CBSE 12 Physics Exam 2026 Last Minute Preparation Topics: The CBSE Class 12 Physics Board Exam for the 2025-26 academic session is scheduled for Friday, February 20, 2026. The exam will be conducted from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The CBSE Class 12 Physics Theory Examination will be held for 70 marks. The question paper will consist of 33 compulsory questions divided into five sections (A–E). While there is no overall choice, approximately 33% internal choices are provided within sections. Students preparing for the CBSE Class 12 Physics Examination can access the CBSE 12 Physics Exam 2026 last-minute preparation topics and weightage details available here.
Want to ace the CBSE 12 Physics Exam? Check the 30 Definitions for 28+ Marks in CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam 2026.
CBSE 12 Physics Exam 2026 Last Minute Preparation Topics
Check the CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam last minute preparation topics below. Prioritise these units to cover approximately 70% of the theory marks:
- Optics (18 Marks): The highest-scoring unit. Focus on Lens Maker’s Formula, Young's Double Slit Experiment (YDSE), and ray diagrams for microscopes and telescopes.
- Magnetic Effects & Magnetism (17 Marks): Key topics include Moving Coil Galvanometer (principle and conversion), Ampere’s Circuital Law, and force on a moving charge.
- Electrostatics (16 Marks): Focus on Gauss’s Law applications, Capacitance of a Parallel Plate Capacitor (with dielectric), and Electric Potential.
- Modern Physics (12 Marks): Einstein’s Photoelectric Equation, Bohr’s Atomic Model (energy levels), and Binding Energy curve.
- Semiconductors (7 Marks): Logic gates (NAND/NOR as universal gates), Full-wave Rectifier circuit diagrams, and P-N junction characteristics.
CBSE 12 Physics Exam 2026: Weightage Details
The chapter-wise CBSE Class 12 Physics Weightage details are given below.
| Units | Unit Names | Chapters | Weightage |
| 1 and 2 | Electrostatics and Current Electricity | Electric Charges & Fields, Electrostatic Potential & Capacitance, Current Electricity | 16 |
| 3 and 4 | Magnetism, EMI and AC | Moving Charges & Magnetism, Magnetism & Matter, Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating Current | 17 |
| 5 and 6 | EM Waves and Optics | Electromagnetic Waves, Ray Optics & Optical Instruments, Wave Optics | 18 |
| 7 and 8 | Modern Physics | Dual Nature of Radiation & Matter, Atoms, Nuclei | 12 |
| 9 | Electronic Devices | Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices & Simple Circuits | 07 |
| Total | 70 | ||
Students are advised to go through the entire CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus and refer to the NCERT textbook for better preparations along with the above given topics.
Live Updates
CBSE Board uploaded the class 12th sample paper 2025-26 to its official website. Find the step-by-step procedure to download the CBSE 12 sample paper 2025-26 below:
- Step 1: Visit the CBSE official website - cbse.nic.in.
- Step 2: Select the "Academic Website" option.
- Step 3: Click on the "Sample Question Paper" section. Click on "SQP 2024-2025" and choose the "Class XII" option.
- Step 4: Click on the "SQP" link to download the sample question paper PDF subject-wise.
- Step 5: Save the CBSE 12th sample paper PDFs for further reference.
CBSE Class 12 Syllabus for Physics contains 8 units divided into 11 chapters. The unit-wise chapters are listed below.
| Unit | Chapter Name | Marks |
| Electrostatics | Electric Charges and Fields | 16 |
| Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | ||
| Current Electricity | Current Electricity | |
| Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | Moving Charges and Magnetism | 17 |
| Magnetism and Matter | ||
| Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | Electromagnetic Induction | |
| Alternating Current | ||
| Electromagnetic WavesOptics | Electromagnetic Waves | 18 |
| Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | ||
| Wave Optics | ||
| Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 12 |
| Atoms and Nuclei | Atoms | 7 |
| Nuclei | ||
| Electronic Devices | Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits |
- Unit Conversion First: Always convert values to SI units before plugging them into a formula.
- State the Formula: Even if you get the math wrong, writing the correct formula usually earns you 1/2 to 1 mark.
- Final Answer with Units: A numerical answer without a unit often results in a 1/2 mark deduction.
- Electrostatics & Current Electricity
- Equivalence & Energy: Calculating the equivalent capacitance or resistance in complex bridge circuits (like Wheatstone Bridge variations).
- Drift Velocity: Calculations involving the relation between current density, drift velocity, and relaxation time.
- Kirchhoff’s Laws: Solving for currents in multi-loop circuits (usually involving 2-3 loops).
- Magnetism & AC
- LCR Circuits: Calculating Impedance, Resonant Frequency, and Phase Angle. This is a staple for 3-mark questions.
- Moving Coil Galvanometer: Converting a galvanometer into an Ammeter or Voltmeter by calculating the required Shunt or Series resistance.
- Magnetic Field Strength: Calculating the field at the center or on the axis of a circular current loop.
- Optics
- Lens Maker’s Formula: Solving for focal length when a lens is immersed in a liquid of a different refractive index.
- YDSE (Young's Double Slit Experiment): Finding fringe width or the position of the bright/dark fringe when the setup is modified.
- Compound Microscope/Telescope: Calculating total magnification and the length of the tube for normal adjustment.
- Modern Physics
- Photoelectric Equation: to find the stopping potential or threshold frequency.
- Binding Energy: Calculating the Mass Defect and Binding Energy per nucleon for specific nuclei.
- Energy Levels: Finding the wavelength of radiation emitted during an electron transition in a Hydrogen atom (Rydberg formula).
- No Calculators: The use of calculators was strictly prohibited; all numerical calculations had to be done manually.
- Internal Choices: Internal choices were provided in Sections B, C, and E to help students manage difficult topics.
- Step Marking: Marks were awarded for each logical step and correct use of scientific units, even if the final answer was incorrect.
| Units | Important Topics | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | Lens Maker's Formula, YDSE, Prism Refraction | 18 Marks |
| Magnetic Effects | Ampere's Law, Moving Coil Galvanometer, AC | 17 Marks |
| Electrostatics | Gauss's Law, Capacitance, Electric Potential | 16 Marks |
| Current Electricity | Kirchhoff’s Laws, Drift Velocity, Potentiometer | 16 Marks |
| Modern Physics | Photoelectric Effect, Bohr Model, Nuclei | 12 Marks |
| Electronic Devices | p-n Junction Diode, Rectifiers, Energy Bands | 7 Marks |
CBSE implemented on-screen marking for the 2026 exams, where scanned answer sheets were evaluated digitally to ensure faster and more accurate results.
In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, 50% of the questions will be competency-focused, including case-based and data-interpretation problems.
The exam followed a 70-mark theory and 30-mark practical distribution.
- Section A: 16 MCQs, including Assertion-Reason questions (1 mark each).
- Section B: 5 Very Short Answer questions (2 marks each).
- Section C: 7 Short Answer questions (3 marks each).
- Section D: 2 Case Study-based questions (4 marks each).
- Section E: 3 Long Answer questions (5 marks each).
The CBSE Class 12 Physics 2026 Examination will be held on February 20, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.