CBSE 12th Physics Exam Review: Balanced Paper With Tricky Numericals and Conceptual Questions

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the Class 12 Physics board exam today, February 21. The exam started at 10:30 am and ended at 1:30 pm. Students were given 15 minutes before the exam to read the question paper. This year, CBSE is conducting board exams for around 44 lakh students from 8,000 schools.

Student Reactions and Feedback

Students had mixed reactions to the CBSE Class 12 Physics paper, with most finding it moderately difficult to lengthy. The paper was well-balanced, incorporating a combination of theoretical and numerical questions. While the overall pattern remained similar to previous years, students noted that the numerical problems were slightly tricky. Time management played a crucial role, and those who had practised previous years' question papers found it easier to attempt all sections within the given time.

Praneel Munshi, a student from Shiv Nadar School, Noida, said, "The paper was well-balanced overall, though Set 3 was particularly concept-heavy. Managing time effectively was a challenge, as the depth of questions required thorough reasoning and application." Another student mentioned that the paper was lengthy and highly challenging, demanding both strong conceptual understanding and practical application. Surprisingly, the expected questions from Optics were absent, adding an unexpected twist to the assessment.

Priyal Arora, a Class 12 student from Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Ghaziabad, shared, "I think the paper was lengthy and time-consuming. The difficulty level of the MCQs was high, and one MCQ was from the deleted syllabus. The Section E questions were more challenging than expected, and the language of some questions was tough to comprehend."

Teachers’ Analysis

Teachers found the exam to be well-structured, covering all key topics in a balanced manner. The combination of theoretical and numerical questions tested both conceptual understanding and application skills. The case-based and assertion-reasoning questions required in-depth clarity of concepts, making them slightly tricky for students who relied solely on memorisation. However, all questions were based on the prescribed syllabus and followed the expected pattern.

Renuka Devi Kakarla, PGT Physics at Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad, shared her insights on the Class 12 Physics exam. She said that the paper ranged from moderate to difficult and was quite lengthy due to the presence of multiple sub-parts in some questions. High-scoring students found it challenging to secure 95+ marks. Among the different sets, SET 1 was comparatively easier, while SET 3 was more difficult. Sections A and E were relatively simpler, and a few Previous Year Questions were included. While some students found the paper manageable, many struggled to complete it on time. The exam required a strong conceptual understanding and efficient time management to perform well.

Meanwhile, Tushar Goel, PGT Physics from Silverline Prestige School, Ghaziabad, said that the Class 12 Physics paper effectively assessed students’ conceptual understanding and application skills. The paper covered a range of topics from the syllabus, incorporating a mix of conceptual questions, derivations, and numerical problems. It ensured that students could not rely on just a few sections, requiring them to have a well-rounded grasp of the subject.

Ragini Srivastava, PGT Physics at Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Ghaziabad, said, "Today’s Physics paper presented a solid challenge, offering a well-rounded test of both theoretical knowledge and problem-solving skills. The overall difficulty level was high, making it tough for average students. The Section E questions, which are usually easy to attempt, were slightly confusing. The MCQs were particularly difficult, and some questions from Sections B and C were from the deleted syllabus. The case study questions were of moderate to high difficulty. Overall, the paper was not easy to crack, and only students who had prepared very well would have been comfortable answering it."

Download CBSE Class 12 Physics Board Exam Question Paper 2025 Here

CBSE Class 12 Physics Paper Pattern and Marking Scheme

The Class 12 Physics exam consisted of five sections - A, B, C, D, and E, with a total of 33 questions. It was mandatory for students to attempt all questions. The marking scheme is as follows:

• Section A: 16 questions (12 multiple-choice questions and 4 assertion-reasoning questions), each carrying 1 mark. (16 marks)
• Section B: 5 questions, each worth 2 marks. (10 marks)
• Section C: 7 questions, each carrying 3 marks. (21 marks)
• Section D: 2 case study-based questions, each worth 4 marks. (8 marks)
• Section E: 3 long-answer questions, each carrying 5 marks. (15 marks)

CBSE Class 12 Physics Paper Unit-Wise Marking Scheme

The Physics paper covered different units with assigned marks:

Unit I: Electrostatics (16 marks)

• Electric Charges and Fields
• Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

• Current Electricity

• Moving Charges and Magnetism
• Magnetism and Matter

• Electromagnetic Induction
• Alternating Current

• Electromagnetic Waves

• Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
• Wave Optics

• Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

• Atoms
• Nuclei

• Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits