The CBSE Class 12 Biology 2026 board paper (Q.P. code 57/1/1) is a 3-hour, 70-mark paper with 33 questions on 23 printed pages. Download the official question paper and CBSE’s marking scheme above.
Paper at a glance
| Subject | Biology |
| Q.P. code | 57/1/1 (Set 1) |
| Time allowed | 3 hours |
| Maximum marks | 70 |
| Number of questions | 33 |
| Printed pages | 23 |
| Marking scheme | Official CBSE marking scheme, hosted on this page |
CBSE Class 12 Biology across years
Compared with 2025: same maximum marks (70), same time allowed (3 hours), same questions (33). Each row links that year’s paper and marking scheme. There was no board exam in 2021, and 2022 was the shorter Term 2 paper.
| Year | Time | Max marks | Questions | Q.P. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 hours | 70 | 33 | 57/1/1 |
| 2025 | 3 hours | 70 | 33 | 57/1/1 |
| 2024 | 3 hours | 70 | 33 | 57/1/1 |
| 2023 | 3 hours | 70 | 33 | 57/1/1 |
| 2022 | 2 hours | — | 13 | 57/1/1 |
| 2020 | 3 hours | 70 | 27 | 57/1/1 |
| 2019 | 3 hours | 70 | 27 | 57/1/1 |
| 2018 | 3 hours | 70 | 26 | 57/1 |
| 2017 | 3 hours | 70 | 26 | 57/1 |
| 2016 | 3 hours | 70 | 26 | 57/1 |
Marking your attempt
- Diagrams earn marks for labels; count how many the scheme expects.
- Use the scheme’s keywords (NCERT terms) in your answers; paraphrases can lose marks.
- Case-based questions are marked per sub-part, so attempt every one.
- Sit the paper in 3 hours without breaks, then mark it with the scheme the same day.
Other CBSE Class 12 2026 subjects
- CBSE Class 12 Physics 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Chemistry 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Mathematics 2026
- CBSE Class 12 English Core 2026
- All CBSE Class 12 2026 papers
FAQ
How many questions are in the CBSE Class 12 Biology 2026 question paper?
The CBSE Class 12 Biology 2026 paper (code 57/1/1) has 33 questions for 70 marks in 3 hours.
Is there an official marking scheme for CBSE Class 12 Biology 2026?
Yes. CBSE published a marking scheme for this paper, and it is hosted on this page next to the question paper.
Which set of the CBSE Class 12 Biology 2026 paper is this?
Set 1, Q.P. code 57/1/1. Other sets use the same pattern with different questions.
Where can I find CBSE Class 12 Biology papers from other years?
The year-by-year table on this page links every CBSE Class 12 Biology paper hosted on this site, 2016 to 2026.