CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2026-27: Marks & Exam Pattern
The CBSE Class 11 Physics syllabus 2026-27 carries Subject Code 042 and follows a 70-mark theory + 30-mark practical split. Verified against the official CBSE curriculum document on 2026-07-13, this page lists the exact unit-wise marks, the question paper typology, and the practical record requirements so you can plan your year. The highest-weightage unit is Unit I (23 marks), and the paper runs for 3 hours.
CBSE Class 11 Physics Syllabus 2026-27: Subject Code and Verified Overview
The official document places Physics under Code No. 042 for the 2026-27 session. The theory paper is for 70 marks and the practical/internal evaluation is for 30 marks, giving a gross total of 100 marks. This 70+30 pattern is the base on which your final grade is built.
The curriculum reduces overlap with other disciplines and emphasises SI units, problem-solving, and process-skills. Treat this split as fixed; if your school’s internal test pattern varies, that is a school-level decision, but the board theory/practical weightage remains as stated.
Course Structure: Unit-Wise Marks Distribution for Class 11 Physics
The table below is built from page 2 of the official curriculum document. Use the marks column to decide where to invest revision time — a 23-mark unit deserves more hours than a 10-mark one.
| Unit No. | Unit Name (Chapters Covered) | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Unit I | Chapters 1-3: Units & Measurements, Motion in a Straight Line, Motion in a Plane | 23 |
| Unit IV | Chapters 5-7: Work Energy & Power, System of Particles & Rotational Motion, Gravitation | 17 |
| Unit VII | Chapters 8-12: Mechanical Properties of Solids & Fluids, Thermal Properties, Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory | 20 |
| Unit X | Chapters 13-14: Oscillations and Waves | 10 |
| Total | Theory (10 units, 14 chapters) | 70 |
Units II, III, V, VI, VIII, and IX carry no separate marks but their chapters belong to the three weighted blocks above; teach and revise them within those blocks.
Chapter-Wise Study Material for Class 11 Physics
Chapter-wise study material for every unit above:
| Ch. | Chapter | Study material |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Units And Measurement | Coming soon |
| 2 | Motion In A Straight Line | Coming soon |
| 3 | Motion In A Plane | Coming soon |
| 4 | Laws Of Motion | Coming soon |
| 5 | Chapter Five | Coming soon |
| 6 | Systems Of Particles And Rotational Motion | Coming soon |
| 7 | Gravitation | Coming soon |
| 1 | Mechanical Properties Of Solids | Coming soon |
| 2 | Chapter Nine | Coming soon |
| 3 | Chapter Ten | Coming soon |
| 4 | Thermodynamics | Coming soon |
| 5 | Kinetic Theory | Coming soon |
| 6 | Chapter Thirteen | Coming soon |
| 7 | Chapter Fourteen | Coming soon |
You can find broader help in our Class 11 Physics notes hub, our general Class 11 notes index, or the main CBSE notes section.
CBSE Class 11 Physics Exam Pattern and Typology of Questions
The theory paper tests three competency levels. The table below is taken from the official document’s sample paper design; internal variations may occur, but the weightage stays.
| Typology | Marks | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Remembering & Understanding (recall facts, terms, basic concepts) | 27 | 38% |
| Applying (solve problems to new situations) | 22 | 32% |
| Analysing, Evaluating & Creating (break info, defend, combine in new patterns) | 21 | 30% |
| Total | 70 | 100% |
Study Strategy From Typology
Map these percentages to your weekly revision time:
- 38% of time on formula recall and definitions (Remembering/Understanding).
- 32% of time on solving new numerical applications (Applying).
- 30% of time on multi-concept derivations and case-based questions (Analysing/Evaluating/Creating).
If you spend a week solving only straightforward numericals, you cover 38%+32% of the marks but miss the 30% higher-order chunk — that is a common cause of losing the top grade.
Internal Assessment and Practical Examination Breakdown
The 30-mark practical is split across experiments, record-keeping, an activity, an investigatory project, and a viva. The official evaluation scheme is:
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Two experiments (one from each section) | 7 + 7 |
| Practical record (experiments and activities) | 5 |
| One activity from any section | 3 |
| Investigatory Project | 3 |
| Viva on experiments, activities and project | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
At the time of the annual practical exam, your submitted record must include:
- 8 experiments minimum (4 from Section A, 4 from Section B).
- 6 activities minimum (3 from Section A, 3 from Section B).
- 1 investigatory project report.
Section A experiments include vernier calipers, screw gauge, beam balance, and simple pendulum work. Section B covers Young’s modulus, sonometer, resonance tube, and surface tension. Keep your record signed and dated by your teacher throughout the year — last-minute compilation is where most students lose the 5 record marks.
Deletions and Changes in the 2026-27 Physics Syllabus
The CBSE curriculum document itself does not print a chapter-level deletion list for Class 11 Physics. Instead, it carries this note: “The content indicated in NCERT textbooks as excluded for the year 2026-27 is not to be tested by schools.”
This means the specific excluded topics are listed inside the latest NCERT Physics textbooks, not in the CBSE curriculum PDF. Because the CBSE document does not itemise them here, this page does not invent a list. You are advised to check your current NCERT edition’s preface or the official NCERT portal for the exact excluded sections before final revision.
If no exclusion note appears in your NCERT chapter, treat that chapter as fully testable. The physics curriculum structure for 2026-27 matches the framework given above — no unit has been dropped.
Apparatus Familiarity and Prescribed Books for Practical Work
For the practical viva, you must recognise the following apparatus by sight and know their use. Familiarity with these items is assessed in the practical session.
- Vernier calipers, screw gauge, spherometer, beam balance
- Simple pendulum (bob, string, split cork, suspension, stop clock)
- Metre scale, helical spring, weights and hangers
- Sonometer (wedges, pan, pulley, tuning fork)
- Resonance tube, beaker, calorimeter
- Parallelogram law of vectors apparatus, pulleys and pans
Skipping viva preparation is a common mistake — the 5-mark viva is easy if you can identify each apparatus and state one precaution. The official document lists the four prescribed books for theory and practical work:
- Physics Part-I, Textbook for Class XI, NCERT
- Physics Part-II, Textbook for Class XI, NCERT
- Laboratory Manual of Physics, Class XI, NCERT
- Other related books and manuals brought out by NCERT (including multimedia)
Frequently Asked Questions About Class 11 Physics Syllabus
What is the total marks distribution for CBSE Class 11 Physics theory and practical in 2026-27?
The theory paper is 70 marks and the practical/internal assessment is 30 marks, giving a gross total of 100 marks.
Which unit carries the highest weightage in the CBSE Class 11 Physics syllabus 2026-27?
Unit I carries the highest weightage at 23 marks, covering Units and Measurements, Motion in a Straight Line, and Motion in a Plane. Master dimensional analysis and SI units early, as this foundational block underpins later mechanics chapters.
How many experiments do I need to record for the Class 11 Physics practical exam?
You must record at least 8 experiments (4 from each section) and 6 activities (3 from each section), plus one investigatory project report.
Will the board exam include content excluded from the NCERT textbook for 2026-27?
No. The official CBSE document states that content indicated in NCERT textbooks as excluded for 2026-27 is not to be tested by schools. Check the latest NCERT edition for the specific excluded topics list, as the CBSE curriculum PDF does not print the chapter-level deletions.
Reference: CBSE Class 11 Physics curriculum document, session as stated on cbseacademic.nic.in.