The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the updated Class 12 English Core syllabus for the academic year 2025–26. Students and educators will be pleased to note that no major changes have been made to the structure of the syllabus, ensuring continuity and consistency in exam preparation.
The syllabus offers a comprehensive breakdown of all sections included in the course—ranging from reading comprehension and creative writing to literature from NCERT-prescribed texts. It also outlines the project work, internal assessments, and evaluation criteria.
Below is a complete guide to the CBSE Class 12 English Core Syllabus 2025–26, including marks distribution, question types, prescribed books, and more.
🔍 CBSE Class 12 English 2025–26: Key Details at a Glance
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Board | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Class | 12 |
| Subject | English Core |
| Subject Code | 301 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Theory Exam | 80 Marks |
| Internal Assessment | 20 Marks |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
| Assessment Components | Theory + Internal (Project + Viva + ALS) |
CBSE 12th English Core Syllabus 2025–26:Detailed Syllabus
The English Core syllabus is divided into two major components:
- Theory Paper (80 Marks)
- Internal Assessment (20 Marks)
Section A: Reading Skills – 22 Marks
| Type of Passage | Focus Areas | Additional Details |
| Unseen Literary/Descriptive/Factual Passage | Inference, vocabulary, and understanding | Tests comprehension and interpretation |
| Case-based Factual Passage | Evaluation and interpretation | Includes visual/verbal data such as charts or statistics |
| Combined Word Limit | – | 700–750 words total for both passages |
| Question Types | – | MCQs and short answer questions (40–50 words each) |
Section B: Creative Writing Skills – 18 Marks
This section evaluates writing formats, grammatical accuracy, content, and structure.
| Question Type | Word Limit | Marks | Criteria |
| Notice Writing | Up to 50 | 4 | Format:1 / Content:2 / Grammar:1 |
| Invitation and Reply (Formal/Informal) | Up to 50 | 4 | Format:1 / Content:2 / Grammar:1 |
| Letter Writing (Editor/Job Application/Resume) | 120–150 | 5 | Format:1 / Organisation:1 / Content:2 / Grammar:1 |
| Article/Report Writing (Descriptive/Analytical) | 120–150 | 5 | Format:1 / Organisation:1 / Content:2 / Grammar:1 |
Section C: Literature – 40 Marks
Questions are drawn from Flamingo and Vistas, the two NCERT books. This section includes extracts, short and long answers to assess textual understanding, inference, and analytical thinking.
| Question No. | Type | Source | Marks |
| 7 | Poetry Extract (1 out of 2) | Flamingo | 6 |
| 8 | Prose Extract (1 out of 2) | Vistas | 4 |
| 9 | Prose Extract (1 out of 2) | Flamingo | 6 |
| 10 | 5 Short Answer Questions (40–50 words) | Flamingo | 10 |
| 11 | 2 Short Answer Questions | Vistas | 4 |
| 12 | 1 Long Answer (120–150 words) | Flamingo | 5 |
| 13 | 1 Long Answer (120–150 words) | Vistas | 5 |
Prescribed Books for CBSE Class 12 English Core Board Exam 2026
| Book Name | Type | Chapters/Poems |
| Flamingo (NCERT) | Prose | 1. The Last Lesson 2. Lost Spring 3. Deep Water 4. The Rattrap 5. Indigo 6. Poets and Pancakes 7. The Interview 8. Going Places |
| Poetry | 1. My Mother at Sixty-Six 2. Keeping Quiet 3. A Thing of Beauty 4. A Roadside Stand 5. Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers | |
| Vistas (NCERT) | Prose | 1. The Third Level 2. The Tiger King 3. Journey to the End of the Earth 4. The Enemy 5. On the Face of It |
| Memories of Childhood | 6. The Cutting of My Long Hair 7. We Too Are Human Beings |
Internal Assessment (20 Marks)
Listening & Speaking Skills – 10 Marks
Assessed on:
- Interactive competence
- Fluency
- Pronunciation
- Language usage
| Component | Marks |
| Listening | 5 |
| Speaking | 5 |
Project Work + Viva-voce – 10 Marks
- 5 Marks – Written work (script/report/essay)
- 5 Marks – Viva presentation
Themes can be inter-disciplinary or inspired by literature chapters.
CBSE 12th English Core 2025–26: Question Paper Design
| Section | Skills Evaluated | Marks |
| Reading Skills | Comprehension, interpretation, vocabulary, summarizing | 22 |
| Creative Writing | Structure, tone, grammar, inference, creativity | 18 |
| Literature | Reasoning, critical thinking, appreciation, analysis | 40 |
| Theory Total | 80 | |
| Internal Assessment | Listening + Speaking + Project | 20 |
| Grand Total | 100 |
The 2025–26 CBSE English Core syllabus for Class 12 continues to emphasize skill development, critical thinking, and creativity. With clearly defined evaluation schemes and a balanced paper pattern, students are well-equipped to excel in both board exams and practical assessments. Be sure to utilize the prescribed texts and project guidelines to strengthen your understanding and performance throughout the year.
