The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the latest Class 12 English Elective syllabus for the academic year 2025–26. This syllabus outlines everything students need to know, including key topics, evaluation format, internal assessments, and project work. Students opting for English Elective (Subject Code: 001) are advised to go through the syllabus thoroughly to prepare strategically for the board exam.
Let’s take a closer look at the CBSE 12th English Elective syllabus structure, unit-wise weightage, question types, and prescribed reading materials.
Download CBSE 12th English Elective Syllabus 2025–26 PDF
Students and educators can download the official CBSE Class 12 English Elective 2025–26 PDF directly from the CBSE official website or click the link below:
Download English Elective Syllabus 2026 PDF
CBSE 12th English Elective 2025–26: Section-Wise Syllabus Breakdown
| Section | Component | Details | Marks |
| A | Reading Comprehension | 1. Unseen Literary/Discursive Passage (950–1000 words): 12 MCQs out of 15 2. Poem (10–12 lines): 4 MCQs out of 5 3. Case-based Passage (100–120 words): 4 MCQs out of 5 | 20 |
| B | Applied Grammar | 8 MCQs (out of 10) testing transformation of sentences | 8 |
| Creative Writing | 1. 3 out of 4 Discursive/Interpretative Writing Tasks (120–150 words each) – 5 marks each 2. 1 out of 2 Argumentative/Contemporary Essay Tasks (120–150 words) – 5 marks | 20 | |
| C | Textbook (Kaleidoscope) | 1. Prose Extract (1 out of 2) – 6 marks 2. Poetry Extract (1 out of 2) – 6 marks 3. Short Answer (30–40 words) – 2 marks 4. Short Answer (40–50 words) – 3 marks 5. Long Answer (120–150 words) – 5 marks | 22 |
| Fiction (Choose one novel) | 1. Short Answer (30–40 words) – 2 marks 2. Short Answer (40–50 words) – 3 marks 3. Long Answer (120–150 words) – 5 marks | 10 | |
| Internal | Seminar / Assessment | Book/poem/play/novel presentation, film review, or theatre workshop with discussion (Listening & Speaking skills assessed) | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Prescribed Books for CBSE 12th English Elective
| S. No. | Book Title | Publisher | Content Details |
| 1 | Kaleidoscope | NCERT | Short Stories: - I Sell My Dreams - Eveline - A Wedding in Brownsville Poetry: - A Lecture Upon the Shadow - Poems by Milton - Poems by Blake - Kubla Khan - Trees - The Wild Swans of Coole - Time and Time Again Non-fiction: - Freedom - The Mark on the Wall - Film-making - Why the Novel Matters - The Argumentative Indian Drama: - Chandalika by Rabindranath Tagore |
| 2 | Fiction (Choose any one) | NCERT | - A Tiger for Malgudi by R.K. Narayan OR - The Financial Expert by R.K. Narayan |
CBSE 12th English Elective Question Paper Design 2025–26
| Section | Competencies Assessed | Marks | Weightage |
| Reading Comprehension | Interpretation, vocabulary, summarizing, literary appreciation | 20 | 25% |
| Applied Grammar | Sentence transformation, language structure, accuracy | 8 | 10% |
| Creative Writing | Expression, fluency, logic, format, critical thinking | 20 | 25% |
| Textbook Questions | Reasoning, interpretation, literary skills | 22 | 27.5% |
| Fiction Questions | Analysis of characters/events/themes with justification | 10 | 12.5% |
| Total (Theory) | 80 | 100% | |
| Seminar/Project Work | Listening, speaking, articulation, creative and critical expression | 20 | |
| Grand Total | 100 |
CBSE 12th English Elective Syllabus 2025–26: Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Board | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Subject | English Elective |
| Class | 12th Grade |
| Subject Code | 001 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Theory Marks | 80 |
| Internal/Project Marks | 20 |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
The English Elective syllabus encourages students to go beyond textbook learning. With its focus on comprehension, interpretation, literary analysis, and creative writing, this subject is ideal for those aiming to build strong linguistic and analytical skills. Begin your preparation with the latest syllabus in hand and align your study plan accordingly.
