The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 Psychology board exam for the 2025-26 academic session is scheduled to be held on 23 February 2026. For optimal preparation, students are being advised to use the official CBSE sample papers and marking scheme as a primary revision tool in the final days leading up to the exam. Sample papers reflect the board’s blueprint and type of questions expected, helping students focus on important areas and improve time management.
Students are encouraged to focus on high-weightage topics identified in the sample paper
Analysis of the official CBSE sample paper suggests that certain key topics carry significant weightage and should be prioritised during revision. These include psychological disorders, therapeutic approaches, concepts of intelligence and personality, and areas of social psychology. Students are advised to go beyond memorising definitions and aim for a clear conceptual understanding of how psychological theories apply in different contexts. Structured revision that emphasises application of concepts and case-based analytical thinking will help students tackle questions requiring explanation and evaluation.
Practising sample papers helps improve exam strategy and time management
Solving sample papers under timed conditions helps students familiarise themselves with the structure and marking scheme that the board uses. It also builds exam-day confidence, enhances accuracy and improves time allocation skills. Regular practice with sample papers gives students the ability to estimate how long each section takes and where they may need to speed up or refine answers — especially in sections demanding structured, written responses.
Revision should move beyond definitions to explanation and application
Students must aim to write responses that are not merely factual but show the application of psychological concepts and examples. Case-based questions often require interpretation of scenarios in terms of psychological frameworks, and it is essential that answers reflect clarity and relevance. CBSE sample papers provide model questions that implicitly guide students to think beyond rote learning, focusing instead on comprehension and application.
Understanding the marking scheme is key to scoring high in long-answer questions
Sample papers and previous years’ papers also give insight into the marking scheme used by examiners. Long-answer questions demand structured, coherent and analytically rich responses that are divided into logical paragraphs and supported with examples where appropriate. Students should aim to stick within word limits, emphasise key terms, and avoid overly long explanations that lose focus.
Case-based questions require deep understanding and concise articulation
Psychology paper formats often include case-based questions which test students’ ability to connect theory to real-world scenarios. Careful reading of the case, identification of relevant psychological concepts and clear articulation of the answer are essential for scoring well. Students should practice this format extensively, using the sample papers as a reference to anticipate how questions may be framed.
Final revision should follow a balanced study plan across all units
A balanced revision plan includes focused study sessions on each unit of the syllabus, interspersed with sample paper practice. Break study time into smaller, manageable segments for topics like developmental psychology, cognition, learning theories, social influence and psychological testing. Mixing content revision with active sample paper practice maximises retention and reduces exam anxiety.
Students should avoid rote memorisation and prioritise conceptual clarity
In the final days before the CBSE Class 12 Psychology exam, students should resist the temptation to memorise content verbatim. Instead, they should concentrate on understanding how psychological principles function in diverse contexts, interpret questions accurately and write well-structured answers, which is the hallmark of high-scoring board exam responses