Class 12 computer science syllabus (CBSE, code 083)

Class 12 computer science syllabus: unit wise marks

Unit 1 alone is worth more than half of the theory paper. That is why most of your year goes on Python: functions, exceptions, three kinds of files and the stack.

Unit 1: Computational Thinking and Programming 2

The unit opens with a revision of the Python basics from class 11, then moves to:

• Functions: built in, module and user defined functions; arguments and parameters; default and positional parameters; return values; flow of execution; local and global scope
• Exception handling: what an exception is, and the try, except and finally blocks
• File basics: text, binary and CSV files; relative and absolute paths
• Text files: modes r, r+, w, w+, a and a+; open and close; the with clause; write(), writelines(), read(), readline(), readlines(); seek() and tell()
• Binary files: modes rb, rb+, wb, wb+, ab and ab+; the pickle module with dump() and load(); reading, writing, searching, appending and updating records
• CSV files: the csv module; writer(), writerow(), writerows() and reader()
• Stack: push and pop, implemented with a Python list

Board questions in this unit lean on writing short functions, predicting output and finding errors in code, so practise on a computer, not only on paper.

Unit 2: Computer Networks

• Evolution of networking: ARPANET, NSFNET and the Internet
• Data communication terms: sender, receiver, message, medium and protocol; bandwidth and data transfer rate; IP address; circuit and packet switching
• Wired media (twisted pair, coaxial, optical fibre) and wireless media (radio waves, microwaves, infrared)
• Devices: modem, Ethernet card, RJ45, repeater, hub, switch, router, gateway and Wi Fi card
• Network types PAN, LAN, MAN and WAN; bus, star and tree topologies
• Protocols: HTTP, FTP, PPP, SMTP, TCP/IP, POP3, HTTPS, TELNET and VoIP
• Web basics: WWW, HTML, XML, domain names, URL, website, web browser, web server and web hosting

Only 10 marks, but almost all of it is definitions and a case based question on placing devices and cables in a campus layout. Learn it late and revise it often.

Unit 3: Database Management

• Need for a database; the relational model: relation, attribute, tuple, domain, degree and cardinality; candidate, primary, alternate and foreign keys
• SQL as DDL and DML; data types char(n), varchar(n), int, float and date; constraints not null, unique and primary key
• Database commands create, use, show and drop; table commands create, describe, alter (add or remove a column or primary key), drop
• insert, delete, select and update
• Operators, aliasing, distinct, where, in, between, order by, like, is null and is not null
• Aggregate functions max, min, avg, sum and count; group by and having
• Joins: Cartesian product, equi join and natural join
• Python with SQL: connect(), cursor(), execute(), commit(), fetchone(), fetchall(), rowcount; inserting, updating and deleting from Python; using %s or format() to build queries

Practical work: how the 30 marks are earned

The report file should hold at least 15 Python programs, at least 5 sets of SQL queries and at least 4 programs that link Python with SQL. In the lab test, the Python program is judged on logic (60 percent), documentation (20 percent) and code quality (20 percent).

The project is done in groups of two or three, using file handling or Python and SQL connectivity to solve a real problem. CBSE suggests starting at least six months before submission and warns against copied work.

How the theory paper is set

The theory exam lasts three hours. Recent CBSE sample papers have grouped questions into sections that rise from 1 mark objective items, including assertion and reason, to longer 4 and 5 mark questions on code, SQL and a network case study. The board changes the exact count from time to time, so grab the newest model paper and its marking guide from the CBSE academic portal before your pre boards.

A year plan for 12th computer science

• Write code every day, even 20 minutes; output and error questions punish rusty fingers
• Keep a page of file method signatures and SQL clauses and revise it weekly
• Solve CBSE's own model papers and older board papers; the guide to CBSE class 12 previous papers shows a way to use them

The NCERT computer science textbook for class 12 and the CBSE support material match this syllabus closely, so they are enough as your main books. Pairing CS with maths? The class 12 maths syllabus page and our school boards hub cover your other papers.