ISC Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2027
The ISC Class 12 Physics syllabus for the 2027 exam has 9 units and 15 chapters, with about 99 topics. Each chapter below links to every past question on it with answers. For how the 70-mark theory paper is laid out, see the paper pattern guide.
Marks for each unit in the syllabus
| Unit | Marks |
|---|---|
| Electrostatics, Current Electricity | 14 |
| Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | 16 |
| Electromagnetic Waves | 2 |
| Optics | 18 |
| Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 7 |
| Atoms and Nuclei | 6 |
| Electronic Devices | 7 |
| Total | 70 |
The syllabus gives one figure to units listed together. Source: CISCE’s ISC 2027 Physics syllabus.
Where the marks went in the board papers since 2023
| Unit | Share of the marks |
|---|---|
| Optics | 22% |
| Atoms and Nuclei | 14% |
| Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | 13% |
| Current Electricity | 13% |
| Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | 12% |
| Electrostatics | 9% |
| Electronic Devices | 8% |
| Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 6% |
| Electromagnetic Waves | 2% |
Counted from the 4 Physics board papers of 2023 to 2026 on Prashnika: each question’s marks as printed. Where a question offers an either-or choice, both options are counted, so read the shares as a guide to emphasis, not as exact marks.
Electrostatics
- Electric Charges and Fields 45 questions
Coulomb's law, Principle of Superposition, Concept of electric field and its intensity, Electric lines of force, Electric dipole and dipole moment, Torque on an electric dipole, Gauss's theorem, Applications of Gauss's theorem - Electrostatic Potential, Potential Energy and Capacitance 46 questions
Concept of potential and potential difference, Equipotential surface, Electric potential due to a point charge and dipole, Electrostatic potential energy, Capacitance of a conductor, Parallel-plate capacitor, Capacitors in series and parallel, Energy stored in a capacitor, Dielectric constant and polarization
Current Electricity
- All 103 questions on Current Electricity
Free electron theory of conduction, Drift velocity and electron mobility, Ohm's law, Electrical resistance and resistivity, Temperature dependence of resistance, Electrical energy and power, Internal resistance and EMF of a cell, Combination of cells, Kirchhoff's laws, Wheatstone bridge, Metre bridge, Potentiometer principle and applications
Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
- Moving charges and magnetism 99 questions
Oersted's experiment, Biot-Savart law and applications, Ampere's Circuital law and applications, Force on a moving charged particle, Force between parallel current-carrying wires, Definition of ampere, Torque on a current loop, Moving coil galvanometer, Conversion of galvanometer to ammeter and voltmeter - Magnetism and Matter 21 questions
Current loop as a magnetic dipole, Magnetic field lines, Magnetic field due to a bar magnet, Properties of dia, para and ferromagnetic substances, Electromagnets and factors affecting strength, Permanent magnets
Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
- Electromagnetic Induction 24 questions
Faraday's laws, Lenz's law, Motional EMF, Eddy currents, Self-induction and self-inductance, Mutual induction and mutual inductance, Transformer - Alternating Current 56 questions
Peak, mean and RMS value of AC, AC circuits with R, L and C, LCR series circuit, Phasor diagrams and impedance, Power in AC circuits and wattless current, Electrical resonance and Q factor, LC oscillations, AC generator
Electromagnetic Waves
- All 34 questions on Electromagnetic Waves
Displacement current, Characteristics and transverse nature of EM waves, Electromagnetic spectrum and uses
Optics
- Ray Optics and Optical Instruments 122 questions
Reflection of light by spherical mirrors, Mirror formula and magnification, Refraction of light and Snell's law, Total internal reflection and optical fibres, Refraction through a prism and dispersion, Refraction at a spherical surface, Lens maker's formula and thin lens formula, Power of a lens and combination of lenses, Microscopes, Astronomical telescopes - Wave Optics 75 questions
Wavefront and Huygens' principle, Proof of reflection and refraction laws, Interference of light and coherent sources, Young's double slit experiment and fringe width, Single slit Fraunhofer diffraction
Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
- All 63 questions on Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
Photoelectric effect, Hertz and Lenard's observations, Einstein's photoelectric equation, Matter waves and de Broglie relation, Davisson-Germer experiment
Atoms and Nuclei
- Atoms 33 questions
Alpha-particle scattering experiment, Rutherford's atomic model, Bohr's atomic model, Energy levels and hydrogen spectrum - Nuclei 52 questions
Composition and size of nucleus, Mass-energy relation and mass defect, Binding energy per nucleon, Nuclear fission, Nuclear reactor, Nuclear fusion
Electronic Devices
- Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits 31 questions
Energy bands in solids, Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, p-n junction - Semiconductor diode 36 questions
I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias, Diode as a rectifier, Special types of junction diodes, Zener diode as voltage regulator
The practical and project marks
The practical component is 30 marks: the practical examination (the experiments) carries 15, the project work 10 and the practical file 5. They are marked separately from the theory paper.
Common questions
How many units and chapters are in the ISC Class 12 Physics syllabus?
The 2027 syllabus lists 9 units: Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents, Electromagnetic Waves, Optics, Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter, Atoms and Nuclei, Electronic Devices. They hold 15 chapters.
How many marks does each unit of ISC Class 12 Physics carry?
Electrostatics, Current Electricity: 14; Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents: 16; Electromagnetic Waves: 2; Optics: 18; Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter: 7; Atoms and Nuclei: 6; Electronic Devices: 7. The theory paper is 70 marks.
Which Physics chapters were in earlier ISC papers but not in the 2027 syllabus?
Junction transistor, Digital electronics, Communication Systems. Older papers on Prashnika still have questions on them, marked by chapter, which are useful only if your syllabus still has the chapter.
Keep reading
Units, chapters and topics from CISCE’s ISC 2027 syllabus. Last checked 2026-10-16.