CBSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026-27

CBSE Class 10 English 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.

The syllabus includes sections like Reading, Writing, and Literature, along with marks distribution, question types, and unit-wise topics. It helps students understand what to study and how the board will assess each section.

Students, teachers, and parents can use this latest CBSE Class 10 English syllabus to plan study schedules and avoid outdated topics.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 Language and Literature 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 Latest Syllabus 2026-27

Sections Weightage
A Reading Skills 20 Marks
B Writing Skills and Grammar 20 Marks
C Language through Literature 40 Marks

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

Section-A

Reading Skills

I. Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passage 

20 Marks

  1. Discursive passage of 400-450 words.

(10 marks)

2. Case-based passage (with visual input- statistical data, chart etc.) of 200-250 words.

(10 marks)

(Total length of two passages to be 600-700 words)

Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions, and Short Answer Questions (to be
answered in 30-40 words) will be asked to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis,
inference, evaluation and vocabulary.

Section-B

Writing Skills and Grammar

II Grammar

10 Marks

  • Determiners
  • Tenses
  • Modals
  • Subject – verb concord
  • Reported speech
    • Commands and requests
    • Statements
    • Questions

3. The courses at the secondary level seek to cement high professional grasp of grammatical items and levels of accuracy. Accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar in context will be assessed through Gap Filling/ Editing/Transformation exercises. Ten out of 12 questions will have to be attempted.

III Writing Skills

10 Marks

4. Writing Formal Letter based on a given situation in 100-120 words. One out of two questions is to be answered. 

5 marks

5. Writing an Analytical Paragraph (100-120 words) on a given map/chart/graph/cue/s . One out of two questions is to be answered.

5 marks

Section-C

Language through Literature

40 marks

IV. Reference to the Context

(5+5 = 10 Marks)

6. One extract out of two from Drama / Prose.

7. One extract out of two from poetry. 

Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions Very Short Answer Questions (one
word/One sentence), Short Answer Questions (to be answered in 30-40 words) will be asked
to assess inference, analysis, interpretation, evaluation and vocabulary.

V. Short & Very Long Answer Questions

30 Marks

8. Four out of Five Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words from the book FIRST FLIGHT to assess interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation.

4x3=12 marks

9. Two out of Three Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words each from FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET to assess interpretation, analysis, inference and
evaluation.

2x3=6 marks

10. One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from FIRST FLIGHT to be answered in about 100-120 words each to assess creativity, imagination and extrapolation beyond the text and across the text. This can be a passage-based question taken from a situation/plot from the text.

6 marks

11. One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET, on theme or plot involving interpretation, extrapolation beyond the text and inference or
character sketch to be answered in about 100-120 words.

6 marks

1. First Flight

A. Prose 

    1. A letter to God
    2. Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom
    3. Two Stories About Flying
    4. From the Diary of Anne Frank
    5. Glimpses of India
    6. Mijbil the Otter
    7. Madam Rides the Bus
    8. The Sermon at Benares
    9. The Proposal (Play)

B. Poems

    1. Dust of Snow
    2. Fire and Ice
    3. A tiger in the Zoo
    4. How to Tell Wild Animals
    5. The Ball Poem
    6. Amanda!
    7. The Trees
    8. Fog
    9. The Tale of Custard the Dragon
    10. For Anne Gregory

2. Footprints Without Feet

    1. A triumph of Surgery
    2. The Thief's Story
    3. The Midnight Visitor
    4. A Question of Trust
    5. Footprints Without Feet
    6. The making of a Scientist
    7. The necklace
    8. Bholi
    9. The Book That Saved the Earth 

3. WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS – II (WORKBOOK FOR CLASS X) – Units 1 to 4 and
Units 7 to 11

Note: Teachers are suggested to:

(i) encourage interaction among peers, students and teachers through activities such as
role play, discussions, group work etc.

(ii) reduce teacher-talking time and keep it to the minimum,

(iii) take up questions for discussion to encourage pupils to participate and to marshal their ideas and express and defend their views, and

(iv) follow the Speaking and Listening activities given in the NCERT books.

Besides measuring learning outcome, texts serve the dual purpose of diagnosing mistakes and areas of non-learning. To make evaluation a true index of learners’ knowledge, each language skills to be assessed through a judicious mixture of differenttypes of questions.

Internal Assessment

Listening and Speaking Competencies 30 Periods
Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills will be for 05 marks.
It is recommended that listening and speaking skills should be regularly practiced. Art-integrated projects based on activities like Role Play, Skit, Dramatization etc. must be used. Please refer to the Circular no. Acad-33/2020 dated 14th May 2020
http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Circulars/2020/33_Circular_2020.pdf

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

Sections Competencies Total marks
Reading Comprehension Conceptual understanding, decoding, analyzing, inferring, interpreting and vocabulary 20
Writing Skill and Gramm Creative expression of an opinion, reasoning, justifying, illustrating, appropriacy of style and tone, using appropriate format and fluency. Applying conventions, using integrated structures with accuracy and fluency 20
Language through Literature Recalling, reasoning, appreciating, applying literary conventions illustrating and justifying etc. Extract relevant information, identifying the central theme and sub-theme, understanding the writers’ message and writing fluently. 40
Total 80

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%

Objectives of CBSE Syllabus for Class 10 English

The CBSE syllabus for class 10 English 2026-27 has been developed with the aim of the following:

  1. To build greater confidence and proficiency in oral and written communication in the students.
  2. To develop the quality of critical thinking in the learners.
  3. To work in pairs/groups to debate/discuss events and incidents of topical interest.
  4. To read and identify the main points / significant details of texts, paragraphs, images, etc.
  5. To develop an appreciation for Indian languages, translations, and Indian Literature.

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

Ans: Every chapter of Class 10 English 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 Language section, students must solve ample practice exercises.

Ans: No, it is absolutely not too hard to score above 90 in English 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 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 Syllabus at the CBSE official website or check our CBSE Class 10 Syllabus.

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