CBSE class 12 Exam Analysis: ‘The paper was easy, but it had some tricky questions’

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the class XII History exam on March 28, 2024. The three-hour test was of 80 marks (theory) and 20 marks (project).  The students were given 15 minutes – from 10:15 am to 10:30 am – to thoroughly read the question paper giving students time to understand what the question was asking of them.

In all, 34 questions consisted of competency-based questions (MCQs, case-based, source-based questions) and carried 40% weightage. The Multiple choice questions (MCQs) carried 20% weightage and short/answer type questions carried 40% weightage.

This year, over 39 lakh students are participating in the CBSE Board exams. The final exams for class X have concluded, and the class XII exams will conclude on April 2, 2024.

According to Amarjot Kaur, TGT History at Apeejay School, Nerul, this year the question paper was much easier as compared to last year’s. “The exam consisted of 34 questions, adhering strictly to the NCERT syllabus. The good part was that the paper was not very lengthy allowing students time for revision,” the educator said and shared the following detailed analysis.

1. 1. There were 21 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). A couple of these were a bit tricky but overall, this section was easy.
2. 2. There were six questions worth three marks each.
3. 3. There were three questions worth eight marks each.
4. 4. Three passage-based/source-based questions, each worth four marks.
5. 5. There was one map question worth five marks, totaling 80 marks for the paper.
6. 6. When compared to last year, this year’s question paper was much easier.

“I reviewed two sets of question papers and I found that both sets had similar difficulty levels – it was easy. However, the questions were not the same; the map question was the same across all sets,” Amarjot Kaur said in conclusion.