The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the updated syllabus for Class 10 English Language and Literature for the academic session 2025–26. This revised curriculum aligns with the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and NEP 2025 guidelines and is designed to enhance students' literary competence, writing precision, and grammatical command. The complete syllabus covers reading, writing, grammar, and literature with clearly defined evaluation metrics.
CBSE 10th English Language and Literature Syllabus 2026 PDF Download
Click here to download CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature Syllabus 2026 PDF
CBSE 10th English Syllabus 2025–26: Section-wise Weight Distribution
| Section | Component | Weightage |
| Section A | Reading Comprehension | 20 Marks |
| Section B | Writing & Grammar | 20 Marks |
| Section C | Literature-Based Language Skills | 40 Marks |
| Total | 80 Marks |
Section A: Reading Skills
This section tests students’ reading and comprehension abilities using unseen passages.
| Component | Description | Marks |
| Discursive Passage | Around 400–450 words – analytical and interpretative reading | 10 |
| Case-based Factual Passage (with charts/graphs, etc.) | 200–250 words – data interpretation and factual comprehension | 10 |
| Total Word Limit | Combined 600–700 words | |
| Question Types | MCQs, objective, and short-answer questions (30–40 words) |
Section B: Grammar and Writing Skills
Grammar (10 Marks)
The grammar segment aims to evaluate proficiency in structure and usage through editing, transformations, and gap-filling exercises.
| Grammar Topics |
| Determiners |
| Tenses |
| Modals |
| Subject-Verb Concord |
| Reported Speech: |
| - Commands and Requests |
| - Statements |
| - Questions |
Students need to attempt 10 out of 12 questions based on these topics.
Writing (10 Marks)
| Writing Task | Word Limit | Marks |
| Formal Letter based on a given situation (1 of 2) | 100–120 words | 5 |
| Analytical Paragraph (Graph/Chart/Cue-based – 1 of 2) | 100–120 words | 5 |
Section C: Language through Literature
This section evaluates students' understanding and interpretation of the prescribed prose, poetry, and drama.
Reference to Context (10 Marks)
| Task | Description | Marks |
| One extract from Prose/Drama | Choose 1 out of 2 | 5 |
| One extract from Poetry | Choose 1 out of 2 | 5 |
| Question Types | MCQs, short answers, vocab |
Short & Long Answer Questions (30 Marks)
| Type of Questions | Books | Details | Marks |
| Short Answer (4 out of 5 questions) | First Flight | 40–50 words each | 12 (4×3) |
| Short Answer (2 out of 3 questions) | Footprints Without Feet | 40–50 words each | 6 (2×3) |
| Long Answer (1 out of 2 questions – passage/situation based) | First Flight | 100–120 words | 6 |
| Long Answer (1 out of 2 questions – theme/character sketch/extrapolation-based) | Footprints Without Feet | 100–120 words | 6 |
Prescribed NCERT Books for CBSE Class 10 English
| Book Title | Category | Chapters/Poems |
| First Flight (Published by NCERT) | Prose | 1. A Letter to God |
| 2. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom | ||
| 3. 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 (Drama) | ||
| Poetry | 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 | ||
Footprints Without Feet (Published by NCERT) | Supplementary Prose | 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 |
CBSE 10th English 2025–26 Marking Scheme
| Sections | Competency Evaluated | Marks |
| Reading Comprehension | Interpretation, decoding, vocabulary, inference, and analysis | 20 |
| Writing Skills & Grammar | Coherent expression, grammar accuracy, reasoning, fluency, and creativity | 20 |
| Literature (Lang. Skills) | Literary analysis, recall, thematic understanding, inference, justification, character sketching, etc. | 40 |
| Total | 80 |
