The CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026 is scheduled for July 2026, giving students a second opportunity to clear subjects in which they did not pass the board examination. Knowing which chapters carry the highest marks weightage is the single most effective way to plan a focused revision in the limited time available.
- The CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026 is conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for students who failed in one or two subjects.
- Calculus alone carries 35 out of 80 marks in Mathematics — making it the highest-weightage unit across all subjects.
- In Physics, Optics (14 marks) and three units worth 8 marks each (Electrostatics, Magnetic Effects, EM Induction) together form more than half the theory paper.
- For Chemistry, p-Block Elements (8 marks) and Organic Chemistry chapters collectively dominate the paper.
- In Biology, Genetics and Evolution (18 marks) is the single highest-weightage unit.
- Commerce students must prioritise Partnership Accounts (35 marks) in Accountancy and Functions of Management (22 marks) in Business Studies.
- The minimum passing marks in each subject is 33% of the total theory marks.
| Direct Link — CBSE Official Website: cbse.gov.in |
CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026 Overview
Before diving into chapter-level weightages, students should confirm the basic parameters of the exam. The table below summarises the key facts for CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Eligibility | Students who failed in one or two subjects in CBSE Class 12 Board Exam 2026 |
| Exam Month | July 2026 |
| Theory Marks — Mathematics | 80 marks |
| Theory Marks — Physics | 70 marks |
| Theory Marks — Chemistry | 70 marks |
| Theory Marks — Biology | 70 marks |
| Theory Marks — Accountancy | 80 marks |
| Theory Marks — Business Studies | 80 marks |
| Passing Marks | Minimum 33% in each subject |
| Exam Mode | Offline (pen and paper) |
| Official Website | cbse.gov.in |
Mathematics — Important Chapters and Marks Weightage
Mathematics carries a total of 80 theory marks in the CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026. The paper is divided into five units, but the distribution is highly skewed: Calculus alone accounts for 35 marks (43.75% of the paper), making it by far the most critical area for any student targeting a pass or a strong score.
Students who are short on time should prioritise Calculus and Vectors and 3D Geometry first — together these two units are worth 49 out of 80 marks.
| Unit | Key Chapters | Marks Weightage | % of Paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus | Continuity and Differentiability, Applications of Derivatives, Integrals, Applications of Integrals, Differential Equations | 35 | 43.75% |
| Vectors and 3D Geometry | Vector Algebra, Three Dimensional Geometry | 14 | 17.5% |
| Algebra | Matrices, Determinants | 10 | 12.5% |
| Probability | Probability | 8 | 10% |
| Relations and Functions | Relations and Functions, Inverse Trigonometric Functions | 8 | 10% |
| Linear Programming | Linear Programming | 5 | 6.25% |
| Total | — | 80 | 100% |
Physics — Important Chapters and Marks Weightage
Physics theory paper carries 70 marks. The subject has ten units with varying weightages. Optics (14 marks) is the single highest-weightage unit, followed by three units — Electrostatics, Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, and Electromagnetic Induction and AC — each carrying 8 marks. Together, these four units contribute 38 out of 70 marks (over 54%).
| Unit | Key Chapters | Marks Weightage | % of Paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optics | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments, Wave Optics | 14 | 20% |
| Electrostatics | Electric Charges and Fields, Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | 8 | 11.4% |
| Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | Moving Charges and Magnetism, Magnetism and Matter | 8 | 11.4% |
| Electromagnetic Induction and AC | Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating Current | 8 | 11.4% |
| Current Electricity | Current Electricity | 7 | 10% |
| Electronic Devices | Semiconductor Electronics | 7 | 10% |
| Atoms and Nuclei | Atoms, Nuclei | 6 | 8.6% |
| Communication Systems | Communication Systems | 5 | 7.1% |
| Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 4 | 5.7% |
| Electromagnetic Waves | Electromagnetic Waves | 3 | 4.3% |
| Total | — | 70 | 100% |
Chemistry — Important Chapters and Marks Weightage
Chemistry theory paper carries 70 marks and is spread across sixteen units, making it the most distributed paper of the three science subjects. p-Block Elements (8 marks) is the highest-weightage single unit. The Organic Chemistry chapters — Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids; Haloalkanes and Haloarenes; Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers; Amines — together account for 18 marks, making Organic Chemistry the dominant domain overall.
| Unit / Chapter | Domain | Marks Weightage | % of Paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| p-Block Elements | Inorganic Chemistry | 8 | 11.4% |
| Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids | Organic Chemistry | 6 | 8.6% |
| Solutions | Physical Chemistry | 5 | 7.1% |
| Electrochemistry | Physical Chemistry | 5 | 7.1% |
| Chemical Kinetics | Physical Chemistry | 5 | 7.1% |
| Coordination Compounds | Inorganic Chemistry | 5 | 7.1% |
| Solid State | Physical Chemistry | 4 | 5.7% |
| d and f Block Elements | Inorganic Chemistry | 4 | 5.7% |
| Haloalkanes and Haloarenes | Organic Chemistry | 4 | 5.7% |
| Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers | Organic Chemistry | 4 | 5.7% |
| Amines | Organic Chemistry | 4 | 5.7% |
| Biomolecules | Organic Chemistry | 4 | 5.7% |
| Surface Chemistry | Physical Chemistry | 3 | 4.3% |
| Polymers | Organic Chemistry | 3 | 4.3% |
| Chemistry in Everyday Life | Applied Chemistry | 3 | 4.3% |
| General Principles of Isolation of Elements | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 | 4.3% |
| Total | — | 70 | 100% |
Biology — Important Chapters and Marks Weightage
Biology theory paper carries 70 marks across five broad units. Unlike Physics and Chemistry, Biology’s marks are distributed more evenly, but Genetics and Evolution (18 marks) is clearly the highest-priority unit. Three units — Reproduction, Biology in Human Welfare, and Ecology and Environment — each carry 14 marks, forming a second tier of equal importance.
| Unit | Key Chapters | Marks Weightage | % of Paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genetics and Evolution | Heredity and Variation, Molecular Basis of Inheritance, Evolution | 18 | 25.7% |
| Reproduction | Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants, Human Reproduction, Reproductive Health | 14 | 20% |
| Biology in Human Welfare | Human Health and Disease, Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production, Microbes in Human Welfare | 14 | 20% |
| Ecology and Environment | Organisms and Populations, Ecosystem, Biodiversity and Conservation, Environmental Issues | 14 | 20% |
| Biotechnology | Biotechnology — Principles and Processes, Biotechnology and its Applications | 10 | 14.3% |
| Total | — | 70 | 100% |
Commerce — Accountancy and Business Studies Weightage
Commerce stream students appearing in the CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026 typically sit for Accountancy and Business Studies. Both papers carry 80 theory marks each. The weightage breakdown below shows which units to prioritise.
Accountancy — Important Chapters and Marks Weightage
Partnership Accounts alone carries 35 out of 80 marks — more than 43% of the Accountancy theory paper. This single unit encompasses Partnership Fundamentals, Admission, Retirement, Death, and Dissolution of a firm. No other investment of revision time yields a higher return in Accountancy.
| Unit | Key Topics | Marks Weightage | % of Paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partnership Accounts | Partnership Fundamentals, Admission of a Partner, Retirement and Death of a Partner, Dissolution of Partnership Firm | 35 | 43.75% |
| Company Accounts | Accounting for Share Capital, Issue and Redemption of Debentures | 15 | 18.75% |
| Financial Statement Analysis | Financial Statements of a Company, Tools for Financial Statement Analysis, Cash Flow Statement | 12 | 15% |
| Not-for-Profit Organisations | Accounting for Not-for-Profit Organisations | 10 | 12.5% |
| Accounting Ratios | Accounting Ratios | 8 | 10% |
| Total | — | 80 | 100% |
Business Studies — Important Chapters and Marks Weightage
Business Studies is the most evenly distributed Commerce paper. Functions of Management (22 marks) is the highest-weightage unit and covers Planning, Organising, Staffing, Directing, and Controlling — five chapters that are frequently tested through case-based questions. Nature and Significance of Management, Financial Management, and Marketing Management each carry 12 marks and together form a strong second tier.
| Unit | Key Topics | Marks Weightage | % of Paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functions of Management | Planning, Organising, Staffing, Directing, Controlling | 22 | 27.5% |
| Nature and Significance of Management | Nature, Importance and Characteristics of Management, Levels and Functions | 12 | 15% |
| Financial Management | Financial Management, Financial Markets | 12 | 15% |
| Marketing Management | Marketing, Marketing Mix | 12 | 15% |
| Principles of Management | Principles of Management, Taylor and Fayol | 10 | 12.5% |
| Business Environment | Business Environment | 6 | 7.5% |
| Financial Markets and Consumer Protection | Financial Markets, Consumer Protection | 6 | 7.5% |
| Total | — | 80 | 100% |
Preparation Tips for CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026
With limited time between the board result and the compartment exam, a targeted strategy based on chapter weightage is essential. The tips below are structured around the marks distribution covered in this article.
- Attack the highest-weightage unit first in every subject. For Maths, start with Calculus (35 marks). For Physics, start with Optics (14 marks). For Biology, start with Genetics and Evolution (18 marks). For Accountancy, start with Partnership Accounts (35 marks).
- Use the NCERT textbook as the primary resource. CBSE compartment questions are set directly from NCERT content. Solved examples, exercises, and miscellaneous questions in NCERT are sufficient to cover the majority of the paper.
- Practise previous year compartment exam papers. The question pattern in compartment exams closely mirrors the main board exam. Solving two to three previous year papers improves time management and highlights recurring question types.
- Allocate revision days proportional to marks weightage. If you have 20 days for Maths, spend at least 9 days on Calculus. Do not spend equal time on all chapters — the goal is to maximise marks per hour of study.
- In Chemistry, do not ignore the lower-weightage Organic chapters. While each chapter carries only 3 to 4 marks individually, the combined Organic Chemistry domain (Haloalkanes, Alcohols, Aldehydes, Amines, Biomolecules, Polymers) totals 25 marks — more than the entire p-Block unit.
- For Biology, master all key diagrams. CBSE consistently asks labelled diagrams from Reproduction, Biotechnology, and Ecology. A correctly drawn and labelled diagram can fetch full marks on a 3 or 5-mark question.
- Attempt all sections of the paper even if uncertain. CBSE compartment papers carry no negative marking. Leaving any question blank costs marks that could have been earned through partial credit or a correctly recalled point.
- Revise the overview and highlights for Business Studies the night before the exam. Case-based questions require students to identify the correct principle, function, or concept by name — a final read-through of definitions and examples prevents avoidable errors.
CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026 FAQs
Ques. Which chapter carries the most marks in CBSE Class 12 Maths compartment exam?
Ans. Calculus is the highest-weightage unit in CBSE Class 12 Mathematics, carrying 35 out of 80 marks. It includes five chapters: Continuity and Differentiability, Applications of Derivatives, Integrals, Applications of Integrals, and Differential Equations. Students preparing for the compartment exam should begin their Mathematics revision with this unit without exception.
Ques. What is the most important unit in CBSE Class 12 Physics for the compartment exam?
Ans. Optics is the most important unit in CBSE Class 12 Physics, carrying 14 out of 70 marks. It covers Ray Optics and Optical Instruments as well as Wave Optics. Following Optics, three units — Electrostatics, Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, and Electromagnetic Induction and AC — each carry 8 marks and are the next priority.
Ques. How many marks does p-Block Elements carry in the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry paper?
Ans. p-Block Elements carries 8 marks in the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry theory paper, making it the single highest-weightage unit in the subject. However, Organic Chemistry chapters collectively carry around 25 marks, so both Inorganic and Organic domains deserve significant revision time.
Ques. Which unit is most important in CBSE Class 12 Biology compartment exam?
Ans. Genetics and Evolution is the most important unit in CBSE Class 12 Biology, carrying 18 out of 70 marks. It includes chapters on Heredity and Variation, Molecular Basis of Inheritance, and Evolution. Three other units — Reproduction, Biology in Human Welfare, and Ecology and Environment — each carry 14 marks and form the second priority tier.
Ques. How much does Partnership Accounts carry in CBSE Class 12 Accountancy?
Ans. Partnership Accounts carries 35 out of 80 marks in CBSE Class 12 Accountancy — the highest weightage of any single unit across all Commerce subjects. It covers Partnership Fundamentals, Admission, Retirement, Death of a Partner, and Dissolution of a Partnership Firm. Mastering this unit alone can take a student from failing to passing the compartment exam.
Ques. What is the passing marks for CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026?
Ans. Students must score a minimum of 33% marks in each subject to pass the CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam 2026. For theory papers carrying 70 marks, this means at least 23 marks in theory. For papers carrying 80 marks, at least 27 marks in theory are required. Practical and internal assessment marks are added separately and also carry a 33% passing threshold.
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