CBSE Senior Secondary Syllabus 2027 English Elective

FOR CBSE SENIOR SECONDARY SYLLABUS EXAM PREPARATION

CBSE Senior Secondary
Syllabus 2027
Question Paper ·
English
EXAM YEAR TYPE SUBJECT

CBSE Senior Secondary Syllabus 2027 Question Paper English
DETAILS

Elective

Notes · Sample Papers · Previous Year Papers · Mock Tests

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a ENGLISH ELECTIVEa
Subject Code-001
Classes-XI-XII
Classes-XI-XII (2026-27)
(2025-26)

Background
The course is intended to give students a higher level of competence in English with an
emphasis on the study of literary texts. The course will provide extensive exposure to a
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variety of rich texts of world literature as well as Indian writings in English, including classics;

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develop sensitivity to the creative and imaginative use of English Language and give them a
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taste for reading with delight and discernment. The course is primarily designed to equip the
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students to pursue higher studies in English literature and English language at the college
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level.
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The general objectives are to:
i. provide extensive exposure to a variety of writings in English, including some classics to
develop sensitivity to literary and creative uses of the language.
ii. further expand the learners' vocabulary resources through the use of dictionary,
thesaurus and encyclopedia.
iii. develop a taste for reading with discernment and delight.
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iv. critically examine a text and comment on its different aspects.
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develop proficiency in English Language, in both receptive and productive skills.
vi. grasp the global meaning of the text,as
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themes relate.
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vii. relate to the details provided in the text. For example, how the details support a
generalisation or the conclusion either by classification or by contrast and comparison.
viii. comprehend details, locate and identify facts, arguments, logical relationships,
generalisation and conclusion, in the texts.
ix. draw inferences, supply missing details, predict outcomes, grasp the significance of
particular details and interpret texts.
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assess and analyse the point of view of the author.
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xi. infer the meanings of words and phrases from the context; differentiate between

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literal and figurative uses and
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xiii. identify different styles of writing like humorous, satirical, contemplative, ironical and
burlesque.
xiv. can produce text-based writing (writing in response to questions or tasks based on
prescribed as well as 'unseen' texts)

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xv. develop the advanced skills of inferring, analysing, reasoning, evaluating and creating.
xvi. develop familiarity with the poetic uses of language including features of the language
through which artistic effect is achieved.

Methods and Techniques

The techniques used for teaching should promote habits of self-learning and reduce
dependence on the teacher.
 The multi-skill, learner-centric, activity-based approach already recommended for the
previous stages of education, is still in place, though it will be used in such a way that silent
reading of prescribed selected texts for comprehension will receive greater focus as one of
the activities.

 Learners will be trained to read independently and intelligently, interacting actively with
texts and other reference materials (dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, etc.) where
necessary.

 Some pre-reading activity will generally be required, as suggested in the course books.

 The reading of texts should be followed by post reading activities. It is important to
remember that every text can generate different reading strategies.

 Students should be encouraged to interpret texts in different ways, understand the views of
others and present their views on a literary text.

 Some projects may be assigned to students from time to time, for instance, students
may be asked to put together a few literary pieces on a given theme, so as to create a
meaningful singular hold.

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ENGLISH ELECTIVE
Class -–XI
CLASS XI(2026-27)
(2025-26)

Section A
I. Reading Comprehension 25 Marks
Two unseen passages and a poem

1. 12 out of 15 Multiple Choice / Objective Type Questions, from a literary or discursive
passage of about 950-1000 words to assess comprehension, interpretation, inference,
analysis, appreciation and vocabulary. 1x12=12 marks
2. 8 out of 9 Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions to test interpretation,
inference and appreciation of a poem of about 10-12 lines. 1x8=8 marks
3. 5 out of 7 Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions from a case-based
passage (with visual input- statistical data, chart etc.) of 100-120 words to test
interpretation, analysis and evaluation. 1x5=5 marks

Section B
II. Creative Writing Skills 15 Marks

4. An Essay on an argumentative/discursive/reflective/descriptive topic, leading to creative
rendering, forming and defending of opinions, to be answered in 120-150 words.
5 marks
5. Article on one out of two topics to be answered in 120-150 words pertaining to
contemporary topical issues. 5 marks
6. Speech on one out of two topics to be answered in 120-150 words pertaining to
contemporary topical issues. 5 marks
Section C
This section will have variety of assessment items including Multiple Choice Questions,
Objective Type Questions, Short Answer Type Questions and Long Answer Type Questions
to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis and extrapolation beyond the text.

III. Textbook 20 Marks

7. Reference to the Context
i. One Prose extract, out of two, to assess comprehension, literary appreciation and
inference.
ii. One Poetry extract, out of two, to assess comprehension, literary appreciation and
inference. 5+5=10 marks

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g in 30-40 words to assess
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8. Two Short Answer Questions out of three, to be answered
understanding, analysis and critical appreciation. Questions should elicit inferential
responses through critical thinking. 2x2=4 marks
9. Two Short Answer Questions, out of three, to be answered in 50-60 words to assess
understanding, analysis and critical appreciation. Questions should elicit inferential
responses through critical thinking. 3x2=6 marks

Drama 10 Marks
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10. Two Long Answer Questions, out of three, to be answered in 80-100 words to
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appreciate characters, events and episodes. Questions to provide analytical

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responses using incidents, events, themes, as reference points. 5x2=10 marks
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a Fiction 10 Marks

11. One Short Answer Question, out of two, to be answered in 30-40 words to critically
appreciate characters, events, episodes, interpersonal relationships and formation of
personal points of view, with reference to content, events and episodes. 2 marks

12. One Short Answer Question, out of two, to be answered in 50-60 words to assess
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understanding, analysis and critical appreciation. Questions should elicit inferential
responses through critical thinking.
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13. One Long Answer Question, out a
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ofstwo, to be answered in 120-150 words to test
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literary appreciation and to drawginferences. Questions should elicit creative responses
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and develop ability to form personal points of view. 5 marks

IV. Seminar 20 Marks

 Presentation- book review /a play /a short story/a novel/ novella (tale, fable, and
parable) to be followed by a question-answer session.

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Poetry reading to be followed by interpretative tasks based on close reading and literary

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analysis of the text.

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
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s em Conducting a theatre workshop to be followed by a discussion
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la Note: Teachers may develop their own rubrics to assess athe performance of students
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The parameters for assessing Speaking skills, as given in the curriculum for English Core,
may be referred to.

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Prescribed Books
1. Woven Words- Text book published by NCERT

Short Stories

 The Lament
 A Pair of Mustachios
 The Rocking-horse Winner
 The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
 Pappachi’s Moth
 The Third and Final Continent

Poetry
 The Peacock
 Let me Not to the Marriage of True Minds
 Coming
 Telephone Conversation
 The World is too Much with Us
 Mother Tongue
 Hawk Roosting
 Ode to a Nightingale

Essays

 My Watch
 My Three Passions
 Patterns of Creativity
 Tribal Verse
 What is a Good Book?
 The Story
 Bridges

2. Fiction: The Old Man and the Sea (Novel unabridged) by Ernest Hemingway
3. Drama: Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw

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English Elective
Question Paper Design
Class
Class XI
XI (2026-27)
(2025-26)
Marks 80+20=100

Section Competencies Total %
marks Weightage

Reading Conceptual, understanding, decoding, 25 31.25%
Comprehension analyzing, inferring, interpreting,
appreciating, literary, conventions and
vocabulary
Creative Writing Reasoning, suitability of style and 15 18.75%
tone, use of appropriate format and
fluency
Textbook Recalling, reasoning, appreciating
literary conventions illustrating with 20 25%
relevant quotations from the texts,
giving opinions and justifying with
fluency
Drama Recalling, reasoning, appreciating 10 12.50%
literary conventions, illustrating with
relevant quotations from the texts,
giving opinions and justifying with
fluency
Fiction Recalling, reasoning, appreciating 10 12.50%
literary conventions, illustrating with
relevant quotations from the texts,
giving opinions and justifying with
fluency

TOTAL 80 100%
Seminar Seeking information and clarifying,
illustrating with relevant quotations
from the texts, reasoning, diction,
articulation clarity of pronunciation,
using appropriate language
conventions 20 -
Addressing participants using
appropriate titles or nomenclatures
and overall fluency

Grand Total 100

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ENGLISH ELECTIVE
Class—XII (2025-26)
Class-XII (2026-27)

Section A
I. Reading Comprehension 20 Marks

This section will have two unseen passages and a poem:
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1. 12 Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions, out of 15, from a literary
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em appreciation and vocabulary. a
discursive passage,
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inference, analysis, 1x12 =12 marks
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2. 4 out ofg5 multiple choice questions / Objective Type Questions, to test interpretation,
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inference and appreciation of a poem of about 10-12 lines. 1x4=4 marks
3. 4 out of 5 multiple choice questions / Objective Type Questions, from a case-based
factual passage (with visual input- statistical data, chart etc.), of 100-120 words to test
interpretation, analysis and evaluation. 1x4= 4 marks

Section B

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II. Applied Grammar 8 Marks

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4. Eight multiple choice questions / Objective Type Questions, out of ten, involving
transformation of sentences.
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III. Creative Writing ag
20 Marks
5. Three Long Writing Tasks, out of four, to be answered in 120-150 words each as
discursive and interpretative writing. 5x3=15 marks
6. One Long Writing Task out of two to be answered in 120-150 words: An essay on an
argumentative/discursive topic such as an article/report/speech pertaining to
contemporary topics/issues. 5x1=5 marks
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mChoice Questions, .co
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This section will have variety of assessment items including Multiple
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IV. Textbook 22 Marks
7. Reference to the Context
i. One Prose extract, out of two, to assess literary appreciation and analysis. 6x1=6 marks
ii. One Poetry extract, out of two, to assess literary appreciation and analysis.6x1=6 marks

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8. One Short Answer Question, out of two, to be answered in 30-40 words, to assess
Understanding, analysis and critical appreciation. Questions should elicit inferential
responses through critical thinking. 2x1=2 marks

9. One Short Answer Question, out of two, to be answered in 40-50 words, to assess
understanding, analysis and critical appreciation. Questions should elicit inferential
responses through critical thinking and draw inferences in poetry and prose. 3x1=3marks

10. One Long Answer Question, out of two, to be answered in 120-150 words each, to assessdeeper
understanding, interpretation, appreciation and drawing inferences. Questions to elicit creative
responses and assess ability to form personal points of view. 5x1=5 Marks

Fiction 10 Marks

11. One Short Answer Question, out of two, to be answered in 30-40 words, to test
understanding and appreciation and seek comments, interpretation, evaluation and
appreciation of characters, events, episodes and interpersonal relationships. 12x1=2 marks

12. One Short Answer Question, out of two, to be answered in 40-50 words, to test
understanding and appreciation and seek comments, interpretation, evaluation and
appreciation of characters, events, episodes and interpersonal relationships. 3x1=3 marks

13. One Long Answer Question, out of two, to be answered in 120-150 words, to test in-
depth understanding, interpretation, appreciation and drawing of global inferences from
the given text, with reference to characters /events/ incidents and episodes, leading to
creative rendering, forming and defending of personal points of view. 5x1=5 marks

Note-Students can select one of the two prescribed texts.

V. Seminar 20 Marks

 Presentation - book review /a play /a short story/a novel/novella (tale, fable, parable) to
be followed by a question-answer session.

 Poetry reading to be followed by interpretative tasks based on close reading and
literary analysis of the text. Critical review of a film or a play

 Conducting a theatre workshop to be followed by a discussion

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Prescribed Books:
1. Kaleidoscope - Text book published by NCERT
Short Stories

 I Sell my Dreams
 Eveline
 A Wedding in Brownsville

Poetry

 A Lecture Upon the Shadow
 Poems by Milton
 Poems by Blake
 Kubla Khan
 Trees
 The Wild Swans of Coole
 Time and Time Again

Non fiction
 Freedom
 The Mark on the Wall
 Film-making
 Why the Novel Matters
 The Argumentative Indian

Drama

 Chandalika- RABINDRANATH TAGORE

2. Fiction
A Tiger for Malgudi
OR
The Financial Expert by R.K. Narayan (Novel)

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a English Elective ag
Question Paper Design
Class-XII
Class-XII(2025-26)
(2026-27)
Marks - 80+20=100

Section Competencies Total %
marks Weightage
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Reading
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Conceptual understanding, decoding,
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Comprehension Analyzing, inferring, interpreting,
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25%

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appreciating, literary, conventions and 20
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as vocabulary, summarizing and
l Applying appropriate language conventions
appropriate format/s
using
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a 10%
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Appliedg
Grammar comprehension using structures interactively, 8
application, accuracy

Creative Reasoning, appropriate style and tone, 25%
Writing using appropriate format and fluency,
inference, analysis, evaluating, creativity with 20
Fluency.
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Textbook Recalling, reasoning, appreciating literary 27.5%
convention, inference, analysis, creativity 22
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sappreciating literary
with fluency
Fiction
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Recalling, reasoning, l a
conventions, a
illustrating with relevant
quotations from the text, inferring, analyzing,
12.50%

evaluating and creating, giving opinions, 10
justifying with fluency

TOTAL 80 100%
Seminar Seeking information and clarifying, illustrating
with relevant quotations from the texts,
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reasoning, diction, articulation clarity of 20
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appropriate titles or nomenclatures andoverall
s e fluency
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a Grand Total 100

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