OverviewHSC at a glance
Conducting body
Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE), Government of Tamil Nadu.
Class & board
Class 12 (HSC / +2) under the Tamil Nadu State Board (Samacheer Kalvi).
Subjects
A language, English and four elective subjects chosen by group (Science / Commerce / Arts).
Marks per subject
100 — theory plus a practical/internal component for science subjects; mostly theory for others.
Passing marks
35 out of 100 in each subject (theory + practical combined where applicable).
Exam window
Usually March; the timetable is announced by DGE each year.
SubjectsSubjects & marks (Science group example)
| Subject | Total | Theory + Practical* |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil / Language | 100 | Theory |
| English | 100 | Theory |
| Physics | 100 | Theory + Practical |
| Chemistry | 100 | Theory + Practical |
| Mathematics / Biology | 100 | Theory (Bio: Theory + Practical) |
| Computer Science / Bio-Zoology | 100 | Theory + Practical |
| Total | 600 | — |
*Theory–practical split
For science subjects the 100 marks are divided between a theory paper and practical/internal assessment as fixed by the board. Commerce and Arts groups have their own subject sets, each for 100 marks.
BlueprintQuestion-paper blueprint (typical theory paper)
Part I — Objective (1 mark each)
Multiple-choice questions covering the whole syllabus; all to be answered.
Part II — Short answer (2–3 marks each)
Short-answer questions with an "answer any N" choice.
Part III — Medium answer (3–5 marks)
Descriptive questions with internal choice, including derivations, problems or diagrams by subject.
Part IV — Long answer (5 marks)
Long-answer questions with either/or choice — the highest-weight written section.
Important
The exact number of questions and the section split vary by subject and year. Use the official HSC blueprint and previous-year papers for the precise pattern. Practice question papers →
ResultPassing marks & grading
Minimum to pass
35 out of 100 in every subject (theory + practical combined where applicable).
Cut-off for admissions
HSC marks feed engineering/medical and college cut-offs, so high accuracy in the elective subjects matters for your stream.
Supplementary exam
Candidates who miss a subject can take the supplementary (instant) examination held later in the year.
FreeFree HSC preparation resources
Chapter-wise book-back solutions
Every Class 12 chapter with answers, flashcards and a scored self-test. Physics → Chemistry → Maths →
Important questions (exam-weighted)
Practice papers & revision
StrategyHow to prepare for HSC
1. Master the book-back & in-text questions
HSC papers lean on the Samacheer exercises — work through every chapter's solutions and self-tests.
2. Drill important questions per subject
Spend the final weeks on the exam-weighted important questions for each elective.
3. Don't lose practical/internal marks
For science groups, the practical/internal component is comparatively easy marks — prepare records and viva alongside theory.
4. Solve full papers under time
Practise complete 3-hour papers to build speed and accuracy, especially for problem-heavy subjects.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the TN HSC exam pattern?
- Each subject is for 100 marks (theory + practical for science subjects), with objective, short and long-answer sections; 35/100 is the pass mark. Conducted by DGE Tamil Nadu.
- What is the theory-practical split?
- For science subjects the 100 marks split between a theory paper and a practical/internal component as fixed by the board — confirm from the official blueprint.
- What are the passing marks?
- A minimum of 35 out of 100 in each subject.
- Where can I get free HSC material?
- Brain Grain has free chapter-wise Samacheer solutions, important questions and practice papers for all Class 12 subjects.
This page summarises the Tamil Nadu HSC (Class 12 / +2) exam pattern and a typical question-paper blueprint for quick reference. Subject marks splits, theory-practical division, grade bands and the exam timetable are set by the Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE), Tamil Nadu and can change each year — always confirm the latest official HSC blueprint and timetable (dge.tn.gov.in) before your exam. In Class 10? See the TN SSLC exam pattern.