Board Exams
Mar 16, 2026
CBSE Class 12 Physics Exam 2026 Analysis: Students Find Numerical Section Lengthy
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Vikram Mehra
Mar 16, 2026
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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the Class 12 Physics examination on March 15, 2026, across thousands of centers nationwide. Early reports from students and subject matter experts suggest that while the theoretical portion of the paper was largely based on the NCERT curriculum, the numerical problems were significantly more complex than in previous years. Many students expressed frustration over Section C, which contained several three-mark questions that required extensive calculations, leading to a time crunch in the final hour of the exam.
At a prominent examination center in South Delhi, a group of students shared their experience. 'The conceptual questions from Electromagnetism and Optics were straightforward, but the numericals in the semiconductor chapter were quite tricky,' said Rohan Mehra, a student from Bal Bharati Public School. 'I had to skip one five-mark question because I spent too much time solving the derivations in Section D. It wasn't a difficult paper per se, but it was definitely lengthy.' This sentiment was echoed by students in Mumbai and Bengaluru, where many reported leaving 5 to 10 marks worth of questions unattempted.
Teachers and academic coordinators have offered a more balanced perspective. Mrs. Sunita Sharma, Head of the Physics Department at a leading private school, noted that the paper was designed to test the analytical skills mandated by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 'The board is moving away from rote memorization. This year’s paper had a higher percentage of competency-based questions. While it might have seemed difficult for students who relied solely on past papers, those who understood the core principles would have found it manageable,' she explained. She did concede, however, that the marking scheme might need to account for the lengthiness of the calculations.
Following the conclusion of the exam, the CBSE released a brief statement clarifying that the paper was strictly within the prescribed syllabus. The board also reminded students and parents that the 'Moderation Policy' would be applied during the results phase to ensure parity across different sets of question papers. There were no reports of paper leaks or technical malfunctions in the digital distribution of papers to the centers, which has been a point of focus for the board this year.
As the board exam season continues, students are now shifting their focus to the Chemistry and Mathematics papers scheduled for next week. Experts suggest that students should prioritize time management during their revision, practicing with a stopwatch to simulate exam conditions. The results for the CBSE Class 12 exams are expected to be announced by the second week of May 2026, allowing students sufficient time to prepare for their respective entrance examinations for higher education.
At a prominent examination center in South Delhi, a group of students shared their experience. 'The conceptual questions from Electromagnetism and Optics were straightforward, but the numericals in the semiconductor chapter were quite tricky,' said Rohan Mehra, a student from Bal Bharati Public School. 'I had to skip one five-mark question because I spent too much time solving the derivations in Section D. It wasn't a difficult paper per se, but it was definitely lengthy.' This sentiment was echoed by students in Mumbai and Bengaluru, where many reported leaving 5 to 10 marks worth of questions unattempted.
Teachers and academic coordinators have offered a more balanced perspective. Mrs. Sunita Sharma, Head of the Physics Department at a leading private school, noted that the paper was designed to test the analytical skills mandated by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 'The board is moving away from rote memorization. This year’s paper had a higher percentage of competency-based questions. While it might have seemed difficult for students who relied solely on past papers, those who understood the core principles would have found it manageable,' she explained. She did concede, however, that the marking scheme might need to account for the lengthiness of the calculations.
Following the conclusion of the exam, the CBSE released a brief statement clarifying that the paper was strictly within the prescribed syllabus. The board also reminded students and parents that the 'Moderation Policy' would be applied during the results phase to ensure parity across different sets of question papers. There were no reports of paper leaks or technical malfunctions in the digital distribution of papers to the centers, which has been a point of focus for the board this year.
As the board exam season continues, students are now shifting their focus to the Chemistry and Mathematics papers scheduled for next week. Experts suggest that students should prioritize time management during their revision, practicing with a stopwatch to simulate exam conditions. The results for the CBSE Class 12 exams are expected to be announced by the second week of May 2026, allowing students sufficient time to prepare for their respective entrance examinations for higher education.