CBSE Class 12 Chemistry exam 2026: Expert tips that separate average answers from top scorers
When Class 12 students will sit down to write the CBSE Chemistry board exam, they are not just recalling equations or reaction mechanisms. They are being tested on something deeper and more durable: the ability to think logically under pressure, present ideas cleanly, and avoid mistakes that quietly drain marks. Chemistry, more than many subjects, rewards calm thinking and disciplined writing. The exam is scheduled to be held on February 28, 2026.The three-hour paper evaluates a wide spectrum, Physical, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, through numericals, reasoning-based questions, mechanisms, definitions, graphs, and diagrams. The syllabus is vast, but the pattern is familiar. The difference between a 70 and a 90 often lies not in preparation alone, but in how students approach the paper on the day of the exam.With the board examination approaching, we spoke to senior Chemistry teachers from Delhi schools to understand what truly matters, from high-yield topics to common pitfalls that students must avoid.
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry 2026: How should students approach the paper?
According to Dr. Vaishali Mishra, Head of the Chemistry Department at ITL Public School, Dwarka, strategy begins the moment students open the question paper.“Students should use the reading time effectively to identify internal choices and mentally plan the sequence of answers,” she says.She advises students to begin with questions they are most confident about, building momentum early in the exam. Difficult or time-consuming questions, she notes, should be attempted later to avoid panic.Equally important is discipline in answer presentation. “Numbering answers correctly, writing all sub-parts together and leaving space for unfinished parts prevents unnecessary confusion,” Dr. Mishra says.
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry: Key chapters students must revise thoroughly
Revision, teachers say, works best when students know where marks are consistently concentrated.Physical Chemistry: Don’t skip numericalsDr. Mishra highlights Solutions, Electrochemistry and Chemical Kinetics as chapters where students often lose marks due to avoidable errors.“Numericals from Henry’s Law, Raoult’s Law, osmotic pressure, the Nernst equation and rate laws must be practised with correct formulas and units,” she says.She stresses that graphs, such as variation of conductivity with concentration and potential energy diagrams, must be practised carefully, with axes properly labelled.Inorganic Chemistry: Reasoning over rote learningFrom the d- and f-block elements, students should focus on reasoning-based questions, general properties and the preparation and oxidising behaviour of KMnO₄ and K₂Cr₂O₇.In Coordination Compounds, teachers warn that small conceptual errors can be costly. “Wrong oxidation numbers or confusion between strong and weak ligands often leads to incorrect hybridisation,” Dr Mishra says.Organic Chemistry: Mechanisms matter more than memoryOrganic Chemistry remains a decisive section for high scorers. Students are expected to show clarity in IUPAC nomenclature, name reactions, conversions and reaction mechanisms.“Mechanisms must be written step by step, with proper arrows and intermediates,” Dr Mishra says. Missing reagents or incomplete logic, she adds, often results in partial or zero marks.
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry exam tip: Write to be understood, not to impress
Yogita Bakshi, Chemistry PGT at Ryan International School, Mayur Vihar, believes students often overcomplicate their answers under pressure.“Write neat, precise answers instead of lengthy explanations that drift away from the question,” she says.She recommends maintaining a steady writing speed and leaving two to four lines between answers. “A clean answer script is easier to evaluate and reduces the risk of skipped parts,” Bakshi adds.
Chemistry board exam presentation: Diagrams and structure can lift scores
Teachers agree that Chemistry is not a subject where text alone is enough. “Students should include diagrams, graphs, structures and resonance forms wherever applicable, even if the question does not explicitly demand them,” Dr Mishra says.For Organic Chemistry, distinguishing tests should be written in a tabular format, clearly mentioning the chemical test, observation and inference. In Physical Chemistry, checking units in numericals is non-negotiable.
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry: Common mistakes students must avoid
Chemistry answers rarely fail spectacularly; they lose marks quietly. Teachers point to a few recurring errors. In Physical Chemistry, students often forget to substitute the van’t Hoff factor in colligative property questions or use Celsius instead of Kelvin in kinetics. In the Nernst equation, failing to write the correct cell reaction leads to incorrect values of electrons exchanged.In Inorganic Chemistry, unbalanced equations and incomplete reasoning weaken otherwise correct answers.In Organic Chemistry, students frequently skip reagents, miswrite IUPAC names or give distinguishing tests without observations.“These are not conceptual gaps but execution errors,” Bakshi says. “They are completely avoidable with careful writing.”The final word from teachersAs the exam approaches, teachers emphasise balance over burnout. “Confidence, consistency and clarity are the keys to board exam success,” Dr Mishra says.Bakshi echoes the sentiment, urging students to trust their preparation. “Combine thorough study with daily revision, maintain a positive attitude and stay focused,” she says.In Chemistry, success does not belong to those who rush to finish first, but to those who think clearly, write neatly, and stay calm till the last minute.
