2. News
  3. News Details

CBSE Class XII paper pattern to change

Posted On: 06/02/2015      Updated On:
New Delhi: Changes in the pattern of question papers for the Class XII Central Board of Secondary Education exam, and a clear shift away from 'objective-type' questions to 'application-based' ones, will make it significantly harder to score this year.

The number of questions in subjects such as political science, economics, business studies and accountancy has been reduced; at the same time, the number of "long answer" questions has been increased and two-three markers reduced. And all of this, say teachers, became known when the sample papers came out.

"The number of questions has been reduced from 31 to 27 in political science. Now there are five one-mark and five two-mark questions instead of 10 of each," says Tania Joshi, principal, Indian School. "Children who are below average scored in these. Now there are more analytical questions. The marking will also be more subjective." "We got to know about the changes when the sample papers came in and those came very late this year—in November or December," says Joshi. The increased stress on long-answers will please college teachers—especially of the humanities and social sciences - but Joshi argues that bringing sudden changes also defeats the purpose of CCE (continuous comprehensive evaluation) which was to reduce stress.

The mathematics paper will carry 26 questions instead of 29; business studies, 25 questions instead of 30. More worryingly, there's "no choice in the six-mark long question". "There'd be a choice in every question before," says Pooja Bahl, head of the commerce department, also at the Indian School, "We got to know when the sample papers were released in December. But the circular saying there won't be a choice came in January," says Bahl. There is also a clear shift in emphasis from short-answer objective-type questions to the long analytical kind. "About half the questions in the accountancy sample paper tests candidates on their higher order thinking skills (HOTS). They are application-based or interdisciplinary and don't test the child on just understanding. In business studies, 60% to 70% of the paper is of this level," says Bahl adding, "Some students—already performing well—are enjoying them. But we're afraid they'll impact performance of students who take time to assimilate."

"We started uploading HOTS questions online every month after we got to know about the change," says Usha Kaul, economics teacher at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. The total number of questions has reduced from 32 to 29 in economics; there are eight six-markers now instead of six; and the number of one and three-markers has been reduced from 10 to eight in each case. They were able to incorporate the changes in their pre-board exams. "Only 20% of my students were able to score in the 90's so there certainly will be an impact," she says.

"Such changes are always based on the subject committee recommendations," says a CBSE official. Though schools maintain that changes were announced late, CBSE claims this information was available as part of "curriculum documents" for a year. The idea, explains the official, "is to de-emphasize rote-learning and move towards more exploratory and evaluative lessons".
More News
Top College for B.Sc. Airlines and Airport Management Program in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Stand at Lucknow airport for twenty minutes, and you'll see an entire career fair playing out in real time. Someone at the gate checking boarding passes. Someone at the counter smoothing over a missed connection. Someone on the tarmac making sure the...
Posted On: 01/08/2026
Read more
AP EAMCET 2026 Counselling: Phase 1 Revised Schedule Released, Check Details
AP EAMCET 2026 Counselling: The Round 1 seat allotment result will be announced on August 9. Candidates allotted seats will have to report to their respective institutes between August 10 and August 15.   AP EAMCET 2026 Counselling: The A...
Posted On: 31/07/2026
Read more
GD Goenka University Achieves NCVET Awarding Body Status, Marking a New Milestone in Skill-Based Higher Education
Gurugram (Haryana) [India], July 29: GD Goenka University has been recognised by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) as an Awarding Body (AB-Standard), marking a significant milestone in the University's commitment to a...
Posted On: 30/07/2026
Read more
The TG EAPCET 2026 final phase counselling registration and slot booking begins on July 31, 2026
The TG EAPCET 2026 counselling process will be conducted online by the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) after the declaration of results. It is a crucial step for candidates seeking admission into Engineering, A...
Posted On: 30/07/2026
Read more
NEET PG 2026 Application Correction Window Closes Today, Exam On August 30
NEET PG 2026 Application Correction: Candidates can edit any information or upload revised documents, except their name, nationality, email ID, mobile number, Aadhaar details, correspondence address, and test state preferences. NEET PG 2026 Applicat...
Posted On: 29/07/2026
Read more
Prosperity of a Nation Can Be Linked to the Number of Ph.D.s": Padma Vibhushan Prof. M. M. Sharma Inspires NMIMS Ph.D. Batch 2026
"Prosperity of a Nation Can Be Linked to the Number of Ph.D.s": Padma Vibhushan Prof. M. M. Sharma Inspires NMIMS Ph.D. Batch 2026 ~Padma Vibhushan Prof. M. M. Sharma calls on young researchers to pursue passion, perseverance and original thinking a...
Posted On: 28/07/2026
Read more
JEECUP Counselling 2026: Round 4 Choice Filling Begins, Seat Allotment on July 30
JEECUP Counselling 2026 Round 4 choice filling has started. Candidates can submit their college and course choices till July 29. Seat allotment is on July 30. JEECUP Counselling 2026: The Joint Entrance Examination Council, Uttar Pradesh, has s...
Posted On: 28/07/2026
Read more
BITSAT Counselling 2026: Hostel Fee Payment Link Open, Check Reporting Instructions
BITS Pilani has opened the BITSAT Counselling 2026 hostel fee payment link and released reporting instructions. Check the required documents here. The Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, has started the BITSAT Counselling 2026 hostel ...
Posted On: 27/07/2026
Read more
UGC NET June 2026 Answer Key Live: Response Sheet Soon, Here's What Candidates Need To Know
UGC NET Answer Key 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the UGC NET June 2026 provisional answer key soon on its official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in. More than two weeks after the examination concluded, candidates are s...
Posted On: 25/07/2026
Read more
IISER 2026 Seat Allotment Result For Round 1 Today: Here's How To Download
IISER will release the Round 1 seat allotment result today. Candidates can check their allotted institute online and complete admission within the deadline. The IISER 2026 Seat Allotment for Round 1 is scheduled to be released today, July 24, 2026. ...
Posted On: 24/07/2026
Read more
View all

Top Universities/Colleges