CBSE Class 12 Psychology Syllabus 2026-27
The CBSE Class 12 Psychology syllabus 2026-27 carries subject code 037 and follows a 70-mark theory plus 30-mark practical split across seven units. Verified against the official CBSE curriculum document on 2025-07-24, this page gives the exact unit-wise marks table, the competency weightage, the practical breakdown, and a confirmed statement on deletions so you are not misled by stale copy-paste pages.
CBSE Class 12 Psychology Syllabus 2026-27: Verified Marking Scheme
Psychology is offered as an elective subject at the senior secondary level. For the 2026-27 session, the subject code is 037, and the total evaluation adds up to 100 marks — 70 marks for the theory paper and 30 marks for the practical component (NCERT, p. 11).
The theory exam runs for 3 hours and covers all seven units in the prescribed course structure. The practical assessment is conducted internally by the school and includes a case profile, a practical file, and the administration and interpretation of psychological tests.
This page reflects every figure as stated in the official curriculum document available on cbseacademic.nic.in, the CBSE academic portal where the senior secondary curriculum is published for verification.
Class 12 Psychology Course Structure and Marks Distribution
The theory paper is divided into seven units, each carrying a specific mark weightage. The table below lists the exact marks as printed in the CBSE curriculum document (NCERT, p. 8).
| Unit | Topics | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I | Variations in Psychological Attributes | 13 |
| II | Self and Personality | 13 |
| III | Meeting Life Challenges | 9 |
| IV | Psychological Disorders | 12 |
| V | Therapeutic Approaches | 9 |
| VI | Attitude and Social Cognition | 8 |
| VII | Social Influence and Group Processes | 6 |
| Total | 70 |
Unit-wise Topic Overview
The following is a brief summary of the topic heads under each unit, drawn from the course content pages of the curriculum document (NCERT, pp. 8–10). The full chapter-wise study material for each unit is available through the chapter links section below.
| Unit | Key Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Unit I | Intelligence theories (psychometric, PASS model, triarchic, multiple intelligences), individual differences, culture and intelligence, emotional intelligence, aptitude, creativity |
| Unit II | Concept of self, cognitive and behavioural aspects, culture and self, personality approaches (type, trait, psychodynamic, behavioural, cultural, humanistic), personality assessment (self-report, projective, behavioural analysis) |
| Unit III | Nature, types and sources of stress, general adaptation syndrome, stress and immune system, lifestyle, coping with stress, stress management techniques, life skills, positive health |
| Unit IV | Concepts of abnormality, classification of disorders, factors underlying abnormal behaviour, anxiety disorders, OCD, trauma-related disorders, somatic symptom disorders, dissociative disorders, depressive and bipolar disorders, schizophrenia spectrum, neurodevelopmental disorders, eating disorders, substance-related disorders |
| Unit V | Nature and process of psychotherapy, therapeutic relationship, behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy, humanistic-existential therapy, alternative therapies, factors contributing to healing, ethics in psychotherapy, rehabilitation of the mentally ill |
| Unit VI | Explaining social behaviour, nature and components of attitudes, attitude formation and change, attitude-behaviour relationship, prejudice and discrimination, strategies for handling prejudice |
| Unit VII | Nature and formation of groups, types of groups, social loafing, group polarisation, influence of group on individual behaviour |
Chapter-wise Study Material for Class 12 Psychology
Chapter-wise study material for every unit above: Psychology unit-wise notes, along with the broader Class 12 notes collection and the full CBSE notes hub for cross-subject revision.
Class 12 Psychology Exam Pattern and Competency Weightage
The theory paper tests three competency levels, each carrying a fixed share of the 70 marks. The board has moved toward learning-outcome-based assessment, which means question papers will include more real-life situation questions requiring application, analysis, and evaluation rather than direct textbook recall (NCERT, p. 13).
| S. No. | Competency | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remembering and Understanding — recalling facts, terms, basic concepts; demonstrating understanding by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting | 35 | 50% |
| 2 | Applying — solving problems in new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules | 25 | 35% |
| 3 | Formulating, Analysing, Evaluating and Creating — examining and breaking information into parts, making inferences, defending opinions, compiling information in a new pattern | 10 | 15% |
| Total | 70 | 100% |
Why this matters for scoring: the board papers use real-life situation questions to test the 35% application weightage, so students who only memorise definitions cannot score above 35 marks.
To cross into the applying and analysing bands, you must be able to take a concept — say, the general adaptation syndrome or the components of an attitude — and apply it to a scenario the paper describes. Rote recall of definitions earns at most the 50% remembering-and-understanding band; the remaining 35% plus 15% sits behind questions that ask what would happen if or
which approach fits this case.
| Mistake | Correct rule | How to check your answer |
|---|---|---|
| Memorising definitions and expecting to score full marks | Half the paper (50%) tests recall, but 35% tests application and 15% tests analysis — prepare for scenario-based questions too | If your answer restates the textbook definition without linking it to the situation in the question, it sits in the 50% band, not the 35% or 15% band |
| Treating the theory paper as a vocabulary test | Use concept names as tools to explain behaviour, not as the answer itself | Ask whether your answer would let a non-Psychology reader understand why the person in the scenario behaves that way |
| Ignoring the 15% analysis-and-evaluation band | Practise breaking a case into parts, identifying motives or causes, and defending a judgement | Check whether your answer includes an inference, a piece of evidence, and a reasoned conclusion — not just a label |
Internal Assessment and Practical Marks Breakdown (30 Marks)
The practical component carries 30 marks and is assessed internally. It has three parts: a practical file and case profile, a viva voce, and the administration and reporting of two psychological tests in the practical exam (NCERT, p. 11).
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Practical File and Case Profile | 10 |
| Viva Voce (Case Profile and Two Psychological Tests) | 5 |
| Two Tests (5 marks for conducting + 10 marks for reporting) | 15 |
| Total | 30 |
What the Practical Component Involves
- Case profile development — students build a case profile using appropriate methods such as interview, observation, and psychological tests to understand an individual’s behaviour and mental processes.
- Test administration during the year — students must administer and interpret five psychological tests related to attributes like intelligence, aptitude, attitude, and personality, and record these in the practical file.
- Practical exam — in the final practical examination, the student administers and interprets two psychological tests from those practiced during the year.
Common mistake on the reporting component: students often lose marks on the reporting part of the two-test section because they administer the test mechanically — reading instructions, recording scores — without writing a proper interpretation of the results.
The 10 marks for reporting reward the student’s ability to explain what the score means, what it suggests about the individual, and how it connects to the psychological attribute being measured.
Conducting the test correctly earns only 5 of the 15 marks; the remaining 10 sit behind the written interpretation, and students who skip or rush that section cap their practical score well below the 30-mark ceiling.
Deletions and Changes in the 2026-27 Psychology Syllabus
The official curriculum document for Class 12 Psychology (subject code 037) session 2026-27 does not list any deleted topics or rationalised content. The grounding OCR across pages 1, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the curriculum document contains no deleted or rationalised content list for this subject.
This is a verified no-change statement: all seven units and their full topic lists carry forward into the 2026-27 session as printed. Many competitor pages show stale deletion lists from older sessions, which no longer apply. If a page claims chapters were removed for 2026-27, that claim is not supported by the official CBSE document.
| Ch. | Chapter | Study material |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Variations In Psychological Attributes | Coming soon |
| 2 | Self And Personality | Coming soon |
| 3 | Meeting Life Challenges | Coming soon |
| 4 | Psychological Disorders | Coming soon |
| 5 | Therapeutic Approaches | Coming soon |
| 6 | Attitude And Social Cognition | Coming soon |
| 7 | Social Influence And Group Processes | Coming soon |
Frequently Asked Questions About Class 12 Psychology Syllabus
What is the total marks for CBSE Class 12 Psychology theory paper?
The theory paper carries a total of 70 marks, conducted over 3 hours, and covers all seven units prescribed in the syllabus. The remaining 30 marks come from the practical assessment (NCERT, p. 8).
How many marks is the Class 12 Psychology practical examination?
The practical examination carries 30 marks, broken down as 10 marks for the practical file and case profile, 5 marks for the viva voce, and 15 marks for conducting and reporting two psychological tests (NCERT, p. 11).
Which unit carries the highest marks in the Class 12 Psychology syllabus 2026-27?
Unit I (Variations in Psychological Attributes) and Unit II (Self and Personality) share the highest weightage at 13 marks each. Treat both as priority units during revision.
Are there any deleted chapters or topics in the 2026-27 Psychology syllabus?
No. The official CBSE curriculum document for Psychology (code 037) session 2026-27 does not list any deleted or rationalised topics. All seven units are intact for this session.
How many psychological tests must a student administer for the practical file?
Students must administer and interpret five psychological tests during the academic year and record them in the practical file. In the final practical exam, the student administers and interprets two of these tests (NCERT, p. 11).
Reference: CBSE Class 12 Psychology curriculum document, session as stated on cbseacademic.nic.in.