CBSE Class 12 Sample Paper 2026 for Psychology

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SAMPLE
PAPER
2026

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PSYCHOLOGY (037)
Sample Question Paper*
Class – XII (2025-2026)

Time – 3 Hours Max Marks – 70

General Instructions:
 All questions are mandatory unless specified otherwise.
 Section A (Q1-14): Each question carries 1 mark. Answer as directed.
 Section B (Q15-19): Very Short Answer Type-I questions, 2 marks each. Word limit for each
question is 30 words.
 Section C (Q20-23): Short Answer Type-II questions, 3 marks each. Word limit for each
question is 60 words.
 Section D (Q24-27): Long Answer Type-I questions, 4 marks each. Word limit for each
question is 120 words.
 Section E (Q28-29): Long Answer Type-II questions, 6 marks each. Word limit for each
question is 200 words.
 Section F (Q30-33): Case-based questions. One-mark questions: Word limit for each
question is 20 words; Two-mark questions: Word limit for each question is 30 words.
 There is no overall choice. However, internal choices have been provided in some questions.
A student has to attempt only one of the alternatives in such questions.

S. No Section A Marks

Q1 Neeta is conducting interviews for candidates applying for a senior management 1
role. She uses the same set of questions with each candidate. Why is this type of
interview beneficial?
a. It allows candidates to showcase their unique personalities.
b. It helps create a positive impression of the interviewer.
c. It ensures all candidates are assessed using the structured interview.
d. It gives candidates the freedom to discuss any topic they want because it is
structured.

Q2 Why does a strong sense of social competence enhance a person's self-esteem? 1
a. By making them superior to others in every area.
b. By fostering social connection and positive reinforcement.
c. By ensuring that they excel in academic competence as well.
d. By encouraging them to focus solely on physical appearance.

Q3 Sonia has to be assessed for abilities such as logical reasoning and clear thinking. 1
The test used by the psychologist will involve the following:
a. Convergent thinking

b. Divergent thinking
c. Both convergent and divergent thinking
d. Open -ended questions

Q4 In logotherapy, which of the following is considered essential for coping with life's 1
challenges?

a. Identifying and altering negative thought patterns to develop a more positive
mindset
b. Finding a personal sense of meaning or purpose, even in difficult situations
c. Using reinforcement to increase desired behaviours and reduce problematic
ones
d. Replacing irrational beliefs with logical, realistic ones to improve emotional
well-being

Q5 Sachin often calls out answers in class without raising his hand. To change this 1
behaviour, the teacher starts ignoring him when he calls out but praises him every
time, he raises his hand before speaking. What strategy is the teacher using?

a. Positive reinforcement
b. Punishment
c. Differential reinforcement
d. Negative reinforcement

Q6 Which of the following best demonstrates the concept of empathy in a therapeutic 1
setting?

a. A therapist offers advice to the client on how to resolve their issues based on
personal experiences.
b. A therapist encourages the client to move past their emotions and focus only on
logical solutions to their problems.
c. A therapist remains neutral and detached to maintain professionalism, avoiding
emotional involvement in the client’s experiences.
d. A therapist carefully listens to the client’s experiences and expresses
understanding of the client’s emotions, allowing the client to feel heard and
valued.

Q7 Wellbeing is _____. 1

a. Maintenance and survival
b. Growth and fulfilment
c. Following the norms of society
d. Not only maintenance and survival but also growth and fulfilment

Q8 Anisha keeps washing her hand after a bout of fever. This continuous washing leads 1
to bruises on her palm. Identify this behaviour.

a. Compulsive behaviour
b. Impulsive behaviour
c. Phobic behaviour
d. Obsessive behaviour

Q9 In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion(A) and 1
Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

Assertion (A)-In the understanding of abnormal behaviour, the Renaissance period
was the Age of Reason and Enlightenment.
Reasoning (R)- Imbalances amongst humours led to disorders, according to the
organismic approach.

a. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
b. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
c. A is true but R is false
d. A is false but R is true

Q10 In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion(A) and 1
Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

Assertion (A)-Members of teams often have complementary skills and are
committed to a common goal or purpose.
Reasoning (R)- An audience is a part of a team. They are polarised in attention, and
actions of persons are in a common direction.

a. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
b. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
c. A is true but R is false
d. A is false but R is true

Q11 Togetherness, belongingness and mutual attraction among group members refers to 1
_____________ in a group.

a. Social Loafing
b. Cohesiveness
c. Competition
d. Polarisation

Q12 Vikas feels stronger and less vulnerable to threats after he has joined the resident’s 1
welfare group. The main reason for joining the group is to ________.

a. Enhance his importance
b. Enhance his security
c. Achieve his power
d. Enhance his self esteem

Q13 According to the two-step concept proposed by Mohsin, attitude change will take 1
place when:

i. The source has a positive attitude towards the target
ii. The source shows an attitude change, by changing other’s behaviour
iii. The target of change identifies with the source
iv. The target is the person through whose influence change takes place.

a. iii and iv
b. i and iii
c. ii and iii
d. ii and iv

Q14 How are relationships in primary groups typically characterised? 1

a. They are impersonal and indirect
b. They are cold and distant
c. They are warm, emotional, and face-to-face
d. They are rare and infrequent

Section B

Q 15 Differentiate between life events and hassles. 2

Q16 State any two features of projective techniques. 2

Q17 Does classifying people into personality types overlook the complexities of human 2
behaviour? Give reasons for your answer.

Q18 Distinguish between non-verbal and performance tests of intelligence. 2

Q19 A) How can social loafing be reduced? 2

OR

Q19 B) What are the reasons for the occurrence of group polarisation? Give two reasons. 2

Section C

Q20 An advertising company has been hired to create an advertisement for a new eco- 3
friendly product aimed at young adults. Describe three important characteristics of
the target audience that the company should keep in mind when designing the
advertisement.

Q21 Analyse the importance of rehabilitation in the recovery of individuals with severe 3
mental illness.

Q22 3
Aman is experiencing anxiety due to academic pressure. He often thinks, “I am not
good enough” and “I am a failure.” These thoughts cause him to withdraw from
social activities and friends. How would Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) help
Aman manage his anxiety?

Q23 A) Explain the levels of consciousness as stated in the psychodynamic approach. 3

OR

Q23 B) Explain the Behavioural Approach to the study of personality 3

Section D

Q24 Himesh is popular in school but is very rude and indifferent towards students of 4
other schools. Explain the sources of his prejudice.

Q25 Explain the internal sources of psychological stress. 4

Q26 A) Razia is unhappy with her career despite having a stable job and a good salary. 4
According to the Humanistic theory of personality, what could be the reason for her
dissatisfaction?

OR

Q26 B) Harpreet, a psychologist, is interested in using self-report measures for career 4
counselling of his client. Explain the appropriate tests that he can use.

Q27 How is the Indian concept of intelligence different from the type of intelligence 4
valued in Western countries? Distinguish between these two types of intelligence.

Section E

Q28A Describe the characteristics of individuals with different levels of intellectual 6
disability.

OR

Q28 B) When does anxiety turn into a disorder? Explain the different types of anxiety 6
disorders.

Q29A) Is intelligence a product of heredity or environment? Give reasons in support of 6
your answer.

OR

Q29B) Describe Robert Sternberg's theory of intelligence. 6

Section F

CASE 1

Read the following passage and answer questions number 30 and 31.

Satish, a 20-year-old male, with schizophrenia, believes that the police of the area
are tracking and following him. The patrolling of the police makes him believe that
they are monitoring every behaviour of his. These thoughts are interfering with his
studies and assignments. Satish occasionally laughs abruptly and inappropriately
and sometimes stops speaking mid-sentence. He expresses concern about
electronics in the room (phone, computer) potentially being monitored and asks the
therapist repeatedly about patient confidentiality, stating that he wants to be sure the
police won’t be informed about his treatment. His beliefs are fixed and if they are
challenged, his tone becomes hostile.

Q30 Why does Satish occasionally laugh abruptly and inappropriately? 1

Q31 “The patrolling of the police makes him believe that they are monitoring every 2
behaviour of his.” Identify and explain the symptom of the disorder being reflected
in this statement.

CASE 2

Read the following passage and answer question number 32 and 33.

Neha is a project manager in a technology firm. Over the past year, her team has
been tasked with launching multiple complex projects under tight deadlines.
Initially, Neha thrived under the pressure, feeling energised and productive. She put
in long hours, maintained high focus, and motivated her team to meet their targets.
However, as the months went by, the demands continued to mount without any
significant breaks or support. Neha began to experience fatigue, insomnia,
irritability, and frequent headaches. Recently, she noticed that she was falling ill
more often and had difficulty concentrating. Despite these warning signs, Neha
pushed herself to keep up with the workload. Her colleagues have started to notice
her declining performance and mood changes. If her current pace continues, it could
lead to severe health consequences.

Q32 Using the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) model, list the stages Neha has 1
experienced so far.

Q33 Predict the potential stage that Neha might reach if she continues without any break. 2
Identify the likely outcome.

Study Materials
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