The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts a theoretical and practical exam to determine if students have grasped the concepts of the syllabus. Through this article, students can understand more about the Class 12 Physics theory and practical syllabus, the weightage for different sections, and the evaluation pattern for 2021 to 2022.
Students are tested on the theoretical syllabus for 70 marks through a written exam. The practical exam includes an investigatory project, an activity, two experiments, presenting the record of the previously performed experiments, and a viva—these makeup for the remaining 30 marks available to the students. The practical examination varies for visually impaired students and does not involve any written report or an investigatory project.
The weightage to theory and practical portions of the syllabus is the same as last year for the subject. The following sections will explain more about the syllabus in detail.
Theory Syllabus of CBSE Class 12 Physics
The theory syllabus consists of nine units with a total of fourteen chapters. The table below lists all the units of the theory syllabus and unit wise marks weightage :
| Unit No. | Unit Name | Marks |
| Unit–I | Electrostatics | 16 |
| Chapter 1: Electric Charges and Fields | ||
| Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | ||
| Unit-II | Current Electricity | |
| Chapter 3: Current Electricity | ||
| Unit-III | Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | 17 |
| Chapter 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism | ||
| Chapter 5: Magnetism and Matter | ||
| Unit-IV | Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | |
| Chapter 6: Electromagnetic Induction | ||
| Chapter 7: Alternating Current | ||
| Unit–V | Electromagnetic Waves | 18 |
| Chapter 8: Electromagnetic Waves | ||
| Unit–VI | Optics | |
| Chapter 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | ||
| Chapter 10: Wave Optics | ||
| Unit–VII | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 12 |
| Chapter 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | ||
| Unit–VIII | Atoms and Nuclei | |
| Chapter 12: Atoms | ||
| Chapter 13: Nuclei | ||
| Unit–IX | Electronic Devices | 7 |
| Chapter–14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits | ||
| Total | 70 |
Summary of Theory Syllabus
Understanding the weightage assigned to different units in the syllabus is key to deciding how much time you should focus on each unit. Unit III (Magnetic effects of Current and Magnetism), Unit IV (Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents), Unit V (Electromagnetic Waves), and Unit VI (Optics) carry the highest weightage for a total of 35 marks. These units have seven chapters, which explore important concepts such as the laws of a magnetic field, electromagnets, magnetic movements, electromagnetic induction and waves, the reflection of light, and optical instruments.
Unit I (Electrostatics) and Unit II (Current Electricity) carry a combined weightage of 16 marks. Unit VII (Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter) and Unit VIII (Atoms and Nuclei) will get tested for a total of 12 marks. Unit IX (Electronic Devices) carries the minimum weightage of 7 marks.
Students should refer to the Physics, Class XII, Part I, and II textbook published by NCERT to learn and understand the theory syllabus.
Practical Syllabus of CBSE Class 12 Physics
The practical exam and evaluation carry a weightage of 30 marks. The following table shows weightage and details about the practical syllabus :
| Sr. No | Record/experiment details | Marks |
| 1 | Two experiments one from each section | 7+7 |
| 2 | Practical record [experiments and activities] | 5 |
| 3 | One activity from any section | 3 |
| 4 | Investigatory Project | 3 |
| 5 | Viva on experiments, activities and project | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
The CBSE website’s syllabus document lists different activities and experiments to be performed by students. The activities are listed under two sections – sections A and B. The syllabus document also has suggested topics for investigatory projects for the students.
On the practical exam day, the students have to carry a report of the investigatory project, a record of at least 12 experiments (six from each section), and at least six activities (3 each from section A and section B) that they have performed. The viva questions can be on either the report or any of the experiments or activities performed by the students. The students also receive marks for the two experiments and an activity they carry out on the exam day.
For visually impaired students, the Board examines differently. These students are expected to write a written test of 30 minutes, identify or be familiar with the apparatus, record performing at least five experiments listed by the Board, and answer questions in a viva. The CBSE’s syllabus document lists a separate list of ten experiments for visually challenged students. A writer may be allowed for such students as per the Board’s examination students.
The following table explains the weightage for practical exams for visually impaired students :
| Sr.no | Details | Marks |
| 1 | Identification/Familiarity with the apparatus | 5 |
| 2 | Written test (based on given/prescribed practicals) | 10 |
| 3 | Practical Record | 5 |
| 4 | Viva | 10 |
| Total | 30 |
Summary of Practical Syllabus
Students should refer to the Laboratory Manual of Physics for class XII published by NCERT for the practical syllabus.
The experiments involve using different instruments such as a galvanometer, concave mirror, or a convex lens for the practical exam. Students also learn to assemble the components of a given electrical circuit or observe the diffraction of light due to a thin slit. These and similar experiments and activities expose the learners to the processes used in Physics-related industrial and technological applications.
The practical activities and experiments related to the theoretical syllabus help strengthen the students’ conceptual understanding and get designed to enable students to develop process, investigatory and observational skills.
Frequently Asked Questions of CBSE Class 12 Physics
Q1. How much choice do students have while answering the theory exam?
Answer: Students have 33% internal choice in the theory exam. There is no overall choice in the paper. Internal choice means that for a particular question, you can answer either of the two options. You have to attempt only one choice in such questions.
Q2. Does the theory test include MCQs?
Answer: The theory paper has five sections. Section A of this paper includes ten short answer questions and four assertion reasoning MCQs. To understand more about assertion reasoning MCQs, you can access the ‘Sample Question Paper’ section of the CBSE website, which has question papers of previous years.
Q3. Does the weightage for marks vary for different parts of the theory syllabus?
Answer: Yes, some units have more weightage attached to them as compared to others. Refer to the weightage table in the theory section above to understand which areas need more focus due to higher marks weightage.
Q4. How does the Board ensure fair assessment for all students?
Answer: For theory exams, examiners assess the answers against a marking scheme determined and fixed by the Board. For practical examinations, the viva is to be conducted by an external examiner sent to the school. This practice eliminates the possibility of bias towards any students.
Q.5 – Does 70% weightage to theory mean more emphasis on recall/memorizing of facts and formulae?
Answer: While the theory exam has a higher weightage of 70%, only a part of the questions test students on exhibiting memory of facts, concepts, and terms. The majority of the questions in the theory question paper are designed to measure whether the student has understood these concepts and can apply, analyze and evaluate information based on these concepts. MCQs, case-based questions, and theoretical questions which test higher-order thinking skills help achieve this objective.