The CBSE Class 12 English syllabus for the academic year 2025-26 is designed to enhance students’ proficiency in the language while fostering critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills. The syllabus is divided into three main sections: Reading Skills, Writing Skills & Grammar, and Literature.
The Reading Skills section focuses on improving comprehension abilities through unseen passages, testing students on their analytical and inferential skills. The Writing Skills & Grammar segment includes formal writing tasks such as notices, advertisements, invitations, letters, reports, and articles, helping students develop structured and coherent writing techniques.
The Literature component consists of two prescribed books, Flamingo (Core) and Vistas (Supplementary Reader)—which include a selection of prose and poetry that explore diverse themes, cultures, and perspectives. These literary texts aim to enhance linguistic proficiency while encouraging interpretative and reflective thinking.
The syllabus emphasizes holistic language development through reading, writing, speaking, and listening exercises. It also aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, ensuring a competency-based approach that nurtures creativity and the real-life application of language skills.
By engaging with this syllabus, students develop the necessary language skills for higher education and professional communication, making them confident and articulate individuals in a globalized world.
We have provided the CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2025-26, including a PDF download link for easy access. In addition, students can also review the marking scheme, exam pattern, and course structure for the CBSE Board Class 12th English exam.
In this article, you will find detailed information about the course structure, exam pattern, and marking scheme for the CBSE Class 12 English syllabus for the 2025 board exams. Understanding these elements is essential for effective preparation and to excel in the upcoming exams.
Total Marks: 100
Theory Paper: 80 marks
Internal Assessment: 20 marks (Listening & Speaking Skills + Project)
Duration: 3 hours
The written exam is divided into three compulsory sections:
✔ Marks: 22 marks
✔ Tests comprehension, interpretation, inference, and vocabulary through unseen passages (factual, descriptive, literary, case-based etc.).
Typical inclusions:
Unseen passages with objective and short-answer questions
Case-based extracts with visual/verbal inputs (charts/data)
✔ Marks: 18–20 marks
✔ Evaluates writing and grammar skills with tasks such as:
Notice Writing
Formal/Informal Invitations & Replies
Letters (e.g., job application, letter to editor)
Article/Report Writing
Grammar Based Tasks (sentence transformation, editing etc.)
✔ Marks: 40 marks
✔ Based on prescribed texts (NCERT English books: Flamingo and Vistas):
Prose and poetry from Flamingo
Short stories and chapters from Vistas
The section includes extract-based questions, short answer and long answer questions.
This portion is completed by the school, and includes:
Listening Skills Assessment: 5 marks
Speaking Skills Assessment: 5 marks
Project Work + Viva/Portfolio: 10 marks
For English Elective (Code 001) the pattern is similar in terms of section division and marks (80-theory + 20 internal).
Three sections — Reading, Writing & Grammar, and Textbooks/Literature
Reading may include multiple unseen passages and poetry comprehension with objective questions as per CBSE sample paper structure.
| Section | Focus | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Skills | Unseen passages, case-based extracts | ~20–22 |
| Creative Writing & Grammar | Notices, letters, articles, grammar tasks | ~18–20 |
| Literature | Prose & poetry interpretation | ~40 |
| Total (Theory) | 80 | |
| Internal Assessment | Listening, speaking, project | 20 |
| Grand Total | 100 |
Note: The combined word limit for both passages is 700-750 words.
Question Types: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Objective Type Questions, and Short Answer Type Questions (to be answered in 40-50 words).
| Task | Word Limit | Marks Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Notice | Up to 50 words | 4 Marks (Format: 1, Content: 2, Spelling & Grammar: 1) |
| Formal/Informal Invitation and Reply | Up to 50 words | 4 Marks (Format: 1, Content: 2, Spelling & Grammar: 1) |
| Letters (Job application with bio-data/resume or Letter to Editor) | 120-150 words | 5 Marks (Format: 1, Organisation of Ideas: 1, Content: 2, Spelling & Grammar: 1) |
| Article/Report Writing | 120-150 words | 5 Marks (Format: 1, Organisation of Ideas: 1, Content: 2, Spelling & Grammar: 1) |
This section includes different types of questions to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and extrapolation beyond the text.
| Question | Source | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 7. Poetry Extract | Flamingo | 6 Marks (6×1) |
| 8. Prose Extract | Vistas | 4 Marks (4×1) |
| 9. Prose Extract | Flamingo | 6 Marks (6×1) |
| 10. Short Answer Questions (Flamingo Prose & Poetry) | Answer in 40-50 words, 5 out of 6 questions to be answered | 10 Marks (5×2) |
| 11. Short Answer Questions (Vistas Prose) | Answer in 40-50 words, 2 out of 3 questions to be answered | 4 Marks (2×2) |
| 12. Long Answer Question (Flamingo) | Answer in 120-150 words | 5 Marks (1×5) |
| 13. Long Answer Question (Vistas) | Answer in 120-150 words | 5 Marks (1×5) |
| Assessment Type | Marks |
|---|---|
| Listening Skills | 5 |
| Speaking Skills | 5 |
| Project Work | 10 |
| Section | Competencies | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Skills | Conceptual understanding, decoding, analyzing, interpreting, appreciating, summarizing, using appropriate formats. | 22 |
| Creative Writing Skills | Conceptual understanding, application, analysis, evaluation, creativity, appropriate style/tone, using suitable formats. | 18 |
| Literature Text Book & Supplementary Reading Text | Recalling, reasoning, critical thinking, appreciating literary convention, creativity, fluency. | 40 |
| TOTAL | 80 |
In this section, we have discussed the internal assessment marks, which are crucial for students to understand thoroughly to score well in the exams. Proper knowledge of the internal assessment helps students plan and perform better in both practical and theoretical components.
| Internal Assessment | Marks |
|---|---|
| Listening Skills | 5 |
| Speaking Skills | 5 |
| Project Work | 10 |
| TOTAL | 20 |
The CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2025-26 is now available for students to download in PDF format. This updated syllabus outlines the course structure, exam pattern, and marking scheme, providing essential details for effective exam preparation. Students can easily access the syllabus to ensure they are well-prepared for the board exams.
CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2025-26-Click Here To Download PDF
Simple and practical tips to cover the CBSE Class 12 English syllabus 2025–26 easily and effectively, especially useful if you want good scores with smart effort:
CBSE Class 12 English includes:
Flamingo (Prose + Poetry)
Vistas (Supplementary Reader)
Creative Writing Skills
Reading Comprehension
Literature-based questions
Tip: Focus more on literature + writing skills, as they carry maximum marks.
Read each chapter/poem at least 2–3 times
Focus on:
Theme
Character sketch
Central idea & message
Poetry: Learn poetic devices with examples
NCERT lines are often used directly in exam questions.
For every chapter/poem, note:
Summary (120–150 words)
Important quotes
Literary devices
Expected questions
This helps in quick revision before exams.
Practice formats regularly:
Notice & Invitation
Formal Letters
Article & Report Writing
Tip: Use simple language, proper format, and clear headings to score full marks.
Practice 1 unseen passage daily
Focus on:
Keywords
Vocabulary-based questions
Inference-based answers
Improves speed and accuracy.
Write to-the-point answers
Support answers with textual references
Avoid unnecessary explanations
Pro tip: Use paragraph form for 5–6 mark questions.
Solve last 5 years’ CBSE papers
Identify repeated themes and questions
Practice within time limit
Revise:
Summaries
Quotes
Formats
Do full mock tests in the last month
Best plan: Revise literature every alternate day.
Best books:
NCERT (Most important)
Oswaal / Arihant Question Banks
Xam Idea English Core
Avoid reading too many guides.
Study English 30–45 minutes daily
Mix reading + writing practice
Revise weekly
English is a high-scoring subject if:
Concepts are clear
Writing is neat & structured
NCERT is followed strictly
If you want, I can also share:
✔️ Chapter-wise important questions
✔️ Sample study timetable
✔️ Most expected questions for 2025–26
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