CBSE Class 12 Maths board exam 2026: A complete preparation guide

Let me guess, you opened this article because somewhere in your mind, there is a small fear about Maths. Maybe you are doing okay in other subjects, but Maths feels different. The formulas are too many. The problems are too long. And every time you sit down to study, you do not know where to start.

If that sounds like you, take a breath. You are not alone.

I have been teaching Class 12 Maths for over 10 years now, and I can tell you this — the students who struggle are usually not weak in Maths. They just do not have a clear plan. They study random chapters, skip the “hard” ones, and then panic in January when the exam is near.

This guide is going to change that for you.

By the end of this article, you will know exactly:

• Which chapters carry the most marks (so you can prioritize)
• Which chapters are easy to score in (yes, some chapters are genuinely easier)
• A realistic month-by-month study plan that actually works
• The common mistakes that cost students 10-15 marks every year

Ready? Let us start from the basics.

First things first, understand the exam pattern

Before you start preparing, you need to know what you are preparing for. Here is what the CBSE Class 12 Maths exam looks like:

The question paper is divided into different sections based on marks:

Here is what most students miss: the 20 MCQs in Section A are the easiest marks in the paper. If you prepare well, you can finish them in 25-30 minutes and score full 20 marks. That is 25% of your paper done in less than 20% of the time.

Chapter-wise marks distribution, know where to focus

This is the most important table in this entire guide. Read it carefully.

Not all chapters are equal. Some carry more marks, some are easier to score. Your job is to be smart about where you spend your time.

Look at the numbers. Calculus alone is 35 marks — that is nearly half the theory paper. You simply cannot ignore it. But here is the thing — Calculus is not as hard as people make it sound. It just needs consistent practice.

Let us talk about Calculus (because everyone is scared of it)

I know what you are thinking, “Ma’am, Calculus is so tough.” I hear this every year. And every year, I tell my students the same thing:

Calculus is not tough. It is long. There is a difference.

Tough means you cannot understand it, no matter how hard you try. Long means it takes time and practice to get comfortable. Calculus falls in the second category.

Here is how those 35 marks are divided:

See that? Integration alone can give you 12-15 marks. If there is one topic you should never skip, it is this. Learn all the methods — substitution, partial fractions, by parts, and the standard formulas. Practice at least 50-60 integration problems before the exam.

The easy marks — chapters you should finish first

Now let me tell you something that might surprise you.

There are some chapters in Class 12 Maths that are actually easy. Like, genuinely easy. You can master them in a few days and they will give you guaranteed marks in the exam.

Here they are:

1. Linear Programming (5 marks)

This is the easiest chapter in the entire syllabus. I am not exaggerating.

Why is it easy?

• Only graphical method questions come in board exam
• The steps are fixed — form equations, draw graph, find corner points, check maximum/minimum
• If you can draw a straight line and shade a region, you can do this chapter

My suggestion: Finish Linear Programming in the first 3-4 days of your serious preparation. Once it is done, you have 5 marks in your pocket. No stress.

2. Probability (8 marks)

Probability feels confusing at first, but once you understand the basic concepts, it becomes very predictable. The questions follow patterns.

Focus on these topics:

• Conditional probability — P(A|B) type questions
• Bayes’ Theorem — this comes almost every year
• Probability distribution — finding mean

Pro tip: For Bayes’ Theorem questions, always draw a tree diagram. It makes the solution visual and you are less likely to make mistakes.

3. Vectors (6 marks) and 3D Geometry (8 marks)

I am putting these together because they are connected. Once you understand vectors, 3D Geometry becomes much easier.

Why students find these chapters easier:

• The formulas are straightforward — dot product, cross product, direction cosines
• Questions are mostly direct application of formulas
• If you can visualize 3D space in your mind, these chapters become intuitive

Together, Vectors and 3D Geometry give you 14 marks. That is more than Relations and Functions (8 marks), and honestly, these are easier to prepare.

Month-by-month study plan (realistic and practical)

I am going to give you a study plan that actually works. Not one of those fancy schedules that look good on paper but nobody can follow.

This plan assumes you are starting serious preparation from November. If you are starting earlier, even better — you will have more time for revision.

November — Build your foundation

By the end of November, you should have 27 marks worth of chapters completely done. This gives you confidence.

December — Attack the heavy chapters

January — Complete and practice

February — Revise and practice papers

By now, your syllabus should be complete. This month is all about:

• Solving at least 10 previous year papers (2020-2025)
• Solving CBSE official sample paper for 2026
• Revising formulas every single day (15 minutes in morning)
• Focusing on your weak chapters based on paper performance

Mistakes that cost students marks every year

After checking hundreds of board answer sheets over the years, I have noticed the same mistakes happening again and again. Here are the ones you must avoid:

1. Not showing steps properly

This is the biggest mistake. Students write the answer directly without showing how they got there. In board exams, marks are given for steps, not just the final answer. Even if your answer is wrong but your method is correct, you can get 70-80% marks for that question.

2. Spending too much time on one question

I have seen students spend 20-25 minutes on a single tough question. Then they run out of time and leave easy questions unanswered. This is a terrible strategy. If you are stuck on a question for more than 8-10 minutes, mark it and move on. Come back to it later if you have time.

3. Ignoring NCERT

Some students buy expensive reference books and ignore NCERT. Big mistake. More than 90% of board questions come directly from NCERT or are small variations of NCERT problems. If you solve every example and exercise in NCERT, you have already done most of your preparation.

4. Messy presentation and no diagrams

Your answer sheet is being checked by a tired examiner who has hundreds of papers to evaluate. If your handwriting is messy and your work is scattered everywhere, they will get frustrated. Neat presentation matters. And wherever a diagram is possible — in Linear Programming, 3D Geometry, Application of Derivatives — always draw it. Diagrams make your solution clear and can save you from losing marks.

5. Leaving questions blank

Never, ever leave a question completely blank. Even if you do not know the full solution, write whatever you know — the formula, the first step, a diagram. You might get 1-2 marks for partial work. Those marks add up.

6. Not practicing case study questions

Case study questions are worth 12 marks (3 questions × 4 marks each). Many students ignore them because they seem “different.” But they are not that hard — they just require you to read carefully and apply basic concepts. Practice at least 15-20 case study questions before the exam.

Some honest advice from my 10+ years of teaching

I want to end this guide with some things I wish someone had told me when I was a student:

Maths is not about talent. It is about practice.

I have taught students who thought they were “bad at Maths” and watched them score 95+ in boards. The only difference between them and others was that they practiced consistently. Not for 10 hours a day — just 2-3 hours of focused, honest practice.

Do not study when you are exhausted.

A tired brain cannot learn Maths properly. If you are sleepy or burnt out, take a break. Go for a walk. Sleep early. One hour of alert study is worth more than three hours of drowsy reading.

Ask for help when you are stuck.

Do not waste days trying to figure out a concept on your own if you are genuinely confused. Ask your teacher. Ask a friend who understands. Watch a good explanation video. Getting unstuck quickly means you can move forward with your preparation.

Trust the process.

There will be days when you feel like you are not improving. That is normal. Learning is not always visible day-to-day. But if you are putting in honest work, you are getting better — even when it does not feel like it. Keep going.

Frequently asked questions

Let me answer some questions that students ask me every year:

What is the passing marks for Class 12 Maths?

You need 33 marks out of 100 to pass (this includes both theory and internal assessment). For the theory paper alone, you need minimum 27 marks out of 80. But honestly, if you are reading this guide, I am sure you are aiming much higher than just passing.

Which is the easiest chapter in Class 12 Maths?

Linear Programming. Without doubt. It is only 5 marks, the method is straightforward, and questions follow a fixed pattern. Most students can master it in 3-4 days of focused practice.

How many hours should I study Maths daily?

2-3 hours of focused practice is enough for most students. The key word is “focused” — no phone, no distractions, full concentration. Quality matters more than quantity. If you can only manage 1.5 hours but those 1.5 hours are completely focused, that is fine too.

Is Class 12 Maths very difficult?

It is more challenging than Class 10, yes. But “difficult” is relative. If your Class 11 basics are weak — especially in Calculus — then Class 12 will feel hard. But with proper guidance and regular practice, most students find it manageable. The chapters are logical; they just need time to sink in.

Which book should I study from?

NCERT. Full stop. For board exams, NCERT is more than enough. Solve all examples, all exercises, all miscellaneous problems. If you want extra practice after completing NCERT, you can try NCERT Exemplar. Reference books like RD Sharma are helpful but not necessary for boards.

Can I score 90+ if I am average in Maths?

Absolutely yes. Board exams test preparation, not intelligence. I have seen many “average” students score above 90% because they prepared strategically. Follow this guide, practice consistently, and there is no reason you cannot do it too.

Should I solve previous year papers?

Yes, definitely. Solve at least the last 5 years’ board papers. You will notice that certain types of questions repeat every year. This also helps you understand the difficulty level and manage your time during the actual exam.

Quick summary, save this for later

If you remember nothing else from this guide, remember these points:

1. Calculus is 35 marks — give it the most time, but do not start with it. Build confidence with easier chapters first.
2. Linear Programming, Probability, Vectors, and 3D Geometry are your easy scoring chapters (27 marks total). Finish these early.
3. NCERT is your best friend. More than 90% of board questions come from it.
4. Show all your steps in the exam. Marks are given for method, not just answer.
5. Practice at least 10 previous year papers before the exam.
6. Never leave a question blank. Write something — even partial work gets marks.

All the best for your preparation. Remember — with a clear plan and consistent effort, you can do this.

— Ritu Goyal

Founder, Ritu Mathematics Classes