Loading…
Loading…
CBSE Class 11–12 · Papers
A CBSE Class 12 Physics, Chemistry or Biology theory paper has 33 questions for 70 marks in five sections, A to E; Mathematics has 38 questions for 80 marks. Once you know the section structure, building your own practice paper is a matter of filling it — and if you are also preparing for JEE or NEET, the same week can hold both kinds of paper.
Quick answer
The three science theory papers share one design.
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Marks | What it asks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 16 | 1 | 16 | Multiple choice and assertion–reason |
| B | 5 | 2 | 10 | Very short written answers |
| C | 7 | 3 | 21 | Short answers and short derivations or numericals |
| D | 2 | 4 | 8 | Case-based questions on a passage or data |
| E | 3 | 5 | 15 | Long answers with internal choice |
Total 33 questions, 70 marks, three hours, per CBSE’s 2025–26 sample question papers for Physics (042), Chemistry (043) and Biology (044). Practicals carry the remaining 30 marks. Confirm the current year’s design on cbseacademic.nic.in.
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Marks | What it asks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 20 | 1 | 20 | Multiple choice and assertion–reason |
| B | 5 | 2 | 10 | Very short answers |
| C | 6 | 3 | 18 | Short answers |
| D | 4 | 5 | 20 | Long answers |
| E | 3 | 4 | 12 | Case-based questions |
Total 38 questions, 80 marks, three hours, per CBSE’s 2025–26 sample question paper for Mathematics (041). Internal assessment carries the remaining 20 marks.
CBSE publishes a sample question paper and marking scheme for every subject each year on its academic website. Those two documents are the most valuable practice material you have, because they show not just the structure but how marks are given within an answer.
To build a paper of your own:
Students preparing for JEE or NEET alongside Class 12 often treat the two as rivals for time. The syllabus mostly overlaps; what differs is the answer format. A board paper rewards a complete, well-set-out written answer, while JEE Main and NEET reward a fast, correct choice.
A workable rhythm from about December is one board-format paper and one entrance-format paper a week in the same subject. For the entrance one, use the JEE Main mock test generator or the NEET mock test generator, which follow the current entrance patterns. Our CBSE Class 11–12 page covers the overlap chapter by chapter, and the Class 12 timetable with coaching guide shows how the week fits together.
BrainStride is an AI tutor for JEE, NEET and Olympiad preparation that runs a 20-minute diagnostic, maps your weak chapters and writes a daily plan, with practice-bank solutions checked by teachers.
33 questions for 70 marks in three hours, in five sections: Section A has 16 of 1 mark, Section B has 5 of 2 marks, Section C has 7 of 3 marks, Section D has 2 of 4 marks, Section E has 3 of 5 marks. This follows CBSE’s 2025–26 sample paper; practicals carry the other 30 marks. Check cbseacademic.nic.in for the current year.
38 questions for 80 marks in three hours: Section A has 20 of 1 mark, Section B has 5 of 2 marks, Section C has 6 of 3 marks, Section D has 4 of 5 marks, Section E has 3 of 4 marks. Section E is case-based. This follows CBSE’s 2025–26 sample paper; internal assessment carries the remaining 20 marks.
Not an automatic one for board papers. This page gives the section structure to build your own CBSE practice paper by hand, which works well because CBSE publishes a sample paper and marking scheme each year. For JEE Main, NEET and JEE Advanced, the free question paper generator builds chapter-wise paper plans automatically.
On CBSE’s academic website, cbseacademic.nic.in, under sample question papers for the current session. Each comes with a marking scheme, which shows how marks are given step by step — the most useful part for practice, because board answers are marked in steps rather than only on the final answer.
Yes — the syllabus largely overlaps. What differs is the answer format: written, step-marked answers for boards, fast objective answers for JEE and NEET. From December, one board-format and one entrance-format paper a week per subject keeps both skills sharp without doubling the content you study.
Section structures follow CBSE’s 2025–26 sample question papers. CBSE may revise the design each session; the official sample paper is the final word.
The 20-minute diagnostic maps your weak chapters across both, and the daily plan fits around school and coaching.