CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2025-26, Check Vista, Grammar Key Topics

Class 12 English is divided into two papers: English Core and English Elective. The Central Board of Secondary Education has released the new class 12 syllabus for English Core and elective courses, which we will cover in detail below.

The board released the new CBSE Class 12 English syllabus 2025-26 to help students arrange their studies more efficiently and improve their board test scores. In this article, we have published the PDF of the new CBSE Class 12 English Core syllabus, which students can download using the direct links provided in the section below.

Class 12 English Syllabus 2025-26

The CBSE Class 12 English Core Syllabus 2025-26 is very important to figure out what to study in English in this academic year. The CBSE Class 12 English Core syllabus mainly tests in 5 areas – Reading Skills, creative writing skills, Literature textbook, Supplementary Reading Text, Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills, and project work. From the written exam students will get 80 marks and 20 marks will be awarded based on the internal assessment.

CBSE Class 12 English Core Paper Pattern

This revised CBSE Class 12 English Pattern explains the exam structure and assessment criteria in detail. Here we are presented with the overview the the syllabus distribution and total marks.

CBSE 12th English Core Paper Pattern
Section Competencies Total marks
Reading Skills Conceptual understanding, decoding, Analyzing, inferring, interpreting, appreciating, literary, conventions and vocabulary, summarizing and using appropriate format/s. 22
Creative Writing Sills Conceptual Understanding, application of rules, Analysis, Reasoning, appropriacy of style and tone, using appropriate format and fluency, inference, analysis, evaluation and creativity. 18
Literature Text Book and Supplementary
Reading Text
Recalling, reasoning, critical thinking, appreciating literary convention, inference, analysis, creativity with fluency. 40
  TOTAL 80
Internal Assessment
Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills

· Listening
· Speaking

10

5+5

· Project Work 10
  GRAND TOTAL 100

English Class 12 Syllabus 2025-26 In Detail

The CBSE Class 12 Detailed English Core Syllabus 2025 is discussed here. Students can see the distribution of the syllabus in 3 parts – Section A, Section B, and Section C.

ENGLISH CORE CODE NO. 301 CLASS – XII 2025-26

Section A( 22 Marks)

Reading Skills

I Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passage (12+10 = 22 Marks)

1. One unseen passage to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, and inference. Vocabulary assessment will also be assessed via inference. The passage may be factual, descriptive or literary.

2. One unseen case-based factual passage with verbal/visual inputs like statistical data, charts etc. to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation.
Note: The combined word limit for both the passages will be 700-750 words.

Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions and Short Answer Type Questions
(to be answered in 40-50 words) will be asked.

CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus

Section B (18 Marks)
Creative Writing Skills

II. Creative Writing Skills

3. Notice, up to 50 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered. (4 Marks: Format :1 / Content: 2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar: 1).

4. Formal/Informal Invitation and Reply, up to 50 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered.
(4 Marks: Format: 1 / Content: 2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar :1).

5. Letters based on verbal/visual input, to be answered in approximately 120-150 words. Letter types include application for a job with bio data or resume. Letters to the editor (giving suggestions or opinion on issues of public interest). One out of the two given questions to be answered.
(5 Marks: Format: 1 / Organisation of Ideas: 1/Content: 2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar :1).

6. Article/ Report Writing, descriptive and analytical in nature, based on verbal inputs, to be
answered in 120-150 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered.
(5 Marks: Format: 1 /Organisation of Ideas: 1/Content: 2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar :1).

Section C (40 Marks)

Literature Text Book and Supplementary Reading Text

This section will have a variety of assessment items including Multiple Choice Questions, Objective Type Questions, Short Answer Type Questions, and Long Answer Type Questions to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation and extrapolation beyond the text.

7. One Poetry extract out of two, from the book Flamingo, to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference and appreciation. (6×1=6 Marks)
8. One Prose extract out of two, from the book Vistas, to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation and appreciation. (4×1=4 Marks)
9. One prose extract out of two from the book Flamingo, to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation. (6×1=6Marks)
10. Short answer type questions (from Prose and Poetry from the book Flamingo), to be answered in 40-50 words each. Questions should elicit inferential responses through critical thinking. Five questions out of the six given, are to be answered. (5×2=10 Marks)
11. Short answer type questions, from Prose (Vistas), to be answered in 40- 50 words each. Questions should elicit inferential responses through critical thinking. Any two out of three questions to be done. (2×2=4 Marks)
12. One Long answer type question, from Prose/Poetry (Flamingo), to be answered in 120- 150 words. Questions can be based on incident / theme / passage / extract / event as reference points to assess extrapolation beyond and across the text. The question will elicit analytical and evaluative response from the student. Any one out of two questions to be done. (1×5=5 Marks)
13. One Long answer type question, based on the chapters from the book Vistas, to be answered in 120-150 words, to assess global comprehension and extrapolation beyond the text. Questions to provide analytical and evaluative responses using incidents, events, themes, as reference points. Any one out of two questions to be done.
(1×5=5 Marks)

English Grammar Syllabus Class 12 CBSE 2025-26

CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2025-26 PDF Download

This CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2025-26 PDF Download link is provided in the box below. The CBSE Class 12 English core syllabus PDF will help you comprehend the course format for the current academic year. Students will be able to identify the chapters and topics they will need to cover in each subject. Also, it will be very useful if you take a printout of this syllabus.

Download CBSE Class 12th English Syllabus 2025-26

Class 12 CBSE English Core Subject Reference Books

In this section, we have mentioned 2 books for the Class 12 CBSE English Core Subject recommended in the official CBSE syllabus.

1. Flamingo: English Reader published by National Council of Education Research and Training, New Delhi

(Prose)

  • The Last Lesson Lost Spring Deep Water
  • The Rattrap
  • Indigo
  • Poets and Pancakes
  •  The Interview
  • Going Places

(Poetry)

  • My Mother at Sixty-Six
  • Keeping Quiet
  • A Thing of Beauty
  • A Roadside Stand
  • Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

2. Vistas: Supplementary Reader published by National Council of Education Research and Training, New Delhi

  • The Third Level
  • The Tiger King
  • Journey to the End of the Earth
  •  The Enemy
  • On the Face of It Memories of Childhood
  •  The Cutting of My Long Hair
  • We Too are Human Beings

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