The Plus Two examination — the Higher Secondary Examination, or HSE — is the Class 12 board examination for Tamil Nadu state board students, conducted by the Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE). The marks matter twice over: they decide the Class 12 result and, for most students, they are the number college admissions look at first.
ப்ளஸ் டூ பொதுத்தேர்வில் ஆறு பாடங்கள், ஒவ்வொன்றுக்கும் 100 மதிப்பெண்கள்.
Quick facts
| Conducted by | Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE), Tamil Nadu |
|---|---|
| Also called | Higher Secondary Examination (HSE), Plus Two, Class 12 |
| Main examination | March and April, with a supplementary sitting later in the year |
| Subjects | Six: two languages plus four optional subjects |
| Total marks | 600 — 100 marks per subject |
| Paper duration | 3 hours per paper |
| Written paper | 90 marks for languages and most subjects, 70 for the science subjects |
Two languages plus four optional subjects
A regular Plus Two candidate writes six subjects. Tamil and English are the language pair; the remaining four come from the optional subjects of the chosen group. Each subject carries 100 marks, so the total is 600.
| Group | Usual subject set |
|---|---|
| Science | Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics or Biology, with Computer Science or a second science option |
| Commerce | Commerce, Accountancy, Economics and Business Maths or Computer Science |
| Arts | History, Economics, Geography, Political Science and similar subjects |
| Vocational | A trade subject set taken alongside the language pair |
Theory, practical and internal marks
Every subject is worth 100 marks, but the written paper is not the whole of it. The DGE sample question papers for 2025 show two different maxima depending on the subject, and the difference is the practical or internal component.
| Subject | Written paper | Practical / internal | Subject total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil, English and other languages | 90 | 10 | 100 |
| Mathematics | 90 | 10 | 100 |
| Commerce, Accountancy, Economics, History, Political Science | 90 | 10 | 100 |
| Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Botany, Zoology | 70 | 30 | 100 |
| Computer Science, Computer Applications, Geography | 70 | 30 | 100 |
That is the number to check before revision planning: a science candidate walks into the hall with 30 marks per subject already allocated to practical and internal assessment, and sits a 70-mark paper, while a commerce candidate sits a 90-mark paper and carries only 10 marks of internal assessment.
Why the languages decide more than students expect
Tamil and English carry 100 marks each — the same as Physics or Accountancy. They are also the two papers where the mark is decided almost entirely by practice rather than by grasping a difficult concept. Treating them as spare periods is the most common way a Plus Two total ends up lower than the subject marks suggested it should be.
The practical examination
Science and computer subjects have a practical examination held at the candidate’s school before the theory papers. The marks are recorded ahead of the written examination, and private candidates register for the practical separately through the DGE portal. As with SSLC, the practical marks are settled before the first theory paper is written.
What to study from
- The prescribed textbooks. The paper is set from the Class 12 textbooks, Tamil and English medium, in every subject.
- The DGE sample and previous question papers. Published free on the Directorate’s own portal, with the paper structure printed on the front.
- Past papers and notes. Plus Two question papers and Plus Two study materials on this site, both broken down by subject.
Class 11 material is worth keeping alongside it, particularly in the science subjects where the second-year syllabus builds directly on the first — Class 11 textbooks and Plus One study materials.
Preparing for the Plus Two public exam
- Start from the prescribed textbook. Questions are set from the Samacheer Kalvi books and the blueprint follows the syllabus.
- Work through the DGE sample papers. They are published on the Directorate’s portal and show the real paper structure for each subject.
- Time every paper at three hours. The duration is generous only for a candidate who has already practised writing at speed.
- Know the theory-vs-practical split for your subjects. It is 90 + 10 for most subjects and 70 + 30 for the sciences.
- Prepare the practicals early. Those marks cannot be improved once the theory examination begins.
Frequently asked questions
How many subjects are there in TN Plus Two?
Six — Tamil, English and four optional subjects from the chosen group.
What is the total mark for the Plus Two exam?
600 marks, with 100 marks for each of the six subjects.
Is each Plus Two paper out of 100?
The subject total is 100, but the written paper is out of 90 for languages and most subjects, and out of 70 for Physics, Chemistry, Biology and the other science and computer subjects. The difference is practical and internal assessment.
Who conducts the TN 12th public exam?
The Directorate of Government Examinations, Tamil Nadu (DGE).
Do science subjects have practicals?
Yes. Science and computer subjects carry a practical examination held at the school before the theory papers, worth part of the 30 marks that sit outside the written paper.
When is the Plus Two exam held?
The main examination is held in March and April, with a supplementary sitting later in the year.
Related pages on KalviMani
Plus Two Study Materials · Plus Two Question Papers · Class 12 Textbooks