CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus

The marks allocation and evaluation details of the written paper and internal assessment for the English core subject of class 12 is as follows-

PART A - 40 Marks

Students can refer to the marking scheme and topics included in Part A below. 

Reading 20 Marks 

1. Multiple Choice questions based on one unseen passage to assess comprehension, interpretation and inference. Vocabulary and inference of meaning will also be tested. The passage can be factual, descriptive, or literary. Candidates will be required to attempt ten out of eleven questions. (10x1=10 Marks)

2. MCQs based on one unseen case-based factual passage with either verbal or visual statistical data or charts. Eight out of nine questions are to be attempted. (10x1=10 Marks)

Note: The combined word limit for both the passages will be 700-750.

Literature Section 20 Marks

1. MCQs based on two prose extracts, each one from Flamingo and Vistas books, to assess comprehension and appreciation. Refer to the lines to answer questions based on the given extract. Any 2 out of 3 extracts to be attempted. (8x1=8)
2. MCQs based on poetry extract from the book Flamingo to assess comprehension, analysis, and inference. Refer to the lines to answer questions based on the given extract. Any 1 out of 2 extracts will be required to be attempted. (4x1=4)
3. Text based questions to assess comprehension, analysis, inference, and interpretation from Flamingo and Vistas books. Eight out of ten questions are to be aimed. (8x1=8)

PART B - 40 Marks

Mentioned below are the topics from the writing and literature section.

Writing Section: 16 Marks

Q1. Short writing task –Notice/Advertisement up to 50 words. One out of the two given questions to be aimed. (3 Marks: Format: 1 / Content: 1 / Expression : 1). 

Q2. Short writing task –Formal/Informal Invitation and Reply up to 50 words. The candidate is required to attempt one out of the two questions. (3 Marks: Format: 1 / Content: 1 / Expression: 1)

Q3. Letters based on verbal/visual input, to be answered in 120-150 words (approx.). Types of letters include job applications, letters to the editor. One out of the two given questions to be answered (5 Marks : Format: 1 / Content: 2 / Expression: 2)

Q4. Article/ Report Writing, descriptive and analytical in nature, based on verbal inputs, to be attempted in 120-150 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered (5Marks: Format: 1 / Content: 2 / Expression: 2)

Literature Section: 24 Marks

Q5. Five Short answer type questions, out of six, from Prose and Poetry from the book Flamingo, to be attempted in 30-40 words. Hypothetical responses through critical thinking should be included. (5x2=10)

Q6. Two Short answer type questions, out of three, from Prose (Vistas), to be answered in 30-40 words. (2x2=4)

Q7. One Long answer type question, from Prose/poetry (Flamingo), to be written in 120-150 words to assess global comprehension and extrapolation beyond the text. Evaluative and analytical responses are to be written. (1x5=5) 

Q.8 One Long answer type question, based on the chapters from the book Vistas, to be attempted in 120-150 words to assess global comprehension and extrapolation beyond the text. Questions to provide evaluative and analytical responses using incidents, events, themes as reference points. Any 1 out of 2 questions to be done. (1x5=5)

CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus: Prescribed Books

• Flamingo: English Reader published by National Council of Education Research and Training, New Delhi
• Vistas: Supplementary Reader published by National Council of Education Research and Training, New Delhi

Deleted CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus

The following are the chapters and topics deleted from CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2021

• Reading: Note Making & Summarizing from the reading section has been removed.
• Literature: Poets and pancakes, A roadside Stand, The Interview, and Going Places will not be assessed from the Flamingo book. Chapters from Vistas i.e.The Tiger King, Journey to the end of the earth, Memories of Childhood will also not be included in CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2021.
• Writing: Topics such as Poster making, Business or official letters, Speech, and Debate will not be covered in CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2021.

CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus Elective: Part A

Reading: 20 Marks

• This section will have two unseen passages and a poem:
• 12 Multiple Choice Questions out of 15 from a literary or discursive passage of about 950-1000 [1 X 12 =12]
• 4 out of 5 multiple choice inquiries to test interpretation and appreciation of a poem of about 10-12 (1×4=4)
• 4 out of 5 multiple choice questions from a case-based factual passage (with visual input- statistical data, chart, etc.) of 100-120 words to check (1 X 4= 4)

Grammar: 8 Marks

• 8 multiple choice questions out of 10 involving the transformation of sentences. (1×8 =8)

Literature: 12 Marks

• 12 out of 16 multiple choice questions from the textbook kaleidoscope. The questions are often from short stories/Poetry/Non-Fiction/Drama (1 x 12 = 12)

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CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus Elective: Part B

Writing: 20 Marks

• Three Long Writing Task out of 4 to be answered in 120-150 words each: A discursive and interpretative writing. (5×3=15)
• One Long Writing Task out of two to be answered in 120-150 words: An essay on an argumentative/discursive topic like an article/report/speech. Contemporary topics/ issues to be a neighborhood of Article, Report, and Speech Writing. (5×1=5)

Literature: 10 Marks

• One Short Answer Question out of two to be answered in 30-40 words to assess understanding analysis and important appreciation. Questions should elicit inferential responses through critical thinking. (2×1=2)
• One Short Answer Question out of two to be answered in 40-50 words to assess understanding analysis and important appreciation. Questions should elicit inferential responses through critical thinking and drawing inferences in poetry and prose. (3X1=3)
• One Long Answer Question out of two to be answered in 120-150 words each to assess deeper understanding, interpretation, appreciation, and drawing inferences. Inquiries to elicit creative responses and assess the power to make opinions. (5×1=5)

Fiction: 10 Marks

• One Short Answer Question out of two to be answered in 30-40 words to check understanding and appreciation and seek comments, interpretation, evaluation, and appreciation of characters, events, episodes, and interpersonal (2 x 1 = 2)
• One Short Answer Question out of two to be answered in 40-50 words to check understanding and appreciation and seek comments, interpretation, evaluation, and appreciation of characters, events, episodes, and interpersonal (3 x1=3)
• One Long Answer Question out of two to be answered in 120-150 words to check deeper (in-depth) understanding, interpretation, appreciation, and drawing global inferences of the given text with regard to characters /events/ incidents and episodes, resulting in creative rendering, forming and defending (5×1=5)
• Students can select one among the 2 prescribed texts.

Seminar: 20 Marks

• Presentation – review /a play /a short story/a novel/novella (tale, table, parable) to be followed by a question-answer
• Poetry reading to be followed by interpretative tasks supported close reading and literary analysis of the text. A review of a movie or a play

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