CGBSE 12th Second Main 2026: Good Attempts in Chemistry for 70+

Students appearing for the CGBSE Class 12 Second Main Exam 2026 should aim to attempt at least 55 to 60 marks worth of questions in the Chemistry theory paper to comfortably score 70 marks or above overall.

The CGBSE Class 12 Chemistry paper carries 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practicals, totalling 100 marks. Since most students score between 24 and 28 out of 30 in practicals, a theory score of 42 to 46 marks is typically enough to cross the 70-mark milestone. However, targeting 50 or above in the theory paper gives a comfortable safety margin. The Second Main Exam 2026, scheduled for July 2026, follows the same syllabus and paper pattern as the first main examination.

• CGBSE Class 12 Chemistry total marks: 100 (Theory: 70 marks + Practical: 30 marks).
• Duration of theory paper: 3 hours.
• To score 70+ overall: target 45 to 50 marks in theory and 25 or above in practicals.
• Good attempts in theory paper: Attempt questions worth 55 to 60 marks with 85% or higher accuracy.
• Organic Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry carry maximum weightage in the theory paper.
• Prioritise 1-mark and 2-mark questions as they are quick and carry cumulative weight.

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CGBSE 12th Chemistry Exam Pattern 2026

The CGBSE Class 12 Chemistry theory paper is 70 marks and conducted for 3 hours. Questions are distributed across objective-type, short answer and long answer categories. The table below shows the general paper structure based on previous year CGBSE Class 12 Chemistry question papers:

The question paper pattern above is based on previous year CGBSE Class 12 Chemistry exam trends. Minor variations may appear in the Second Main Exam 2026.

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Good Attempts in CGBSE 12th Chemistry Theory Paper

Good attempts refer to the number of questions you answer with confidence to maximise your score without wasting time on uncertain answers. For the 70-mark Chemistry theory paper, attempting questions worth 55 to 60 marks with 85% accuracy translates to approximately 47 to 51 marks in theory. Combined with 25 to 28 marks from practicals, this gives 70 to 79 marks overall.

Section A (1-mark questions): Attempt all 10 questions. These cover basic definitions, formulae and factual recall. Making an educated guess on familiar topics is advisable. Target: 8 to 9 marks out of 10.

Section B (2-mark questions): These test conceptual understanding. Attempt 6 to 7 questions and skip those from topics you have not revised. Target: 10 to 12 marks out of 14.

Section C (3-mark questions): Attempt 5 to 6 questions. Focus on Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry questions as they tend to be more direct. Skip heavily numerical questions from unfamiliar topics. Target: 12 to 15 marks out of 21.

Section D (5-mark long answer questions): Each question typically offers an internal choice. Attempt 3 to 4 questions and select the option you are most confident about. Prioritise Electrochemistry, Coordination Compounds and Organic Chemistry. Target: 12 to 16 marks out of 25.

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Chapter-wise Priority Topics for CGBSE 12th Chemistry Second Main Exam

Not all chapters carry equal weight in CGBSE Class 12 Chemistry. Focusing on high-weightage chapters maximises your score even with limited preparation time. Below are priority chapters based on previous year CGBSE 12th Chemistry paper trends:

Chapter-wise marks shown above are based on previous year CGBSE Class 12 Chemistry paper trends. Actual distribution may vary in the Second Main Exam 2026.

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Tips to Score 70+ Marks in CGBSE 12th Chemistry Second Main Exam 2026

With focused preparation and a smart exam strategy, scoring 70 or above in CGBSE Class 12 Chemistry is achievable in the Second Main Exam. Follow these steps to optimise your performance:

1. Secure practical marks first: Practicals carry 30 marks and students typically score 24 to 28. Aiming for 26 or above reduces pressure on the theory paper considerably.
2. Prioritise Physical Chemistry numericals: Electrochemistry and Chemical Kinetics problems are formulaic. Practise 10 to 15 standard problems from each chapter to score full marks on those questions.
3. Memorise IUPAC names and named reactions for Organic Chemistry: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids, and Haloalkanes are high-yield chapters. Named reactions such as Aldol condensation and Cannizzaro reaction appear regularly.
4. Revise p-Block Elements and Coordination Compounds: Inorganic Chemistry accounts for approximately 18 to 22 marks. Memorise key properties, reactions and IUPAC names of coordination compounds thoroughly.
5. Attempt all 1-mark questions without skipping: Section A questions are quick and often straightforward. Skipping any is a direct loss of easy marks.
6. Use internal choices wisely in Section D: Read both options in each long answer question before choosing. Pick the option where you can write more accurately rather than the one that merely seems familiar.
7. Write balanced chemical equations with full conditions: State catalysts, temperature and physical states. Incomplete equations typically receive only partial credit.
8. Allocate time per section: Spend 20 to 25 minutes on Sections A and B, 35 to 40 minutes on Section C and 50 to 60 minutes on Section D. Reserve 10 minutes at the end for revision.