The CBSE Class 12 Geography exam held on February 26 drew varied but largely positive reactions. Most teachers agreed that the paper stayed within NCERT and followed the expected pattern. At the same time, some felt it was slightly lengthy and more analytical in parts.
Namita Kalita, PGT Geography at Modern English School, Kahilipara, Guwahati, Assam, said, “Overall, the question paper followed the pattern and guidelines prescribed in the CBSE sample paper. The level of difficulty ranged from easy to moderate, making it comfortable for well-prepared students.”
STRICTLY NCERT, BUT MORE ANALYTICAL
Teachers across schools maintained that the paper did not step outside the syllabus.
“Most of the questions were direct and strictly based on the NCERT textbook. Students who have studied the NCERT content thoroughly can attempt the paper with confidence and score well,” Kalita noted.
Jinesh Choudhary, PGT Geography at Witty International School, Udaipur, described the paper as fair, well-structured and aligned with the expected pattern, adding that it was manageable within the given time for prepared students.
Jayeeta Mitra, PGT Geography at Manav Rachna International School, Charmwood, Faridabad, also assessed the paper as moderate. According to her, it was well-balanced and focused on conceptual clarity and application-based understanding.
MCQS: TRICKY AND TIME-CONSUMING
The objective section seems to have demanded the most attention.
Nikhil Sareen, PGT Geography at Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, said, “However, the MCQs required in depth analysis and careful attempt. The source-based questions also required careful reading and analytical understanding but were considered manageable.”
Kamakshi Mittal, PGT Geography at Vidyagyan School, Bulandshahr, shared that the paper was moderate but lengthy. She pointed out that long-answer questions were time consuming and MCQs were tricky, requiring spatially referenced information such as clockwise location of cities, ports of call and oil ports of the world.
Mitra added that some MCQs even involved calculations, which required extra time and careful thinking. She also noted that both assertion–reason questions were simple and straightforward, which came as a relief to students.
Students said the paper felt lengthy and that many kept writing till the last second. They found the MCQs analytical and time-taking.
SHORT AND LONG ANSWERS
On the descriptive side, reactions were steadier.
“The three-mark questions were moderate and manageable,” Kalita had earlier observed. Mitra described the 3-mark questions as generally easy but requiring analytical thinking and clarity.
“The five-mark questions also maintained a moderate level, focusing on analytical and application-oriented thinking,” Kalita said. Mitra described them as simple, direct and well-structured for students who prepared from NCERT.
Sareen noted that the long-answer section offered adequate internal choices, helping students plan better.
MAP WORK AND FINAL TAKE
Map-based questions were largely seen as familiar and scoring. “The map-based questions are simple, familiar, and scoring in nature,” Kalita said. Students were also cautious about tying the map correctly, strictly following CBSE instructions, as Mitra pointed out.
Overall, while some found the paper slightly lengthy and analytical, most agreed it was fair and within the syllabus. For students who revised NCERT thoroughly and practised sample papers, the Geography exam was demanding but doable — and largely predictable.
Check out the CBSE Class 12 Geography board exam 2026 full question paper here.
Check out the CBSE Class 12 Geography board exam 2026 live blog here.
