ICSE Class 10 English-I Syllabus 2026-27
CISCE has released the ICSE Class 10 English-I syllabus for the academic session 2026-27. The syllabus explains the topics, writing skills, and exam structure for the English Language paper.
Students should review the latest ICSE 10th English-I syllabus before they begin exam preparation. The syllabus shows the exam format, marks distribution, and the type of questions students will face in the board examination.
The English Language paper focuses on composition, grammar, comprehension, and letter writing. Students must study these areas to build strong writing and language skills.
Teachers should also follow the updated syllabus while they plan lessons and class assessments for the academic year.
Oswal Publishers has updated its books according to the latest ICSE Class 10 English-I paper pattern prescribed by CISCE. These books help students practice questions and prepare for the examination with clear guidance.
Download the latest ICSE Class 10 English-I syllabus PDF for the academic session 2026-27.
Latest ICSE Class 10 English-I Syllabus 2026-27
- To develop and integrate the use of the four language skills i.e. listening, speaking, reading and writing for the purpose of effective communication.
- To develop a functional understanding of the grammar, structure and idiom of the language.
- To develop the capacity to read efficiently and access information effectively.
- To develop an appreciation of good literature.
- To experience, through literature, the thoughts and feelings of the peoples of the world.
There will be two papers:
Paper 1: English Language;
Paper 2: Literature in English.
Each of these papers will be of two hours duration.
Paper 1:
English Language (80 Marks)
(80 Marks)
Paper 1:
Internal Assessment
(20 Marks)
Paper 2:
Literature in English (80 Marks)
(80 Marks)
Paper 2:
Internal Assessment
(20 Marks)
Paper 1 - English Language (Two hours) - 80 Marks
- Composition: Candidates will be required to write a composition of about 300– 350 words from a choice
of subjects which will test their ability to: organise, describe, narrate, report, explain, persuade or argue, present ideas coherently with accuracy and precision, compare and contrast ideas and arrive at conclusions, present relevant arguments and use correct style and format.The topics will be varied and may be suggested by language or by other stimuli such as pictures. The topics will be so chosen so as to allow the candidates to draw on first-hand experience or to stimulate their imagination.
The organisation of subject matter, syntax, punctuation, correctness of grammatical constructions and spelling will be expected to be appropriate to the mode of treatment required by the subject.
- Letter Writing: Candidates will have to write a letter from a choice of two subjects requiring either a formal or a friendly mode of treatment. Suggestions regarding the content of the letter may be given. The format of the letter with address, introduction, conclusion, etc., will form part of the assessment. Special attention must be paid to the format of the letter with emphasis on tone and vocabulary appropriate to the context.
- Notice and E-mail Writing: Candidates will be given a specific situation and will be required to:
(a) Write the text for a notice based on given directions
(b) Write an e-mail on the same content as the notice.
- Unseen Comprehension: An unseen prose passage of about 500 words will be given. Uncommon items of vocabulary, or structure will be avoided. A question will be set to test vocabulary. Candidates will be required to show an understanding of the words/phrases in the context in which they have been used.
A number of questions requiring short answers will also be asked on the passage. These questions will test
the candidates’ ability to comprehend the explicit content and organisation of the passage and to infer information, intention and attitude from it.The last question will consist of a summary that will test the candidates’ ability to distinguish main ideas
from supporting details and to extract salient points to re-write them in the form of a summary. Candidates
will be given a clear indication of what they are to summarise and of the length of the summary. - Grammar: There will be a number of short answer questions to test the candidates' knowledge of functional grammar, structure and usage.
All the items in this question will be compulsory. They will consist of correct use of prepositions, conjunctions, verbs and structure of sentences.
Internal Assessment
Paper 1 - English Language
- Schools will prepare, conduct and record assessments of the Listening and Speaking Skills of candidates as follows:
Class X: Two assessments in the course of the year.
- Pattern of Assessment
a) Listening Skills
A passage of about 300 words is read aloud by the examiner twice, the first time at normal reading speed (about 110 words a minute) and the next time at a slower speed. Candidates may make brief notes during the readings. They then answer an objective type test based on the passage, on the paper provided.
The recommended number of candidates at a sitting is 30.
b) Speaking Skills
Each candidate is required to make an oral presentation for about two minutes, which will be followed by a discussion on the subject with the examiners, for about three minutes.
Subjects for presentation may include narrating an experience, providing a description, giving directions how to make or operate something, expressing an opinion, giving a report, relating an anecdote or commenting on a current event.
A candidate may refer to brief notes in the course of the presentation but reading or excessive dependence on notes will be penalized.
It is recommended that candidates be given an hour for preparation of their subject for presentation and that
they be given a choice of subject, on a common paper.
Evaluation
The assessment will be conducted jointly by the subject teacher and the external examiner who will each assess the candidate. (The External Examiner may be a teacher nominated by the Head of the School who could be from the faculty but not teaching the subject in the section/class. For example, a teacher of English of Class VIII may be deputed to be an External Examiner for Class X).
Award of Marks
(20 Marks)
Listening Skills:
10 marks
Speaking Skills:
10 marks
