CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2027 (subject code 042) has nine units and 14 NCERT chapters. It carries 70 marks in theory and 30 marks in practicals. Students appearing in the 2027 board exam should download the official syllabus and plan revision unit by unit.
- The CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus 2027 has 9 units and 14 chapters from NCERT Physics Part I and Part II.
- The subject carries 100 marks: 70 marks for the 3-hour theory paper and 30 marks for the practical exam.
- Optics is the highest-scoring unit with about 14 out of 70 theory marks, followed by Magnetism with about 11 marks.
- The theory paper has 33 questions spread across five sections, A to E.
- The practical exam has two experiments, a record file, one activity, a project and a viva.
- The date sheet for the 2027 board exams is not yet released, and theory exams are expected to start in February 2027.
Also Check:
- CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2027: Marking Scheme, Passing Criteria, Subject-wise and Chapter-wise Pattern
- CBSE Class 12 Syllabus 2027: Download PDF Link, Topic-Wise Weightage, Question Pattern
- CBSE Class 12 Physics Marking Scheme 2026-27: Chapter-wise Weightage, Marks Distribution and Exam Pattern
Key Summary
- The CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus 2027 follows the 2026-27 curriculum published by CBSE.
- The subject has 9 units and 14 chapters from the NCERT Physics textbooks.
- Optics (about 14 marks) and Magnetism (about 11 marks) carry the highest weightage.
- The theory paper has 70 marks and the practical exam has 30 marks.
- Read NCERT line by line first, then solve the NCERT Exemplar and CBSE sample papers.
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2027: Overview
CBSE prescribes the Class 12 Physics syllabus for the 2026-27 academic session.
- The CBSE Physics curriculum is based on the NCERT textbooks.
- CBSE Physics syllabus tests concepts, numericals, and the application of physics to real situations.
- You should treat the NCERT Physics Part I and Part II textbooks as the base for every chapter.
- You need at least 33% in theory and in practicals to pass the subject.
- The paper is available in English and Hindi.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Board | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Subject and Code | Physics (042) |
| Class and Session | Class 12, 2026-27 (board exam 2027) |
| Total Marks | 100 (70 theory and 30 practical) |
| Theory Duration | 3 hours |
| Practical Duration | 3 hours |
| Number of Units | 9 |
| Number of Chapters | 14 (NCERT Part I and Part II) |
| Number of Theory Questions | 33 |
| Official Website | cbseacademic.nic.in |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2027
The CBSE Physics syllabus consist of 9 units and 14 chapters.
| Unit | Chapters Included | Marks Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Unit I: Electrostatics | • Ch 1: Electric Charges and Fields • Ch 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | 16 Marks |
| Unit II: Current Electricity | • Ch 3: Current Electricity | Part of Combined Group |
| Unit III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | • Ch 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism • Ch 5: Magnetism and Matter | 17 Marks (with Current Electricity) |
| Unit IV: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | • Ch 6: Electromagnetic Induction • Ch 7: Alternating Current | Part of Combined Group |
| Unit V: Electromagnetic Waves | • Ch 8: Electromagnetic Waves | 18 Marks (with Optics) |
| Unit VI: Optics | • Ch 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments • Ch 10: Wave Optics | 18 Marks (with EM Waves) |
| Unit VII: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | • Ch 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 12 Marks (with Atoms & Nuclei) |
| Unit VIII: Atoms and Nuclei | • Ch 12: Atoms • Ch 13: Nuclei | 12 Marks (with Dual Nature) |
| Unit IX: Electronic Devices | • Ch 14: Semiconductor Electronics : Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits | 7 Marks |
Unit I and II: Electrostatics and Current Electricity Syllabus
Units I and II together carry about 16 marks in the theory paper. They cover three chapters and form the base for the rest of electricity and magnetism.
- Spend extra time on Gauss's theorem, capacitors and Kirchhoff's rules because they appear in numericals almost every year.
Unit I: Electrostatics (about 10 marks)
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 1: Electric Charges and Fields | Electric charges, conservation and quantisation of charge, Coulomb's law, superposition principle, continuous charge distribution, electric field, field lines, electric flux, electric dipole, torque on a dipole, Gauss's theorem and its applications | About 5 marks |
| Ch 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | Electric potential, potential due to a point charge, dipole and system of charges, equipotential surfaces, potential energy, conductors and insulators, dielectrics and polarisation, capacitors, capacitance, series and parallel combinations, energy stored in a capacitor | About 5 marks |
Unit II: Current Electricity (about 6 marks)
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 3: Current Electricity | Electric current, drift velocity, mobility, Ohm's law, V-I characteristics, electrical energy and power, resistivity and conductivity, temperature dependence of resistance, internal resistance of a cell, potential difference and emf, combination of cells, Kirchhoff's rules, Wheatstone bridge, metre bridge | About 6 marks |
Use the NCERT "not for evaluation" markings to skip excluded portions. Chapter-wise marks are approximate and based on recent board paper patterns.
Also Check:
- Class 12 Physics NCERT Notes - Free PDF Download
- Class 12 Physics Chapterwise PYQs - Free PDF Download
Unit III and IV: Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and AC Syllabus
Units III and IV together carry about 17 marks. Magnetic effects of current alone carry about 11 marks. Moving Charges and Magnetism is one of the most scoring chapters, so practise every Biot-Savart and Ampere's law numerical.
Unit III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism (about 11 marks)
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 4: Moving Charges and Magnetism | Magnetic field, Oersted's experiment, Biot-Savart law, field due to a current loop, Ampere's law, solenoid, force on a moving charge, Lorentz force, motion in a uniform field, force on a current-carrying conductor, force between parallel currents, torque on a loop, moving coil galvanometer, conversion into an ammeter and voltmeter | About 5 to 6 marks |
| Ch 5: Magnetism and Matter | Bar magnet, magnetic field lines, magnetic dipole in a uniform field, Gauss's law for magnetism, Earth's magnetic field, magnetisation, paramagnetic, diamagnetic and ferromagnetic substances | About 5 to 6 marks |
Unit IV: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents (about 6 marks)
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 6: Electromagnetic Induction | Faraday's laws, induced emf and current, Lenz's law, motional emf, eddy currents, self-induction, mutual induction | About 4 marks |
| Ch 7: Alternating Current | Peak and RMS value of AC, reactance and impedance, LCR series circuit, resonance, power in an AC circuit, wattless current, AC generator, transformer | About 2 marks |
Alternating Current has the lowest weightage among the major chapters, but its formulas feed into the LCR numericals. Do not skip it.
Also Read: CBSE Class 12 Physics Notes: Chapterwise Formulas, Derivations & NCERT Solutions PDF
Unit V and VI: Electromagnetic Waves and Optics Syllabus
Units V and VI together carry about 18 marks, the highest block in the paper. Optics alone carries about 14 marks. Ray Optics and Optical Instruments is the single highest-weightage chapter, with about 10 marks reported.
Unit V: Electromagnetic Waves (about 4 marks)
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 8: Electromagnetic Waves | Displacement current, basic idea of electromagnetic waves, transverse nature, electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to gamma rays, uses of each region | About 4 marks |
Unit VI: Optics (about 14 marks)
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | Reflection, spherical mirrors, mirror formula, refraction, Snell's law, total internal reflection, optical fibres, refraction at spherical surfaces, thin lenses, lens maker's formula, power of a lens, combination of lenses, prism, dispersion, compound microscope, astronomical telescope | About 10 marks |
| Ch 10: Wave Optics | Wavefront, Huygens' principle, reflection and refraction using Huygens' principle, interference, Young's double slit experiment, fringe width, coherent sources, diffraction due to a single slit, width of the central maximum (qualitative) | About 4 marks |
Ray diagrams fetch easy marks in this unit. Practise lens and mirror diagrams until you can draw them without the textbook.
Unit VII to IX: Modern Physics and Electronic Devices Syllabus
Units VII to IX together carry about 19 marks. Dual Nature carries about 4 marks, Atoms and Nuclei about 8 marks and Electronic Devices about 7 marks. These chapters are short and mostly formula-based. You can score full marks here with a few days of focused revision.
Unit VII: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter (about 4 marks)
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Photoelectric effect, Hertz and Lenard's observations, Einstein's photoelectric equation, particle nature of light, matter waves, de Broglie relation | About 4 marks |
Unit VIII: Atoms and Nuclei (about 8 marks)
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 12: Atoms | Alpha-particle scattering experiment, Rutherford's model, Bohr model, energy levels, hydrogen spectrum | About 4 marks |
| Ch 13: Nuclei | Composition and size of the nucleus, mass-energy relation, mass defect, binding energy per nucleon, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion | About 4 marks |
Unit IX: Electronic Devices (about 7 marks)
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 14: Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits | Energy bands in solids, conductors, insulators and semiconductors, intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, p-n junction, forward and reverse bias, diode I-V characteristics, diode as a rectifier | About 7 marks |
CBSE Class 12 Physics 2027: Unit-wise Marks and Chapter-wise Weightage
The unit-wise marks below add up to 70. Optics, Magnetism and Electrostatics together carry about 35 marks, which is half of the theory paper. Use this table to decide where your revision hours should go.
| Unit | Chapters | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I: Electrostatics | Ch 1 and 2 | 10 |
| II: Current Electricity | Ch 3 | 6 |
| III: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | Ch 4 and 5 | 11 |
| IV: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | Ch 6 and 7 | 6 |
| V: Electromagnetic Waves | Ch 8 | 4 |
| VI: Optics | Ch 9 and 10 | 14 |
| VII: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | Ch 11 | 4 |
| VIII: Atoms and Nuclei | Ch 12 and 13 | 8 |
| IX: Electronic Devices | Ch 14 | 7 |
| Total | 70 |
Secondary sources report these marks for the 2025-26 pattern. The 2026-27 curriculum keeps the same 70-mark theory paper and nine units. Chapter-wise figures are approximate.
Top Scoring Chapters for Board Exam 2027
| Rank | Chapter or Unit | Why It Scores |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | About 10 marks, ray diagrams and formula-based numericals |
| 2 | Moving Charges and Magnetism | About 5 to 6 marks, derivations and numericals |
| 3 | Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | About 5 marks, capacitor combinations and energy |
| 4 | Electric Charges and Fields | About 5 marks, Gauss's theorem derivations |
| 5 | Semiconductor Electronics | About 7 marks, short theory and diagrams |
CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern and Question Paper Design
The theory paper has 70 marks and 33 questions. It runs for 3 hours. The paper has five sections, and every section tests a different question type.
| Section | Question Type | Questions | Marks Each | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Multiple choice questions | 16 | 1 | 16 |
| B | Very short answer | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| C | Short answer | 7 | 3 | 21 |
| D | Case-based questions | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| E | Long answer | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| Total | 33 | 70 |
The paper also follows a competency-based design. The table below shows the cognitive split reported for 2026-27.
| Competency Level | Marks | Share of Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Remembering and understanding | 27 | About 38% |
| Applying | 22 | About 32% |
| Analysing, evaluating and creating | 21 | About 30% |
About 62% of the paper tests application and higher skills, so rote learning of NCERT answers will not be enough.
Check:
CBSE Class 12 Physics Practical Syllabus 2027 (30 Marks)
The practical exam carries 30 marks and runs for 3 hours. The practical record needs at least 8 experiments and 6 activities, split equally between Section A and Section B. Your school also sets an investigatory project.
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Two experiments (one from each section, 7 marks each) | 14 |
| Practical record file | 5 |
| One activity from either section | 3 |
| Investigatory project and project file | 3 |
| Viva voce | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
Section A Experiments (Electricity and Magnetism)
- Find the resistivity of a wire using a V-I graph.
- Find the resistance of a wire using a metre bridge.
- Verify the laws of series and parallel combinations of resistors.
- Find the resistance of a galvanometer by the half-deflection method and its figure of merit.
- Convert a galvanometer into a voltmeter or an ammeter.
- Find the frequency of AC mains using a sonometer.
Section B Experiments (Optics and Electronics)
- Find the focal length of a concave mirror.
- Find the focal length of a convex mirror using a convex lens.
- Find the focal length of a convex lens using u-v or 1/u-1/v graphs.
- Find the focal length of a concave lens using a convex lens.
- Find the angle of minimum deviation of a prism.
- Find the refractive index of a glass slab using a travelling microscope.
- Find the refractive index of a liquid using a convex lens and a plane mirror.
- Draw the I-V characteristics of a p-n junction diode.
Your school sets the final experiment list, so confirm it with your physics teacher. The activities include using a multimeter, studying an LDR and identifying electronic components. Students with visual impairment follow a separate practical scheme.
Best Books for CBSE Class 12 Physics 2027
| Book Name | Author / Publisher | Why This Book |
|---|---|---|
| Physics Textbook Part I and Part II (Class 12) | NCERT | Base text for every chapter and the source of most board questions |
| Physics Exemplar Problems (Class 12) | NCERT | Application-based and higher-order questions |
| Concepts of Physics Vol 1 and Vol 2 | H.C. Verma, Bharati Bhawan | Strong concept building and graded problems |
| Understanding Physics (Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, Modern Physics) | D.C. Pandey, Arihant | Extra numericals for practice |
| CBSE Sample Papers and Previous Year Papers | CBSE and private publishers | Exam pattern practice and time management |
Also Check:
How to Download CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2027 PDF
Follow these steps to download the official CBSE Physics syllabus for 2026-27.
- Visit the CBSE Academic Unit website at cbseacademic.nic.in/curriculum_2027.html.
- Look for the "Curriculum for the Academic Year 2026-27" section.
- Open the Senior Secondary (Classes XI and XII) list and find Physics (042).
- Click on the Physics link. The PDF opens in a new tab.
- Press Ctrl + S (Windows) or Cmd + S (Mac) to save the PDF.
Related Links:
CBSE Class 12 Physics Preparation Tips 2027
Theory Preparation
- Read every NCERT chapter line by line before you open a reference book.
- Learn all derivations that carry 3 or 5 marks, such as Gauss's theorem and the lens maker's formula.
- Keep a one-page formula sheet for each unit and revise it weekly.
- Draw every ray diagram and circuit diagram by hand until it is neat and labelled.
Numerical Practice
- Solve all NCERT in-text and exercise numericals first.
- Move to the NCERT Exemplar for application-based problems.
- Write units and the final answer clearly, because step marking is common.
Practical Preparation
- Complete the record file early and keep the observation tables neat.
- Revise the viva questions for each experiment, including sources of error.
- Practise reading a screw gauge, vernier and travelling microscope.
Last-Month Strategy
- Solve at least 10 CBSE sample papers in exam conditions.
- Revise the high-weightage chapters first: Optics, Magnetism and Electrostatics.
- Practise case-based questions, because Section D tests application of a given passage.
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2027: FAQs
Ques. Is the CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus 2027 the same as last year?
Ans. The structure looks the same. The subject keeps 14 chapters, 70 theory marks and 30 practical marks. We could not find an official notice that adds a new chapter. Check the CBSE curriculum page for any update.
Ques. How many chapters are there in CBSE Class 12 Physics 2027?
Ans. The syllabus has 14 chapters grouped into 9 units. The chapters come from NCERT Physics Part I and Part II.
Ques. Which unit has the highest weightage in Class 12 Physics?
Ans. Optics has the highest weightage with about 14 marks. Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism follows with about 11 marks. Electrostatics comes next with about 10 marks.
Ques. How many marks are there in theory and practical for Physics?
Ans. The theory paper carries 70 marks and the practical carries 30 marks. The total is 100 marks. You need 33% in each part to pass.
Ques. Where can I download the CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus 2027 PDF?
Ans. Open cbseacademic.nic.in and go to the Curriculum 2026-27 page. Find Physics (042) in the senior secondary list and download the PDF.
Ques. Which are the most important chapters in Class 12 Physics?
Ans. Ray Optics and Optical Instruments carries the most marks. Moving Charges and Magnetism, Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance, and Electric Charges and Fields follow. Semiconductor Electronics is short and scoring.
Ques. Is NCERT enough for the CBSE Class 12 Physics board exam?
Ans. NCERT covers the full syllabus and most board questions come from it. Add the NCERT Exemplar and sample papers for numerical practice and application-based questions.
Ques. How many questions come in the Physics theory paper?
Ans. The paper has 33 questions in five sections. It has 16 MCQs, 5 very short answer and 7 short answer questions. It also has 2 case-based and 3 long answer questions.
Ques. Is Communication Systems in the Class 12 Physics syllabus 2027?
Ans. No. Communication Systems is not part of the 14-chapter syllabus. The last chapter is Semiconductor Electronics.
Ques. What does the Physics practical exam include?
Ans. It includes two experiments (14 marks) and a record file (5 marks). It also has one activity (3 marks), a project (3 marks) and a viva (5 marks). The total is 30 marks.
Ques. When will the CBSE Class 12 date sheet 2027 be released?
Ans. CBSE has not released it yet. Reports expect it by October or November 2026, with theory exams starting in February 2027. Follow cbse.gov.in for the official date.
Ques. How should I cover the Physics syllabus in the time left?
Ans. Finish NCERT in the first phase, then solve numericals unit by unit. Keep the last month for sample papers, derivations and practical viva revision. Start with Optics, Magnetism and Electrostatics.
Comments
Found 2 Comments
For the optics section in the CBSE class 12th, CBSE has allotted 18 marks. The number of questions has not been declared but there will be two chapters. These chapters are Chapter 9 - Ray Optics and Optical Instruments, and Chapter 10 - Wave Optics.
For more information, refer to this link: CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus - Theory Exam
The most difficult topics in CBSE XII Physics Syllabus are Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating, and Currents, Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter, and Ray Optics and Optical Instruments.
For more information, refer to this link: CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus - Theory Exam