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CBSE Class 12 · Mathematics 041 · Above board

Class 12 Maths Sample Paper 3 (CBSE 2026-27 pattern)

A full-length practice paper for CBSE Class 12 Mathematics on the 2026-27 board pattern, pitched at a step above the board paper. Sit it in one go against the 3-hour timer, then mark it: the Section A answer key and the scheme for question 36 are open to everyone, and the full step-marking scheme, with where toppers lose marks on every long answer and case study, is free with an account.

  • 80 marks
  • 3 hours
  • 38 questions, sections A to E
  • Internal choice in B, C, D and E

Not an official CBSE paper. This is an original practice paper written to the CBSE pattern by CBSE Math Revision and independently checked. CBSE's own 2026-27 sample paper is on cbseacademic.nic.in: question paper · marking scheme.

Time 3:00:00

General instructions

  1. This question paper contains 38 questions. All questions are compulsory.
  2. The paper is divided into five sections: A, B, C, D and E.
  3. Section A: questions 1–18 are MCQs and questions 19–20 are Assertion–Reason based, 1 mark each.
  4. Section B: questions 21–25 are very short answer (VSA) questions of 2 marks each.
  5. Section C: questions 26–31 are short answer (SA) questions of 3 marks each.
  6. Section D: questions 32–35 are long answer (LA) questions of 5 marks each.
  7. Section E: questions 36–38 are case study based questions of 4 marks each, with sub-parts of 1, 1 and 2 marks.
  8. There is no overall choice. Internal choice is provided in 2 questions of Section B, 2 of Section C, 2 of Section D and in the 2-mark sub-part of each case study in Section E.
  9. Use of calculators is not allowed.

Section A 20 marks

Questions 1 to 20 carry 1 mark each. Questions 1 to 18 are multiple choice questions (MCQs); questions 19 and 20 are Assertion–Reason based questions.

1.

The relation \(R = \{(a, b) : a = b^2\}\) on the set \(\mathbb{N}\) of natural numbers is

  1. (a) reflexive only
  2. (b) symmetric only
  3. (c) transitive only
  4. (d) neither reflexive, nor symmetric, nor transitive
1
3.

If \(A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 1 & 1 \end{bmatrix}\), then \(A^n\) (\(n \in \mathbb{N}\)) equals

  1. (a) \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ n & 1 \end{bmatrix}\)
  2. (b) \(\begin{bmatrix} n & 0 \\ n & n \end{bmatrix}\)
  3. (c) \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 1 & n \end{bmatrix}\)
  4. (d) \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 & n \\ 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix}\)
1
4.

If \(A\) is a square matrix of order \(3\) with \(|A| = -2\), then \(|\operatorname{adj}(2A)|\) is

  1. (a) \(16\)
  2. (b) \(64\)
  3. (c) \(-256\)
  4. (d) \(256\)
1
5.

For \(A = \begin{bmatrix} 2 & 3 \\ 5 & -2 \end{bmatrix}\), \(A^{-1}\) equals

  1. (a) \(\dfrac{1}{19}A\)
  2. (b) \(19A\)
  3. (c) \(-\dfrac{1}{19}A\)
  4. (d) \(A'\)
1
6.

If \(A = \begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & -a \end{bmatrix}\) with \(a^2 + bc = 1\), then \(A^2\) is

  1. (a) \(O\)
  2. (b) \(I\)
  3. (c) \(A\)
  4. (d) \(-I\)
1
7.

The system \(kx + y + z = 1\), \(x + ky + z = 1\), \(x + y + kz = 1\) fails to have a unique solution exactly when \(k\) is

  1. (a) \(1\) or \(-2\)
  2. (b) \(-1\) or \(2\)
  3. (c) \(1\) only
  4. (d) \(0\)
1
11.

\(\displaystyle\int_{-1}^{1} \log\left(\dfrac{2 - x}{2 + x}\right)dx\) equals

  1. (a) \(0\)
  2. (b) \(1\)
  3. (c) \(2\log 3\)
  4. (d) \(-2\log 3\)
1
13.

For non-zero vectors \(\vec a\) and \(\vec b\), if \(|\vec a + \vec b| = |\vec a - \vec b|\), then

  1. (a) \(\vec a \parallel \vec b\)
  2. (b) \(\vec a \perp \vec b\)
  3. (c) \(|\vec a| = |\vec b|\)
  4. (d) \(\vec a = \vec b\)
1
14.

The vector of magnitude \(9\) in the direction of \(2\hat i - \hat j + 2\hat k\) is

  1. (a) \(6\hat i - 3\hat j + 6\hat k\)
  2. (b) \(18\hat i - 9\hat j + 18\hat k\)
  3. (c) \(2\hat i - \hat j + 2\hat k\)
  4. (d) \(3\hat i - 3\hat j + 3\hat k\)
1
15.

The distance between the parallel lines \(\vec r = \hat i + \lambda(2\hat i - 3\hat j + 6\hat k)\) and \(\vec r = 2\hat j + \mu(2\hat i - 3\hat j + 6\hat k)\) is

  1. (a) \(\dfrac{\sqrt{181}}{7}\)
  2. (b) \(\sqrt5\)
  3. (c) \(\dfrac{\sqrt{181}}{49}\)
  4. (d) \(\dfrac{13}{7}\)
1
16.

For the LPP: minimise \(Z = 3x + 2y\) subject to \(x + y \ge 4\), \(x \le 3\), \(y \le 3\), \(x, y \ge 0\), the minimum value of \(Z\) is

  1. (a) \(8\)
  2. (b) \(9\)
  3. (c) \(11\)
  4. (d) \(15\)
1
17.

In a minimisation LPP with an unbounded feasible region, the smallest corner-point value of \(Z = ax + by\) is \(m\). Then \(m\) is the minimum value of \(Z\) provided that

  1. (a) the half-plane \(ax + by \gt m\) has no point in common with the feasible region
  2. (b) the half-plane \(ax + by \lt m\) has no point in common with the feasible region
  3. (c) the feasible region is convex
  4. (d) \(m \gt 0\)
1
18.

Events \(A\) and \(B\) satisfy \(P(A) = \dfrac12\), \(P(B) = \dfrac13\) and \(P(A \cup B) = \dfrac23\). Then \(A\) and \(B\) are

  1. (a) mutually exclusive
  2. (b) independent
  3. (c) both mutually exclusive and independent
  4. (d) neither mutually exclusive nor independent
1
19.

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Choose the correct option.

Assertion (A): \(\dfrac12, \dfrac12, \dfrac12\) can be the direction cosines of a line.

Reason (R): If \(l, m, n\) are the direction cosines of a line, then \(l^2 + m^2 + n^2 = 1\).

  1. (a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. (b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. (c) Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
  4. (d) Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
1
20.

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Choose the correct option.

Assertion (A): If \(P(X = 1) = P(X = 2) = P(X = 3) = \dfrac13\), then the mean of \(X\) is \(2\).

Reason (R): The mean of a random variable \(X\) is \(E(X) = \sum x_i p_i\).

  1. (a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. (b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. (c) Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
  4. (d) Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
1

Section B 10 marks

Questions 21 to 25 are very short answer (VSA) type questions carrying 2 marks each. Internal choice is provided in 2 questions.

24.

Find the area of the parallelogram whose diagonals are \(\vec d_1 = 2\hat i - \hat j + 3\hat k\) and \(\vec d_2 = \hat i + 3\hat j - \hat k\).

2

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Section C 18 marks

Questions 26 to 31 are short answer (SA) type questions carrying 3 marks each. Internal choice is provided in 2 questions.

28.

Find \(\displaystyle\int \dfrac{x^2}{x^4 + x^2 - 2}\,dx\).

OR

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int_0^{\pi}\left|\cos x + \dfrac12\right|dx\).

3
31.

Minimise \(Z = 5x + 3y\) subject to \(x + y \ge 6\), \(2x + y \ge 8\), \(x + 3y \ge 9\), \(x, y \ge 0\), by the graphical method.

OR

Maximise \(Z = 2x + 3y\) subject to \(x + y \le 8\), \(y - x \le 2\), \(x \le 6\), \(x, y \ge 0\), by the graphical method.

3

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Section D 20 marks

Questions 32 to 35 are long answer (LA) type questions carrying 5 marks each. Internal choice is provided in 2 questions.

32.

The path of a ball thrown in a school sports practice is modelled by \(y = ax^2 + bx + c\), and it passes through the points \((1, 2)\), \((-1, 6)\) and \((2, 3)\). Form a system of equations in \(a, b, c\) and solve it by the matrix method.

OR

Consider the system \(x + y + z = 6\), \(x + 2y + 3z = 10\), \(x + 2y + \lambda z = \mu\). (a) Find the values of \(\lambda\) for which it has a unique solution. (b) For \(\lambda = 3\), find \(\mu\) for which it has (i) no solution, (ii) infinitely many solutions. (c) Solve it for \(\lambda = 4\), \(\mu = 12\).

5
34.

Find \(\displaystyle\int \dfrac{dx}{\sin x\,(1 + 2\cos x)}\).

OR

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int_0^{\pi} \dfrac{x}{1 + \cos^2 x}\,dx\).

5
35.

Show that the lines \(\vec r = (\hat i + 2\hat j + 3\hat k) + \lambda(2\hat i - \hat j + \hat k)\) and \(\vec r = (\hat i - \hat j) + \mu(\hat i + \hat j + 2\hat k)\) intersect, and find their point of intersection. Find the angle between them, and the vector equation of the line through the point of intersection perpendicular to both.

5

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Section E 12 marks

Questions 36 to 38 are case study based questions carrying 4 marks each (1 + 1 + 2). Internal choice is provided in the 2-mark sub-part of each case study.

36.

Monsoon commute. During the monsoon in Mumbai, the probability that it rains on a given morning is \(0.3\). If it rains, a local train is late with probability \(0.6\); if it does not rain, the train is late with probability \(0.15\).

  1. Find the probability that it rains and the train is late. [1 mark]

  2. Find the probability that the train is late. [1 mark]

  3. The train was late. Find the probability that it rained that morning. [2 marks]

    OR

    The train was on time. Find the probability that it rained that morning. [2 marks]

Marking scheme free
  1. \(0.3 \times 0.6 = 0.18\) A1

  2. \(0.18 + 0.7 \times 0.15 = 0.285\) A1

  3. \(P(R \mid L) = \dfrac{0.18}{0.285}\) M1
    \(= \dfrac{12}{19} \approx 0.63\) A1

Where toppers lose marks: Use the total-probability value from (ii) as the denominator. Write the Bayes step with events named (\(R\): rain, \(L\): late).

OR option for part (iii)

\(P(L') = 0.715\); \(P(R \cap L') = 0.3 \times 0.4 = 0.12\) M1
\[\begin{aligned}P(R \mid L') &= \dfrac{0.12}{0.715} \\ &= \dfrac{24}{143}\end{aligned}\] A1

4
37.

Filling a conical tank. A water tank at a village water-treatment plant is an inverted right circular cone of base radius \(5\) m and depth \(10\) m. Water is pumped in at a constant rate of \(4\ \text{m}^3/\text{min}\). Let \(h\) be the depth of water at time \(t\).

  1. Express the volume \(V\) of water in terms of \(h\). [1 mark]

  2. Find \(\dfrac{dV}{dh}\) when \(h = 4\) m. [1 mark]

  3. Find the rate at which the water level is rising when \(h = 4\) m. [2 marks]

    OR

    Find the rate at which the area of the water surface is increasing when \(h = 4\) m. [2 marks]

4
38.

Van routes. A courier company has three delivery vans \(A = \{V_1, V_2, V_3\}\) and four routes \(B = \{1, 2, 3, 4\}\). Each day, every van is assigned exactly one route, giving a function \(f : A \to B\).

  1. How many different functions \(f : A \to B\) are there? [1 mark]

  2. How many of them are one-one (no two vans on the same route)? [1 mark]

  3. How many assignments are not one-one? Can any assignment \(f : A \to B\) be onto? Justify. [2 marks]

    OR

    The company now uses a function \(g : B \to B\) that is one-one. Show that \(g\) must be onto. [2 marks]

4

Full step-marking scheme for Section E: every step mark and where toppers lose marks, free with an account.

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Marking scheme and answers

Mark your own paper step by step. M1 is a method mark, A1 an accuracy mark that depends on the method, and B1 an independent mark for a correct result.

Section A answer key (free)

Q1234567891011121314151617181920
Answer(d)(c)(a)(d)(a)(b)(a)(c)(b)(b)(a)(a)(b)(a)(a)(b)(b)(b)(d)(a)

The complete scheme for question 36, the first case study, is open under the question, with the note on where toppers lose marks.

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Every step mark for all 38 questions and both options of every internal choice, plus a note on where toppers lose marks on each long answer and case study. Free, no card.

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Unit weightage in this paper

UnitMarks
Relations and Functions8
Algebra10
Calculus35
Vectors and Three-Dimensional Geometry14
Linear Programming5
Probability8

The same unit marks as the CBSE curriculum for 2026-27.

After the paper

Take every lost mark back to its chapter: each question above links to its chapter's Route to 95 and to our NCERT solutions for that chapter. Chapters in this paper: Relations and Functions, Inverse Trigonometric Functions, Matrices, Determinants, Continuity and Differentiability, Application of Derivatives, Integrals, Application of Integrals, Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, Three Dimensional Geometry, Linear Programming, Probability.

CBSE Math Revision is independent and not affiliated with CBSE or NCERT. Spotted a slip? Tell us and it goes in the corrections log.