Latest Updates for ISC
The ISC 12th exam pattern will have 25 percent increase in the competency based questions.
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The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) has introducted Robotics and Artificial Intelligence subject in the ISC 12th board exam 2025. The ISC 12th exam pattern 2025 will have more competency based questions. Students have to go through the revised exam pattern while preparing for the board exam.
ISC 12th exam pattern 2025 contains a detailed representation of question patterns, subject criteria, ISC marks distribution 2025, types of questions, and other details of ISC 12th syllabus 2024-25. Students are required to appear in six subjects for the ISC board examination and qualify with 40% marks in each subject to qualify for the exam.
ISC 12th Specimen Paper | ISC 12th Books 2025 |
Each paper in the ISC 12th exams will be conducted for 100 marks. Check out the major highlights of the ISC 12th 2025 exam pattern below.
Particulars | Details |
Name of the exam | Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) |
Mode of exam | Offline |
Exam dates | 21st Feb 2025 Onwards (tentative) |
Exam duration | 3 hours |
Shift | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (tentative) |
Total Marks | 80 theory + 20 practicals |
Question pattern | Multiple Choice Questions |
Long Type Questions | |
Short Type Questions | |
Passing marks | 40% in each subject |
Negative marking | No negative marking |
Official website | cisce.org |
Also Read: ISC Marks Calculation
English is a compulsory subject for all stream students. Moreover, along with that, students must opt for three, four, or five elective subjects. The detailed-wise marks distribution of the ISC class 12th exams are tabulated below.
Subjects | Duration | Paper | Marks |
---|---|---|---|
English | 3 hours | English Language | 100 |
Literature in English | 100 | ||
History | 3 hours | Theory | 80 |
Project Work | 20 | ||
Geography | 3 hours | Theory | 70 |
Practical and Project Work | 30 | ||
Economics | 3 hours | Theory | 80 |
Project Work | 20 | ||
Commerce | 3 hours | Theory | 80 |
Project Work | 20 | ||
Accounts | 3 hours | Theory | 80 |
Project Work | 20 | ||
Maths | 3 hours | Theory | 80 |
Project Work | 20 | ||
Physics | 3 hours | Theory | 70 |
Practical | 15 | ||
Project Work | 10 | ||
Practical File | 5 | ||
Chemistry | 3 hours | Theory | 70 |
Practical | 15 | ||
Project Work | 10 | ||
Practical File | 5 | ||
Biology | 3 hours | Theory | 70 |
Practical | 15 | ||
Project Work | 10 | ||
Practical File | 5 |
Students who are preparing for the upcoming board exams must follow the exam pattern to understand the chapter-wise weightage. The detailed information is provided below for the student's reference.
English is a compulsory subject for all stream students. The paper will be conducted for 100 marks, out of which 80 is for the theory and 20 is for the practical.
Sections | Details |
English Theory Paper | |
Section 1 (20 marks) | Students need to write a composition which should comprise 400-450 words. |
Section-2 (15 marks) | Students need to write an article, review, or report on a given point. |
Section-3 (15 marks) | This section will include short questions and grammar & structure-based questions |
Section-4 (20 marks) | This section will include unseen passages in which questions need to be read and give answers |
English Practical Paper | |
Section 1 (10 marks) | This section will include listening and speaking skills |
Section 2 (10 marks) | In this section, an examiner will visit the school to test students’ assessment |
The ISC 12th History paper will be conducted for 100 marks, out of which 80 marks will be for theory and 20 marks will be for practical.
Parts | Details |
History Theory Paper | |
Part-1 | It includes short questions related to fundamental factual knowledge and understanding of the Syllabus |
Part-2 | It will comprise 5 long questions each question will have weightage of 12 marks |
History Practical Paper | |
Part-1 | Students have to undergo a project that might include a case study, a local history, a Field visit, or a book review and film review |
The Business Studies paper will be conducted for 100 marks, out of which 80 marks will be conducted for theory and 20 marks will be for projects.
Sections | Details |
Business Studies Theory Paper | |
Section 1 (20 marks) | It includes short questions related to fundamental factual knowledge and understanding of the Syllabus |
Section 2 (60 marks) | It will consist of 8 questions and students need to answer any 5 questions, each question will comprise 12 marks |
Business Studies Practical Paper | |
Section 1 | Students need to make a project on any topic given by the teacher which will be assessed by the teacher and will comprise 20 marks |
The maths syllabus will comprise 3 sections wherein section A is compulsory for all the students; students can choose any one between section B and section C and attempt the questions.
Units | Total Weightage |
Section A: 80 Marks | |
Sets and Functions | 22 Marks |
Algebra | 34 Marks |
Coordinate Geometry | 8 marks |
Calculus | 8 marks |
Statistics & Probability | 8 marks |
Section B: 20 marks | |
Conic Section | 12 marks |
Introduction to Three-Dimensional Geometry | 4 marks |
Mathematical Reasoning | 4 marks |
Section C: 20 Marks | |
Statistics | 6 marks |
Correlation Analysis | 6 marks |
Index Numbers & Moving Averages | 8 marks |
Total: 100 |
The Physics subject will be conducted for 100 marks, of which 70 marks will be for theory, and 30 marks will be for practical exams.
Units | Total Weightage |
Physical World and Measurement | 23 Marks |
Light, Sound, and Heat | |
Laws of Motion | |
Force, Energy, and Power | 17 Marks |
The motion of the System of Particles and the Rigid Body | |
Gravitation | |
Properties of Bulk Matter | 20 marks |
Electricity and Magnesium | |
Oscillations and Waves | 10 marks |
Total | 70 marks |
The ISC 12th exam pattern 2025 is different for all subjects. The subjects are divided into different groups. The marks are divided into internal and external examinations. The following are group-wise marking allocations under the ISC 12th 2025 Exam Pattern.
Group | Subjects |
---|---|
Group I (80% marks external exam + 20% marks internal exam) | History, Civics, Geography, English, Second Language (one/two) |
Group II (80% marks external exam + 20% marks internal exam) | Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), Mathematics, Commercial Studies, Economics, Environmental Science, A Classical Language, A Modern Foreign Language |
Group III (50% marks external exam + 50 % marks internal exam) | Arts, Performing Arts, Computer Applications, Economic Applications, Commercial Applications, Fashion Designing, Physical Education, Yoga, Cookery, Home Science, A Modern Foreign Language, Technical Drawing Applications, Environmental Applications |
Below are some ISC 12th exam pattern 2025 details regarding the group and the subjects, as the three groups have different marking patterns.
Group I consists of all compulsory subjects such as English, History, Civics, Geography, and a second language. Each of these subjects has a total mark of 80, which has been divided into 40 marks for each semester.
Subject | Question Pattern / Analysis | Duration |
---|---|---|
English I |
English I includes composition, letters, unseen passages, and grammar. Semester I will be MCQ-based. In Semester II, there will be three sections: Composition, Directed Writing, and Proposal Writing. |
2 hours |
English II |
English II is the literature part which includes questions from drama, prose, and poetry. "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare (Act III), Echoes: A Collection of ISC Short Stories (To Build a Fire – Jack London, The Story of an Hour – Kate Chopin), Reverie: A Collection of ISC Poems (The Duckling Thrush – Thomas Hardy, Birches – Robert Frost, Crossing the Bar – Alfred, Lord Tennyson), The Singing Lesson – Katherine Mansfield, The Sound Machine – Roald Dahl, B. Wordsworth – V.S Naipaul), Reverie: A Collection of ISC Poems (Dover Beach – Matthew Arnold, We are the Music Makers – Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy). |
2 hours |
History & Civics |
Towards Independence and Partition: the Last Phase (1935- 1947), Establishment and development of Indian Democracy (1964- 1966), Challenges to Indian Democracy (1964- 1977), Changing face of the Indian Democracy (1977- 1986), India’s Foreign Policy, Movements for Women’s Rights World War II, De-colonisation – in Asia (China), Cold War 1945-91 – Origin, Course, End and Impact, Protest Movements, Middle East: Israeli-Palestine conflict (1916-1993) |
2.5 hours |
Geography |
Long answer-type questions including sketches, diagrams, charts, and graphs. Resources of India and their Utilisation (Agriculture: Types, development and problems; Fishing in India, Japan and Bangladesh; Sources of Energy), Infrastructural Resources (Complete unit)Industries (Complete unit), Regional Economic Development (Complete unit), Map Work (Related to the given topics) | 2 hours |
Second Language |
The section includes language skills- Comprehension and Grammar. In the Literature paper: The section includes questions from prescribed textbooks. Composition and Grammar will come from this section. In the Literature paper: The section includes questions from prescribed textbooks. |
2 hours |
Group II contains 7 subjects in which students have to choose any 2 subjects. As per the ISC 12th exam pattern, the subjects will be of a total of 80 marks, and the exam duration will vary from 2 to 3 hours.
Subject | Question Pattern | Duration |
---|---|---|
Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) | There will be short and long answer-type questions. | 2 hours for each paper |
Environmental Science | The paper will consist of short and long answer questions. | 2 hours |
Mathematics | There will be short and long answer-type questions and will carry 40 marks. | 2.5 hours |
Economics | There will be short and long answer-type questions. | 2 hours |
Classical Language | Questions will come from Grammar, Sentence Translation, Poems, Short Stories, and Chapters of the prescribed Novel/Drama. | 2 hours |
Modern Foreign Language | The paper will be 40 marks and in the Language portion, comprehension and translation will be there. Whereas, in the Literature paper, questions will be from the prescribed textbook, Novel/Drama. | 3 hours |
From group III, students have to choose only one subject. The total mark is 100. The exam duration varies from 2 hours to 3 hours, depending on the subject.
Subject | Question Pattern | Duration |
---|---|---|
Commercial Applications | Section A: Compulsory short questions Section B: Detailed answer type questions with a choice | 2 hours |
Economic Applications | Section A: Compulsory short questions Section B: detailed answer type questions with a choice | 2 hours |
Computer Applications | Section A: Compulsory short questions of 40 marks, Section B: detailed answer type questions of 60 marks with choice | 2 hours |
Environmental Applications | Section A: Compulsory short questions, Section B: detailed answer type questions with choice. | 2 hours |
Home Science | Section A: Compulsory short questions, Section B: detailed answer type questions with a choice of 4 questions that must be answered | 2 hours |
Art | There are 4 papers out of which a candidate must attempt two based on drawing/painting from still life, drawing/ painting from nature, Applied Art, Original Imaginative Composition in Colour | 3 hours |
Performing Arts | Section A: Vocal Music Section B: Instrumental Music Section C: Tabla | 2 hours |
Fashion Designing | Section A: Compulsory short questions Section B: detailed answer type questions with a choice of 4 questions must be answered | 2 hours |
Cookery | Section A: Compulsory short questions, Section B: detailed answer type questions with a choice of 4 questions that must be answered | 2 hours |
Modern Foreign Language | 5 questions based on Unseen comprehension, Translation into the English language, Grammar, Letter and Composition | 2 hours |
Technical Drawing Applications | Section A: 3 out of 5 questions Section B: 2 out of 3 questions must be answered | 3 hours |
Physical Education | Section A: questions based on health, hygiene, and first aid Section B: Questions based on rules, skills, and methods of fitness training for any two team games - Cricket, football, Handball, Hockey, Basketball, Volleyball, softball. | 2 hours |
Yoga | Section A: Compulsory questions of 40 marks Section B, C, and D: There will be an option to attempt two questions with 20 marks from each section. | 2 hours |
To receive a pass certificate for the ISC 12th exam 2025, all students must achieve at least 40% of the possible points. All applicants must select English as one of their elective subjects from the ISC syllabus 2023-24 and the other required subjects.
Students have to secure seven, the minimum passing grade, to get the passing certificate. Only Grades 1 to 7 are recorded on certificates. The interpretation of the grades is as follows:
External Examination
The external examination is mostly based on assignments, practical assessments, project work, Viva voce, team activity, etc.
Grade | Standard |
---|---|
1 - 2 | Very Good |
3 - 5 | Credit |
6 - 7 | Pass |
8 - 9 | Fail |
Internal Examination
The internal assessment is calculated based on the performance of Socially Useful Productive Work (SUPW) and Community Service. Grade A is the highest, and Grade E is the lowest.
Grade | Standard |
---|---|
A | Very Good |
B | Good |
C | Satisfactory |
D | Fair |
E | Fail |
Most of the subjects under the ISC Class 12 exam comprise project work and practical assessment, which carries 20 to 30 marks. The project work under the ISC 12th 2025 exam pattern is given below for various subjects.
Q: When will the board conduct the ISC 12th exam 2025?
Q: With the ISC 12th exam pattern 2025 set by the board, what are the passing marks?
Q: How many marks are allotted for the internal assessment per the ISC 12th exam pattern 2025?
Q: What is the average time allotted for each exam paper per the ISC 12th exam pattern 2025?
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