The CBSE Class 10 board exam is crucial in the students' learning process since it is one of the key exams they sit for. They are usually the first large-scale examinations in the learning process of a student and they have great influence on future learning and employment. These examinations help in determining the stream subject for further studies; Science, Commerce, and the Humanities, based on students’ performance and preferences in the CBSE Class 10 exam. They are also useful for getting into good schools and for receiving scholarships. Academic success in these examinations boosts morale and extends good preparation to aspects like competitive examinations and higher levels of study. CBSE is accepted worldwide, so the certificate obtained by a student at the end of class 10 is a valuable document for the academic career.
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In this article, we will discuss the overall syllabus of the CBSE Class 10 English exam. Topic-wise breakdown along with their weightage in the exam.
The CBSE Class 10 board exam English syllabus for the year 2025 aims to develop and improve Students’ ability in language, creativity, and appreciation of literature. It is divided into three sections: Reading Skills with emphasis on unseen passages; Writing and Grammar which consists of writing formal letters, and analytical paragraphs on set topics; grammar issues such as Tenses and Modals; and Language through Literature set on Prose, Poetry, and stories from First Flight and Footprints Without Feet. Theory is blended with practice where learners are assessed through instructional and formative activities.
Also, Check - CBSE 10th English Last 5 Years Question Papers
We can observe that for the academic year 2025, CBSE Class 10 English consists of several units namely, Reading Skills, Writing Skills, and Grammar where areas under Reading Skills include comprehending and analyzing passages; Writing Skills contain writing formal letters and analytical paragraphs; Grammer consists of concepts such as tenses, modals and reported speech. The Literature section features prose, poetry, and stories from the textbooks First Flight and Footprints Without Feet, with engaging pieces like "Nelson Mandela: This is true with literary pieces such as the book, "Long Walk to Freedom" and literary works such as “Dust of Snow.” This syllabus seeks to impact the language capability, the reasoning capability, and the aesthetic sense of literature.
Unit | Topics |
|---|---|
Reading Skills | Comprehension of unseen passages: Discursive passages (400-450 words) and case-based passages (200-250 words). |
Writing Skills | Formal letter writing, analytical paragraph writing based on a chart, graph, or data. |
Grammar | Determiners, tenses, modals, subject-verb concord, and reported speech (statements, commands, and questions). |
Language Through Literature | Prose, poetry, and stories from the prescribed textbooks First Flight and Footprints Without Feet. |
Prose (First Flight) | Includes "A Letter to God," "Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," "From the Diary of Anne Frank," etc. |
Poetry (First Flight) | Includes "Dust of Snow," "Fire and Ice," "The Ball Poem," "Amanda!" and others. |
Stories (Footprints Without Feet) | Includes "A Triumph of Surgery," "The Thief's Story," "Footprints Without Feet," "The Necklace," et |
The chapter-wise weightage of class 10th English subject 2025 is discussed in the table below:
Unit | Marks |
|---|---|
Reading Skills | 20 |
Writing Skills and Grammar | 20 |
Language Through Literature | 40 |
Total | 80 |
Below table shows the topic-wise breakdown for the entire CBSE Class 10 English syllabus.
Component | Topics |
|---|---|
Reading Skills | Discursive and case-based passages |
Writing | Formal letters, analytical paragraphs, grammar topics like determiners, modals, reported speech |
Literature: First Flight | Prose: "A Letter to God," "Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," "From the Diary of Anne Frank," etc. |
Literature: Footprints Without Feet | Stories: "A Triumph of Surgery," "The Thief’s Story," "Footprints Without Feet," etc. |
Poetry | "Dust of Snow," "Fire and Ice," "The Ball Poem," "Amanda!” |
Reading Skills
Students should practice by solving the variety of passages within the reading section. These are discursive passages in which the details of a given topic are disclosed and case-based passages where details are provided respectively in the form of data or charts.
Writing
To succeed in this section students should learn how to write formal letters for business and paragraph analysis using data, charts, and graphs. Grammar areas such as determiners, modals, and reported speech among others are also practised to avoid grammatical errors.
Analyze the CBSE Class 10 English syllabus thoroughly and focus on the weightage of each section: Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Literature.
Practice unseen passages every day to increase speed and comprehension to build vocabulary.
To build writing skills students should practice formal letters and analytical paragraphs every day focusing majorly on the letter format.
Solve exercises and worksheets on several grammar topics like tenses, modals, determiners, and reported speech regularly.
Read all the literature chapters and poems many times looking at the theme, character analysis, and summaries.
Make concise notes to revise literature and poetry quickly
CBSE sample papers and past question papers help you solve and understand the exam pattern and time management.
Look at poems to create metaphors, similes, and (rhyming) schemes.
Practice writing the answers in proper format, use headings, and underline the Quoted text wherever possible.
Keep up with preparation and always take breaks in between to keep yourself focused and motivated.
The below table shows the necessary books to prepare for the CBSE Class 10 English exam.
Book Name | Details |
First Flight | Prescribed prose and poetry textbook published by NCERT |
Footprints Without Feet | Supplementary reader with short stories by NCERT |
Words and Expressions - II | Workbook for grammar and writing practice by NCERT |
These books are necessary for preparing for the Class 10 English board exams, as they cover the entire syllabus and also contain practice material for reading, writing, grammar, and literature sections.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the Class 10 sample papers for the 2024-2025 academic year. These sample papers are available on the official CBSE website and cover various subjects, including English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science.
The CBSE Class 10 board exams for 2025 are scheduled to begin on February 15, 2025, and conclude on March 18, 2025 as per the tentative datesheet. The detailed date sheet is available on the official CBSE website
The Class 10 English Grammar syllabus for the 2024-2025 session includes:
Determiners
Tenses
Modals
Subject-Verb Concord
Reported Speech:
Commands and Requests
Statements
Questions
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Since you have passed 10th and 12th from Delhi and your residency is Delhi, but your domicile is UP, here’s how NEET counselling works:
1. Counselling Eligibility: For UP NEET counselling, your UP domicile makes you eligible, regardless of where your schooling was. You can participate in UP state counselling according to your NEET rank.
2. Delhi Counselling: For Delhi state quota, usually 10th/12th + residency matters. Since your school and residency are in Delhi, you might also be eligible for Delhi state quota, but it depends on specific state rules.
So, having a Delhi Aadhaar will not automatically reject you in UP counselling as long as you have a UP domicile certificate.
Hope you understand.
Hello,
You can access Free CBSE Mock tests from Careers360 app or website. You can get the mock test from this link : CBSE Class 12th Free Mock Tests
Hope it helps !
Yes, it is possible for a student who has done their 12th grade already to take upto 4 exams of their requirement. This is possible through the NIOS, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OPEN SCHOOLING. Get more info about the exam and the board through the following link.
For CBSE the PREVIOUS YEARS PAPERS can be accessed through the following link for the Concerned subjec by careers360.
Consequently Careers360 does also have a chapter wise scheme of PYQs, you can access the STUDY MATERIAL (PYQs.) from the following link -
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-question-bank
Thankyou.
Hello,
Sorry, but JoSAA does not accept marks from two different boards for the same qualification during counselling. However, you can use your NIOS marks to meet the JEE Main/Advanced eligibility criteria if they are better than your CBSE marks. You can use your NIOS marks for the eligibility check, but when presenting your documents, you may be required to present both marksheets and the one with the higher marks for each subject will be considered.
I hope it will clear your query!!
This ebook serves as a valuable study guide for NEET 2025 exam.
This e-book offers NEET PYQ and serves as an indispensable NEET study material.
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