The Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE ) Class 12 Maths exam concluded today, March 9, 2026 . The exam ran from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Students took a 3-hour theory paper worth 80 marks. They received an additional 15 minutes to read the question paper.
Unofficial Answer Key Expected Soon
An unofficial CBSE Class 12 Maths Answer Key 2026 will be available after the exam finishes at 1:30 PM. This key allows students to check their answers and estimate their performance.
Exam Analysis Provided
A detailed exam analysis will also be released. This analysis will cover the overall difficulty of the paper. It will also break down the difficulty by section. Students can use this analysis to evaluate their performance.
Key Changes in 2026 Exam Pattern
The CBSE Class 12 Maths exam for the 2026 session features a shift towards competency-based education. This means questions focusing on application and critical thinking carry more weight. Competency-focused questions, including Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Case Studies, and Source-based integrated questions, now constitute 50% of the paper. Traditional short and long answer questions make up the remaining 50%.
The paper is divided into five sections: A, B, C, D, and E. The increased weightage of competency-focused questions is a significant change for this year’s exam.
Passing Criteria
To pass the Class 12 Maths exam, students must achieve a minimum of 33% in the theory paper. They must also score at least 33% in the internal assessment. These are separate passing requirements.
Answer Key for Analysis Only
Students should note that the CBSE Class 12 Maths Answer Key 2026 is intended for performance analysis. It helps students calculate predicted scores. For official marks, students must wait for the final results to be declared by the CBSE.
An unofficial answer key for the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry exam is also available. This allows students to review their performance in that subject.