CBSE Class 12 Overview
The CBSE Class 12 board exam is the school-leaving exam taken by lakhs of students every year in India and abroad. The marks decide eligibility for graduation courses and are also used for university admission (directly or together with entrance exams such as CUET-UG, JEE Main and NEET). The exam is held in February to April and the result usually comes in May.
| Conducting body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Level | Senior secondary (Class XII) |
| Mode | Pen and paper, written theory + practical / project work |
| Streams | Science, Commerce, Humanities |
| Exam period | Mid-February to early April |
| Result | May (declared online) |
| Supplementary exam | Usually July |
| Official websites | cbse.gov.in, results.cbse.nic.in, cbseacademic.nic.in |
More about CBSE Class 12
CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme
| Subjects | 5 main subjects (English is compulsory) + optional additional subject |
| Marks split (most subjects) | 80 theory + 20 internal assessment |
| Marks split (practical subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science) | 70 theory + 30 practical |
| Theory paper duration | 3 hours |
| Question style | Mix of MCQ, case / source based, short and long answer questions |
CBSE Class 12 Passing Criteria
- Minimum 33% marks in each subject.
- Where a subject has theory and practical / internal marks, the passing marks apply to theory and to practical / internal separately as per the board scheme.
- Students who do not pass in a subject can appear in the supplementary exam.
Subjects and Streams
| Group | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Science | English Core, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology, + optional subject such as Computer Science, Physical Education, Informatics Practices |
| Commerce | English Core, Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, Mathematics / Applied Mathematics or another optional subject |
| Humanities | English Core, History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Sociology and other optional subjects |
CBSE Class 12 Preparation Tips
- Start from the NCERT textbook of every subject and finish the exercises.
- Solve the official CBSE sample papers and previous year papers in exam timing.
- Learn the marking scheme - step marking decides most of the marks in long answers.
- Keep practical files, projects and internal assessment complete and on time.
- Plan revision in two rounds: full syllabus first, then weak chapters.
CBSE Class 12 FAQs
When is the CBSE Class 12 exam held?
Theory exams usually run from mid-February to early April. In 2026 they ran from 17 February to 10 April. The date sheet for each year is released on cbse.gov.in.
What are the passing marks in CBSE Class 12?
You need at least 33% in each subject, and in subjects with practical or internal marks, the board rules for theory and practical / internal apply separately.
Where can I check the CBSE Class 12 result?
On results.cbse.nic.in and cbse.gov.in, and through DigiLocker, UMANG, SMS and IVRS.
Is there a second chance if I fail?
Yes, CBSE conducts a supplementary exam, usually in July.
StudyGalaxy is an independent education guidance website and is not affiliated with CBSE. Dates, rules and figures can change - please confirm on the official CBSE website.