Download the NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Physics Chapter 9 PDF for Ray Optics and Optical Instruments below. This chapter has 32 HOTS problems across five question types. This page hosts the free PDF aligned to the 2026-27 NCERT syllabus.
- CBSE Weightage: 7 to 9 marks (Class 12 Physics Boards)
- JEE Main Weightage: 4 to 5%, typically 1 to 2 questions per shift
- NEET Weightage: 3 to 4 questions per year
How the NCERT Exemplar Helps Students with Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
The NCERT Exemplar is the official publication that paper-setters use as a reference for HOTS problems in CBSE Boards, JEE Main, and NEET. Three reasons it belongs in your study plan:
- 2026-27 Alignment: Every problem maps to a sub-topic in the current syllabus, so you skip nothing irrelevant. A small minority touch sub-topics removed in 2023 - skip those for boards, keep them for JEE and NEET.
- Five Question Types: MCQ-I, MCQ-II, VSA, SA, and LA in one book match today's CBSE paper structure and the JEE Main multiple-correct trap-style.
- JEE and NEET Crossover: Recent entrance papers reuse Exemplar setups almost verbatim. JEE Main 2025 reused the prism-deviation graph from Exemplar 9.15; NEET 2025 mirrored Exemplar 9.21 on compound microscope magnification.
Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Exemplar Video Lecture
Source: JEE Physics By Vedantu on YouTube
What's Inside Chapter 9 of the Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Exemplar
The Exemplar runs 8 pages with problems grouped into five sections. The topic map below shows where each sub-topic is concentrated, so you can target your weakest area without scanning the whole chapter.
| Sub-Topic Concentration | Problem Numbers |
|---|---|
| Reflection at plane and spherical mirrors | 9.1, 9.2, 9.12, 9.17, 9.22 |
| Refraction at plane and spherical surfaces | 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.13, 9.18, 9.23, 9.28 |
| Thin lens, lensmaker formula, lens combinations | 9.6, 9.7, 9.14, 9.19, 9.24, 9.29 |
| Prism, dispersion, total internal reflection | 9.8, 9.9, 9.15, 9.20, 9.25, 9.30 |
| Optical instruments (microscope, telescope) | 9.10, 9.11, 9.16, 9.21, 9.26, 9.27, 9.31, 9.32 |
Ray Optics and Optical Instruments NCERT Exemplar Question-Type Breakdown
The 2026-27 Exemplar print divides Chapter 9 into five question types. MCQ-II is the most-failed type because at least one extra option besides the obvious one is correct - treat it as a slow type, not a quick one.
| Question Type | Number of Problems | Indicative Marks Each |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ-I (single correct) | 11 | 1 |
| MCQ-II (one or more correct) | 5 | 2 |
| Very Short Answer (VSA) | 5 | 1 to 2 |
| Short Answer (SA) | 6 | 3 |
| Long Answer (LA) | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 32 | - |
Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Exemplar vs NCERT Textbook: Difficulty Step-Up
The Exemplar takes the same physics setup as the NCERT textbook chapter but adds one or two complicating layers. The contrast below shows what changes between the two books.
| Aspect | NCERT Textbook | NCERT Exemplar |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Concept building and solved examples | HOTS practice with multi-step problems |
| Difficulty band | Easy to medium | Medium to very hard (especially LA) |
| Solved examples | Around 6 to 14 in the chapter | Zero step-by-step solutions in the book |
| Total practice problems | Roughly 10 end-of-chapter exercises | 32 problems across 5 types |
| Match rate with JEE / NEET | Low to medium | High (around 25 to 30% reused) |
If you can finish only one extra book outside the NCERT textbook for Ray Optics and Optical Instruments, make it the Exemplar.
Key Formulae to Know Before Attempting the Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Exemplar
Most Exemplar problems hinge on a small set of recurring formulas. Lock these into memory before you start and save 30 to 40% of attempt time per problem.
| Concept | Formula |
|---|---|
| Mirror formula | 1 / v + 1 / u = 1 / f |
| Lens formula | 1 / v - 1 / u = 1 / f |
| Lensmaker formula | 1 / f = (n - 1)(1 / R1 - 1 / R2) |
| Prism deviation (minimum) | n = sin(A + Dm/2) / sin(A/2) |
Full master table: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Class 12 Physics Formula Sheet
Ray Optics and Optical Instruments CBSE Marks Weightage Across Class 12 Physics Chapters
The chart below maps the typical CBSE Class 12 Physics marks distribution across all 14 chapters, averaged over the last five board papers. Chapter 9 Ray Optics carries the highest single-chapter weightage at 8 marks.
Student Feedback
"The sub-topic map table helped me figure out which Exemplar problems to target first for boards. I spent the last two weeks only on the lens and prism questions and it paid off." - Priya, Class 12, Delhi
"JEE Main 2025 had a question almost identical to Exemplar 9.15. I had practised it from this page and got it right in under a minute." - Arjun, JEE Main 2025 aspirant
Other Resources for Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Class 12 Physics
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| NCERT Solutions | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Class 12 Physics NCERT Solutions |
| NCERT Notes | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Class 12 Physics Notes |
| Formula Sheet | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Class 12 Physics Formula Sheet |
| NCERT Book PDF | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Class 12 Physics NCERT Book PDF |
| Exemplar Solutions | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Class 12 Physics NCERT Exemplar Solutions |
| Handwritten Notes | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Class 12 Physics Handwritten Notes |
| Exemplar Book PDF | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Class 12 Physics Exemplar Book PDF |
NCERT Exemplar Book PDF for Class 12 Physics: All Chapters
Other Class 12 Physics NCERT Exemplar Book PDFs you can get as free downloads:
| Chapter | Resource |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Electric Charges and Fields Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 2 | Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 3 | Current Electricity Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 4 | Moving Charges and Magnetism Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 5 | Magnetism and Matter Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 6 | Electromagnetic Induction Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 7 | Alternating Current Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 8 | Electromagnetic Waves Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 9 | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 10 | Wave Optics Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 11 | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 12 | Atoms Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 13 | Nuclei Exemplar Book PDF |
| Chapter 14 | Semiconductor Electronics Exemplar Book PDF |
NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Physics: available above as a free PDF download, fully aligned to the 2026-27 NCERT release.
NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Physics - Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. Where can I download the NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Physics Chapter 9 for free?
Ans. You can download the NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Physics Chapter 9 directly from this page. The PDF is free and aligned to the 2026-27 NCERT syllabus.
Ques. How many problems does the Chapter 9 Exemplar have?
Ans. The NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Physics Chapter 9 runs approximately 8 pages and has 32 HOTS problems split as MCQ-I (11), MCQ-II (5), VSA (5), SA (6), and LA (5).
Ques. Are Exemplar problems compulsory for the CBSE Class 12 board exam?
Ans. Exemplar problems are not part of the prescribed NCERT textbook chapter, but CBSE has used Exemplar-style HOTS items in 4 of the last 5 board papers. For an A1 grade in Physics, working the Exemplar is practically required.
Ques. Where can I find the solutions to the Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Exemplar problems?
Ans. Solved answers for every problem in this chapter are on the Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Class 12 Physics NCERT Exemplar Solutions page.
Ques. Can I use the Exemplar Book for JEE Main and NEET preparation?
Ans. Yes. JEE Main 2025 carried at least one question whose setup mirrored Exemplar problem 9.15. NEET 2025 also reused Exemplar MCQ patterns. Use the NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Physics during your year, then revisit before the entrance exam.
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