks: Important concepts included electromagnetic waves, ray optics, lenses, mirrors, optical instruments, wave optics, interference, and diffraction.

Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter, Atoms and Nuclei – 12 marks: These topics included the photoelectric effect, de Broglie wavelength, atomic models, nuclear binding energy, and radioactivity.

Electronic Devices – 7 marks: Students needed to understand semiconductors, p-n junction diodes, and their applications.

These figures represent the prescribed unit-group weightage, not an exact chapter-by-chapter count of questions in Paper A.

Difficulty Level of the Paper

The overall difficulty level of the CBSE Class 12 Physics examination 2026 was reported as easy to moderate to moderate by different teachers and students. The paper was largely within the prescribed syllabus and tested conceptual understanding, numerical accuracy, and the ability to apply physical laws. Some students considered it lengthy, particularly when solving numerical questions and writing detailed derivations.

Section A – Objective Questions: The MCQs and assertion–reason questions were generally manageable, although a few required careful conceptual analysis. Students with a clear understanding of definitions, formulas, and physical principles were better positioned to score well.

Section B – Very Short-Answer Questions: Questions from Dual Nature, Nuclei, and Wave Optics were reported as relatively straightforward. A question involving torque in Moving Charges and Magnetism was considered slightly tricky for some students.

Section C – Short-Answer Questions: This section included a combination of theory and numerical problems. Several questions were considered manageable, but some calculations required careful interpretation and multiple steps.

Section D – Case-Study-Based Questions: These questions tested the application of concepts rather than memorisation alone. Topics such as galvanometers and the photoelectric effect required students to understand the information provided and apply the relevant principles.

Section E – Long-Answer Questions: This section included important derivations and detailed questions from Electrostatics, Ray Optics, Electromagnetic Induction, and Alternating Current. Students who had practised standard derivations and previous-year questions were better prepared for this section.

Numerical Questions and Derivations Analysis

Numerical problems and derivations played an important role in the examination. Students were required to apply formulas correctly, explain physical principles, and show the necessary calculation steps. The paper also tested the ability to interpret diagrams and apply concepts to practical situations.

Important areas for future preparation include:

Electrostatics: Gauss’s law, electric potential, capacitance, and energy stored in capacitors.

Current Electricity: Kirchhoff’s laws, Wheatstone bridge, and resistance calculations.

Magnetism: Magnetic force, torque, and the magnetic field due to current.

Optics: Lens formulas, ray diagrams, total internal reflection, and wave optics.

Modern Physics: Photoelectric effect, atomic models, and nuclear physics.

Electronic Devices: Formation and working of p-n junction diodes and their applications.

Stud

EXAM ANALYSIS

The CBSE Class 12 Physics examination was conducted on Friday, 20 February 2026, in the morning shift from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Students received 15 minutes of reading time before writing their answers. The examination carried 70 marks for theory and followed the five-section format from A to E.

Section-Wise Marking Scheme and Duration

The paper contained 33 compulsory questions divided into five sections. The total duration was three hours, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The reading period began at 10:15 AM.

Section A – Multiple-Choice and Assertion–Reason Questions: 16 questions carrying 1 mark each, for a total of 16 marks. This section tested basic concepts, formula knowledge, and conceptual understanding.

Section B – Very Short-Answer Questions: 5 questions carrying 2 marks each, for a total of 10 marks. These questions required brief explanations, definitions, and short calculations.

Section C – Short-Answer Questions: 7 questions carrying 3 marks each, for a total of 21 marks. This section included numerical problems, explanations, and applications of physical laws.

Section D – Case-Study-Based Questions: 2 questions carrying 4 marks each, for a total of 8 marks. Students needed to interpret the given information and apply relevant concepts.

Section E – Long-Answer Questions: 3 questions carrying 5 marks each, for a total of 15 marks. These questions tested detailed explanations, derivations, and numerical-solving skills.

The total was 70 marks. Internal choices were available in selected questions, but there was no overall choice allowing students to skip entire sections.

Important Topics Covered and Their Weightage

The CBSE Class 12 Physics paper covered concepts from Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction, Optics, Modern Physics, and Electronic Devices. According to the prescribed syllabus, the unit-wise weightage was grouped as follows.

Electrostatics and Current Electricity – 16 marks: Important topics included electric charges and fields, electric potential, capacitance, Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, resistance, and electrical circuits.

Magnetic Effects of Current, Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Current – 17 marks: Students should revise magnetic forces, magnetic fields, Faraday’s law, Lenz’s law, inductance, alternating current, and transformers.

Electromagnetic Waves and Optics – 18 marks: Important concepts included electromagnetic waves, ray optics, lenses, mirrors, optical instruments, wave optics, interference, and diffraction.

Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter, Atoms and Nuclei – 12 marks: These topics included the photoelectric effect, de Broglie wavelength, atomic models, nuclear binding energy, and radioactivity.

Electronic Devices – 7 marks: Students needed to understand semiconductors, p-n junction diodes, and their applications.

These figures represent the prescribed unit-group weightage, not an exact chapter-by-chapter count of questions in Paper A.

Difficulty Level of the Paper

The overall difficulty level of the CBSE Class 12 Physics examination 2026 was reported as easy to moderate to moderate by different teachers and students. The paper was largely within the prescribed syllabus and tested conceptual understanding, numerical accuracy, and the ability to apply physical laws. Some students considered it lengthy, particularly when solving numerical questions and writing detailed derivations.

Section A – Objective Questions: The MCQs and assertion–reason questions were generally manageable, although a few required careful conceptual analysis. Students with a clear understanding of definitions, formulas, and physical principles were better positioned to score well.

Section B – Very Short-Answer Questions: Questions from Dual Nature, Nuclei, and Wave Optics were reported as relatively straightforward. A question involving torque in Moving Charges and Magnetism was considered slightly tricky for some students.

Section C – Short-Answer Questions: This section included a combination of theory and numerical problems. Several questions were considered manageable, but some calculations required careful interpretation and multiple steps.

Section D – Case-Study-Based Questions: These questions tested the application of concepts rather than memorisation alone. Topics such as galvanometers and the photoelectric effect required students to understand the information provided and apply the relevant principles.

Section E – Long-Answer Questions: This section included important derivations and detailed questions from Electrostatics, Ray Optics, Electromagnetic Induction, and Alternating Current. Students who had practised standard derivations and previous-year questions were better prepared for this section.

Numerical Questions and Derivations Analysis

Numerical problems and derivations played an important role in the examination. Students were required to apply formulas correctly, explain physical principles, and show the necessary calculation steps. The paper also tested the ability to interpret diagrams and apply concepts to practical situations.

Important areas for future preparation include:

Electrostatics: Gauss’s law, electric potential, capacitance, and energy stored in capacitors.

Current Electricity: Kirchhoff’s laws, Wheatstone bridge, and resistance calculations.

Magnetism: Magnetic force, torque, and the magnetic field due to current.

Optics: Lens formulas, ray diagrams, total internal reflection, and wave optics.

Modern Physics: Photoelectric effect, atomic models, and nuclear physics.

Electronic Devices: Formation and working of p-n junction diodes and their applications.

Students should practise numerical problems by writing the formula, substituting the given values, showing the calculation steps, and including the correct units. For derivations, they should learn the assumptions, mathematical steps, diagrams, and final result.

What Students Can Learn from the 2026 Physics Paper

The 2026 examination offers several useful lessons for students preparing for upcoming CBSE Class 12 Physics examinations.

Complete the prescribed syllabus: Questions can cover different units, so preparation should not depend entirely on selected chapters.

Focus on conceptual understanding: Learn why a formula or physical law works instead of memorising it without understanding.

Practise numerical questions daily: Give special attention to Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics.

Revise important derivations: Practise standard derivations and learn to present each step clearly.

Prepare case-study questions: Develop the habit of interpreting graphs, diagrams, and practical situations.

Solve previous-year question papers: Attempt full papers within the three-hour examination limit to improve speed and accuracy.

Manage time carefully: Avoid spending too long on a single numerical problem, and leave sufficient time for long-answer questions.

Check calculations and units: Review signs, substitutions, diagrams, and final answers before submitting the paper.

Overall Analysis

The CBSE Class 12 Physics Board Examination 2026 was conducted on Friday, 20 February 2026, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The paper carried 70 marks and contained 33 compulsory questions divided into five sections. Its overall difficulty was reported as easy to moderate to moderate, with a balance of objective questions, numerical problems, case-study questions, and derivations.

For students preparing for future examinations, the key lessons are to revise the complete syllabus, practise numerical problems regularly, understand important derivations, and solve previous-year question papers under timed conditions. Strong conceptual understanding and clear answer presentation can help students approach the Physics examination with greater confidence.