English Syllabus Class 12 CBSE 2025-26 PDF: Core & Elective, Deleted Syllabus
Vikas Pandit16 Dec, 2025
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The CBSE Class 12 Syllabus consists of all the topics and chapters that students need to cover to prepare for the upcoming board exams.
The English subject is compulsory for most students. It aims to develop advanced language and critical thinking skills. Understanding the CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2025-26 is essential for effective exam preparation. This guide details the structure and content for the upcoming academic year.
CBSE Class 12 English Exam Structure Highlights
The English syllabus class 12 CBSE for 2025-26 is divided into three major sections. These sections assess varied aspects of language proficiency. Students must give equal importance to each part for balanced development.
| CBSE Class 12 English Exam Structure Highlights | ||
|---|---|---|
| Section | Marks (English Core) | Marks (English Elective) |
| Reading Skills | 20 | 20 |
| Creative Writing Skills | 20 | 28 |
| Literature Textbooks & Supplementary Reading Text | 40 | 32 |
| Total Theory | 80 | 80 |
| Internal Assessment (ASL/Seminar) | 20 | 20 |
| Grand Total | 100 | 100 |
English Deleted Syllabus Class 12 CBSE 2025-26
The English Deleted Syllabus class 12 CBSE 2025-26 is provided in the table below:
| CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus Deleted Syllabus | ||
| Section | Deleted Syllabus | |
| Section A - Reading Comprehension | Note-Making and Summarizing | |
| Section B - Writing Skills | Advertisements, Posters, Business and Official Letters, Debate, Speech | |
| Section C - Literature Textbooks | Flamingo Textbook | Vistas Textbook |
| Chapter 2: An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum (Poetry) | Chapter 5 Should Wizard Hit Mommy (Prose) Chapter 7 Evans Tries an O-Level (Prose) | |
| Textbook | Chapter | Author Name | Page No. | Deleted Topics |
| Flamingo Textbook | An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum (Poetry) | Stephen Spender | 92-94 | Full Chapter |
| Vistas Textbook | Chapter 5: Should Wizard Hit Mommy (Prose) | John Updike | 48-55 | Full Chapter |
| Chapter 7: Evans Tries an O-Level (Prose) | Colin Dexter | 70-92 | Full Chapter |
What’s New in the CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2025–26?
The English syllabus Class 12 CBSE 2025–26 has been refreshed to make learning more relevant and skill-based. It now includes contemporary reading passages, modern writing formats like blogs and articles, and a stronger focus on practical communication skills. The syllabus also features updated grammar usage, diverse literary voices, and new poems based on current themes, while the English deleted syllabus Class 12 CBSE 2025–26 helps students focus better on essential content.
English Syllabus Class 12 CBSE 2025-26 PDF
The English syllabus class 12 CBSE 2025-26 PDF is available for download. This PDF provides a clear and detailed outline of all topics. Downloading it helps students track their progress and understand updated curriculum points. It serves as an official reference for exam preparation.
| Class 12 English Syllabus |
| CBSE Syllabus for Class 12 English Core |
| CBSE Syllabus for Class 12 English Elective |
CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus 2025-26
This section covers the in-depth information for both the English Core and English Elective syllabi. It outlines the main topics and sub-topics for each component.
CBSE Class 12 English Core Syllabus 2025-26
The English Core curriculum emphasizes reading comprehension, creative writing, and literary analysis. It includes prescribed textbooks for prose and poetry.
| CBSE Class 12 English Core Syllabus | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Sub-Topics | Description | Marks |
| Reading Skills | Unseen Passage | One passage (700-750 words). Assesses comprehension, analysis. | 10 |
| Case-Based Passage | One factual passage with visual data. Assesses comprehension, inference. | 10 | |
| Creative Writing Skills | Notice Writing | Up to 50 words. Format, content, grammar accuracy. | 4 |
| Invitation and Reply | Up to 50 words. Formal/informal. Format, content, grammar. | 4 | |
| Letters | 120-150 words. Job applications, letters to editor. | 5 | |
| Article/Report Writing | 120-150 words. Descriptive and analytical. | 5 | |
| Literature Textbooks | Poetry Extract (Flamingo) | One out of two extracts. Assesses comprehension, analysis. | 6 |
| Prose Extract (Vistas) | One out of two extracts. Assesses comprehension, analysis. | 4 | |
| Prose Extract (Flamingo) | One out of two extracts. Assesses comprehension, analysis. | 6 | |
| Short Answer Questions (Flamingo) | 5 out of 6 questions (40-50 words). Inferential responses. | 10 | |
| Short Answer Questions (Vistas) | 2 out of 3 questions (40-50 words). Critical thinking. | 4 | |
| Long Answer Question (Flamingo) | 1 out of 2 questions (120-150 words). Extrapolation, critical analysis. | 5 | |
| Long Answer Question (Vistas) | 1 out of 2 questions (120-150 words). Analytical and evaluative responses. | 5 | |
Prescribed Books for English Core
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Flamingo (Main Textbook): Covers prose (e.g., "The Last Lesson," "Lost Spring") and poetry (e.g., "My Mother at Sixty-Six," "Keeping Quiet"), excluding deleted chapters like "An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum".
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Vistas (Supplementary Reader): Includes prose like "The Third Level," "Journey to the End of the Earth," and "The Tiger King," with exclusions such as "Should Wizard Hit Mommy?" and "Evans Tries an O-Level".
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Download the latest PDFs from cbseacademic.nic.in for the official 2025-26 edition aligned with the reduced syllabus.
CBSE Class 12 English Elective Syllabus 2025-26
The English Elective syllabus offers a deeper dive into literature and advanced language use. It includes specific literary texts and emphasizes analytical writing.
| CBSE Class 12 English Elective Syllabus | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Sub-Topics | Description | Marks |
| Reading Comprehension | Literary/Discursive Passage | 12 out of 15 MCQs (950-1000 words). Assesses comprehension, analysis. | 12 |
| Poetry Extract | 4 out of 5 MCQs (10-12 lines). Assesses interpretation, appreciation. | 4 | |
| Case-Based Factual Passage | 4 out of 5 MCQs (100-120 words) with visuals. Assess analysis, evaluation. | 4 | |
| Applied Grammar | Transformation of Sentences | 8 out of 10 MCQs. Involves sentence transformation. | 8 |
| Creative Writing | Discursive/Interpretative Writing | Three Long Writing Tasks (120-150 words each). | 15 |
| Essay/Article/Report/Speech | One Long Writing Task (120-150 words) on contemporary topics. | 5 | |
| Literature Textbook | Prose Extract (Kaleidoscope) | One out of two extracts. Assesses literary appreciation. | 6 |
| Poetry Extract (Kaleidoscope) | One out of two extracts. Assesses literary appreciation. | 6 | |
| Short Answer Questions | 1 out of 2 questions (30-40 words). Critical appreciation. | 2 | |
| Short Answer Questions | 1 out of 2 questions (40-50 words). Inferential responses. | 3 | |
| Long Answer Questions | 1 out of 2 questions (120-150 words). Deeper understanding, interpretation. | 5 | |
| Fiction | Short Answer Questions (Prescribed Novel) | 1 out of 2 questions (30-40 words). Understanding characters, events. | 2 |
| Short Answer Questions (Prescribed Novel) | 1 out of 2 questions (40-50 words). Appreciation of characters, events. | 3 | |
| Long Answer Question (Prescribed Novel) | 1 out of 2 questions (120-150 words). In-depth understanding, critical evaluation. | 5 | |
| Seminar | Presentation; Poetry Reading; Film/Play Review; Workshop. | Practical assessment for 20 marks. | 20 |
Prescribed Books for English Elective:
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Kaleidoscope - NCERT Textbook (Short Stories, Poetry, Non-fiction)
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Fiction: A Tiger for Malgudi OR The Financial Expert by R.K. Narayan
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Drama: Chandalika by Rabindranath Tagore