When is the CBSE Class 12 Mathematics theory exam, and what are the timings?

The Mathematics theory paper is scheduled for 9 March 2026, and theory exams will be conducted between February 17 and April 9, 2026. Each theory paper is conducted for 3 hours(usually 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM) and is held in a single shift.

How many marks is the Maths exam, and what are the passing criteria?

The subject is 100 marks total, 80 marks for the written theory paper and 20 marks for the internal assessment. You must get at least 33% in the theory component and meet the passing requirement in the internal assessment to pass the subject overall.

Which chapters or units should I prioritise?

Prioritise by weightage:Calculus: 35 marksVectors & 3-D Geometry: 14 marksAlgebra: 10 marksRelations & Functions: 8 marksProbability: 8 marksLinear Programming: 5 marks

What is the internal assessment, and how can I score well in it?

Internal assessment is 20 marks given by your school and includes:Periodic tests: 10 marksPortfolio: 5 marksSubject enrichment activities: 5 marksTo score well, attend classes, do and submit neat assignments/portfolio, perform in periodic tests, and complete all math activities or projects on time.

What types of questions will be asked and how should I prepare?

The theory paper (80 marks) has 38 compulsory questions in 5 different sections:Section A: MCQs / Assertion-Reason (≈20 × 1 mark)Section B: Very short answers (5 × 2 marks)Section C: Short answers (6 × 3 marks)Section D: Long answers (4 × 5 marks)Section E: Case/source-based (3 × 4 marks)Thoroughly study NCERT, solve past papers and timed mock tests, make a formula notebook and revise it daily, practice all question types (MCQs, SA, LA, case-based), and review mistakes after each test.

CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Weightage 2026 - Check chapter wise weightage

Each chapters and topics in CBSE Class 12th Maths exam has different weightage. Knowing about the weightage helps students prioritise topics accordingly. Check here CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Weightage 2026!

CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Weightage 2026

Table of Contents

CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026
CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Unit-Wise Weightage 2026
CBSE Class 12th Mathematics 2026: Typology of Questions and Marks Allotted
CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Skill-Based Weightage 2026
CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Weightage 2026: Topics to Focus On
How to Score High Using CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Weightage 2026?

According to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the CBSE Class 12th Mathematics examination will be conducted on March 9, 2026, between 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Students can download the Class 12 board exam datesheet 2026 on its official website cbse.gov.in and start their preparation accordingly.

The exam pattern for CBSE Class 12 Mathematics 2026 is 80 marks for the theory paper and 20 marks for the internal assessment (including periodic tests and activities). The passing marks in the CBSE Class 12 exam 2026 are 33% in aggregate.

The theory paper consists of various units, namely algebra, Relations and Functions, Calculus, Linear Programming, Vector and Three-dimensional geometry, and Probability. The internal assessment marks will be based on the portfolio submission, subject enrichment activities, and periodic assessment.

The detailed CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Weightage 2026, exam pattern, unit-wise weightageand the Class 12th syllabus structure for students is outlined below.

CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026

The questions in the CBSE Class 12 Mathematics Exam 2026 are so framed as to test students’ understanding, analytical skills, and application of mathematical concepts clearly and comprehensively.

The Mathematics paper will be of 100 marks, but students will appear for an 80-mark theory paper, and the remaining 20 marks will be given based on internal assessment.

Particulars	Details
Total Marks	100
Total Marks in Theory Paper	80
Internal Assessment Marks	20
Internal Assessment Includes	Periodic assessments, portfolio, and subject enrichment activities
Exam Duration	3 Hours
Minimum Passing Marks	33% in both the theory paper and the internal assessment
Total Number of Questions	38
Number of Sections in Mathematics Paper	5
Division of Sections	Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) or Assertion-Reasoning Section B: Very Short Answer (VSA) Section C: Short Answer (SA) Section D: Long Answer (LA) Section E: Case/Source-based or integrated assessment questions

CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Unit-Wise Weightage 2026

Here is the unit-wise weightage for the CBSE Class 12 Mathematics theory paper 2026. This will help students plan their preparation effectively. The theory paper is of 80 marks, and the internal assessment carries 20 marks.

For Theory Paper

There are six units in the Mathematics syllabus, and among these, Calculus carries the highest weightage of all units. Apart from calculus, students must also focus on Vectors and 3-dimensional Geometry and Algebra. There is no chapter-wise weightage, so students must cover all the chapters in a unit.

Units	Subject	Weightage per unit
I	Relations and Functions	8
II	Algebra	10
III	Calculus	35
IV	Vectors and Three-Dimensional Geometry	14
V	Linear Programming	5
VI	Probability	8
Total		80

For Internal Assessment

To score well in Mathematics, students should not ignore the internal assessment marks. The 20 marks for internal assessment are given by schools based on classroom performance, periodic tests, mathematics activities, or portfolio work. Students must score at least 33% in these internal assessment marks to meet the overall passing criteria for the subject.

Particulars	Marks Allotted
Periodic Tests	10
Portfolio	5
Subject Enrichment Activities	5

CBSE Class 12th Mathematics 2026: Typology of Questions and Marks Allotted

The Mathematics paper is divided into five sections (A to E). Each has different question types and marks allotted:

Section	Type of Question	Total Number of Questions	Total Mark per Question	Total Marks
A	Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) or Assertion-Reasoning	20	1	20
B	Very Short Answer (VSA)	5	2	10
C	Short Answer (SA)	6	3	18
D	Long Answer (LA)	4	5	20
E	Case-Based Question or Integrated Assessment Questions	3	4	12

In total, the CBSE Class 12 Mathematics theory paper consists of 38 compulsory questions. These questions are a combination of objective, short, long, and case-based problems.

CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Skill-Based Weightage 2026

The class 12th mathematics paper is set in such a way that the board can test the students’ cognitive skills and problem-solving ability.

Particulars	Weightage in Terms of Marks
Remembering and understanding basic concepts and interpreting facts	44
Applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques, and rules in a different way	20
Analysing and evaluating the ideas and solutions	16

CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Weightage 2026: Topics to Focus On

Candidates who are going to appear for the CBSE Class 12th exam in 2026 must check the important topics for mathematics below.

Unit	Important Topics
I: Relations and Functions	Relations and Functions: Types of relations: equivalence, reflexive, symmetric, transitive relations
I: Relations and Functions	Inverse Trigonometric Functions: Definition, range, principal value branch, and Graphs of inverse trigonometric functions
II: Algebra	Matrices: Types of matrices, invertible matrices, and proof of the uniqueness of inverse, multiplication, and scalar multiplication, non-commutativity of multiplication of matrices, and existence of nonzero matrices whose product is the zero matrix, operations on matrices, Simple properties of addition, symmetric and skew symmetric matrices, transpose of a matrix, zero and identity matrix
II: Algebra	Determinants: Cofactors and applications of determinants in finding the area of a triangle, djoint and inverse of a square matrix, inconsistency and number of solutions of system of linear equations by examples, minors, onsistency, solving system of linear equations in two or three variables (having unique solution) using inverse of a matrix, determinant of a square matrix (up to 3 x 3 matrices)
III: Calculus	Continuity and Differentiability: Chain rule, exponential and logarithmic functions, continuity and differentiability
	Applications of Derivatives: Increasing/decreasing functions, maxima and minima, rate of change of quantities
	Integrals: Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Integration as the inverse process of differentiation, integration of a variety of functions by substitution, by partial fractions, and by parts.
	Application of the Integrals: Applications in finding the area under simple curves
	Differential Equations: Definition, degree, and order, general and particular solutions of a differential equation, solutions of a linear differential equation
IV: Vectors and Three-Dimensional Geometry	Vectors: Vectors and scalars, Types of vectors, scalar (dot) product of vectors, vector (cross) product of vectors
IV: Vectors and Three-Dimensional Geometry	Three-Dimensional Geometry: Cartesian equation and vector equation of a line, shortest distance between two lines, skew lines, direction cosines, and direction ratios of a line joining two points
V: Linear Programming	Feasible and infeasible regions, graphical method of solution for problems in two variables, objective function, optimization, constraints
VI: Probability	Bayes’ theorem, independent events, multiplication theorem on probability, total probability, conditional probability

How to Score High Using CBSE Class 12th Mathematics Weightage 2026?

To score high marks in the CBSE Class 12 Mathematics board exam 2026, students should focus their preparation using the weightage per unit. Here are 5 simple and effective tips:

Students must focus on high-weightage units such as Calculus, Vectors & 3-D Geometry, and Algebra.
You must also solve full-length practice papers and mock tests to build speed, accuracy, and confidence before the exam.
To make it easy during the last minute, students must make a formula notebook and revise it every day.
After solving practice questions or mock papers, always analyze your mistakes and correct them. This helps avoid repeating errors.

The CBSE Class 12 Mathematics Weightage 2026 helps students to get a bare idea of how marks are distributed across different units in the board exam. Students can check out the unit-wise weightage, which will help them focus on the most important chapters. They must check previous years' questions and solve them regularly to perform well in the exam. So, as a last-minute tip, you must solve previous years' questions, revise formulae, and rectify silly mistakes in the mathematics paper.