When it comes to Physical Education, students usually expect a paper that is direct and scoring. This year’s CBSE Class 12 Physical Education paper turned out to be a steady and student-friendly paper, according to teachers across schools.
The 3-hour theory exam carried 70 marks and included internal choices. Most educators agreed on one point — the paper was balanced, syllabus-based and fair for Grade 12 students.
Shyam Rajan Varghese, PGT Physical Education at JAIN International Residential School, Bengaluru, said: “The Physical Education (Theory) examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education was balanced, syllabus-oriented, and competency-based.”
“The 70-mark paper included multiple-choice, short answer, case study, and long answer questions, ensuring comprehensive assessment of students’ knowledge and application skills,” he added.
SECTION-WISE STRUCTURE
As shared by Ashish Dhankhar, PE Teacher at KIIT World School, Gurugram, the paper was divided into five sections:
Section A: 18 marks
Section B: 10 marks
Section C: 15 marks
Section D: 12 marks
Section E: 15 marks
Section A (MCQs) was largely direct. Varghese noted that most MCQs were scoring, except for “3-4 MCQ’s having multiple options.” Principal Dr. Alka Kapur of Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, added that while many questions were concept-based and clear, some MCQs required higher order thinking skills.
Section B included direct, textbook-based questions such as definitions and differences. According to Manoj Sharma, PGT Physical Education at Manav Rachna International School, Faridabad, many questions were straightforward and easy for students who had studied thoroughly.
Section C was inference-based and required proper understanding of topics and subtopics. Section D consisted of case studies carrying 4 marks each. These were slightly tricky and demanded careful reading. Sharma explained that although case studies were from familiar areas, students had to understand the situation properly before answering.
Section E carried long-answer questions. These required structured responses, logical explanation and time management.
APPLICATION OVER MEMORISATION
Teachers noted that the paper focused more on understanding than rote learning. Core areas such as sports nutrition, yoga, biomechanics, psychology and training methods were covered fully, with no out-of-syllabus questions.
Varghese said the case study section required “analytical thinking and practical application of concepts, moderately challenging students.” He also added, “Long answer questions demanded structured responses and effective time management.”
Sharma pointed out that some questions were “smartly framed.” They appeared simple but required careful interpretation. In certain questions, students had to connect concepts and apply them to real-life sports situations instead of writing memorised answers.
Sudhir Kumar, HOD and PGT Physical Education at Silverline Prestige School, said the paper was of average difficulty and aligned closely with CBSE sample papers. Some MCQs were tricky but manageable. Students were able to finish the paper within time.
EASIER THAN LAST YEAR
Sakshi Gupta, HOD – Physical Education & Sports Science at Global Indian International School, Noida, said: “The Physical Education question paper was relatively easier compared to last year and was well-structured in terms of content and difficulty level.”
“The paper covered the entire CBSE prescribed syllabus, and no questions were found to be out of the expected curriculum. Students who had prepared sincerely and attended regular classes were able to attempt the paper with confidence,” she added.
Principal Dr. Alka Kapur concluded that the examination was fair and appropriate for Grade 12 students, and that students managed their time effectively.
OVERALL VERDICT
The overall difficulty level ranged from low to moderate. The paper was direct in many parts but still checked analytical and comprehension skills. Students who had studied consistently and understood the concepts are likely to score well.
Check out the CBSE Class 12 Physical Education board exam 2026 full question paper here.
