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1800-102-2727The CBSE Class 10 English syllabus for the academic year 2026 remains a crucial guide for students aiming to excel in their board examinations. This syllabus focuses on enhancing the language skills of learners, covering reading, writing, grammar, and literature. Let’s delve deep into the details of the CBSE Class 10 syllabus 2026, including weightage, sections, prescribed books, and more.
The English Language and Literature syllabus for Class X (2026) focuses on strengthening students’ reading, writing, and literary skills and helps them gain confidence in expressing ideas clearly and effectively.
| Sections | Description | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| A | Reading Skills | 20 Marks |
| B | Writing Skills and Grammar | 20 Marks |
| C | Language through Literature | 40 Marks |
| Section | Competencies | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Conceptual understanding, decoding, analyzing, inferring, interpreting, and vocabulary | 20 |
| Writing Skills and Grammar | Creative expression of opinions, reasoning, justifying, illustrating, appropriate style and tone, use of correct format and fluency. Applying grammatical conventions, using integrated structures with accuracy and fluency | 20 |
| Language through Literature | Recalling, reasoning, appreciating, and applying literary conventions. Extracting relevant information, identifying central theme and sub-theme, understanding the writer’s message, and writing fluently | 40 |
| Total | — | 80 |
Click below to download the official PDF syllabus for CBSE Class 10 English (2025–26):
📥 Download CBSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026 PDF
| Section | Topic | Details | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Reading Skills | 1. Discursive passage (400–450 words) | 10 |
| 2. Case-based factual passage (200–250 words) with visual input | 10 | ||
| MCQs, Objective and Short Answer Questions (30–40 words) | |||
| Total (Section A) | 20 | ||
| B | Grammar | Topics: Determiners, Tenses, Modals, Subject–verb concord, Reported Speech | 10 |
| 10 out of 12 questions: Gap Filling / Editing / Transformation | |||
| Writing Skills | 4. Formal Letter (100–120 words) – 1 out of 2 questions | 5 | |
| 5. Analytical Paragraph (100–120 words) – 1 out of 2 questions | 5 | ||
| Total (Section B) | 20 | ||
| C | Reference to Context | 6. One extract out of two (Drama / Prose) | 5 |
| 7. One extract out of two (Poetry) | 5 | ||
| MCQs, Very Short, and Short Answer Questions (30–40 words) | |||
| Short Answer Questions (First Flight) | 8. 4 out of 5 questions (40–50 words) | 12 | |
| Short Answer Questions (Footprints Without Feet) | 9. 2 out of 3 questions (40–50 words) | 6 | |
| Long Answer Question (First Flight) | 10. 1 out of 2 questions (100–120 words) | 6 | |
| Long Answer Question (Footprints Without Feet) | 11. 1 out of 2 questions (100–120 words) | 6 | |
| Total (Section C) | 40 |
Total Marks: 80
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the CBSE Date Sheet 2026 for Class 10th and 12th students. Candidates can now check the complete CBSE Exam Date 2026 schedule and download the official PDF from the CBSE website.
Download CBSE Exam Date PDFThe CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature syllabus for 2025 has retained its structure from the previous year. It emphasizes comprehensive learning, focusing on conceptual understanding, creativity, and analytical thinking. The paper is divided into three main sections:
| Section | Weightage | Periods (Suggested) |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Skills | 20 Marks | 40 periods |
| Writing Skills and Grammar | 20 Marks | 40 periods |
| Language through Literature | 40 Marks | 50 periods |
| Total | 80 Marks | 130 periods |
This section is designed to assess students' reading comprehension and vocabulary skills through unseen passages.
| Components | Marks |
| Discursive Passage (400-450 words) | 10 Marks |
| Case-based Factual Passage (200-250 words) | 10 Marks |
| Total | 20 Marks |
Types of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Objective Type Questions, and Very Short Answer Questions.
Skills Assessed: Comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, and vocabulary.
This section evaluates grammatical accuracy, creative reasoning, and writing skills.
| Topics |
| Determiners |
| Tenses |
| Modals |
| Subject-verb Concord |
| Reported Speech |
| Commands and Requests |
| Statements |
| Questions |
Question Format: Gap Filling, Editing, and Transformation tasks.
Attempt Limit: Students need to attempt 10 out of 12 questions.
| Writing Tasks | Word Limit | Marks |
| Descriptive Paragraph (Person/Event/Situation) | 100-120 words | 5 Marks |
| Story Writing/Diary Entry (based on a cue/title) | 100-120 words | 5 Marks |
Students are required to attempt one question from each writing task.
This section has the highest weightage and assesses the understanding of literary texts.
| Components | Marks |
| Drama/Prose (One extract) | 5 Marks |
| Poetry (One extract) | 5 Marks |
| Total | 10 Marks |
| Question Type | Source | Marks |
| 4 Short Answer Questions (40-50 words each) | First Flight | 12 Marks |
| 2 Short Answer Questions (40-50 words each) | Footprints Without Feet | 6 Marks |
| 1 Long Answer Question (100-120 words) | First Flight | 6 Marks |
| 1 Long Answer Question (100-120 words) | Footprints Without Feet | 6 Marks |
| Total | 30 Marks |
Skills Assessed: Interpretation, analysis, inference, creativity, imagination, and application.
The syllabus prescribes the following NCERT books for literature:
| Prose | Poems |
| A Letter to God | Dust of Snow |
| Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom | Fire and Ice |
| Stories About Flying | A Tiger in the Zoo |
| From the Diary of Anne Frank | How to Tell Wild Animals |
| Glimpses of India | The Ball Poem |
| Mijbil the Otter | Amanda! |
| Madam Rides the Bus | The Trees |
| The Sermon at Benares | Fog |
| The Proposal (Play) | The Tale of Custard the Dragon |
| For Anne Gregory |
| Chapters |
| A Triumph of Surgery |
| The Thief's Story |
| The Midnight Visitor |
| A Question of Trust |
| Footprints Without Feet |
| The Making of a Scientist |
| The Necklace |
| Bholi |
| The Book that Saved the Earth |
Units 1 to 6
Units 8, 10, and 11
The internal assessment consists of Listening and Speaking competencies and art-integrated projects.
| Components | Marks |
| Listening and Speaking Skills | 5 Marks |
| Art-integrated Projects | 5 Marks |
Activities such as role plays, skits, dramatizations, and group discussions are recommended.
| Sections | Competencies | Total Marks |
| Reading Comprehension | Conceptual understanding, decoding, analyzing, inferring, interpreting, and vocabulary | 20 |
| Writing Skills & Grammar | Creative reasoning, expression, applying conventions, and fluency | 20 |
| Language through Literature | Appreciation, recalling, reasoning, interpretation, and application | 40 |
| Total | 80 |
The CBSE Class 10 English syllabus for 2025 ensures a comprehensive learning experience that hones students' language skills, creativity, and analytical abilities. By focusing on each section's details and following the prescribed guidelines, students can effectively prepare for their board examinations.
Answer: The CBSE Class 10th English syllabus is divided into three main sections with the following weightage:
Answer: No, there are no significant changes in the syllabus for the 2025 session compared to the previous year. The syllabus structure and weightage remain the same, as per the CBSE guidelines.
Answer: The Writing Skills section includes:
Answer: The prescribed books are published by NCERT:
Answer: The internal assessment is worth 20 marks and includes the following components:
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