The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the Class 12 Physical Education (Code 048) examination smoothly across the country on Wednesday. The three-hour paper, held from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, saw students walking out of centres looking relaxed and satisfied with their performance.
Initial reactions suggest the paper was straightforward and scoring. Students described it as well-balanced, with a comfortable mix of objective and descriptive questions, while teachers said even moderately prepared candidates should be able to secure good marks.
We caught up with Nitu and Skansha, both students at Government School, Sonia Vihar, Delhi, who appeared for the exam at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sri Ram Colony, Delhi.
Their verdict? Quite positive.
“The paper was easy and high scoring. We expect good marks in this paper and hope to do well in our remaining exams,” the two said, visibly relieved. They added that while this is officially the second paper for Class 12 — CBSE having already conducted subjects like Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship, and others earlier — it was their first major paper, and it went well. “We’re hopeful about the papers ahead,” they shared.
A teacher, who preferred to remain anonymous, echoed the students’ sentiments. “This year’s paper was very easy and high scoring. Students who prepared even moderately should do well,” the teacher said, adding that Physical Education is often chosen as a fifth subject to boost overall percentage.
Sharing her reaction with TOI Education, Dr. Alka Kapur, Principal, Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, said: “The question paper was balanced, well structured and adequately covered the prescribed syllabus.
Several questions were direct and concept-based, allowing students to attempt them with clarity and confidence. While some MCQs required higher order thinking skills, the overall standard remained balanced and reasonable. Students were able to manage their time effectively. The examination was fair and appropriate for Grade 12 students. ”
Nariender Tokas, HOD Physical Education, DPS Sector 45 Gurugram, also described the paper as largely student-friendly.
“The Class XII Physical Education question paper was well-balanced and aligned with the prescribed syllabus. Most sections featured direct and concept-based questions. The MCQ section was slightly tricky and required careful reading, but it was manageable for well-prepared students. ”
From Bengaluru, Shyam Rajan Varghese, PGT Physical Education, JAIN International Residential School (JIRS), termed the paper balanced and competency-based.
“The examination was balanced, syllabus-oriented and competency-based. The 70-mark paper included MCQs, short answer, case study and long answer questions, ensuring comprehensive assessment of knowledge and application skills. The paper covered the entire syllabus without any out-of-syllabus questions and was moderate in difficulty — neither overly simplistic nor excessively tough. It reflected CBSE’s emphasis on understanding, application and analytical thinking over rote memorisation. ”
Manoj Sharma, PGT Physical Education at Manav Rachna International School, had also shared with TOI: “The overall question paper was mostly direct and syllabus-based. Many questions were straightforward and could be answered easily by students who had studied the textbook thoroughly. The case study questions were slightly tricky and tested application skills, while a few questions required deep thinking and analytical understanding rather than rote learning.
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The theory paper was for 70 marks and divided into five sections:
• Section A: 18 compulsory multiple-choice questions (1 mark each)
• Section B: Very short answer questions (2 marks each), attempt any 5
• Section C: Short answer questions (3 marks each), attempt any 5
• Section D: Case study-based questions (4 marks each)
• Section E: Long answer questions (5 marks each), attempt any 3
The mix of objective and descriptive questions gave students enough opportunity to write confidently without feeling rushed.
- Download the CBSE Class 12 Physical Education Question Paper PDF – Click Here
The Class 12 board exams this year are being conducted on a large scale:
• Total registered candidates: 18,59,551
• Total subjects offered: 120
• Total examination centres: 7,574
• Male candidates: 10,27,552
• Female candidates: 8,31,999
For Science students, the next big paper is Physics on 20 February 2026. With a short gap in between, this is the time to revise important topics and practise numericals.
For now, though, students who appeared for Physical Education can take a breather. If today’s reactions are anything to go by, it was a good start to the exam season.
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