The CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026 plays a vital role in helping students prepare effectively for the board examination. Designed strictly according to the latest CBSE curriculum and assessment pattern, the sample paper offers a clear understanding of the question paper format, marking scheme, and difficulty level. It reflects the competency-based approach adopted by CBSE, focusing not only on knowledge but also on analytical thinking, interpretation, and creative expression.
The sample paper includes a balanced mix of reading comprehension, creative and formal writing, literature-based questions, and grammar in context, enabling students to practice all sections thoroughly. By solving the sample paper, students can identify their strengths and weaknesses, improve time management, and gain confidence in answering questions within the prescribed word limits. It also familiarizes students with case-based and inferential questions, which are increasingly emphasized in the new examination pattern.
Regular practice with the CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026 helps students refine their writing skills, enhance vocabulary, and develop clarity of thought. Overall, the sample paper serves as a reliable roadmap for focused preparation and achieving high scores in the Class 12 English board examination.
CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026
The CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026 (for the academic year 2025–26) is officially released on the CBSE academic website to help students prepare for the English Core board exam. It follows the revised 3-hour, 80-mark theory pattern with all questions compulsory, divided into three sections: Reading Skills, Creative Writing, and Literature. The sample includes comprehension passages, writing tasks, grammar application, and literature-based questions reflecting the NCERT texts Flamingo and Vistas. Practising it under exam conditions with the provided marking scheme boosts confidence, time management, and familiarity with question formats.
English Sample Paper Class 12 2026 Pattern
Here is the CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026 – Exam Pattern based on the latest CBSE board format (English Core – 301 & English Elective – 001).
This pattern will help you prepare accurately for Board Exams 2026.
CBSE Class 12 English Core (301) – Exam Pattern 2026
Time Duration: 3 Hours
Maximum Marks: 80
(Internal Assessment: 20 Marks)
Section-wise Question Paper Pattern
Section A – Reading Skills (22 Marks)
Objective-type questions
| Type | Details | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Unseen Passages | 1 Factual + 1 Literary/Discursive | 22 |
| Question Types | MCQs, Short Answers | — |
Section B – Creative Writing Skills (18 Marks)
| Question Type | Marks |
|---|---|
| Notice / Invitation / Poster / Advertisement | 4 |
| Formal / Informal Letter | 5 |
| Article / Report / Speech | 9 |
| Total | 18 |
Section C – Literature (40 Marks)
Books Covered
-
Flamingo
-
Vistas
Literature Question Pattern
| Question Type | Marks |
|---|---|
| MCQs (Extract-based) | 12 |
| Short Answer Questions (30–40 words) | 12 |
| Long Answer Questions (120–150 words) | 16 |
| Total | 40 |
Question Paper Design Highlights (2026)
-
Competency-based questions included
-
Case-study / assertion-reasoning type MCQs
-
Choice provided in most questions
-
Focus on analytical & interpretative skills
-
NCERT-based questions only
Internal Assessment (20 Marks)
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Listening & Speaking Skills | 5 |
| Project Work | 10 |
| Class Test | 5 |
English Sample Paper Class 12 2026 PDF Download
The English Sample Paper for Class 12 (2026) is designed as per the latest CBSE exam pattern and marking scheme. It covers all sections—Reading Skills, Creative Writing, Literature, and Grammar—to help students understand the question format and difficulty level. The sample paper includes case-based questions, competency-based MCQs, and long-answer questions for effective practice. Solving this paper improves time management, answer presentation, and confidence before the board exam. Students can download the Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026 PDF to practice regularly and assess their exam readiness.
| Class 12 sample paper English core PDF Download | |
| CBSE Class 12 English Core Sample Paper 2025-26 PDF | EnglishCorepaper-SQP |
| Marking Scheme of Class 12th English Core | EnglishCorepaper-MS |
English Core Class 12 Sample Paper with Solutions 2026
As earlier said, the Class 12 sample paper for English core is divided into three sections, namely Section A, B, and C. We have shared the CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper with solutions for the core in the section below.
Class 12th English Core Sample Paper Section A
SECTION A
READING SKILLS (22 marks)
1. Read the following passages. 12
Ours was the marsh country, down by the river, within twenty miles of the sea. My first most vivid and broad impression of the identity of things seems to me to have been gained on a memorable raw afternoon towards evening. The low leaden line beyond was the river; and that the distant savage lair from which the wind was rushing was the sea; and that the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry, was Pip.
“Hold your noise!” cried a terrible voice, as a man started up from among the graves at the side of the bushes. “Keep still, or I’ll make you pay!”
A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, limped, and shivered, and glared, and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me.
“Tell us your name!” said the man. “Quick! Give it mouth!”
“Pip. Pip, sir.”
“Show us where you live,” said the man. “Point out the place!”
The man, after looking at me for a moment, emptied my pockets. There was nothing in them but a piece of bread which he ate ravenously.
“Now lookee here!” said the man. “Where’s your mother?”
“There, sir!” said I.
He started, made a short run, and stopped and looked over his shoulder.
“Oh!” said he, coming back. Who’s that?” he asked, pointing.
“My sister, sir, —Mrs. Joe Gargery, —wife of Joe Gargery, the blacksmith, sir.”
“Blacksmith, eh?” said he. And looked down at his leg.
After darkly looking at his leg, he came close to me, took me by both arms, and tilted me back as far as he could hold me; so that his eyes looked most powerfully down into mine, and mine looked most helplessly up into his.
“Now lookee here,” he said, “You know what a file and wittles is?”
“Yes, sir.”
After each question, he tilted me over a little more, so as to give me a greater sense of helplessness and danger.
“You get me a file.” He tilted me again. “And wittles.” He tilted me again. “You bring ’em both to me.”
I was dreadfully frightened, and so giddy that I clung to him with both hands, and said, “If you would kindly please to let me keep upright, sir, perhaps I shouldn’t be sick, and perhaps I could attend more.”
He did. Then, he held me by the arms, in an upright position, and went on with his terms.
Source: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens / 448 words
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
I. Which textual evidence tells us that Pip was trembling?
Answer: ‘…the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all…’
II. Complete the following with a suitable reason.
The writer refers to the sea as a ‘savage lair’ in order to tell the reader that ____.
Answer: …that the sea is a wild, untamed, and menacing force / contributing to the ominous atmosphere of the scene / amplifying the sense of danger that Pip feels
III The writer emphasises Pip’s vulnerability in all of the following ways EXCEPT —
A. through the description of the harsh landscape
B. via the behaviour of the frightening man
C. through Pip’s helplessness and fear
D. via Pip’s knowledge of the surrounding area
Answer: D. via Pip’s knowledge of the surrounding area
IV What type of statement is made in the phrase “Keep still, or I’ll make you pay!”?
A. caution
B. threat
C. prediction
D. announcement
Answer: B. threat
(Rest of the questions will be updated shortly)
CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper Section B
SECTION B
CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS (18 marks)
All the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely coincidental.
3. Attempt any one of the two, (A) or (B), in about 50 words 1×4=4
A. You are Daljeet Kaur, a member of the Teen Well-Being Association, Chandigarh. The Association is planning to organise free pottery classes every Sunday morning at the community hall to encourage creativity among young residents. Write a notice in about 50
words, informing the residents of the event and inviting registrations. Include all the necessary details. Put your notice in a box.
OR
B. You are Keerthi, the Secretary of the Environmental Club of ABC School, Madurai. Your school is organising an ‘Eco-Fiesta’ to raise awareness about environmental issues. Draft a notice in about 50 words, inviting students to participate in various activities and setting up of food stalls. Include all the necessary details. Put your notice in a box.
4. Attempt any one of the two, (A) or (B), in about 50 words. 1×4=4
A. As the Cultural Secretary, Vignesh Kumar, of JKL School, Jamshedpur, draft an invitation for the Annual Music Festival, inviting Gajendra Hansda, an acclaimed local musician, to perform and judge the event. Provide the essential details in about 50 words.
OR
B. You are Bina Bedekar, currently residing at 45, Ashok Vihar, Nagpur. You have been invited to inaugurate a science exhibition at your alma mater, National Public School, Mumbai. Write a formal reply in about 50 words, accepting the invitation and expressing your gratitude.
5. Attempt any one of the two, (A) or (B), in 120-150 words 1×5=5
A. You are Pranab Chauhan, residing at 13-A, Gol Bazaar, Jaisalmer. Write a letter to the editor of The Nation Today, highlighting the need to assess sports talent at a young age by sports teachers and coaches to ensure that talent does not go unrecognised. Emphasise the
importance of grooming young sportspersons to create a larger pool of talented athletes for
the future. Draft the letter using your own ideas as well as the cues given.
Spotting natural abilities during formative years.
Building foundational skills early for long-term success.
Instilling discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship from a young age.
Creating a larger pool of skilled athletes for the future.
Building a strong sports culture and national pride.
OR
B. You are Lakshmi Kapur from 51/A, second floor, Shalimar Vihar, Delhi. You have come across the following advertisement in The Urban Echo for the post of a Junior Marketing Executive at a leading marketing firm. Write a letter expressing your interest in the position. Include your bio-data along with the application.
CBSE Class 12 English Core Sample Paper Section C
SECTION C
LITERATURE (40 marks)
7. Read the following extracts and solve ANY ONE of the given two, (A) or (B). (1×6=6)
A.
… I saw my mother,
beside me,
doze, open mouthed, her face
ashen like that
of a corpse and realised with
pain
that she was as old as she
looked but soon
put that thought away, and
looked out at Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes…
(My Mother at Sixty-six)
I. What does the imagery of the ‘ashen face’ of the mother suggest about her physical condition?
Answer: she is frail, aged, in a declining physical condition, vulnerable, weakening health, lacks vitality
II. Complete the following with the correct option.
The speaker’s use of the word ‘realised’ suggests that her awareness was _______ (delayed / expected / sudden).
Answer: sudden
IV. Complete the sentence by filling in the blank with a suitable phrase.
The primary theme highlighted in the extract is the _______ , as the narrator reflects on her mother’s frailty and aging.
Answer: It introduces a contrast of vitality, joy and exuberance against the sombre and reflective mood created by the imagery of the mother’s frailty.
V. What can be inferred about the emotional state of the speaker in the extract?
a) Distracted by the liveliness of the surroundings
b) Concerned about her mother’s discomfort
c) Overwhelmed by a sense of anguish
d) Preoccupied with thoughts about life experiences
VI. All of the following are true for the extract EXCEPT –
a) The comparison to a ‘corpse’ highlights the speaker’s fear of losing her mother.
b) The poet makes exclusive use of melancholic imagery in the given lines.
c) The speaker’s internal conflict creates a relatable portrayal of human
relationships.
d) The universality of themes makes the lines relevant to the readers.
OR
B When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid (Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers)
I. What does the phrase ‘terrified hands’ suggest about Aunt’s life? 1II Complete the following suitably.
The tigers’ proud and playful movements reflect ______.
III Examine briefly how the tigers in the panel contrast with Aunt’s life experiences.
IV. Fill in the blank with the correct option from those given in the brackets.
The phrase ‘still ringed’ refers to both the literal ______ (shape of the embroidery panel/wedding band on her finger) and the figurative ‘ring’ of constraints and ordeals imposed by her marriage.
Benefits of Solving Sample Papers for CBSE Class 12 English Core 2025-26
Solving sample papers for CBSE Class 12 English Core 2025–26 offers multiple benefits for effective exam preparation. It helps students understand the latest exam pattern, question types, and marking scheme as per the CBSE guidelines. Regular practice improves time management, ensuring balanced attempts across reading, writing, and literature sections. Sample papers also strengthen answer-writing skills, enhance vocabulary, and boost grammar accuracy. By identifying weak areas, students can revise more strategically. Moreover, solving sample papers builds confidence and reduces exam anxiety, enabling students to perform better and achieve higher scores in the final board examination.
FAQs
1. Has CBSE released the Class 12 English Sample Paper for 2025-26?
Answer: Yes. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the Class 12 English (Core) Sample Question Paper for the 2025-26 academic year on the official CBSE academic website.
2. Where can I download the CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026?
Answer: You can download it for free from the official CBSE academic site (cbseacademic.nic.in) under Sample Question Papers or through educational sites that link directly to the official PDFs.
3. What is the purpose of CBSE sample papers?
Answer: Sample papers help you understand the exam pattern, types of questions, marking scheme, and the difficulty level of the upcoming board exam. Practising them boosts confidence and improves time management.
4. Are the sample papers based on the latest syllabus?
Answer: Yes. The Class 12 English sample papers for 2025-26 are based on the current CBSE syllabus and exam pattern for the 2026 board exams.
5. Do sample papers include solutions/marking schemes?
Answer: Many sample papers come with marking schemes or are accompanied by detailed solutions that help you check your answers and understand how marks are awarded.
6. What sections are there in the Class 12 English exam?
Answer: The English paper generally has sections on Reading Comprehension, Writing Skills, and Literature (prose, poetry, drama), mirroring the structure of the sample paper.
7. How often should I solve sample papers?
Answer: It’s recommended to solve at least 2–3 full sample papers before the exam to improve speed, accuracy, and familiarity with question types.
8. Can sample papers improve grammar and writing skills?
Answer: Yes. Regular practice of grammar and writing questions from sample papers enhances language skills, such as sentence structure, punctuation, and expression.
9. Are sample papers exactly like the board exam question paper?
Answer: They follow the same pattern, but the exact questions may differ. Sample papers are practice tools to reflect the type of questions you might encounter.
10. Is it necessary to practice sample papers to score good marks?
Answer: While not compulsory, practicing sample papers is highly recommended as it helps you gauge your preparation level and identify weak areas before the exam.
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