CBSE Class 12 Syllabus 2026-27: Subject-Wise Overview
Which subject worries you most: Physics, Maths, or Accountancy? This guide puts the Class 12 syllabus for 2026-27 in one place. You will find units, marks, practical details, and PDF download steps for Science, Commerce, and Humanities.
What's New in the CBSE Class 12 Syllabus 2026-27?
CBSE released the 2026-27 syllabus on 1 April 2026 on cbseacademic.nic.in. The board has not announced any cut in the syllabus, so plan to study the full course. The question paper design also stays the same as last year.
Area | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
Syllabus size | Full syllabus | Full syllabus, no cut announced |
Question paper | 50% competency-based, 20% MCQ, 30% short/long answer | Same |
Class 12 board exams | One exam | One exam |
One board exam only. The two-exam system applies to Class 10, not Class 12.
Date sheet. As of 1 October 2026, CBSE has not released it. Theory exams are expected to start in February 2027.
Watch for fake "deleted chapter" lists. Some websites claim large deletions. If a list does not match the official PDF, trust the PDF.
Quick tip: Open last year's syllabus and this year's syllabus for the same subject. Compare the unit lists side by side. It takes five minutes and shows you any real change.
Quick Check: Which Stream Are You In?
Pick the stream that matches your subjects and go straight to that section. Each section lists the units, marks, and practical details for every subject.
Science: Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology, Computer Science, Informatics Practices, Physical Education
Commerce: Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, Applied Mathematics, Entrepreneurship
Humanities: History, Political Science, Geography, Psychology, Sociology
Languages: English and Hindi, which apply to every stream
CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme 2026-27
Every subject carries 100 marks. The theory paper is worth 70 or 80 marks, and practical or internal work is worth the other 30 or 20. To pass, you need 33% in each subject. If a subject has practicals, you need 33% in theory and in practical separately.
How questions are split in the theory paper:
50% competency-based: case-based, source-based, and application questions. They check whether you can use what you learned in a new situation. For example, instead of "State Ohm's law," a question may describe a heater and ask why its wire gets hot.
20% MCQs: quick questions on basic concepts.
30% short and long answers.
Marks split by subject:
Subjects | Theory | Practical / Internal |
Physics, Chemistry, Biology | 70 | 30 |
Computer Science, Informatics Practices, Physical Education | 70 | 30 |
Geography, Psychology, Entrepreneurship | 70 | 30 |
Mathematics, Applied Mathematics | 80 | 20 |
Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics | 80 | 20 |
History, Political Science, Sociology | 80 | 20 |
English, Hindi | 80 | 20 |
Check your own subject PDF to confirm the split before you plan your study time.
Science Stream: Subject-Wise Syllabus
Science students study three core subjects, plus English and one more. Physics, Chemistry, and Biology carry 70 theory marks each, and Maths carries 80. The units below follow CBSE's current structure.
Combination | Total theory marks | Total practical/internal marks |
PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Maths) | 220 | 80 |
PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) | 210 | 90 |
PCB students get 10 more practical marks than PCM students. Practicals are the easiest marks to protect, so use them well.
Physics
Physics has 70 theory marks and 30 practical marks. It has nine units:
Electrostatics
Current Electricity
Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
Electromagnetic Waves
Optics
Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
Atoms and Nuclei
Electronic Devices
Tip: Electrostatics, Current Electricity and Optics lean on numericals. Practise a few daily, and draw neat ray and circuit diagrams.
Chemistry
Chemistry has 70 theory marks and 30 practical marks, spread over 10 units:
Physical: Solutions, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics
Inorganic: d and f Block Elements, Coordination Compounds
Organic: Haloalkanes and Haloarenes; Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers; Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids; Amines; Biomolecules
Tip: In organic chemistry, learn named reactions and conversions by writing them out, not just reading. Practise Physical Chemistry numericals separately.
Mathematics
Maths has 80 theory marks and 20 internal marks across 13 chapters in six units:
Unit | Marks |
Relations and Functions | 8 |
Algebra | 10 |
Calculus | 35 |
Vectors and Three-Dimensional Geometry | 14 |
Linear Programming | 5 |
Probability | 8 |
Tip: Calculus carries 35 of 80 marks. Give it the most practice time.
Biology
Biology has 70 theory marks and 30 practical marks. The theory units are:
Unit | Marks |
Reproduction | 16 |
Genetics and Evolution | 20 |
Biology and Human Welfare | 12 |
Biotechnology and Its Applications | 12 |
Ecology and Environment | 10 |
Tip: Genetics and Evolution is the biggest unit. Make flowcharts for processes such as DNA replication and protein synthesis.
Computer Science / Informatics Practices
Both subjects have 70 theory marks and 30 practical marks.
Computer Science:
Computational Thinking and Programming (Python): 40 marks
Computer Networks: 10 marks
Database Management (SQL): 20 marks
Informatics Practices:
Data Handling using Pandas and Data Visualisation: 25 marks
Database Query using SQL: 25 marks
Computer Networks: 7 marks
Societal Impacts: 13 marks
Tip: Code every day on a computer. Reading programs does not build the skill the exam tests.
Physical Education
Physical Education has 70 theory marks and 30 practical marks across 10 units. These include sports management, yoga, nutrition, biomechanics, sports psychology, and training methods. The practical covers a fitness test, sports skills, yoga, a record file, and a viva.
Tip: Prepare the practical file early. It is easy marks if you finish it on time.
Commerce Stream: Subject-Wise CBSE Class 12 Syllabus
Accountancy, Business Studies and Economics each carry 80 theory marks and 20 project marks. All three papers are divided into parts, and each part has a fixed mark share. Learn the share first, then plan your time.
Accountancy
Part A (60 marks): Accounting for Partnership Firms and Companies. This covers admission, retirement, death, and dissolution of partners, plus shares and debentures.
Part B (20 marks): Financial statement analysis, including ratios and cash flow.
Tip: Practise full journal entries and ledgers. Accounting marks come from steps, not just the final answer.
Business Studies
Part A (50 marks): Principles and Functions of Management, including planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling.
Part B (30 marks): Business Finance and Marketing, including financial management, financial markets, marketing and consumer protection.
Tip: Link each concept to a real example, such as a local shop or a known brand. Case-based questions reward this.
Economics
Part A (40 marks): Introductory Macroeconomics
Part B (40 marks): Indian Economic Development
Tip: Practise diagrams and short numericals in Macroeconomics. Read data-based questions slowly.
Applied Mathematics / Entrepreneurship
Applied Mathematics has 80 theory marks and 20 internal marks. Topics include calculus, probability distributions, inferential statistics, index numbers, and financial mathematics. Entrepreneurship has 70 theory marks and 30 project marks. It covers opportunity, enterprise planning, marketing, growth strategies, business arithmetic, and resource mobilisation.
Tip: In Entrepreneurship, start the project early, because it is worth 30 marks.
Humanities Stream: Subject-Wise Syllabus
Humanities subjects have 80 theory marks and 20 project marks, except Geography and Psychology, which have 70 theory marks and 30 practical marks. Most papers follow NCERT books closely, so reading the textbook line by line pays off.
History
History follows Themes in Indian History (Parts I, II and III). It has 80 theory marks, including a map work question. The 20 project marks are internal.
Tip: Practise map marking weekly, and use source-based passages as practice for case questions.
Political Science
Political Science has two parts of 40 marks each:
Contemporary World Politics
Politics in India Since Independence
Tip: Keep a one-page timeline of major events for each part. It helps with quick revision.
Geography
Geography has 70 theory marks and 30 practical marks. Theory comes from two books: Fundamentals of Human Geography and India: People and Economy. The practical book covers map and data skills.
Tip: Do the practical work as you finish each chapter, not at the end.
Psychology and Sociology
Psychology has 70 theory marks and 30 practical marks across seven units. They include variations in psychological attributes, self and personality, psychological disorders, therapeutic approaches, attitude and social cognition, and social influence and group processes.
Sociology has 80 theory marks and 20 project marks. It uses two books: Indian Society and Social Change and Development in India.
Tip: In both subjects, learn key terms with a simple example of your own.
Language Subjects: English and Hindi
English and Hindi each carry 80 theory marks and 20 internal marks. You can take the Core or Elective version of each. Both versions test reading, writing, and literature.
English Core (80 marks):
Section A, Reading: 22 marks
Section B, Creative Writing: 18 marks
Section C, Literature: 40 marks, from the prescribed NCERT books Flamingo and Vistas
English Elective: It also tests reading, writing and literature, but its literature section uses the elective textbook. Check the PDF for the exact section marks.
Hindi Core: It has reading comprehension, writing and grammar, and literature from Aroh Bhag 2 and Vitan Bhag 2.
Hindi Elective: Literature comes from Antra Bhag 2 and Antral Bhag 2. Writing skills come from Abhivyakti aur Madhyam.
Tip: Writing sections are quick marks. Learn the formats for letters, notices and reports, then practise one each week.
Internal Assessment and Practicals: Where Easy Marks Hide
Internal assessment and practicals give you 20 to 30 marks per subject, and the school awards most of them. Students who do the work on time usually score well here. These marks also lift your total when theory goes badly.
What counts toward these marks:
Periodic tests
Practical file and record
Viva (a short oral test on your work)
Project work
Portfolio and subject activities
How to score well:
Keep your practical file neat and signed on time.
Revise your experiments and project before the viva. Examiners ask why you did a step, not just what you did.
Do your own project work. You cannot answer viva questions about work you did not understand.
Schools usually hold practicals between January and mid-February, before the theory exams. Ask your school for the exact dates.
How to Download the CBSE Class 12 Syllabus 2026-27 PDF
You can download each subject's syllabus for free from the official CBSE academic website. Always use the official site, because other sites may carry old or wrong files.
Open cbseacademic.nic.in in your browser.
Find the Curriculum section and choose the senior secondary curriculum (Classes XI-XII).
Select the 2026-27 session.
Pick your subject and download the PDF.
Save every subject you study in one folder. Menu names can change slightly, so look for the closest match.
The same website also lists sample papers for 2026-27. Use them to see the real question style.
5-Minute Self-Check: Are You Syllabus-Ready?
Answer yes or no to each question:
[ ] Have you downloaded the CBSE Class 12 Syllabus PDF for every subject you study?
[ ] Have you compared this year's unit list with last year's for each subject?
[ ] Do you know the highest-mark unit or part in each subject?
[ ] Have you listed your practical and project deadlines?
Your score:
4 yes: You are ready. Start a weekly study plan.
2 or 3 yes: Complete the missing steps this week.
0 or 1 yes: Go back to the download section and begin with the PDFs.
FAQs About CBSE 2027 Class 12 Syllabus
Is the CBSE Class 12 syllabus 2026-27 reduced?
CBSE has not announced a reduction for 2026-27. Treat the full syllabus as your study plan. Compare the official PDF with last year's if you want to check a specific subject.
Where can I download the official PDF?
Use cbseacademic.nic.in. Open the senior secondary curriculum for 2026-27 and pick your subject. Avoid third-party sites for the final copy.
How many marks are practicals worth?
It depends on the subject. Most science subjects carry 30 practical marks, and Maths and Commerce subjects carry 20 internal or project marks. See the marks table in the exam pattern section.
Does the syllabus follow NCERT books?
Yes, CBSE's prescribed books for most subjects are NCERT books. Read them fully, then practise case-based questions, because about half the paper tests application.
Are there two board exams for Class 12?
No. Class 12 has one board exam in a year. The two-exam system is only for Class 10.
When will the Class 12 date sheet come out?
As of 1 October 2026, CBSE has not released it. Exams are expected to begin in February 2027. Check cbse.gov.in for the official announcement.
What share of the paper is competency-based?
About 50%. These are case-based, source-based, and application questions. Another 20% are MCQs and 30% are short or long answers.
Next Steps
Start with the official syllabus PDFs and sample papers, then move to previous-year papers and chapter-wise important questions for your subjects. Check cbse.gov.in often for the date sheet and any circulars.
Tell us your subject combination in the comments, and we will point you to the right resources.
Conclusion
The 2026-27 Class 12 syllabus is the full course, with no cut announced and the same 50-20-30 paper pattern. Your best plan is simple: download the official PDFs, learn the mark split for each subject, protect your practical and project marks, and practise application-based questions. Begin with your highest-mark units and build your weekly plan around them.
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