Syllabus: English for Class 10 | English Class 10 PDF Download

In secondary English learning, diverse materials are used for for a rich experience. Knowing the class 10 exam syllabus is crucial. It acts as a roadmap, guiding your studies and ensuring you cover all essential topics. Understanding the syllabus helps you focus, manage time effectively, and increases your chances of success. It's like having a clear plan for a successful journey.

CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature Syllabus 2025

The topic-wise marks distribution and weightage of the CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature are given below:

The detailed section-wise is given below:

CBSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2024 - 2025

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Section A

Reading Skills

I. Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passage 20 Marks
1. Discursive passage of 400-450 words. (10 marks)
2. Case-based factual passage (with visual input- statistical data, chart etc.) of 200-250 words. (10 marks)
(Total length of two passages to be 600-700 words)
Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions, and Short Answer Questions (to be answered in 30-40 words) will be asked to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation and vocabulary.

Section B

II Grammar Writing Skills and Grammar

10 Marks

• Determiners
• Tenses
• Modals
• Subject-verb concord
• Reported speech
  • Commands and requests
  • Statements
  • Questions

3. The courses at the secondary level seek to cement high professional grasp of grammatical items and levels of accuracy. Accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar in context will be assessed through Gap Filling/ Editing/Transformation exercises. Ten out of 12 questions will have to be attempted.

III Writing Skills 10 marks

4. Writing a Formal Letter based on a given situation, in 100-120 words. One out of two questions is to be answered. 5 marks
5. Writing an Analytical Paragraph in100-120 words on a given Map / Chart / Graph /Cue/ s. One out of two questions is to be answered. 5 marks

Section C

Language through Literature  40 Marks

IV. Reference to the Context (5+5 = 10 Marks)
6. One extract out of two from Drama / Prose.
7. One extract out of two from poetry.

Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions Very Short Answer Questions (one word/ One sentence), Short Answer Questions (to be answered in 30-40 words) will be asked to assess inference, analysis,interpretation, evaluation and vocabulary.

V. Short & Very Long Answer Questions 30 Marks

8. Four out of Five Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words from the book First Flight to assess interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation.  4x3=12 marks
9. Two out of Three Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words each from Footprints Without Feet to assess interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation. 2x3=6 marks
10. One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from First Flight to be answered in about 100-120 words each to assess creativity, imagination and extrapolation beyond the text and across the text. This canbe a passage-based question taken from a situation/plot from the text. 6 marks
11. One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from Footprints Without Feet, on theme or plot involving interpretation, extrapolation beyond the text and inference or character sketch to be answered in about 100-120 words. 

Prescribed Books: Published by NCERT, New Delhi

1. First Flight
A. Prose
(i) A Letter to God
(ii) Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom
(iii) Two Stories About Flying
(iv) From the Diary of Anne Frank
(v) Glimpses of India
(vi) Mijbil the Otter
(vii) Madam Rides the Bus
(viii) The Sermon at Benares
(ix) The Proposal (Play)

B. Poems
(i) Dust of Snow
(ii) Fire and Ice
(iii) A Tiger in the Zoo
(iv) How to Tell Wild Animals
(v) The Ball Poem
(vi) Amanda!
(vii) The Trees
(viii) Fog
(ix) The Tale of Custard the Dragon
(x) For Anne Gregory

2. Footprints Without Feet

(i) A Triumph of Surgery
(ii) The Thief's Story
(iii) The Midnight Visitor
(iv) Question of Trust
(v) Footprints Without Feet
(vi) The Making of a Scientist
(vii) The Necklace
(viii) Bholi
(ix) The Book that Saved the Earth

3. Words and Expressions – II (Workbook for Class X) – Units 1 to 4 and Units 7 to 11

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Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills (ALS)

ALS is a component of the Subject Enrichment Activity under Internal Assessment. ALS must be seen as an integrated component of all four language skills rather than a compartment of two. Suggested activities, therefore, take into consideration an integration of the four language skills but during assessment, emphasis will be given to speaking and listening, since reading and writing are already being assessed in the written exam.

Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills: (5 Marks)

(i) Activities:

• Subject teachers must refer to books prescribed in the syllabus.
• In addition to the above, teachers may plan their own activities and create their own material forassessing the listening and speaking skills.

(ii) Parameters for Assessment: 
The listening and speaking skills are to be assessed on the following parameters:
(a) Interactive competence (Initiation & turn taking, relevance to the topic)
(b) Fluency (cohesion, coherence and speed of delivery)
(c) Pronunciation
(d) Language (grammar and vocabulary)

(iii) Schedule:

• The practice of listening and speaking skills should be done throughout the academic year.
• The final assessment of the skills is to be done as per the convenience and schedule of the school.

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