Prescribed books, detailed syllabus, question paper design and division of marks and of English Core - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

English is a subject that everyone has to attempt. Fortunately, if one prepares well, one can score high marks on this paper. Before starting your preparations, take a look at the syllabus and pattern of the exam to have a great understanding. 

Detailed Syllabus with Question Paper Structure for Class XI

Section A – Reading Skills (26 Marks)

Reading Comprehension (18 Marks)

• Evaluate comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference, and vocabulary through:
  • One unseen passage (factual, descriptive, or literary).
  • One case-based factual passage with verbal/visual inputs like statistical data, charts, etc.
• Word limit for both passages: 600-750.
• Format: Multiple Choice Questions/Objective Type Questions.
• Note Making and Summarization (5+3 Marks):
  • Note Making: Title, Numbering, Key/glossary, Notes.
  • Summary (up to 50 words): Content, Expression.

Section B – Grammar and Creative Writing Skills (23 Marks)

• II. Grammar (7 Marks):
  • Questions on Gap filling (Tenses, Clauses).
  • Questions on re-ordering/transformation of sentences.
• III. Creative Writing Skills (16 Marks):
  • Short writing tasks:
    • Classified Advertisements (up to 50 words).
    • Poster (up to 50 words).
  • Long Writing tasks:
    • Speech in 120-150 words based on verbal/visual cues.
    • Debate in 120-150 words based on visual/verbal inputs.

Section C – Literature Textbook and Supplementary Reading Text (31 Marks)

• Assessment items include Multiple Choice Questions, Objective Type Questions, Short Answer Type Questions, and Long Answer Type Questions.
• Evaluate comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and extrapolation beyond the text.
• Assessments from prescribed books: Hornbill and Snapshots.

Prescribed Books for Class XI

Hornbill: English Reader

• Prose:
  • The Portrait of a Lady
  • “We’re Not Afraid to Die… if We Can be Together”
  • Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues
  • The Adventure
  • Silk Road
  • Father to Son
• Poetry:
  • A Photograph
  • The Laburnum Top
  • The Voice of the Rain
  • Childhood

Snapshots: Supplementary Reader

• The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse
• The Address
• Mother’s Day (Play)
• Birth
• The Tale of Melon City

These books provide a rich variety of prose, poetry, and plays for comprehensive study and analysis in the course.

Internal Assessment for Class XI

• Assessment of Listening Skills - 05 marks.
• Assessment of Speaking Skills – 05 Marks.
• Project Work - 10 Marks.

Detailed Syllabus with Question Paper Structure for Class XII

Section A – Reading Skills (22 Marks)

Reading Comprehension (22 Marks)

• Assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference, and vocabulary through:
  • One unseen passage (factual, descriptive, or literary).
  • One unseen case-based factual passage with verbal/visual inputs like statistical data, charts, etc.
• Combined word limit for both passages: 700-750 words.
• Format: Multiple Choice Questions/Objective Type Questions and Short Answer type Questions (40-50 words).

Section B – Creative Writing Skills (18 Marks)

• II. Creative Writing Skills (18 Marks):
  • Notice (up to 50 words).
  • Formal/Informal Invitation and Reply (up to 50 words).
  • Letters based on verbal/visual input (120-150 words).
  • Article/Report Writing (120-150 words).

Section C – Literature Text Book and Supplementary Reading Text (40 Marks)

• Evaluate comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and extrapolation beyond the text.
• Assessment items include Multiple Choice Questions, Objective Type Questions, Short Answer Type Questions, and Long Answer Type Questions.

Prescribed Books for Class XII

Flamingo: English Reader

• 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

Vistas: Supplementary Reader

• 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

These books cover a range of prose and poetry, offering diverse themes and styles for analysis and comprehension in the course.

Internal Assessment (20 Marks) for Class XII

• Assessment of Listening Skills - 05 marks.
• Assessment of Speaking Skills – 05 Marks.
• Project Work - 10 Marks.

You can take a look at the preparation strategy for English Core to start your preparations.