CBSE Class 12 Physics Sample Papers 2026-27
Look closely at where CBSE places internal choice in the Class 12 Physics paper, and a pattern emerges that catches most students off guard: it is not spread evenly across the paper the way it is in some other subjects. Only 6 of the 33 questions carry any internal choice at all: two in Section B, one in Section C, and all three in Section E. Every other question, including all 16 marks of Section A and both case-based questions in Section D, is compulsory with no alternative. That concentration matters for how you revise: there is nowhere to hide from a weak topic in Sections A, B, C, or D, so breadth of preparation counts for more in Physics than it does in some other subjects.
Note: the sample papers below are not official CBSE sample papers. They have been created in-house by FutureTopper to give Class 12 Physics students focused, exam-style practice that follows the current CBSE blueprint, unit weightage, and question paper design exactly. Each paper comes with a fully worked answer key, so you can mark your own attempt and see exactly where marks were gained or lost.
CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern 2026-27
The current CBSE Physics (Code 042) question paper has 33 questions across five sections, worth 70 marks for the theory paper (the remaining 30 marks are for practicals). There is no overall choice, but internal choice is provided in two questions in Section B, one question in Section C, and all three questions in Section E.
Section | Question Type | No. of Questions | Marks Each |
A | MCQs and Assertion-Reason (12 MCQ + 4 A-R) | 16 | 1 |
B | Very Short Answer | 5 | 2 |
C | Short Answer | 7 | 3 |
D | Case-based | 2 | 4 |
E | Long Answer | 3 | 5 |
Total |
| 33 | 70 |
Calculators are not allowed, and the question paper itself lists the physical constants you are permitted to use (such as the speed of light, electronic charge, Planck's constant, and the permeability and permittivity of free space), so there is no need to memorise these values, only to know which formula needs which constant.
Download CBSE Class 12 Physics Sample Papers 2026-27
Each paper below is built to the exact CBSE Physics blueprint and comes with a complete, step-by-step marking scheme in the same PDF.
Sample Paper | Download Link |
Physics Sample Paper 1 (with Solutions) | |
Physics Sample Paper 2 (with Solutions) | |
Physics Sample Paper 3 (with Solutions) |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Unit-wise Weightage 2026-27
CBSE groups the Physics syllabus into five broad units for marks allocation, each spanning two or more chapters. No chapter-wise split is prescribed within a unit, so treat the marks below as a revision priority list across the chapters in that unit, not a guarantee of which specific chapter will appear.
Unit | Marks |
Electrostatics and Current Electricity | 16 |
Magnetic Effects of Current, Magnetism, EMI and AC | 17 |
Electromagnetic Waves and Optics | 18 |
Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter, Atoms and Nuclei | 12 |
Electronic Devices | 7 |
Total | 70 |
How to Prepare for CBSE Class 12 Physics
• Since Sections A and D allow no choice at all, do not skip any chapter, including the shorter ones like Electronic Devices (7 marks) or Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter. A single MCQ or case-based question from a topic you have skipped is a guaranteed, avoidable loss.
• Build a formula sheet organised by unit, but go further than listing formulas: note which physical constant each one needs (h, e, c, μ₀, ε₀) and the SI unit of every quantity involved. Since calculators are not allowed, fluency with clean substitution matters more than raw computation speed.
• Practise derivations on paper, not just by reading them. Long answer questions in Section E are almost entirely derivation-plus-numerical, and step marks are awarded for each stage of a derivation, not just the final formula.
• Redraw every circuit diagram and ray diagram from your textbook from memory until you can label it correctly without looking. Diagram-based questions (rectifiers, AC generators, ray diagrams for lenses, mirrors, and optical instruments) reappear every year and carry dedicated marks for a correctly labelled diagram.
• Keep a running log of sign convention mistakes, particularly in ray optics (Cartesian sign convention for mirrors and lenses) and electrostatics (direction of field and potential). These are the most common source of an otherwise correct numerical going wrong.
• Time yourself on the assertion-reason questions specifically. They often test a precise conceptual distinction (for example, order versus molecularity in kinetics-style reasoning, or field versus potential inside a conductor), and rushing them is a common source of lost marks despite strong overall preparation.
Tips to Score Well in CBSE Class 12 Physics
• Always state the formula first, then substitute values, then simplify step by step. Examiners award marks at each stage, so jumping straight to a final numerical answer forfeits marks even if that answer is correct.
• Write every numerical answer with its correct SI unit. A correct numerical value without a unit, or with an inconsistent unit, routinely loses a mark.
• For any question asking for a diagram (circuit, ray, or energy level diagram), draw it neatly with a ruler where applicable and label every part clearly. Diagram marks are awarded independently of the accompanying explanation.
• In the Section E long answer questions, skim both the 'attempt A or B' options before starting. Since all three Section E questions carry a choice, choosing the option that matches your stronger topic is worth the extra thirty seconds of reading.
• For assertion-reason questions, evaluate the Assertion and the Reason as two entirely separate statements first, and only then judge whether the Reason actually explains the Assertion. Do not let a true Reason talk you into marking a false Assertion as true, or vice versa.
• Attempt Section A first to bank the 16 straightforward marks quickly, then move to Sections B and C, keeping Section D and E for when you have settled into the paper, since these carry the most marks per question and reward a clear head.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these official CBSE sample papers?
No. These are sample papers created by FutureTopper, closely following the current CBSE Physics blueprint, exam pattern, and unit weightage. They are designed for practice and are not issued by CBSE.
Do the sample papers come with answer keys?
Yes. Every sample paper PDF includes a complete, step-by-step marking scheme immediately after the question paper.
How much internal choice is there in the CBSE Class 12 Physics paper?
There is no overall choice. Internal choice is limited to two questions in Section B, one question in Section C, and all three questions in Section E, a total of 6 of the 33 questions.
Are calculators allowed in the Class 12 Physics exam?
No. Calculators are not permitted. The question paper itself provides the values of physical constants you may need, so the emphasis is on knowing which formula to apply rather than on computation.
Is there negative marking in CBSE Class 12 Physics?
No. CBSE does not apply negative marking for incorrect answers in the Class 12 Physics board exam, including multiple choice questions.
Which unit carries the highest weightage in Class 12 Physics?
Electromagnetic Waves and Optics carries the highest weightage at 18 of the 70 theory marks, followed closely by Magnetic Effects of Current, Magnetism, EMI and AC at 17 marks.