SyllabusCBSE class 10 English Language and Literature syllabus, 2026-27
Units, chapters and marks for English Language and Literature, from the CBSE curriculum for the session 2026-27.
- Board and class
- CBSE, class 10
- Subject code
- 184
- Theory paper
- 80 marks, 3 hours
- Internal assessment
- 20 marks
- Total
- 100 marks
- Official file
- Open the CBSE file (PDF)
- Read on
- 12 November 2026
About this syllabus
The English paper is divided by skill, not by chapter: reading, writing with grammar, and literature. Half of the paper, 40 marks, is on the literature textbooks, and the other half tests skills on material you have not seen before. Grammar is tested in context through gap filling, editing and transformation exercises. The file lists the prescribed lessons and poems of the textbooks; take the list for your year from the official file, because prescribed lessons are revised from time to time.
Marks by unit
| Unit | Marks | Share of the paper |
|---|---|---|
| Section A: Reading Skills | 20 | 25% |
| Section B: Writing Skills with Grammar | 20 | 25% |
| Section C: Language through Literature | 40 | 50% |
| Total, theory | 80 | 100% |
Units and chapters
- Section A: Reading Skills
- Reading comprehension through unseen passages (two passages, 600 to 700 words in all)
- Section B: Writing Skills with Grammar
- Grammar: determiners, tenses, modals, subject-verb concord, reported speech (10 marks)
- Writing skills (10 marks)
- Section C: Language through Literature
- Reference to the context (5 + 5 = 10 marks)
- Short and very long answer questions (30 marks)
Where the marks are
The theory paper is 80 marks in 3 hours. The largest share goes to Section C: Language through Literature with 40 marks, which is 50% of the paper. The smallest is Section A: Reading Skills with 20 marks. The two largest entries in the table together carry 60 marks, 75% of the paper.
The other marks
| Part | Marks | How it is split |
|---|---|---|
| Internal assessment | 20 | As per the Board's circular on internal assessment; it includes the assessment of listening and speaking skills (5 marks) |
Using this to plan
- Reading and writing are 40 marks that cannot be memorised. They reward regular practice with unseen passages and timed writing.
- The grammar topics are few and are named in the file. Ten marks are available for five topics.
- In literature, reference-to-context questions need you to know the lines; long answers need you to know the themes and characters.
Make a study plan from these marks Official file
Questions people ask
How many marks is the CBSE class 10 English Language and Literature theory paper?
The theory paper is 80 marks. With internal assessment (20) it makes a total of 100.
Which unit carries the most marks in class 10 English Language and Literature?
Section C: Language through Literature, with 40 of the 80 marks, according to the CBSE curriculum for 2026-27.
Where is the official syllabus?
On CBSE's academic website, cbseacademic.nic.in, under Curriculum. This page links to the exact file for English Language and Literature.
Always check the official file. This page is a summary of the CBSE curriculum for 2026-27, made from the subject file on cbseacademic.nic.in, which we read on 12 November 2026. CBSE can revise a syllabus by circular during the year. Before an examination, download the current file from the official site. This is an independent site, not connected with CBSE.