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CBSE Class 12 · Mathematics 041 · Above board

Class 12 Maths Sample Paper 4 (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.

3.

If \(A\) and \(B\) are square matrices of the same order with \(AB = A\) and \(BA = B\), then \(A^2\) equals

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

If \(\begin{vmatrix} 2x & 3 \\ x & x \end{vmatrix} = 5\), then \(x\) equals

  1. (a) \(\dfrac52\) or \(-1\)
  2. (b) \(-\dfrac52\) or \(1\)
  3. (c) \(\dfrac52\) only
  4. (d) \(1\) or \(5\)
1
5.

If \(A\) is an invertible matrix of order \(3\) with \(|A| = 5\), then \(|A^{-1}\operatorname{adj} A|\) equals

  1. (a) \(\dfrac15\)
  2. (b) \(5\)
  3. (c) \(25\)
  4. (d) \(125\)
1
6.

The number of symmetric matrices of order \(3 \times 3\) whose entries are all \(0\) or \(1\) is

  1. (a) \(8\)
  2. (b) \(32\)
  3. (c) \(64\)
  4. (d) \(512\)
1
7.

For \(\Delta = \begin{vmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 \\ 4 & 5 & 6 \\ 7 & 8 & 10 \end{vmatrix}\), with \(A_{ij}\) the cofactor of \(a_{ij}\), the value of \(a_{11}A_{21} + a_{12}A_{22} + a_{13}A_{23}\) is

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

The function \(f(x) = xe^{-x^2}\) is strictly increasing on

  1. (a) \(\left(-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt2}, \dfrac{1}{\sqrt2}\right)\)
  2. (b) \((0, \infty)\)
  3. (c) \(\mathbb{R}\)
  4. (d) \(\left(\dfrac{1}{\sqrt2}, \infty\right)\)
1
13.

\(\displaystyle\int 2^x e^x\,dx\) equals

  1. (a) \(2^x e^x + C\)
  2. (b) \(\dfrac{(2e)^x}{\log 2} + C\)
  3. (c) \(\dfrac{(2e)^x}{1 + \log 2} + C\)
  4. (d) \(\dfrac{2^x e^x}{\log 2 - 1} + C\)
1
16.

If \(\hat a\) and \(\hat b\) are unit vectors and \(\hat a + \hat b\) is also a unit vector, the angle between \(\hat a\) and \(\hat b\) is

  1. (a) \(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\)
  2. (b) \(\dfrac{\pi}{2}\)
  3. (c) \(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\)
  4. (d) \(\dfrac{5\pi}{6}\)
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): If \(\vec a \times \vec b = \vec 0\) and \(\vec a \cdot \vec b = 0\), then \(\vec a = \vec 0\) or \(\vec b = \vec 0\).

Reason (R): For non-zero vectors, \(\vec a \times \vec b = \vec 0\) means \(\vec a \parallel \vec b\) and \(\vec a \cdot \vec b = 0\) means \(\vec a \perp \vec b\), and two non-zero vectors cannot be both parallel and perpendicular.

  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 \(P(A) = 0.5\) and \(P(B) = 0.7\), then \(A\) and \(B\) cannot be mutually exclusive.

Reason (R): For any two events, \(P(A \cap B) \le P(A)\).

  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.

25.

For \(\vec a = 2\hat i - \hat j + \hat k\) and \(\vec b = \hat i + \hat j - 2\hat k\), show that \(\vec a + \vec b\) is perpendicular to \(\vec a - \vec b\), and explain why this happens.

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.

30.

Find the points on the line \(\dfrac{x - 1}{2} = \dfrac{y + 2}{-2} = \dfrac{z - 3}{1}\) at a distance of \(6\) units from the point \((1, -2, 3)\). Also find the angle the line makes with the \(z\)-axis.

3
31.

Two fair dice are thrown. Let \(X\) be the absolute difference of the two numbers obtained. Find the probability distribution of \(X\) and its mean.

OR

\(A\) and \(B\) are independent events with \(P(A) = 0.3\) and \(P(B) = 0.4\). Find the probability that (i) exactly one of them occurs, (ii) neither occurs, (iii) \(A\) occurs given that at least one of them occurs.

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.

An e-commerce hub in Nagpur loads a delivery van with small and large parcels. A small parcel weighs \(10\) kg and a large one \(30\) kg; the van can carry at most \(600\) kg. Each parcel, small or large, takes one slot and the van has \(30\) slots. The hub must send at least \(5\) large parcels on every trip. The delivery charge earned is ₹50 per small and ₹120 per large parcel. How many parcels of each kind should be loaded to maximise the charge earned? Formulate and solve graphically.

5
33.

A small firm making solar lanterns in Jaipur finds that when it makes and sells \(x\) lanterns a week, the selling price per lantern is ₹\((600 - 3x)\) and the total weekly cost is ₹\((2x^2 + 60x + 1000)\). Find the weekly output that maximises profit, the maximum profit and the price per lantern at that output.

OR

Find the area of the region \(\left\{(x, y) : \dfrac{x^2}{16} + \dfrac{y^2}{9} \le 1,\ 0 \le y \le \dfrac{3x}{4}\right\}\).

5
34.

For the lines \(L_1: \vec r = (3\hat i - \hat j + \hat k) + \lambda(2\hat i - \hat j)\) and \(L_2: \vec r = (2\hat j + 4\hat k) + \mu(2\hat i - \hat k)\): (a) find the shortest distance between them; (b) find the points \(P\) on \(L_1\) and \(Q\) on \(L_2\) such that \(PQ\) is perpendicular to both lines; (c) verify that \(PQ\) equals the shortest distance.

5
35.

Meenakshi invests ₹60,000 in three schemes A, B and C that pay \(6\%\), \(7\%\) and \(8\%\) simple interest per year. Her total annual interest is ₹4,250, and the amount in scheme C is ₹20,000 less than the amounts in A and B together. Using matrices, find the amount invested in each scheme.

OR

Find \(A^{-1}\) for \(A = \begin{bmatrix} 2 & -1 & 0 \\ -1 & 2 & -1 \\ 0 & -1 & 2 \end{bmatrix}\), verify that \(AA^{-1} = I\) for the first row, and hence solve \(2x - y = 1\), \(-x + 2y - z = 0\), \(-y + 2z = 1\).

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.

Divisor chart. A Class XII group studies the relation \(R = \{(a, b) : a \text{ divides } b\}\) on the set \(S = \{1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12\}\) of divisors of \(12\).

  1. Is \(R\) reflexive? Justify. [1 mark]

  2. Is \(R\) symmetric? Justify. [1 mark]

  3. Show that \(R\) is transitive. Is \(R\) an equivalence relation? [2 marks]

    OR

    Find the number of ordered pairs in \(R\). [2 marks]

Marking scheme free
  1. Yes: every \(a\) divides itself A1

  2. No: \((2, 4) \in R\) but \((4, 2) \notin R\) A1

  3. \(a \mid b\) and \(b \mid c\): \(b = ka\), \(c = mb = (mk)a\), so \(a \mid c\) M1
    Transitive; not an equivalence relation since it is not symmetric A1

Where toppers lose marks: For transitivity write \(b = ka,\ c = mb\) explicitly; an example alone does not prove it. A counter-example is enough to show a property fails.

OR option for part (iii)

For each \(b\), count its divisors in \(S\): \(1{:}1,\ 2{:}2,\ 3{:}2,\ 4{:}3,\ 6{:}4,\ 12{:}6\) M1
Total \(= 18\) A1

4
37.

Reservoir inflow. During a heavy shower, the rate of inflow of water into a village reservoir \(t\) hours after it starts is \(r(t) = 40 + 6t - 0.3t^2\) kilolitres per hour \((0 \le t \le 20)\).

  1. Find the rate of inflow at \(t = 5\). [1 mark]

  2. At what time is the rate of inflow greatest, and what is it? [1 mark]

  3. Find the total inflow in the first \(10\) hours. [2 marks]

    OR

    Find the total inflow between \(t = 10\) and \(t = 20\), and compare it with the first 10 hours. [2 marks]

4
38.

Garment quality check. In a garment unit in Tiruppur, tailors A, B and C stitch \(50\%\), \(30\%\) and \(20\%\) of the shirts respectively. Of the shirts they stitch, \(2\%\), \(3\%\) and \(5\%\) respectively are defective. A shirt is picked at random.

  1. Find the probability that the shirt was stitched by C and is defective. [1 mark]

  2. Find the probability that the shirt is defective. [1 mark]

  3. The shirt is found to be defective. Find the probability that it was stitched by A. [2 marks]

    OR

    The shirt is defective. Find the probability that it was not stitched by C. [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(c)(a)(a)(a)(b)(c)(a)(c)(a)(b)(a)(b)(c)(b)(b)(c)(d)(b)(a)(b)

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.

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