ISC Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025 helps students to get accustomed to the latest scheme of exams. The exam pattern comprises important details like marks distribution, types of questions asked, etc.
Never Miss an Exam Update
About ISC Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) has uploaded the syllabi for 2025 online. In ISC, 100 marks are provided for every subject of the curriculum. English is a compulsory subject for class 12th student and the other subjects can be chosen according to their stream. A maximum of five elective subjects can be chosen by the students. The marks are divided between external and internal exams. To be eligible for the pass certificate, the students need to get 40% marks in English compulsorily. For other subjects also, students need to score the minimum passing marks in both theory and practical exams. The overall aggregate score of the student must be above 35% too.
The question paper will comprise short answer-type questions, and long answer-type questions according to the scope of the subject. The overall percentage of the students is calculated based on the best five performing subjects. ISC Class 12 Time Table 2025 was released on November 25, 2024 on the Board's official website. The exams will be conducted from February 13 to April 5, 2025. Read more about the ISC Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025 here:
Latest Updates
- November 25, 2024: CICSE released the ISC 12th date sheet 2025; the ISC class 12 exam 2025 will be held from February 13 to April 5, 2025.
ISC Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025: Overview
Below are the highlights of the ISC Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025:
Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Name of Exam | Indian School Certificate (ISC) |
Name of Board | Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) |
Official Website | cisce.org |
Level of the Exam | National Level |
Frequency | Once in a year |
ISC Class 12 Blueprint 2025
- English is a compulsory subject in ISC class 12th.
- Apart from English, a list of 23 subjects is provided for the students to choose their elective subjects.
- All candidates for the Examination must enter for English (compulsory), with three, four or five elective subjects.
- Students are not allowed to choose more than 6 elective subjects.
- The passing certificate will be awarded to candidates who get 40% in four or more subjects which must include the subject English and have attained a pass grade in SUPW and Community Service as examined/assessed internally by the School.
- 100 marks are provided for every subject included in the curriculum which are divided into external and internal exams.
ISC Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025 Subject Wise
English is a compulsory subject and along with that students are permitted to choose 5 other elective subjects. Check out the information regarding the subject-wise blueprints for all the subjects according to the syllabus PDF uploaded by CISCE on their official website for the academic year 2025:
English Language
The English question paper will consist of four questions. Check out the detailed information about the ISC Class 12 English Exam Pattern 2025 from the table given below:
Question | Description | Details |
|---|---|---|
Question 1 | Composition Writing | Select one topic from six options: narrative, descriptive, reflective, argumentative, discursive, or original short story. Length: 400-450 words |
Question 2 | Directed and proposed writing | (a) Directed Writing: - Length: 250-300 words - Topics: feature article, book review, speech, report, statement of purpose - Skills: amplifying, describing, re-stating (b) Proposal Writing: - Format: Introduction, Objectives, Measures, Conclusion - Must follow CISCE format |
Question 3 | Grammar & Structure | - Transformation of sentences - Phrasal verbs - Verbs/tenses |
Question 4 | Comprehension Passage | - Passage: 700 words - Analytical, vocabulary, and inference-based questions - Summary question with word limit |
English Literature
The literature question paper will include questions from the textbooks prescribed by CISCE. Check out the exam pattern for English literature from the table given below:
Section | Content | Details |
|---|---|---|
I. Drama | Macbeth by William Shakespeare | Focus: Acts III, IV, V |
II. Short Stories (PRISM) | Published by Evergreen Publications (India) Ltd., New Delhi | 1. Atithi / Guest – Rabindranath Tagore 2. The Cookie Lady – Philip K. Dick 3. There Will Come Soft Rains – Ray Bradbury 4. Indigo – Satyajit Ray 5. The Medicine Bag – Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve |
III. Poems (RHAPSODY) | Published by Evergreen Publications (India) Ltd., New Delhi | 1. Telephone Conversation – Wole Soyinka 2. Tithonus – Alfred, Lord Tennyson 3. Beethoven – Shane Koyczan 4. Small Towns and the River – Mamang Dai 5. Death be not Proud – John Donne |
History
A total of 11 chapters are included in the History curriculum. Check out the information about the ISC Class 12 History Exam Pattern 2025 from the table given below:
Section | Chapters / Topics |
|---|---|
SECTION A: Indian History | 1. Towards Independence and Partition (1935-1947) 2. Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947-1966) 3. Development of Indian Democracy (1964-1977) 4. Changing Face of Indian Democracy (1977-1986) 5. India’s Foreign Policy 6. Movements for Women’s Rights |
SECTION B: World History | 7. World War II 8. De-colonization – Asia (China) and Africa (Ghana & Kenya) 9. Cold War (1945-91) – Origin, Course, End, and Impact 10. Protest Movements (Civil Rights, Anti-Apartheid, Feminist Movement) 11. Middle East: Israeli-Palestine Conflict (1916-1993) |
Political Science
A total of 10 chapters are included in the curriculum in Political Science. Check out the information regarding the ISC Class 12 Political Science Exam Pattern 2025 here:
Section | Chapters / Topics |
|---|---|
SECTION A: Constitution and Government | 1. Forms of Government 2. Constitution 3. Franchise and Representation 4. The Legislature 5. The Executive 6. The Judiciary |
SECTION B: Indian Democracy | 7. Indian Constitution 8. Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles 9. Local Self-Government 10. Democracy in India – A Perspective of the Challenges Faced |
Geography
One of the main subjects for the Arts stream is Geography. Check out the information regarding the ISC Class 12 Geography Exam Pattern 2025 from the table given below:
Chapter Name | Section |
|---|---|
1. Physical Environment | (i) Locational setting (ii) Structure of India (a) Geological evolution (b) Physiographic divisions (c) Drainage systems (iii) Climate (iv) Natural vegetation |
2. Population and Human Settlements | (i) Population of India (ii) Patterns of population distribution (iii) Population growth pattern (iv) Migration trends (v) Demographic attributes (vi) Rural settlements (vii) Urban settlements |
3. Resources of India and their Utilisation | (i) Environmental management (ii) Land resources (iii) Water resources and irrigation (iv) Agriculture (v) Fishing in India (vi) Sources of Energy (a) Minerals and power resources (b) Conventional energy sources (c) Non-conventional energy sources |
4. Infrastructural Resources (Transport and Communication) | (a) Modes of transport (b) Communication systems |
5. Industries | (a) Location and distribution of industries (b) Major industrial regions (c) Specific industries (i) Agro-based industries (ii) Mineral-based industries (d) Tourism industry |
6. Regional Economic Development (Case Studies) | 1. Area development in Chhattisgarh 2. Electronics industry in Bengaluru 3. Growth of Haldia port |
7. Map Work | Identification, labeling, and location of geographical features based on topics 1-6 |
Sociology
There are a total of 7 units included in the Sociology syllabus. Check the ISC Class 12 Sociology Exam Pattern 2025 here:
Unit | Sections |
|---|---|
1. Social Institutions | (i) Definition and features of Social Institutions |
(ii) Types of Social Institutions: Kinship, Marriage, and Family | |
2. Religion and Society | (i) Definition and concepts of religion and science |
(ii) Theories of religion | |
(iii) Functions and dysfunctions of religion | |
(iv) Morality and social control | |
3. Political Organization | Political Organization and its role in bringing about change in society |
Definition of political organization; Panchayati Raj | |
4. Economic Organisation | (i) Economic Organisation |
(ii) Economies of Indian tribes | |
(iii) Agrarian Economy, Jajmani system, and MGNREGA | |
(iv) Traditional Markets | |
5. Tribal India - Past, Present, and Future | (i) Definition of tribe, features |
(ii) Dormitories in Tribal India | |
(iii) Present conditions, problems, and solutions | |
6. Social Stratification | (i) Social stratification: the elements |
(ii) Caste: The caste system | |
(iii) Gender: Difference between sex and gender | |
7. Social Change and Development | (i) Social change and Development |
(ii) Aspects of Development | |
(iii) Social Movements: Meaning, causes, and role | |
(iv) Role of Education in creating Social change | |
(v) Role of Mass Media in creating Social change |
Psychology
A total of 8 units are included in the curriculum for Psychology. Check out the syllabus from the table given below:
Unit | Section Name |
|---|---|
1. Intelligence and Ability | (i) Intelligence |
(ii) Aptitude, Achievement and Interest | |
2. Personality | (i) What is meant by Personality |
(ii) Theories of Personality | |
(iii) How personality is assessed | |
3. Lifespan Development | (i) Meaning of Development, growth and maturation |
(ii) Infancy- motor, cognitive development, socio-emotional development | |
(iii) Childhood - motor, cognitive development, socio-emotional development | |
(iv) Adolescence - physical changes, cognitive development, socio-emotional development; some major concerns | |
4. Stress and Stress Management | (i) Meaning of stress - its basic nature |
(ii) Common causes of stress | |
(iii) Effects of stress on health and performance | |
(iv) Stress management - ineffective and effective strategies of handling stress | |
5. Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy | (i) Meaning of “Abnormal behaviour” |
(ii) Characteristics of some psychological, behavioural and developmental disorders | |
(iii) Schizophrenia - meaning; main types; characteristics | |
(iv) Psychotherapy - Psychoanalysis; Client-centred; Behavioural, Social Rehabilitation | |
6. Social Thought and Social Behaviour | (i) Social Perception - attribution or the process through which people try to understand behaviour |
(ii) Social Influence - how people try to change others’ behaviour; social norms; conformity and obedience | |
7. Attitudes | (i) Meaning of “Attitude” - how attitudes are formed and changed |
(ii) Prejudice – meaning of “prejudice” and discrimination; the origins of prejudice; how to combat prejudice | |
8. Psychology in Relation to the Environment and Social Concerns | (i) Meaning and nature of counseling |
(ii) Environmental effect on human behavior | |
(iii) Promoting Pro-environmental behavior | |
(iv) Adverse effects of poverty and deprivation |
Commerce
4 units are included in the Commerce syllabus. Check out the names of the units here:
- Business Environment
- Financing
- Management
- Marketing
Accountancy
The theory paper in accounts will be conducted for 80 marks. Check the ISC Class 12 Accountancy Exam Pattern 2025 here:
S. No. | UNIT | TOTAL WEIGHTAGE |
|---|---|---|
SECTION A: 60 Marks | ||
1 | Partnership Accounts | |
A. Fundamentals of Partnership | 11 Marks | |
B. Goodwill | 15 Marks | |
C. Reconstitution of Partnership | ||
I. Admission | ||
II. Retirement and Death of a Partner | ||
III. Dissolution of a Partnership Firm | 8 Marks | |
2 | Joint Stock Company Accounts | |
A. Issue of Shares | 11 Marks | |
B. Issue of Debentures | 8 Marks | |
C. Redemption of Debentures | ||
D. Final Accounts of Companies | 7 Marks | |
SECTION B (MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING): 20 Marks | ||
3 | Financial Statement Analysis | 4 Marks |
4 | Cash Flow Statement | 8 Marks |
5 | Ratio Analysis | 8 Marks |
OR SECTION C (COMPUTERISED ACCOUNTING): 20 Marks | ||
6 | Accounting Application of Electronic Spread Sheet | 10 Marks |
7 | Database Management System (DBMS) | 10 Marks |
TOTAL | 80 Marks | |
Mathematics
The theory papers in Mathematics will be conducted for 100 marks. Students can check the information regarding the ISC Class 12 Mathematics Exam Pattern 2025 from the table given below:
S. No. | UNIT | TOTAL WEIGHTAGE |
|---|---|---|
SECTION A: 65 MARKS | ||
1 | Relations and Functions | 10 Marks |
2 | Algebra | 10 Marks |
3 | Calculus | 32 Marks |
4 | Probability | 13 Marks |
SECTION B: 15 MARKS | ||
5 | Vectors | 5 Marks |
6 | Three-Dimensional Geometry | 6 Marks |
7 | Applications of Integrals | 4 Marks |
OR | ||
SECTION C: 15 MARKS | ||
8 | Application of Calculus | 5 Marks |
9 | Linear Regression | 6 Marks |
10 | Linear Programming | 4 Marks |
TOTAL | 80 MARKS |
Physics
The theory paper in Physics will be conducted for 70 marks. Check the information regarding the ISC Class 12 Physics Exam Pattern 2025 from the table given below:
S. No. | UNIT | TOTAL WEIGHTAGE |
|---|---|---|
1 | Electrostatics | 14 Marks |
2 | Current Electricity | |
3 | Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | 16 Marks |
4 | Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | |
5 | Electromagnetic Waves | 2 Marks |
6 | Optics | 18 Marks |
7 | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 7 Marks |
8 | Atoms and Nuclei | 6 Marks |
9 | Electronic Devices | 7 Marks |
TOTAL | 70 Marks |
Chemistry
Students can check the ISC Class 12 Chemistry Exam Pattern 2025 here:
S. No. | UNIT | TOTAL WEIGHTAGE |
|---|---|---|
1 | Solutions (Physical Chemistry) | 25 Marks |
2 | Electrochemistry | |
3 | Chemical Kinetics | |
4 | d -and f -Block Elements (Inorganic Chemistry) | 14 Marks |
5 | Coordination Compounds | |
6 | Haloalkanes and Haloarenes (Organic Chemistry) | 31 Marks |
7 | Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers | |
8 | Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids | |
9 | Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen | |
10 | Biomolecules | |
TOTAL | 70 Marks |
Biology
Students can check out the information regarding the ISC Class 12 Biology Exam Pattern 2025 from the table given below:
S. No. | UNIT | TOTAL WEIGHTAGE |
|---|---|---|
1 | Reproduction | 16 Marks |
2 | Genetics and Evolution | 15 Marks |
3 | Biology and Human Welfare | 14 Marks |
4 | Biotechnology and its Applications | 10 Marks |
5 | Ecology and Environment | 15 Marks |
TOTAL | 70 Marks |
Also Read - ISC 12th Marksheet 2025
ISC Class 12 Passing Marks 2025
Students can take a look at the table below to get an idea of the passing marks for each of the subjects. Go through the table and check the marks for internal assessment, external assessment, or passing marks.
Subject | Internal Assessment % | External Exam % | ISC Passing Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
English Language | - | 100 | 40% |
English Literature | - | 100 | 40% |
History | 20 | 80 | 40% |
Geography | 30 | 70 | 40% |
Economics | 20 | 80 | 40% |
Commerce | 20 | 80 | 40% |
Accountancy | 20 | 80 | 40% |
Mathematics | 20 | 80 | 40% |
Physics | 30 | 70 | 40% |
Chemistry | 30 | 70 | 40% |
Biology | 30 | 70 | 40% |
ISC Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025: Grading System
The grading system helps the board to assess the performance of the students. CISCE Grading System 2025 is almost the same for both ICSE Class 10th and ISC Class 12th examinations. The Grading system is different for the external examinations and the internal assessment. Given below is a tabulated representation of the CISCE Grading System 2025.
External Examination
CISCE indicates the performance of the students by conferring upon the grade from 1 - 9. Since 7 is the minimum passing grade one needs to acquire to get the passing certificate, Only the grades from 1 - 7 are indicated on the Certificates. The CISCE External Examination Grading System 2025 is as follows:
GRADE | STANDARD |
|---|---|
1, 2 | Very Good |
3, 4, 5 | Credit |
6, 7 | Pass |
8. 9 | Fail |
A letter grade, with Grade A being the highest and Grade E being the lowest, designates the standard achieved in Socially Useful Productive Work and Community Service, which are abbreviated as SUPW and COMMUNITY SERVICE on the certificate's face. In certificates, only Grades A through D are listed. The grades should be interpreted as follows.
Grade | Standard |
|---|---|
A | Very Good |
B | Good |
C | Satisfactory |
D | Fair |
E | Fail |
Students must have perfect information regarding the ISC Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025 to check the curriculum and efficiently prepare for the exams. Make sure to take a printout of the syllabus and keep it near you every time you prepare for the exam so that you have the latest updates regarding the chapters and the units covered for every subject that you have chosen to represent in class 12. Students must start preparing for ISC board exams by taking into account the official PDF of the ISC Class 12th Syllabus 2025 uploaded on the website of CISCE.
