CBSE CLASS XII Latest Updates
26 Sep, 2025 CBSE Class 12 Previous Year Papers with solutions PDF are available here for free. Download Here
The CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus 2025–2026 has been made available on the official website: cbseacademic.nic.in. The CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus is divided into two parts: Theory (70 marks) and Practical (30 marks). The 30 marks are divided into four components, such as Experiments, Practical Record, Investigatory Project, and VIVA & Activities.
- Experiments, record work, investigatory projects, vivas, and activities are all included in the practical test.
- With chapters and subtopics, the CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus theory paper covers nine main units.
- The CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus is meant to help students become ready for both competitive exams (JEE/NEET) and board exams.
The full Class Physics syllabus 2025–2026 is included in this post, together with chapter-by-chapter weighting, key points, omitted passages, useful information, study advice, and solved test questions to help you do well in class.
Key Summary
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This article covers the complete CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus 2025–26, including theory, practicals, important topics, deleted portions, and preparation tips.
- Physics CBSE class 12 exam has two parts: theory and practicals.
- Class 12 Physics syllabus is divided into 9 units with 14 chapters.
- Practicals include 14 experiments, multiple activities, record work, an investigatory project, and a viva.
- Important derivations, key numericals, and repeated questions are given for easy scoring.
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Theory Syllabus 2025
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Practical Syllabus 2025
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Chapter-Wise Questions
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Important Topics
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Deleted Syllabus 2025
- Numerical Problem-Solving Strategies
- Best Books for CBSE Class 12 Physics
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus: Unit-Wise Study & Time Management Plan
- Preparation Tips for CBSE Class 12 Physics Students
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Previous Year Paper (Solved PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions
CBSE Class 12 Physics Theory Syllabus 2025
The CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2025 has been made to cover all important topics from 9 units, so students can be well prepared for board and competitive exams. In this 12th Physics syllabus, chapters and key points are organized to make learning easier.
| Unit | What You Will Study | Chapters | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1: Electrostatics | All about charges and electric fields | Ch-1: Electric Charges & Fields Ch-2: Electrostatic Potential & Capacitance | Coulomb’s Law, Electric Field & Dipole, Gauss’s Theorem, Potential, Capacitors & Energy stored in them |
| Unit 2: Current Electricity | How does the current flow and behave | Ch-3: Current Electricity | Drift Velocity, Ohm’s Law, Resistivity, Kirchhoff’s Rules, Wheatstone Bridge, Cells in series & parallel |
| Unit 3:Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | Magnetic fields and their effects | Ch-4: Moving Charges & Magnetism Ch-5: Magnetism & Matter | Biot–Savart Law, Ampere’s Law, Force on charges & conductors, Galvanometer, Bar Magnet, Magnetic Materials |
| Unit 4: EMI & AC | Electromagnetic induction and alternating currents | Ch-6: Electromagnetic Induction Ch-7: Alternating Current | Faraday’s Law, Lenz’s Law, Self & Mutual Induction, RMS/Peak Value, LCR Circuit, Resonance, Transformer, AC Generator |
| Unit 5: Electromagnetic Waves | How EM waves work and their uses | Ch-8: Electromagnetic Waves | Displacement Current, Properties of EM Waves, Spectrum & Applications |
| Unit 6: Optics | Light and its behaviour | Ch-9: Ray Optics Ch-10: Wave Optics | Reflection, Refraction, Lenses & Prism, Optical Fibre, Telescope & Microscope, Interference, Diffraction (Young’s Experiment) |
| Unit 7: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Light as wave & particle | Ch-11: Dual Nature of Radiation & Matter | Photoelectric Effect, Einstein’s Equation, Matter Waves, de Broglie Relation |
| Unit 8: Atoms & Nuclei | Structure of an atom & nucleus | Ch-12: AtomsCh-13: Nuclei | Rutherford & Bohr Models, Hydrogen Spectrum, Nuclear Force, Mass Defect, Binding Energy, Fission & Fusion |
| Unit 9: Electronic Devices | Basics of semiconductors | Ch-14: Semiconductor Electronics | Energy Bands, p-n Junction, Diode Characteristics, Rectifier Applications |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus: Unit-Wise Topics with Marks Distribution
In the CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus, marks are shared for each unit so students know which topics are more important and need more attention.
| Unit No. | Unit Name | Chapters | Allotted Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Electrostatics | Electric Charges and Fields | 16 |
| Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | |||
| Unit 2 | Current Electricity | Current Electricity | |
| Unit 3 | Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | Moving Charges and Magnetism | 17 |
| Magnetism and Matter | |||
| Unit 4 | Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Current | Electromagnetic Induction | |
| Alternating Current | |||
| Unit 5 | Electromagnetic Waves | Electromagnetic Waves | 18 |
| Unit 6 | Optics | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | |
| Wave Optics | |||
| Unit 7 | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 12 |
| Unit 8 | Atoms and Nuclei | Atoms | |
| Nuclei | |||
| Unit 9 | Electronic Devices | Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits | 07 |
| Total | 70 | ||
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus: Important Derivations in Each Unit
Some derivations from CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus are more important for the board exams. If a student learns these key derivations from each chapter, it becomes much easier to score good marks.
| Unit | Important Derivations You Should Practice |
|---|---|
| 1. Electrostatics |
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| 2. Current Electricity |
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| 3. Magnetic Effects of Current & Magnetism |
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| 4. Electromagnetic Induction & AC |
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| 5. Electromagnetic Waves | No heavy derivations here, just the basic idea from Maxwell’s equations (how EM waves are produced). |
| 6. Optics |
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| 7. Dual Nature of Matter &Radiation |
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| 8. Atoms & Nuclei |
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| 9. Electronic Devices |
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Also Read
CBSE Class 12 Physics Practical Syllabus 2025
The Physics CBSE class 12 practicals carry 30 marks. The practical syllabus is divided into two sections –
- Section A (Experiments with electricity and magnetism)
- Section B (Optics and electronics experiments).
- Along with these, there are also some activities you need to perform.
Section A (Experiments with Electricity & Magnetism)
- Find the resistivity of 2 or 3 wires by plotting a graph of potential difference vs. current.
- Use a meter bridge to find the resistance of a given wire or standard resistor.
- Verify the laws of combination of resistors (series or parallel) with a metre bridge.
- Determine the resistance of a galvanometer using the half-deflection method and also find its figure of merit.
- Convert a galvanometer into a voltmeter or an ammeter of a desired range and verify it.
- Find the frequency of the AC mains using a sonometer.
Section B (Experiments with Optics & Semiconductors)
- Find the focal length of a concave mirror by plotting–u-v graph.
- Use a convex lens to find the focal length of a convex mirror.
- Find the focal length of a convex lens by plotting graphs between u & v (or 1/u & 1/v).
- Use a convex lens to determine the focal length of a concave lens.
- Plot a graph of angle of incidence vs. angle of deviation to find the angle of minimum deviation in a prism.
- Find the refractive index of a glass slab using a travelling microscope.
- Find the refractive index of a liquid using (i) a convex lens & plane mirror, or (ii) a concave mirror & plane mirror.
- Draw the I-V characteristics of a p–n junction diode in forward and reverse bias.
CBSE Class 12 Physics Activities
In CBSE Class 12 Physics, practical activities are included so that concepts can be understood better. These activities carry marks in the exams, so doing them carefully can increase your score.
| Activity | What you do |
|---|---|
| Measure resistance & impedance of an inductor | Check values with/without an iron core |
| Use a multimeter | Measure resistance, voltage (AC/DC), current (AC), and check circuit continuity |
| Assemble a household circuit | Connect 3 bulbs, 3 switches, a fuse & a power source |
| Assemble components of a given circuit | Arrange parts correctly to complete the circuit |
| Study the potential drop in a wire | See how the potential drop changes with the wire length |
| Correct an open circuit diagram | Find the wrong connections and redraw properly |
| Identify diode, LED, resistor & capacitor | Pick out the correct components from a mixed collection |
| Use a multimeter with a diode/LED | Test unidirectional current flow & working condition |
| Study the effect of light intensity on LDR | Vary the distance of the light source and note the response |
| Observe refraction in a glass slab | Check the bending and lateral shift of light |
| Observe the diffraction of light | Pass light through a thin slit and observe the pattern |
| Study image formation | Use a convex lens/concave mirror + candle & screen |
| Combine two lenses | Obtain a lens combination with the required focal length |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus: Practical Exam Marking Scheme
The chart below shows how marks are divided in the CBSE Class 12 Physics practical exam. It helps you understand which part carries how many marks.
| Components | Marks |
|---|---|
| Two Experiments | 14 |
| Activities | 2 |
| Practical Notebook | 7 |
| Investigatory Project | 3 |
| Viva voce | 4 |
| Total | 30 |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
The CBSE Class 12 Physics exam is divided into two parts- theory and practical.
| Section | Marks | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Theory Paper | 70 |
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| Practical Exam | 30 |
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| Total | 100 | Final score = Theory + Practical |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Chapter-Wise Questions
CBSE releases the weightage unit-wise, but below is the chapter-wise weightage based on the previous year trends of the CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus.
| Chapters number | Chapters Name | Allotted Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Electric Charges and Fields | 4 |
| Chapter 2 | Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | 6 |
| Chapter 3 | Current Electricity | 6 |
| Chapter 4 | Moving Charges and Magnetism | 5 |
| Chapter 5 | Magnetism and Matter | 3 |
| Chapter 6 | Electromagnetic Induction | 3 |
| Chapter 7 | Alternating Current | 6 |
| Chapter 8 | Electromagnetic Waves | 3 |
| Chapter 9 | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | 9 |
| Chapter 10 | Wave Optics | 6 |
| Chapter 11 | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 5 |
| Chapter 12 | Atoms | 3 |
| Chapter 13 | Nuclei | 4 |
| Chapter 14 | Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits | 7 |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Important Topics
Some topics from each chapter are asked again and again in exams. The table below shows the important topics according to CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus that you should definitely focus on.
| Chapters | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 |
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| Chapter 2 |
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| Chapter 3 |
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| Chapter 4 |
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| Chapter 5 |
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| Chapter 6 |
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| Chapter 7 |
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| Chapter 8 |
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| Chapter 9 |
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| Chapter 10 |
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| Chapter 11 |
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| Chapter 12 |
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| Chapter 13 |
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| Chapter 14 |
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CBSE Class 12 Physics Deleted Syllabus 2025
The CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus has been reduced by 30%, and some chapters and topics have been removed. The list of deleted topics is given below.
| Chapters | Deleted Topics |
|---|---|
| Electric Charge and Fields | Charging by Induction |
| Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | Van de Graaff Generator |
| Current Electricity | Combination of Resistors– series and parallel, Meter Bridge, Potentiometer |
| Moving Charges and Magnetism | Velocity Selector, Cyclotron, The Toroid, Motion in Combined Electric and Magnetic Field |
| Magnetism and Matter | Earth’s Magnetism, Permanent Magnets and Electromagnets |
| Electromagnetic Induction | Energy Consideration, Eddy Currents |
| Alternating Current | LC Oscillations |
| Electromagnetic Waves | Nature of Electromagnetic Waves – about the ether |
| Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | Refraction – advanced sunrise and delayed sunset, Mirage, Diamond, Some Natural Phenomena due to Sunlight, Rainbow, Scattering of Light |
| Wave Optics | Interference of Light Waves and Young’s Experiment – deleted derivation, expression for fringe width, Diffraction – only qualitative treatment retained, Resolving Power of Optical Instruments, Validity of Ray Optics, Polarisation of Scattering, Polarisation by Reflection |
| Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Davisson and Germer Experiment |
| Nuclei | Radioactivity |
| Semiconductor Electronics | Special Purpose of p-n Junction Diodes, Junction Transistor, Digital Electronics and Logic Gates, Integrated Circuits |
Numerical Problem-Solving Strategies
Numericals in Physics may seem tough at first, but a few simple strategies can make them easy to handle.
Tricks to Solve Physics Numericals Quickly
- Read the question slowly
- Write down the known values
- Pick the right formula
- Solve one step at a time
- Check your answer again
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Exams
- Reading the question too fast and missing details
- Forgetting to write units with answers
- Skipping steps in calculations
- Mixing up formulas
- Writing messy or unclear diagrams
- Leaving questions unanswered or half-done
- Spending too much time on one question
Best Books for CBSE Class 12 Physics
NCERT Physics books are the most important because they cover the entire CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus clearly and help you prepare well for exams.
Here are some books that can help students in their preparation:
- Physics, Class XI, Part I & II – NCERT
- Physics, Class XII, Part I & II – NCERT
- Laboratory Manual of Physics for Class XII – NCERT
- Other related NCERT books and manuals
- You can also take help from multimedia resources.
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus: Unit-Wise Study & Time Management Plan
Planning your study and managing time wisely can make a huge difference. Here’s a simple strategy for preparing Physics
| Plan | What to do |
|---|---|
| Unit-Wise Study & Time Management |
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| 3-Month Preparation Strategy |
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| 1-Month Crash Course Plan |
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| Last-Week Smart Revision Strategy |
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Preparation Tips for CBSE Class 12 Physics Students
Here are some quick and effective tips to help you prepare for Class 12 Physics.
- Practice numericals daily – they form most of the paper.
- Focus on important derivations like Gauss’s Law, Snell’s Law, and the Magnetic Field.
- Start with the chapters you find most important: Optics, AC, EM Waves, Electrostatics, Magnetism, and Current Electricity.
- Keep short notes and formulas ready for quick revision.
- Solve past year papers to see which topics are asked most.
CBSE Class 12 Physics Previous Year Paper (Solved PDF)
The links to download Class 12 Physics Question Paper 2024 with the answer key are provided below:
| Subject | Paper Code | Question Paper PDF | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | Set 1- 55/1/1 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 2- 55/1/2 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 3- 55/1/3 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 1- 55/2/1 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 2- 55/2/2 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 3- 55/2/3 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 1- 55/3/1 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 2- 55/3/2 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 3- 55/3/3 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 1- 55/4/1 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 2- 55/4/2 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 3- 55/4/3 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 1- 55/5/1 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 2- 55/5/2 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| Physics | Set 3- 55/5/3 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques: What is the hardest part of Physics?
Ans: According to CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus the hardest parts of Physics are generally considered to be Numericals and Derivations, as both understanding and practice are required. Topics such as Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects, AC & EM Waves, and Ray/Wave Optics are often found tricky by students. These topics can be made much easier to handle with regular practice and focus on key formulas and derivations.
Ques: Is CBSE paper tough in 2025?
Ans: The CBSE Class 12 Physics paper in 2025 was considered a bit tough. Both easy and tricky questions, especially numericals and application-based ones, were included. Students who practiced well and managed their time were able to attempt it, but some questions were still found challenging.
Ques: How many books of physics are in class 12?
Ans: For the CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus there are mainly two NCERT Physics books:
- NCERT Physics Part I
- NCERT Physics Part II
- Laboratory Manual for Class 12 Physics
Ques: How many practicals are in physics class 12?
Ans: Only 1 practical exam is conducted separately for 30 marks.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
Comments
Found 2 Comments
For the optics section in the CBSE class 12th, CBSE has allotted 18 marks. The number of questions has not been declared but there will be two chapters. These chapters are Chapter 9 - Ray Optics and Optical Instruments, and Chapter 10 - Wave Optics.
For more information, refer to this link: CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus - Theory Exam
The most difficult topics in CBSE XII Physics Syllabus are Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating, and Currents, Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter, and Ray Optics and Optical Instruments.
For more information, refer to this link: CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus - Theory Exam