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The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examinations (TNDGE) has announced the Tamil Nadu 12th Biology Exam Pattern 2026 and marking scheme. The Biology paper is split into two curriculum sections: Botany and Zoology. These sections are allocated 35 marks each making the total to 70 marks
The marking scheme or the exam pattern is very important for revision, preparation and strategizing. Knowing the Tamil Nadu Class 12 Exam Pattern 2026 helps you prioritize important or higher weightage topics and also successfully manage your time on the day of the board exam. If you can guide or plan your study around heavy weighting chapters, you will likely achieve high score and do well in the Tamil Nadu Class 12 Exam 2026.
You should therefore try to prioritize higher weightage chapters such as: genetics, plant physiology, human physiology and biotechnology. It will help you gain higher marks and not lose a potential score. By taking the marking scheme into consideration, coupled with the exam pattern and planning your revision methodically, you can boost your confidence level, resulting in a greater chance of scoring well.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu 12th Sample Papers 2026
The Tamil Nadu 12th Biology Examination is divided into four sections, each to test a different level of understanding and writing ability. The examination will contain objective, very short, short and long answer type questions totaling 150 marks. More details are outlined below:
|
Sections |
Question Type |
Total Questions |
Marks |
|
A |
Objective |
30 |
30 |
|
B |
Very short |
20 |
45 |
|
C |
Short |
12 |
35 |
|
D |
Long |
8 |
40 |
|
Total |
|
|
150 |
Also Read: Tamil Nadu 12th Previous Year Question Papers 2026
The Tamil Nadu Class 12 Biology paper has two components- Botany and Zoology, which each carry 35 marks and a total value of 70 marks each. The Biology paper consists of a variety of types of questions Long Answer, Short Answer, Very Short Answer, Multiple choice, Objective, etc. The marking scheme indicates that for Botany and Zoology, you are required to answer 8 questions from Section 1 i.e. 1 mark for each question, 4 questions from Section 2 i.e. 2 marks for each question, 3 questions from Section 3 i.e. 3 marks for each question, and 2 questions possible from Section 4 i.e. 5 marks for each question. The tables below present the Tamil Nadu 12th Biology Marking Scheme clearly for 2026.
|
Part |
Section |
Type of Questions |
Number of Questions |
Marks per Question |
Total Marks |
|
Part 1 – Botany |
1 |
MCQs & Objective-type |
8 |
1 |
8 |
|
2 |
Very Short Answer |
4 |
2 |
8 |
|
|
3 |
Short Answer |
3 |
3 |
9 |
|
|
4 |
Long Answer |
2 |
5 |
10 |
|
|
Total |
35 |
||||
|
Part 2 – Zoology |
1 |
MCQs & Objective-type |
8 |
1 |
8 |
|
2 |
Very Short Answer |
4 |
2 |
8 |
|
|
3 |
Short Answer |
3 |
3 |
9 |
|
|
4 |
Long Answer |
2 |
5 |
10 |
|
|
Total |
35 |
||||
|
Aggregate |
70 |
Also Read: Tamil Nadu 12th Biology Syllabus 2026
Being aware of the weightage of topics in Tamil Nadu 12th Biology is important as it allows the you to plan your preparation in an effective way by concentrating your preparation on high mark chapters. It gives good clarity on which aspects need focus, and ensures you cover both Botany and Zoology equally. This also enhances high scoring chances, lowers exam stress as you may feel confident. The topic-wise weightage for Tamil Nadu 12th Biology is given below:
|
Topics |
Weightage |
|
Botany – Taxonomy of angiosperms, plant anatomy, cell biology and genetics, biotechnology, plant physiology, biology in human welfare, etc. |
50% |
|
Zoology – Human physiology, microbiology, immunology, genetics, environmental sciences, evolution theories, etc. |
50% |
Also Read: Tamil Nadu 12th English Deleted Syllabus 2026
The Tamil Nadu 12th Biology Exam Pattern 2026 clearly outlines the structure of the question paper and how it aligns to marks and questions. Once you become aware of the exam pattern, you can plan your preparation accordingly, manage your time on exam day and identify time spent on all sections of the paper. Here is how to use the exam pattern effectively:
1. Understand how the marks are divided between Botany and Zoology, and what question type has the highest weightage, to plan your preparation properly.
2. Ensure you spend more time on higher mark sections like long and short answer questions, while ensuring you also touch on objective and very short answer questions.
3. On exam day, spend the time to complete both Part A and Part B of the paper according to each section, number of questions and marks.
4. Practice all types of questions, whether it is MCQs, objective, very short, short or long answer types, to develop confidence during the exam.
5. Use the exam pattern as a tool for revision to ensure you have covered all sections equally and have not missed any important topics.
Q: Q1. What is the total mark for Tamil Nadu 12th Biology Exam 2026?
Q: Q2. How many sections are there in the Tamil Nadu 12th Biology Exam Paper?
Q: Q3. What is the distribution of marks between Botany and Zoology?
Q: Q4. How can I effectively prepare for the Tamil Nadu 12th Biology Exam Paper?
Q: Q5. Where can I find Tamil Nadu 12th Biology Exam previous paper?
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