CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Syllabus 2026-27

CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Syllabus 2026–27 was released by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on April 2, 2026. This latest syllabus applies to the academic session 2026–27 and defines the updated exam pattern for English Language and Literature.

Students, teachers, and parents can use this latest CBSE Class 10 English Communicative syllabus to plan study schedules and avoid outdated topics. It also reflects current CBSE guidelines for learning outcomes and exam preparation.

You can download the official CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Syllabus 2026–27 PDF from the link below and start your preparation with the latest exam pattern.

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Table Of Contents−
CBSE 10th Question Bank

CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Latest Syllabus 2026-27

Section Total Weightage
A Reading Skills 22
B Writing Skills 22
C Grammar 10
D Literature Textbook 26
TOTAL 80

CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Syllabus 2026-27: Section-Wise Summary

Section-A

READING SKILLS

12+10=22 Marks

  • The section will have two unseen passages with the maximum word limit of 750 words. The
    passages can have continuous and non-continuous text inspired from the themes in prescribed books. Please refer to the Main Course Book (MCB) for types of non-continuous texts. (For example –Unit 1 has lists, tables, cues, message, telephone conversation etc.).
  • Objective Type Questions (including Multiple Choice Questions), Very Short Answer Type
    Questions (one word/ one phrase / one sentence) and Short Answer Type Questions (30-40 words each) will be asked to test interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation and vocabulary in context.

Section-B

WRITING SKILLS

22 Marks

This section will have a variety of short and long writing tasks.

  • Application for leave/ change of subject /change of section/ bus-timings or similar topics in
    maximum 50 words

3 marks

  • Factual Description of a person/object in maximum 100 words

4 marks

  • One out of two formal letters, in maximum 120 words, thematically aligned to topics in MCB.

7 marks

  • One out of two articles based on verbal cues, in maximum 150 words, thematically aligned to
    MCB topics.

8 marks

Section-C

GRAMMAR

10 marks

Grammar items will be taught and assessed over a period of time.

  1. Tenses
  2. Modals
  3. Subject – Verb Concord
  4. Reported speech
    • Commands and requests
    • Statements
    • Questions
  5. Clauses
    • Noun clauses
    • Adverb clauses
    • Relative clauses
  6. Determiners

The above items may be tested through test types as given below:

  • Gap filling

(3 Marks)

  • Editing or Omission

4 Marks

  • Sentences Reordering or Sentence Transformation in context.

3 marks

SECTION D: LITERATURE TEXTBOOK

26 marks

  • Two out of three extracts from prose/poetry for reference to the context. Very Short Answer Questions will be asked to assess global comprehension, interpretation, inference and evaluation.

4x2=8 marks

  • Five Short Answer Type Questions out of six from the Literature Reader to test local and global comprehension of theme and ideas, analysis, evaluation and appreciation (30-40 words each)

5x2 = 10 marks

  • One out of two Long Answer Type Questions to assess how the values inherent in the text have been brought out. Creativity, evaluation and extrapolation beyond the text and across the texts will be assessed. This can also be a passage-based question taken from a situation/plot
    from the texts. (150 words).

8 marks

Prescribed Books: Interact in English Series by CBSE (available on www.cbseacademic.nic.in)

  • Main Course Book (Revised Edition)
  • Literature Reader (Revised Edition)
  • Workbook (Revised Edition)

NOTE: Teachers are suggested to:

  1. encourage classroom interaction among peers, students and teachers through activities such as role play, group work etc.,
  2. reduce teacher-talk time and keep it to the minimum,
  3. take up questions for discussion to encourage pupils to participate and to marshal their ideas and express and defend their views.

CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Syllabus 2026-27 : Competency Based Question Paper Design

TIME: 3 Hours Max. Marks: 80
S.No Competencies % Weightage
1 Demonstrative Knowledge + Understanding
(Knowledge based simple recall questions, to know specific facts, terms, concepts, principles or theories, identify, define, or recite, information, Comprehension –to be familiar with meaning and to understand conceptually, interpret, compare, contrast, explain, paraphrase information) 		Up to 30%
2 Conceptual Application (Use abstract information in concrete situation, to apply knowledge to new situations; use given content to interpret a situation, provide an example or solve a problem) Up to 35%
3 Analysis, Evaluation and Creativity Analysis & Synthesis- classify, compare, contrast, or differentiate between different pieces of information; organise and/or integrate unique pieces of information from a variety of sources. Up to 35%
Total 100%

The Changes for Class 10 (2026-27) Year-end Board Examinations are as under: 

(Class-10)
Periodic Assessment Academic Session 2025-26 Academic Session 2026-27
Composition of question paper for year-end examination/ Board Examination (Theory)
  • Competency Focused Questions in the form of MCQs/ Case Based Questions, Source-based Integrated Questions or any other type = 50%
  • Select response type questions (MCQ) = 20%
  • Constructed response questions (Short Answer/Long Answer Type Questions, as per existing pattern) = 30%
  • Competency Focused Questions in the form of MCQs/Case Based Questions, Source-based Integrated Questions or any other type = 50%
  • Select response type questions (MCQ) = 20%
  • Constructed response questions (Short Answer/Long Answer type Questions, as per existing pattern) = 30%

Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills: Guidelines for the Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills are given at Annexure I.

Guidelines for Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills (ALS)

ALS is a component of the Subject Enrichment Activity under Internal Assessment. ALS must be seen as an integrated component of all four language skills. Suggested activities, therefore, take into consideration an integration of the four language skills but during assessment, emphasis will be given to speaking and listening, since reading and writing are already being assessed in the written exam.

Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills: (5 Marks)

  1. Activities:
    • Subject teachers must refer to books prescribed in the syllabus.
    • In addition to the above, teachers may plan their own activities and create their own
      material for assessing the listening and speaking skills.
  2. Parameters for Assessment: The listening and speaking skills are to be assessed on the following parameters:
    • Interactive competence (Initiation and turn taking, relevance to the topic)
    • Fluency (cohesion, coherence and speed of delivery)
    • Pronunciation
    • Language (grammar and vocabulary)

Suggestive Rubric

1 2 3 4 5
Interaction
  • Contributions are mainly unrelated to those of other speakers
  • Shows hardly any initiative in the development of conversation
  • Very limited interaction
  • Contributions are often unrelated to those of the other speaker
  • Generally passive in the development of conversation
  • Develops interaction adequately, makes however minimal effort to initiate conversation
  • Needs constant prompting to take turns
  • Interaction is adequately initiated and developed
  • Takes turn but needs some prompting
  • Initiates & logically develops simple conversation on familiar topics
  • Takes turns appropriately
Fluency &
Coherence
  • Noticeably long pauses; rate of speech is slow
  • Frequent repetition and/or self-correction
  • Links only basic sentences; breakdown of coherence evident
  • Usually fluent; produces simple speech fluently, but loses coherence in complex communication
  • Often hesitates and/or resorts to slow speech
  • Topics partly developed; not always concluded logically
  • Is willing to speak at length, however repetition is noticeable
  • Hesitates and/or self-corrects; occasionally loses coherence
  • Topics developed, but usually not logically concluded
  • Speaks without noticeable effort, with a little repetition
  • Demonstrates hesitation to find words or use correct grammatical structures and/or self-correction
  • Topics not fully developed to merit
  • Speaks fluently almost with no repetition & minimal hesitation
  • Develops topic fully & coherently
Pronunciation
  • Frequent inaccurate pronunciation
  • Communication is severely affected
  • Frequently unintelligible articulation
  • Frequent phonological errors
  • Major communication problems
  • Largely correct pronunciation & clear articulation except occasional errors
  • Mostly correct pronunciation & clear articulation
  • Is clearly understood most of the time; very few phonological errors
  • Pronounces correctly & articulates clearly
  • Is always comprehensible
  • Uses appropriate intonation
Vocabulary &
Grammar
  • Demonstrates almost no flexibility, and mostly struggles for appropriate words
  • Many grammatical errors impacting communication
  • Is able to communicate on some of the topics, with limited vocabulary
  • Frequent errors, but self-corrects
  • Is able to communicate on most of the topics, with limited vocabulary
  • A few grammatical errors
  • Is able to communicate on most of the topics with appropriate vocabulary
  • Minor errors that do not hamper communication
  • Is able to communicate on most of the topics using a wide range of appropriate vocabulary, using new words and expressions
  • No grammatical errors

3. Schedule:

  • The practice of listening and speaking skills should be done throughout the academic year.
  • The final assessment of the skills is to be done as per the schedule of the school.

Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Syllabus 2026-27

Ans: Every chapter of Class 10 English Communicative is important for the Board exam. Students must be well-versed in their syllabus and must thoroughly read the texts. They must also develop the quality of critically analysing the text to write the answers. For the Communicative section, students must solve ample practice exercises.

Ans: No, it is absolutely not too hard to score above 90 in English Communicative in the Board Exam. Students must be thorough with the texts and the syllabus, solve practice exercises daily, time themselves, solve 10 years’ question papers, and do a lot of revision. 

Ans: Oswal-Gurukul CBSE Most Likely Question Bank, CBSE Last 10 Years Solved Papers, and All in 1 Guide Book for CBSE Class X are your one-stop solution for important questions pertaining to English Communicative as per Class 10 CBSE Board Syllabus 2024-25. All the books have been prepared by Oswal’s eminent subject matter experts in a student-friendly language.

Students can also create their own tests online at oswal.io and gauge their progress in an interesting way through self-assessments.

Ans: Students can find the CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Syllabus at the CBSE official website or check our CBSE Class 10 Syllabus.

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