CBSE Class 12 English (Elective) Syllabus for academic session 2026-27
This page contains the CBSE Class 12 English Elective syllabus for the academic session 2026-27, as prescribed by CBSE curriculum.
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 variety of rich texts of world literature as well as Indian writings in English, including classics; develop sensitivity to the creative and imaginative use of English Language and give them a taste for reading with delight and discernment. The course is primarily designed to equip the students to pursue higher studies in English literature and English language at the college level.
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.
iv.
critically examine a text and comment on its different aspects.
v.
develop proficiency in English Language, in both receptive and productive skills.
vi.
grasp the global meaning of the text, its gist and understand how its theme and sub-themes relate.
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.
x.
assess and analyse the point of view of the author.
xi.
infer the meanings of words and phrases from the context; differentiate between apparent synonyms.
xii.
appreciate stylistic nuances, the lexical structure; its literal and figurative uses and analyse a variety of texts.
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)
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.
Syllabus – Section A
I. Reading Comprehension
20 Marks
This section will have two unseen passages and a poem:
1.
12 Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions, out of 15, from a literary or discursive passage, of about 950-1000 words to assess comprehension, interpretation, inference, analysis, appreciation and vocabulary. 1×12 =12 marks
2.
4 out of 5 multiple choice questions / Objective Type Questions, to test interpretation, inference and appreciation of a poem of about 10-12 lines. 1×4=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. 1×4= 4 marks
Syllabus – Section B
II. Applied Grammar
8 Marks
4.
Eight multiple choice questions / Objective Type Questions, out of ten, involving transformation of sentences. 1×8=8 marks
III. Creative Writing
20 Marks
5.
Three Long Writing Tasks, out of four, to be answered in 120-150 words each as discursive and interpretative writing. 5×3=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. 5×1=5 marks
Syllabus – 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, analysis, interpretation and extrapolation beyond the text.
IV. Textbook
22 Marks
7.
Reference to the Context
i.
One Prose extract, out of two, to assess literary appreciation and analysis. 6×1=6 marks
ii.
One Poetry extract, out of two, to assess literary appreciation and analysis.6×1=6 marks
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. 2×1=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. 3×1=3marks
10.
One Long Answer Question, out of two, to be answered in 120-150 words each, to assess deeper understanding, interpretation, appreciation and drawing inferences. Questions to elicit creative responses and assess ability to form personal points of view. 5×1=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. 12×1=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. 3×1=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. 5×1=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
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)
Question Paper Design
Marks – 80 + 20=100
Section
Competencies
Total
Marks
Marks
%
Weightage
Weightage
Reading Comprehension
Conceptual understanding, decoding, Analyzing, inferring, interpreting, appreciating, literary, conventions and vocabulary, summarizing and using appropriate format/s
20
25%
Applied Grammar
Applying appropriate language conventions comprehension using structures interactively, application, accuracy
8
10%
Creative Writing
Reasoning, appropriate style and tone, using appropriate format and fluency, inference, analysis, evaluating, creativity with Fluency.
20
25%
Textbook
Recalling, reasoning, appreciating literary convention, inference, analysis, creativity with fluency
22
27.5%
Fiction
Recalling, reasoning, appreciating literary conventions, illustrating with relevant quotations from the text, inferring, analyzing, evaluating and creating, giving opinions, justifying with fluency
10
12.50%
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 Addressing participants using appropriate titles or nomenclatures and overall fluency
20
Grand Total
100