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CBSE Class 12 Biology - Syllabus, Tips and Tricks, Question Paper Pattern, and Deleted Chapters

Exam

Ridhima Jindal

Updated on 15th July, 2024 , 6 min read

CBSE Class 12 Biolog

CBSE Latest Highlights: The CBSE Datesheet for board classes 10th and 12th was recently revised, and released on the official website of CBSE, cbse.gov.in. The Exams for CBSE Class 12th will begin on February 15th, 2024, and will conclude on April 2nd, 2024.

Class XIIth exams are extremely important because firstly it is a board class and secondly, the score obtained in class 12th opens the gateway to several good IITs, Arts, or Medical Colleges. With competition increasing by the day, the students must give equal importance to all subjects and prepare well. Though Biology is considered to be a relatively easy subject, students should not underestimate the subject and should not take it lightly.

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Class 12th Biology Syllabus - An Overview

The class 12th Biology Syllabus was recently revised by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and a few chapters have been deleted from the curriculum. Now the Biology syllabus for Class 12th entails 13 chapters which are divided into 5 units. The total exam is scored out of 100, where 70 marks are allotted for theory, and the remaining 30 is for practical exam. The below table gives a brief description of the units covered in the Biology Syllabus class 12th, along with the weightage.

 

Biology Syllabus Theory - Course Structure

Unit

Topic

Marks

6

Reproduction

16

7

Genetics and Evolution

20

8

Biology and Human Welfare

12

9

Biotechnology and its Applications

12

10

Ecology and Environment

10

Total

70

 

Biology Practical Evaluation

Parameter

Marks

Major Experiment 

5

Minor Experiment

4

Slide Preparation

5

Spotting

7

Practical Record + Viva Voce

4

Investigatory Project & its Project Record + Viva Voce

5

Total

30

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Class 12th Biology Detailed Syllabus - Theory

The Theory Syllabus for Biology entails 5 units in total. The topics covered in each unit are mentioned below. Students should not leave any topic for preparation and each chapter should be given equal importance when studying for the Board Exams, especially Class 12th.

Unit VI - Reproduction

Chapter No.

Chapter Name

Topics Covered

2

Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

Flower structure; development of male and female gametophytes; pollination - types, agencies, and examples; out breeding devices; pollen-pistil interaction; double fertilization; post-fertilization events - development of endosperm and embryo, development of seed and formation of fruit; special modes- apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony; Significance of seed dispersal and fruit formation

3

Human Reproduction

Male and female reproductive systems; microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary; gametogenesis -spermatogenesis and oogenesis; menstrual cycle; fertilization, embryo development up to blastocyst formation, implantation; pregnancy and placenta formation (elementary idea); parturition (elementary idea); lactation (elementary idea)

4

Reproductive Health

Need for reproductive health and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs); birth control - need and methods, contraception and medical termination of pregnancy (MTP); amniocentesis; infertility and assisted reproductive technologies - IVF, ZIFT, GIFT (Elementary idea for general awareness)

 

Unit VII - Genetics & Evolution

Chapter No.

Chapter Name

Topics Covered

5

Principles of Inheritance & Variation

Heredity and variation: Mendelian inheritance; deviations from Mendelism – incomplete dominance, co-dominance, multiple alleles and inheritance of blood groups, pleiotropy; elementary idea of polygenic inheritance; chromosome theory of inheritance; chromosomes and genes; Sex determination - in humans, birds and honey bee; linkage and crossing over; sex-linked inheritance - haemophilia, color blindness; Mendelian disorders in humans - thalassemia; chromosomal disorders in humans; Down's syndrome, Turner's and Klinefelter's syndromes

6

Molecular Bases of Inheritance

Search for genetic material and DNA as genetic material; Structure of DNA and RNA; DNA packaging; DNA replication; Central Dogma; transcription, genetic code, translation; gene expression and regulation - lac operon; Genome, Human, and rice genome projects; DNA fingerprinting

7

Evolution

Origin of life; biological evolution and evidence for biological evolution (paleontology, comparative anatomy, embryology, and molecular evidence); Darwin's contribution, modern synthetic theory of evolution; mechanism of evolution - variation (mutation and recombination) and natural selection with examples, types of natural selection; Gene flow and genetic drift; Hardy - Weinberg's principle; adaptive radiation; human evolution

 

Unit VIII - Biology & Human Welfare

Chapter No.

Chapter Name

Topics Covered

8

Human Health & Diseases

Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filariasis, ascariasis, typhoid, pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ring worm) and their control; Basic concepts of immunology - vaccines; cancer, HIV and AIDS; Adolescence - drug and alcohol abuse

 

10

Microbes in Human Welfare

Microbes in food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and microbes as bio-control agents and bio-fertilizers. Antibiotics; production and judicious use

 

Unit IX - Biotechnology & Its Applications

Chapter No.

Chapter Name

Topics Covered

11

Biotechnology - Principles and Processes

Genetic Engineering (Recombinant DNA Technology)

12

Biotechnology & Its Applications

Application of biotechnology in health and agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, stem cell technology, gene therapy; genetically modified organisms - Bt crops; transgenic animals; biosafety issues, biopiracy and patents



Unit X - Ecology & Environment

Chapter No.

Chapter Name

Topics Covered

13

Organisms and Populations

Population interactions - mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism; population attributes - growth, birth rate, death rate, age distribution

14

Ecosystem

Ecosystems: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; energy flow; pyramids of number, biomass, energy

15

Biodiversity and its conservation

Biodiversity-Concept, patterns, importance; loss of biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book, Sacred Groves, biosphere reserves, national parks, wildlife, sanctuaries, and Ramsar sites

Class 12th Biology Detailed Syllabus - Practical

The Biology Practical is divided into 2 major parts, Part A and Part B. The overall syllabus covers a major and minor experiment, Viva Voce, Spotting, Slide Preparation, etc. The below table gives a detailed description of each part.

Category

Practical Name

Details

Part A

List of Experiments

  • Prepare a temporary mount to observe pollen germination. 
  • Study the plant population density by quadrat method. 
  • Study the plant population frequency by quadrat method. 
  • Prepare a temporary mount of onion root tip to study mitosis. 
  • Isolate DNA from available plant material such as spinach, green pea seeds, papaya, etc.

Part B

Study and Observe the Following (Spotting)

  • Flowers adapted to pollination by different agencies (wind, insects, birds). 
  • Pollen germination on stigma through a permanent slide or scanning electron micrograph.
  • Identification of stages of gamete development, i.e., T.S. of testis and T.S. of ovary through permanent slides (from grasshopper/mice). 
  • Meiosis in onion bud cells or grasshopper testis through permanent slides. 
  • T.S. of blastula through permanent slides (Mammalian).
  • Mendelian inheritance using seeds of different colors/sizes of any plant. 
  • Prepared pedigree charts of any genetic traits such as rolling of tongue, blood groups, ear lobes, widow's peak, and color blindness. 
  • Controlled pollination - emasculation, tagging, and bagging. 
  • Common disease-causing organisms like Ascaris, Entamoeba, Plasmodium, and any fungus-causing ringworm through permanent slides, models or virtual images or specimens. Comment on symptoms of diseases that they cause. 
  • Models specimen showing symbolic association in root modules of leguminous plants, Cuscuta on the host, lichens. 
  • Flashcard models showing examples of homologous and analogous organs.

Check CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Practical Syllabus

Class 12th Biology Exam Paper Pattern

The Exam Pattern for Class XIIth Biology is fairly simple and is divided into 3 major sections. The question paper is designed to understand the basic knowledge in Biology, Analysis, and creativity skills of the students. Below mentioned is the weightage that each competency carries.

Competency

Weightage

Demonstrate Knowledge and Understanding

50%

Application of Knowledge/Concepts

30%

Analyse, Evaluate and Create

20%

Total

100%

Class 12th Biology Question Paper Pattern

The Theory Section of Biology is for 70 Marks. The question paper division is given in the table below. Students are advised to go through the pattern thoroughly and prepare accordingly.

Type of Questions

No. of Questions

Marks

1 Mark (MCQ/, One Word or One Liner)

16

16

2 Marks (Very Short Answers, 4-5 lines)

5

10

3 Marks (Short Answers, Diagrams)

7

21

4 Marks (Long Answers)

2

8

5 Marks (Detailed Answers)

3

15

Total

70

Class 12th Biology Deleted Syllabus for the 2024 Session

The below table covers all the topics that have been deleted from the class 12th Biology subject.

Deleted Theory Syllabus

Unit

Chapter

Topics Deleted

6 - Reproduction

1 - Reproduction in Organisms

Whole Chapter

8 - Biology and Human Welfare

9 - Strategies for Enhancement in Food production

Whole Chapter

10 - Ecology and Environment 

13 - Organisms & Population

Organism and its Environment, Major Abiotic Factors, Responses to Abiotic Factors, Adaptations

14 - Ecosystem

Ecological Succession and Nutrient Cycles

Practical Part A

List of Experiments

  • Collect and study soil from at least two different sites and study them for texture, moisture content, pH, and water-holding capacity. Correlate with the kinds of plants found in them.
  • Collect water from two different water bodies around you and study them for pH, clarity, and presence of any living organism.
  • Study the presence of suspended particulate matter in air at two widely different sites.
  • Study the effect of different temperatures and three different pHs on the activity of salivary amylase on starch.

Practical Part B

Spotting

  • Two plants and two animals (models/virtual images) found in xeric conditions. Comment upon their morphological adaptations.
  • Two plants and two animals (models/virtual images) found in aquatic conditions. Comment upon their morphological adaptations.

Class 12th Biology Preparation Tips

Preparing for Class 12th Board Exams can sometimes get overwhelming. Below mentioned are a few preparation tips to score well in your biology exam.

Tip 1: Understand your syllabus well and start preparing with the difficult chapters, as they take time

Tip 2: Make short notes or flashcards of all relevant facts, figures, and diagrams. These will come in handy when you start revising the syllabus

Tip 3: Though diagrams are relatively easy to prepare, you should always be well-prepared and thorough with the diagrams. They can fetch you good marks in the exam if drawn and explained accurately.

Tip 4: In case of any doubts do not hesitate to clarify with your teachers or even peers if required.

Tip 5: Do not follow too many books and be through with NCERT. Most of the exam papers in CBSE Class 12 are from NCERT only. Try not to overload yourself with books.

Read More: Tips to Score 90% in CBSE Board Exams

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the minimum passing marks in Class 12th exams

The minimum marks required to pass class 12th exams are 33%

What is the class 12th Biology Syllabus for 2024

The biology syllabus for class 12th covers 5 units in total, namely - Reproduction, Genetics and Evolution, Biology and Human Welfare, Biotechnology and its Applications, and Ecology and Environment

What are the deleted chapters in class 12th Biology Exam

Reproduction in Organisms, Strategies for Enhancement in Food production , Organism and its Environment, Major Abiotic Factors, Responses to Abiotic Factors, Adaptations, Ecological Succession and Nutrient Cycles are the chapters that have been deleted from the biology class 12 syllabus.

Is NCERT Enough to prepare for Class 12th Biology Exam

Yes, as a student of class 12th, NCERT is more than enough to cover the entire biology syllabus for the upcoming CBSE Board Exams. Students can refer to another book if prescribed by the school.

What are the total marks for biology class 12 exam

The total Marks for CBSE Class 12th Biology Exam are 100, out of which 70 are dedicated to theory and the remaining 30 are allotted to the practical exam.

Is CBSE Class 12th Biology Exam tough

The difficulty of the exam depends on each individual's personal strength and weaknesses. However, as compared to other subjects in CBSE Class 12th and Class 12th being a Board Year, Biology is considered to be easier. But also, as compared to Class 11th, Biology is a challenging subject.

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