CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam Difficulty Level 2026 – Complete Paper Analysis

The CBSE Class 12th Maths exam plays an important role in shaping students’ board results and future academic paths. Every year students are eager to know whether the maths paper will be easy, moderate, or difficult as a lot of candidates have fear of maths. So Understanding the CBSE Class 12 Maths exam difficulty level helps students analyse their preparation and gives clarity on the overall paper pattern, section-wise difficulty of the paper. Scroll through the page to know the difficulty level of maths exam in detail.

CBSE Class 12th Maths Exam Overview

The Central Board of Secondary Education conducts class 12th maths exam in offline mode at CBSE designated exam centres. The exam is held under strict invigilation to ensure a fair and uniform evaluation process.

CBSE Class 12th Maths Exam Pattern

The CBSE Board Maths paper pattern contains a total of 38 questions which are divided into 5 sections from A to E. The Class 12 CBSE maths paper includes MCQs, very short, short and long answer questions along with case study based questions carrying different marks section wise. Internal choice is provided in select questions across Sections B,C,D, and E. Candidates are not allowed to use calculators.

CBSE Class 12 Maths Section-Wise Difficulty

CBSE Class 12 Mathematics paper is usually moderate to difficult every year. The section A consists of MCQs which are of easy to moderate level. It tests basic concepts and formulas. Other sections of the maths paper contain concept based questions from NCERT. Long answers are usually challenging due to lengthy calculations especially from topics like calculus and algebra. Overall the class 12th maths paper can be attempted confidently if a student has concept clarity and practises enough topic wise questions from NCERT Maths.

Comparison with Previous Year CBSE Class 12 Maths Papers

CBSE Class 12 Maths paper has been mostly of moderate difficulty with some small changes in the question style. Over the years CBSE has shifted its focus from lengthy formula based questions to more conceptual & application based questions especially from topics such as Calculus, Geometry and Algebra. The CBSE section wise weightage and answer marking scheme has been consistent in the previous years. The CBSE Class 12th maths exam consists of a total of 38 questions which are to be attempted in a total duration of 3 hours.

CBSE Sample Paper vs Official Maths Exam Difficulty

The Official CBSE Class 12 Maths exam is quite similar to the sample paper. The question pattern, section wise distribution and marking scheme are designed as per CBSE board guidelines. Some questions asked in the actual CBSE Class 12 maths exam are similar to those of sample questions paper. Students appearing for class 12th board exams are advised to attempt the CBSE class 12 sample maths question paper so as to understand their level of preparation, exam patterns, difficulty level of the paper, identify important topics and plan an attempt strategy for the CBSE Class 12th exam day.

CBSE Class 12 Maths Preparation Strategy

Candidates preparing for class 12 maths exam can refer points mentioned below so as to make their exam preparation better.

• Know the CBSE Class 12 Maths entire syllabus
• Follow NCERT Maths for learning, revising and practising questions
• Attempt the last 5 years CBSE Class 12 Maths PYQs and analyze all answers on the same day
• Always use a timer while solving questions so as to know the time taken as per question difficulty
• Divide the maths syllabus into parts and revise by giving priority to high weightage chapters and topics.
• Maintain a separate notebook to note down important questions along with solutions and revise them weekly
• Don’t use calculator while solving a question and do calculations manually
• Make a time table for study and daily practice maths accordingly

How to Attempt CBSE Class 12 Maths Paper

In order to achieve good marks in the CBSE Class 12 maths exam. Students need a proper plan so as to attempt all the questions within the exam duration. Students must keep in mind the below mentioned points.

• Start solving section A questions first as they are MCQs easy and less time consuming
• Don’t make any cross or do overwriting in the entire maths solution sheet
• While solving questions students must show all the steps clearly as step wise marking is allotted in the CBSE Class 12 maths exam
• While solving questions from section B to E which consist internal choice pick those questions which are familiar
• Don’t spend too much time while solving an answer if you are not sure skip and come back later
• Show the calculations clearly for each numerical based question
• Keep the last 10-15 minutes to revise marked responses
• Stay calm and don’t rush while solving the Class 12 maths question paper