ISC Class 12 Syllabus 2028 Classical Languages

ISC
INDIAN SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATION

YEAR 2028

CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

Developed by:
Research, Development and Curriculum Division (RDCD)
CISCE

January 2026
____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Examinations.

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Council for the Indian School Certificate
Examinations is committed to serving the nation's
children, through high quality educational
endeavours, empowering them to contribute towards
a humane, just and pluralistic society, promoting
introspective living, by creating exciting learning
opportunities, with a commitment to excellence.

ETHOS OF CISCE

Trust and fair play.
Minimum monitoring.
Allowing schools to evolve their own niche.
Catering to the needs of the children.
Giving freedom to experiment with new ideas
and practices.
Diversity and plurality - the basic strength for
evolution of ideas.
Schools to motivate pupils towards the
cultivation of:
Excellence - The Indian and Global
experience.
Values - Spiritual and cultural - to be the bedrock
of the educational experience.
Schools to have an 'Indian Ethos', strong roots in
the national psyche and be sensitive to national
aspirations.

CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

Papers in the following Classical Languages will be set on application from schools providing teaching in the
subjects.

ARABIC (837)
CLASSES XI & XII
There will be two papers in the subject:
Paper I - Theory: 3 hours…… 80 Marks
Paper II - Project Work ……. 20 Marks

PAPER I (THEORY) : 80 Marks
One paper (3 hours) of 80 Marks containing:

(a) Questions on grammar which will include the following:
(i) Articles
(ii) Suffixed Pronouns
(iii) Relative Pronouns
(iv) Sifat wa Mausuf
(v) Mudaf wa Mudaf Ilaihi
(vi) Nominal Sentence
(vii) Cases of the Noun
(viii) Verbs-simple forms
(b) Unseen translation from English into Arabic consisting of short prose sentences and a continuous passage
of prose.
(c) Translation from the prescribed books. A choice of passages will not be given. Candidates will be required
to translate from the prescribed books.
(d) Questions, requiring short answers, to test knowledge of the subject matter of the prescribed books.
(e) Composition, which will consist of reproduction of descriptive narrative passages from the text into simple
Arabic.
The prescribed books will include about 150 pages of Selections of Prose and Poetry from classical as well as
modern Arabic Literature.

NOTE: The Class XII - ISC examination paper will be set on the entire syllabus prescribed for the subject.
The Class XI examination is to be conducted on the portion of this syllabus that is covered during the academic
year.
CISCE has not prescribed bifurcation of the syllabus prescribed for this subject.
For list of Prescribed Textbooks see Appendix I.

1

PAPER II (PROJECT WORK) : 20 Marks
In addition to the syllabus prescribed above, candidates are also required to be assessed in Project Work.
Details of the same are given below:
PROJECT WORK FOR CLASS XI
Project Work in Class XI comprises of assessment of candidates in Listening, Speaking and Writing skills.
These are to be assessed internally by the School, during course work and shown in the student’s report and
school record.
Candidates are to be assessed in three projects, one each on Listening, Speaking and Writing Skills.
Details of Projects in Listening, Speaking and Writing Skills are given below:
Listening Skills
An unseen passage of about 500 words or a poem (of appropriate length) may be read aloud, twice, the first
time at normal reading speed and the next time at a slower speed. The passage/poem may be taken from any
book, newspaper, magazine, journal and so on but not from an ICSE or ISC textbook. A suitable audio clip
may also be used.
Students may make brief notes during the readings/playing of the audio clip, followed by answering objective
type questions based on the passage/poem/audio clip, on the paper provided.
Speaking Skills
Students are to be assessed through an individual presentation, e.g. extempore speaking, declamation,
recitation, debate, of about three minutes followed by a discussion with the subject teacher, for another two or
three minutes.
List of suggested assignments for Project Work:
1. Narrating an experience
2. Giving directions or instructions on how to make or operate something
3. Providing a description
4. Giving a report
5. Expressing an opinion or a theme-based conversation
6. Giving a speech on a selected topic
7. Reading out, after correcting, a grammatically incorrect passage/s of suitable length (150 - 200 words)
based on the grammar syllabus prescribed.

EVALUATION
Internal Evaluation by the Teacher (20 Marks):
Assessment Description Marks
Criteria
Listening Skills Response to questions based on listening comprehension 6
(Aural)
Speaking Skills Content, Fluency, Vocabulary, Sentence structure, Confidence level 6
(Oral)
Writing Skills Process, Content, Presentation, Originality 8
TOTAL 20

2

PROJECT WORK FOR CLASS XII
Project Work in Class XII comprises of assessment of candidates in three projects, one each on Listening,
Speaking and Writing Skills.
Listening and Speaking skills are to be assessed internally, by the School in Class XII.
Writing Skills are to be assessed externally by the Visiting Examiner, appointed locally and approved by
CISCE.
Details of assignments for Project Work are given below:
Listening Skills (to be internally assessed by the subject teacher)
An unseen passage of about 500 words or a poem (of appropriate length) may be read aloud, twice, the first
time at normal reading speed and the next time at a slower speed. The passage/poem may be taken from any
book, newspaper, magazine, journal and so on but not from an ICSE or ISC textbook. A suitable audio clip
may also be used.
Students may make brief notes during the readings/playing of the audio clip, followed by answering objective
type questions based on the passage/poem/audio clip, on the paper provided.

Speaking Skills (to be internally assessed by the subject teacher)
Students are to be assessed through an individual presentation, e.g. extempore speaking, declamation,
recitation, debate, of about three minutes followed by a discussion with the subject teacher, for another two or
three minutes.
List of suggested assignments for Project Work:
1. Narrating an experience
2. Giving directions or instructions on how to make or operate something
3. Providing a description
4. Giving a report
5. Expressing an opinion or a theme-based conversation
6. Giving a speech on a selected topic
7. Reading out, after correcting, a grammatically incorrect passage/s of suitable length (150 - 200 words)
based on the grammar syllabus prescribed.

Writing Skills (Literature): to be assessed externally by the Visiting Examiner
Candidates will be required to undertake one written assignment of about 250 words on a text/texts studied
in the Literature syllabus.

List of suggested assignments for Project Work:
1. Writing a short story based on a poem.
2. Writing a poem based on a selected text.
3. Analysing the relevance of a selected text in the present-day context.
4. Imagining an alternate outcome or ending or extension of the chosen text and its impact on the
plot/setting/characters/mood and tone.
5. Providing an alternate title to a given text and giving a justification for the same.
6. Imagining oneself as one of the main characters of a selected text and describing what one would like to
change in the text, giving reasons for the same.
7. Analysing the theme of the text and expressing one’s opinion on the same.
8. Summarising / paraphrasing of the chosen text.
9. Preparing a script for dramatisation, based on the short story/poem chosen.
10. Appreciation of literary qualities of the chosen text.

3

EVALUATION
Marks (out of a total of 20) should be distributed as given below:
1. Internal Evaluation by Teacher*
Listening Skills (Aural) 5 Marks
Speaking Skills (Oral) 5 Marks
2. External Evaluation by the Visiting Examiner of Writing Skills** 10 Marks
TOTAL 20 Marks

*Internal Evaluation by the Teacher (10 Marks)
Assessment Criteria Description Marks
Listening Skills (Aural) Response to questions based on listening 5
comprehension

Speaking Skills (Oral) Content, Fluency, Vocabulary, Sentence structure, 5
Confidence
TOTAL 10

**Evaluation by the Visiting Examiner (10 Marks)
Assessment Criteria and Description Marks
1. Title and introduction 1
2. Presentation 3
(Overall formatting: headings/ sub-headings, paragraphing, writing within
the word limit and providing a separate title page)
3. Content 5
(Present an organised and well-structured complete assignment with proper
introduction, main body and conclusion/comments)
4. Originality 1
TOTAL 10

NOTE: No question paper for Project Work will be set by CISCE.

4

SANSKRIT (838) & PERSIAN (839)
CLASSES XI & XII
There will be two papers in the subject:
Paper I - Theory: 3 hours…… 80 Marks
Paper II - Project Work ……. 20 Marks

PAPER I (THEORY) : 80 Marks
One paper (3 hours) of 80 Marks containing:
(a) Questions on grammar.
(b) Unseen translation from English into the language concerned, consisting of short prose sentences and a
continuous passage of prose.
(c) Translation from the prescribed books. A choice of passages will not be given. Candidates will be required
to translate from the prescribed books.
(d) Questions, requiring short answers, to test knowledge of the subject matter of the prescribed books.
NOTE: The Class XII - ISC examination paper will be set on the entire syllabus prescribed for the subject.
The Class XI examination is to be conducted on the portion of this syllabus that is covered during the academic
year.
CISCE has not prescribed bifurcation of the syllabus prescribed for this subject.
For list of Prescribed Textbooks see Appendix I.

PAPER II (PROJECT WORK) : 20 Marks
In addition to the syllabus prescribed above, candidates are also required to be assessed in Project Work.
Details of the same are given below:
PROJECT WORK FOR CLASS XI
Project Work in Class XI comprises of assessment of candidates in Listening, Speaking and Writing skills.
These are to be assessed internally by the School, during course work and shown in the student’s report and
school record.
Candidates are to be assessed in three projects, one each on Listening, Speaking and Writing Skills.
Details of Projects in Listening, Speaking and Writing Skills are given below:
Listening Skills
An unseen passage of about 500 words or a poem (of appropriate length) may be read aloud, twice, the first
time at normal reading speed and the next time at a slower speed. The passage/poem may be taken from any
book, newspaper, magazine, journal and so on but not from an ICSE or ISC textbook. A suitable audio clip
may also be used.
Students may make brief notes during the readings/playing of the audio clip, followed by answering objective
type questions based on the passage/poem/audio clip, on the paper provided.
Speaking Skills
Students are to be assessed through an individual presentation, e.g. extempore speaking, declamation,
recitation, debate, of about three minutes followed by a discussion with the subject teacher, for another two or
three minutes.

5

List of suggested assignments for Project Work:
1. Narrating an experience
2. Giving directions or instructions on how to make or operate something
3. Providing a description
4. Giving a report
5. Expressing an opinion or a theme-based conversation
6. Giving a speech on a selected topic
7. Reading out, after correcting, a grammatically incorrect passage/s of suitable length (150- 200 words)
based on the prescribed grammar syllabus.

Writing Skills (Language/Literature)
Candidates will be required to undertake one written assignment of about 200 words on any aspect of
Language /Literature syllabus covered in Class XI.
List of suggested assignments for Project Work:
1. Product/process description
2. Description of an event
3. An autobiographical experience
4. Review of a book/serial/play/performance
5. Summary or paraphrase of a chosen text from the syllabus
6. Selecting any story/poem and writing a summary of it
7. Giving an alternative title to a story or poem and justifying the same

EVALUATION
Internal Evaluation by the Teacher (20 Marks):
Assessment Criteria Description Marks

Listening Skills (Aural) Response to questions based on listening comprehension 6
Speaking Skills (Oral) Content, Fluency, Vocabulary, Sentence structure, Confidence level 6
Writing Skills Process, Content, Presentation, Originality 8
TOTAL 20

6

PROJECT WORK FOR CLASS XII
Project Work in Class XII comprises of assessment of candidates in three projects, one each on Listening,
Speaking and Writing Skills.
Listening and Speaking skills are to be assessed internally, by the School in Class XII.
Writing Skills are to be assessed externally by the Visiting Examiner, appointed locally and approved by
CISCE.
Details of assignments for Project Work are given below:

Listening Skills (to be internally assessed by the subject teacher)

An unseen passage of about 500 words or a poem (of appropriate length) may be read aloud, twice, the first
time at normal reading speed and the next time at a slower speed. The passage/poem may be taken from any
book, newspaper, magazine, journal and so on but not from an ICSE or ISC textbook. A suitable audio clip
may also be used.
Students may make brief notes during the readings/playing of the audio clip, followed by answering objective
type questions based on the passage/poem/audio clip, on the paper provided.

Speaking Skills (to be internally assessed by the subject teacher)

Students are to be assessed through an individual presentation, e.g., extempore speaking, declamation,
recitation, debate, of about three minutes followed by a discussion with the subject teacher, for another two or
three minutes.
List of suggested assignments for Project Work:
1. Narrating an experience
2. Giving directions or instructions on how to make or operate something
3. Providing a description
4. Giving a report
5. Expressing an opinion or a theme-based conversation
6. Giving a speech on a selected topic
7. Reading out, after correcting, a grammatically incorrect passage/s of suitable length (150 - 200 words)
based on the grammar syllabus prescribed.

Writing Skills (Literature): to be assessed externally by the Visiting Examiner
Candidates will be required to undertake one written assignment of about 250 words on a text/texts studied
in the Literature syllabus.
List of suggested assignments for Project Work:
1. Writing a short story based on a poem.
2. Writing a poem based on a selected text.
3. Analysing the relevance of a selected text in the present-day context.
4. Imagining an alternate outcome or ending or extension of the chosen text and its impact on the
plot/setting/characters/mood and tone.
5. Providing an alternate title to a given text and giving a justification for the same.
6. Imagining oneself as one of the main characters of a selected text and describing what one would like to
change in the text, giving reasons for the same.
7. Analysing the theme of the text and expressing one’s opinion on the same.

7

8. Summarising / paraphrasing of the chosen text.
9. Preparing a script for dramatization, based on the short story/poem chosen.
10. Appreciation of literary qualities of the chosen text.

EVALUATION
Marks (out of a total of 20) should be distributed as given below:
1. Internal Evaluation by Teacher*
Listening Skills (Aural) 5 Marks
Speaking Skills (Oral) 5 Marks

2. External Evaluation by the Visiting Examiner of Writing Skills** 10 Marks
TOTAL 20 Marks

*Internal Evaluation by the Teacher (10 Marks)
Assessment Criteria Description Marks
Listening Skills (Aural) Response to questions based on listening 5
comprehension
Speaking Skills (Oral) Content, Fluency, Vocabulary, Sentence structure, 5
Confidence
TOTAL 10

**Evaluation by the Visiting Examiner (10 Marks)
Assessment Criteria and Description Marks
1. Title and introduction 1
2. Presentation 3
(Overall formatting: headings/ sub-headings, paragraphing, writing within
the word limit and providing a separate title page)

3. Content 5
(Present an organized and well-structured complete assignment with
proper introduction, main body and conclusion/comments)
4. Originality 1
TOTAL 10

NOTE: No question paper for Project Work will be set by CISCE.

8