CBSE Class 12th Board Exams 2025 : Was Maths paper moderate? What students say

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) held the Class 12 mathematics paper on March 8. Students who appeared for the exam today found the paper to be of moderate level. The paper, according to experts, followed the pattern of the sample papers provided by CBSE. The question paper was for 80 marks which included 20 MCQs and three case-based questions with internal choices.

According to Nilutpal Bora, PGT Mathematics, Modern English School Kahilipara Guwahati, the CBSE Class 12 Maths exam was well-balanced and aligned with students’ expectations. The paper focused on comprehension, critical thinking, and application-based questions. The MCQs based on the application of trigonometry were easy, while questions related to matrices and differentiation in the MCQ section were slightly tricky. The MCQs remained consistent across all three sets.

Section B, Bora added, consisting of two-mark questions, was of moderate difficulty. Sections C and D primarily featured questions from previous years’ papers (PYQs) on topics such as three-dimensional geometry, relations and functions, differentiation, and linear programming. The three case-based questions were based on matrices, Bayes’ theorem on probability, and the application of derivatives. These were of moderate difficulty and also aligned with previous PYQs.

“Overall, the question paper was well-balanced, and students who have practiced sample papers and PYQs for at least the last five years are expected to score very well in the exam,” he added.

Good balance of question

As per Jatin Hasija, HoD and Alok Das, PGT Mathematics Department at Silverline Prestige School, Ghaziabad, the Class 12 maths exam was moderate, with a good balance of question types.

The MCQs were generally easy to moderate, primarily based on the NCERT syllabus, making them accessible for students who prepared adequately. The long answer type questions posed a greater challenge, with some being deemed difficult. This aligns with feedback from students who found these questions more complex compared to the MCQs, they said.

The short and very short answer questions were considered easy, allowing students to score well in this section without significant difficulty.

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“This feedback reflects a comprehensive assessment of the exam structure, highlighting areas where students performed well and where they faced challenges. The students shared a positive yet mixed review of the mathematics and applied math board exam, highlighting the following key points, the teachers added.

While students felt that the paper was slightly more difficult than previous years, they found it manageable because of prior practice. Many students noted that the study resources and practice materials provided by their teachers had similar or almost identical questions. This familiarity helped them approach the exam with confidence, making it feel simpler than expected. The paper was considered a bit lengthy, requiring efficient time management, they added.

However, since many questions were familiar, students could solve them quickly, reducing the impact of the length. Despite the initial perception of difficulty, students found the paper easy overall due to thorough preparation and effective guidance from their teachers. This feedback indicates that good preparation and relevant practice materials played a crucial role in helping students perform well, even in a slightly challenging and lengthy exam.

A few tricky questions

Avnish Tiwari (PGT) Mathematics at Jain International Residential School (JIRS), Bengaluru said that the paper was well-structured, balanced, and scoring. Students who have followed the textbook and practiced standard problems will find it comfortable. A few tricky questions (especially in matrices and application-based parts) could differentiate top scorers from average ones. Overall, it aligns with CBSE’s approach of conceptual understanding and practical application, he added.

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Moderate but lengthy

According to Pooja Nayyar, HOD Maths, Seth Anandram Jaipuria School Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, the class 12 paper was moderate but lengthy.

“Only 2-3 questions on integral calculus seemed to be a bit tricky, but most of the paper was from PYQs and NCERT. MCQs were not lengthy and were based on concepts. The blueprint from the sample paper did not apply much to the exam since the distribution of marks was way different. Overall the questions were of moderate level,” Nayyar added.

Aarav Agarwal, a student of year 12 from Shiv Nadar School Noida said, that 5 markers were direct questions while 1 question each in 2 marks and 3 marks section were a bit tricky.

Tougher than sample paper

Ajit Pratap Singh, PGT Maths, KIIT World School, Gurugram while analyisng the paper said: “The CBSE Class 12 Maths question paper was tougher than the CBSE Class 12 sample question paper. Question paper was also lengthy and time-consuming. Most students felt “Section-A” was difficult and time-consuming.”

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The questions on the exam ranged in difficulty from moderate to challenging. Most of the questions required students to use critical thinking and application. Questions based on case studies was easy, as well section D was scoring and NCERT based. Overall a challenging to moderate paper as far as the difficulty level is concerned, with a balanced approach for all kinds of students, he added.