ISC 2026 Psychology Improvement Examination Question Paper for Class 12

About this paper

This is the ISC Class 12 Psychology paper (code 855) from CISCE's 2026 Improvement Examination. It carries 70 marks, runs for three hours plus fifteen minutes of reading time, and has 12 compulsory questions in three sections. Section A has fourteen one-mark subparts: short answers, analogies, assertion–reason items and multiple-choice scenarios. Section B has seven four-mark short answers and Section C four seven-mark long answers, with internal choices in Questions 2, 6 and 11. Many questions are built on cases or stimuli, including an extract on gender and stress, a father–daughter dialogue about studying engineering, an extract from Maslow on peak experiences, a pie chart of environmental stressors and three therapy case studies. This copy has the questions only.

Exam

ISC Class 12

Subject

Psychology

Year

2026

Paper code

855

Maximum marks

70

Time allowed

3 hours + 15 min reading

Questions

12

Pages

8

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Section A

  14 marks

  Question 1 with fourteen one-mark very short answer subparts, including analogies, assertion–reason and multiple-choice scenarios

• Section B

  28 marks

  Questions 2–8, four marks each, mostly based on cases, extracts or a pie chart; internal choice in Questions 2 and 6

• Section C

  28 marks

  Questions 9–12, seven marks each, including three therapy case studies; internal choice in Question 11

Topics covered

• Theories of intelligence
• Stress and gender differences
• Projective techniques
• Prejudice and gender stereotypes
• Puberty and gender development
• DSM-IV classification
• Maslow's theory of personality
• Environmental stressors
• Formation of groups
• Ecological Systems Theory
• Psychotherapy and behaviour therapies
• Attitudes, attribution and conformity

Questions from this paper

1. Explain any two characteristics of the 'g' factor of intelligence as developed by Charles Spearman.
2. Define the following terms: gender role, gender stability and gender identity.
3. Referring to Abraham Maslow's theory, discuss why an individual who is hungry and homeless will not be interested in self-actualisation.
4. Discuss the Ecological Systems Theory and name the psychologist who developed it.
5. Briefly explain any five factors that affect conformity as a form of social influence.
6. With reference to Howard Gardner's theory, explain three types of intelligence that children in the performing arts would exhibit.