The CBSE class 11 exam pattern 2025-26 has been released for all subjects along with the marking scheme at cbse.gov.in. Students can review the detailed exam pattern for all the important subjects of CBSE 11th exam 2026 for effective preparation.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has changed the class 11th exam pattern for a few subjects under the Science, Commerce, and Arts streams. Primarily, the alterations and changes in the exam pattern for classes 11 and 12 aim to impart conceptual learning and to stop the old route of memorising without understanding topics, as implemented in the NEP 2020 policy.
CBSE class 11 and 12 exam pattern states that a total of 50% weightage will be given to competency-based questions, 20% to MCQs, and 30% to constructed response-type questions. In the theory, practical/project of each subject, you must achieve a passing score of at least 33% in the session-end examination. The board introduced some changes in the exam pattern and reduced the CBSE Class 11 Syllabus 2025-26 by 30%, focusing on core concepts and competency-based learning. All the details about the CBSE class 11 exam pattern 2025-26 for major subjects are provided in this article.
Changes in The CBSE Board Class 11 Exam Pattern 2025-26
The Central Board of Secondary Education has made changes to the CBSE class 11th exam pattern 2025-26. Some of the big changes include more competency-based questions, including MCQs. There will be less focus on traditional answer types per the new CBSE class 11 exam 2025-26 pattern.
The CBSE Class 11th Blueprint 2025-26 for the current academic session has been released. You can go through the exam pattern to have a better understanding of the questions asked in the year-end exam. The following table contains the recent changes in the CBSE class 11 exam pattern 2025-26:
| Modifications | Details |
| 50% Weightage for Competency-Based Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Case-based questions, and Source-based integrated questions. |
| 20% Weightage for Multiple Choice Questions | MCQs or select-response-type questions will comprise 20% of the total marks. Based on critical thinking and quick decision-making. |
| 30% Weightage for Constructed Response Type Questions | Traditional short and long answer-type questions. |
Click to know: CBSE Class 12th Exam Pattern
CBSE Class 11 English Exam Pattern 2025-26
The CBSE Class 11 English Core Exam 2026 consists of an 80-mark theory paper and a 20-mark internal assessment, totaling 100 marks. The exam is divided into three sections: Reading Skills (26 marks), Grammar & Creative Writing (23 marks), and Literature/Textbooks (31 marks), focusing on comprehension, writing skills, and Literature.
Given below is the CBSE class 11 exam pattern 2025-26 for English:
| Section | Details | Instructions |
| A | Reading skills | Attempt all questions based on the specific instructions for each part. Write the correct question number and part thereof in your answer sheet. |
| B | Creative writing skills | Separate instructions are given with each question/part, wherever necessary. |
| C | Literature | Adhere to the prescribed word limit while answering the questions. |
The CBSE Class 11 English Core question paper 2025-26 contains questions from reading comprehension, writing skills, grammar, and literature.
| Section | Competencies | Total marks |
| Reading Skills | Conceptual understanding, decoding, analyzing, inferring, interpreting, appreciating, literary conventions and vocabulary, summarizing, and using appropriate format/s. | 26 |
| Grammar and Creative Writing Skills | Conceptual Understanding, application of rules, Analysis, Reasoning, appropriacy of style and tone, using appropriate format and fluency, inference, analysis, evaluation, and creativity. | 23 |
| Literature Text Book and Supplementary Reading Text | Recalling, reasoning, appreciating literary convention, inference, analysis, creativity with fluency, and critical thinking. | 31 |
CBSE Class 11 Maths Exam Pattern 2025-26
The question paper in the CBSE Class 11 Mathematics exam 2025-26 will contain 50% competency-based questions, including case studies and MCQs, with 33% internal choices across sections. The syllabus mainly focuses on Algebra, Calculus, and Coordinate Geometry. Check the table given below to know more about the CBSE class 11 exam pattern 2025-26 for Mathematics:
| Typology of questions | Total marks | % weightage |
| Remembering: Exhibit memory of previously learned material by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts, and answers.Understanding: Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main ideas | 44 | 55 |
| Applying: Solve problems in new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques, and rules in a different way. | 20 | 25 |
| Analysing: Examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalizations. Evaluating: Present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, the validity of ideas, or the quality of work based on a set of criteria.Creating: Compile information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions | 16 | 20 |
CBSE Class 11 Physics Exam Pattern 2025-26
The question paper of the CBSE Class 11 Physics exam for 2026 will consist of 50% competency-based questions (case-based, MCQs), 20% MCQs, and 30% constructed response (short/long answer) questions. Below mentioned is the CBSE 11th exam pattern 2025-26 for Physics:
| Section | Number of questions | Marks per question | Internal choice |
| A | 16 | 1 mark each | None |
| B | 5 | 2 marks each | 1 question |
| C | 7 | 3 marks each | 1 question |
| D | 2 | 4 marks each | 1 question in each CBQ |
| E | 3 | 5 marks each | 3 questions |
The CBSE Class 11 Physics question paper will follow a competency-based question pattern. Check the table given below to know more about the CBSE class 11 question pattern 2025-26 for Physics:
| Typology of questions | Total marks | Approximate % |
| Remembering: Exhibit memory of previously learned material by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts, and answers.Understanding: Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main ideas | 27 | 38% |
| Applying: Solve problems in new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques, and rules in a different way. | 22 | 32% |
| Analysing: Examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalizations.Evaluating: Present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, the validity of ideas, or the quality of work based on a set of criteria.Creating: Compile information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions. | 21 | 30% |
CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Exam Pattern 2025-26
The CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Exam 2026 will contain competency-based questions, including 20% MCQs and 20% case-based questions. Topics such as Organic Chemistry, Thermodynamics, and Chemical Bonding will contain high marks. Given below is the CBSE class 11 exam pattern 2025-26 for Chemistry:
| Section | No. of questions | Question type | Marks per question |
| A | 16 | Multiple choice questions | 1 mark each |
| B | 5 | Short answer questions | 2 marks each |
| C | 7 | Short answer questions | 3 marks each |
| D | 2 | Case-based questions | 4 marks each |
| E | 3 | Long answer questions | 5 marks each |
The CBSE Class 11 Chemistry question paper 2026 will contain MCQs (1 mark), Very Short Answers (2 marks), Short Answers (3 marks), Case-Based (4 marks), and Long Answer questions (5 marks). Check the table given below to know more about the CBSE class 11 question pattern 2026 for Chemistry:
| Domains | Total marks | % |
| Remembering and Understanding: Exhibit memory of previously learned material by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts, and answers. Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main ideas. | 28 | 40 |
| Applying: Solve problems in new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques, and rules in a different way. | 21 | 30 |
| Analysing, Evaluating and Creating: Examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalizations. Present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, the validity of ideas, or the quality of work based on a set of criteria. Compile information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions. | 21 | 30 |
CBSE Class 11 Biology Exam Pattern 2025-26
A total of 33 questions will be asked in the CBSE Class 11 Biology exam. The total marks assigned for the theory portion are 70 marks, and the practical consists of 30 marks. Given below is the CBSE class 11 exam pattern 2025-26 for Biology:
| Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks Allotted |
| 1 Mark | 16 | 16 |
| 2 Marks | 5 | 10 |
| 3 Marks | 7 | 21 |
| 4 Marks | 2 | 8 |
| 5 Marks | 3 | 15 |
| Total | 33 | 70 |
Also, Check: CBSE Class 11 Biology Deleted Syllabus 2025-26
CBSE Class 11 Business Studies Exam Pattern 2025-26
The theory portion of Business Studies is assigned 80 marks, and project work consists of 20 marks. There are 10 units in the syllabus, and a total of 34 questions will be asked in the CBSE class 11 exam. Below mentioned is the CBSE 11th exam pattern 2025-26 for Business Studies:
| Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks Allotted |
| 1 Mark | 20 | 20 |
| 3 Marks | 4 | 12 |
| 4 Marks | 6 | 24 |
| 6 Marks | 4 | 24 |
| Total | 34 | 80 |
CBSE Class 11 Accountancy Exam Pattern 2025-26
The theory portion of CBSE class 11 Accountancy is assigned 80 marks, and the project work is 20 marks. A total of 34 questions will be asked in the year-end examination. Check the table given below to know more about the CBSE class 11 exam pattern 2025-26 for Accountancy:
| Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks |
| Part A | ||
| 1 Mark | 16 | 16 |
| 3 Mark | 4 | 12 |
| 4 Mark | 2 | 8 |
| 6 Mark | 4 | 24 |
| Part B | ||
| 1 Mark | 4 | 4 |
| 3 Mark | 2 | 6 |
| 4 Mark | 1 | 4 |
| 6 Mark | 1 | 6 |
| Total | 34 | 80 |
Also Read: CBSE Class 11 Sample Papers
CBSE Board Class 11 Exam Pattern 2025-26 PDF
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the class 11th exam pattern for all subjects on the official website. You can refer to the table below to download the exam pattern for all subjects under each stream.
| Particulars | Details |
| CBSE Class 11 Exam Pattern 2025-26 PDF Download | Download Here |
CBSE 11th Exam Pattern 2025-26 (Subjects Criteria)
You are required to take between 5 and 6 topics in total, including 3 mandatory subjects and 2 optional subjects, depending on the stream you have chosen. We have included some of the important CBSE 11th grade subjects below that are mentioned in the CBSE class 11 exam pattern 2025-26:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Math
- Biology
- Accounts
- Business studies
- Economics
- Computer Science
- English
- Hindi
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Political Science
- History
- Geography
Also Read: CBSE Class 11 Subject Combination
CBSE Class 11 Marking Scheme 2025-26
Most topics in the CBSE class 11 exam are separated into two portions. Here is a summary of the marking scheme provided in the CBSE class 11 exam pattern 2025-26:
- The written test for a theoretical paper carries an 80-mark weight, while the project/internal evaluation is worth 20 marks.
- A subject having a practical component will have a theoretical paper worth 70 marks, while the practical portion will have a weightage of 30 marks.
- The internal evaluation includes projects, practical tests, timely book submissions, and overall performance over the course of the year.
- There won't be any questions with negative marks.
Tabulated below is the marking scheme for each subject of CBSE class 11, as per the CBSE 11th exam pattern 2025-26:
| Subjects | Theory Exam | Practical Exam/Internal Assessment |
| English | 80 | 20 |
| Sociology | 80 | 20 |
| Political Science | 80 | 20 |
| Physics | 70 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 80 | 20 |
| History | 80 | 20 |
| Geography | 70 | 30 |
| Economics | 80 | 20 |
| Computer Science | 70 | 30 |
| Chemistry | 70 | 30 |
| Business Studies | 80 | 20 |
| Accountancy | 80 | 20 |
| Biology | 70 | 30 |
How to Prepare For The CBSE Board Class 11 Exam 2026?
Preparation for the CBSE Class 11 exam requires dailystudy of NCERT textbooks, as they are curated based on the recent syllabus. You must focus on creating a realistic timetable, making brief notes for last-minute revision, solving previous years' question papers, and focusing on understanding the concepts thoroughly. You prioritize studying high-weightage topics and refer to reference books for in-depth knowledge.
- English: You can practice writing essays, letters, and comprehension passages to improve speed and accuracy. Understand the literary conventions and themes of the chapters.
- Physics: Focus on understanding core concepts in chapters like Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Work, Energy and Power, and Gravitation. Regularly solve numerical problems and practice diagrams. Reference books like H.C. Verma are highly recommended.
- Chemistry: Practice questions on Physical Chemistry (Mole Concept, Thermodynamics), Inorganic (Periodic Table), and Organic. Practice chemical equations and mechanisms regularly.
- Mathematics: Solve all examples and exercises from the NCERT textbook before studying the reference books. Understand the formulas and steps rather than mugging them.
- Biology: Focus on solving questions on diagrams, key processes, and definitions in chapters such as Cell Structure, Photosynthesis, and Human Physiology. Prepare notes for adequate memorization of complex terminology.
- Economics/Accountancy: Focus on conceptual clarity, particularly with case-based questions, and practice writing answers with real-world examples (e.g., demand-supply fluctuations). Practice solving questions from numericals for Accountancy and statistics from sample papers and books.
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New pattern focuses on conceptual learning (NEP 2020). -
50% weightage for competency-based questions. -
Minimum 33% passing score required in each subject. -
CBSE Class 11 syllabus reduced by 30%.
