CBSE 10th English Exam Pattern 2025-26 - Check Marking Scheme
Table of Contents
The CBSE Class 10 English Exam Pattern 2025–2026 helps students prepare for the board exam by outlining the format and structure of the question paper. The paper is divided into three major sections: reading, writing, and grammar, and literature, each of which assesses a different skill set. The Reading section assesses comprehension skills, the Writing & Grammar section tests language accuracy and creativity, and the Literature section focuses on textbook-based questions to assess understanding and interpretation.
According to the most recent CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2026, the theory exam carries 80 marks, while the internal assessment carries the remaining 20. The question paper contains multiple-choice questions, short and long answer-type questions, and creative writing tasks that are distributed across sections with varying weightages. Before taking the CBSE Class 10 Exam 2026, you must first understand the CBSE 10th English Exam Pattern 2025-26 in depth. To know more about the overall structure, you are advised to refer to the details below.
Also Read: CBSE Class 10 Syllabus 2026
CBSE 10th English Exam Pattern 2026 - Section Wise
The CBSE Class 10 English Exam 2026 is intended to evaluate your abilities in reading comprehension, grammar, writing, and literature. The question paper is divided into three major sections: reading skills, writing and grammar, and literature. The examination lasts three hours and is worth 80 marks with no negative marking. The paper contains a variety of questions, including multiple-choice questions (MCQs), objective questions, short answers (30-50 words), and long answers (100-120 words). It is also recommended that you review previous years' question papers to better understand the format, level of difficulty, and commonly asked question types. Internal assessment is worth an additional 20 marks, bringing the total to 100 marks.
|
Section |
Sub-Section |
Marks |
|
Section A: Reading Skills |
I. Reading Comprehension |
20 |
|
Section B: Writing Skills and Grammar |
II. Grammar |
10 |
|
|
III. Writing Skills |
10 |
|
Section C: Language through Literature |
IV. Reference to the Context |
10 |
|
|
V. Short & Long Answer Questions |
30 |
|
Total |
|
80 |
|
Internal Assessment |
|
20 |
Also Read: CBSE 10th Class Admit Card 2026
CBSE 10th English Marking Scheme 2026
The CBSE Class 10 English Marking Scheme 2026 can be checked below:
|
Sections |
Type of Questions |
Number of Questions |
Marks Allotted |
|
Section A Reading Skills |
I. Reading Comprehension (2 unseen passages) |
– One Discursive Passage (400–450 words) |
10 marks |
|
– One Case-Based Factual Passage (200–250 words) |
10 marks |
||
|
Types: MCQs, Objective Questions, Short Answers (30–40 words) |
|||
|
Section B Writing Skills and Grammar |
II. Grammar |
10 out of 12 questions |
10 marks |
|
Topics: Determiners, Tenses, Modals, Subject–Verb Concord, Reported Speech (commands, statements, questions) |
|||
|
III. Writing Skills |
2 Questions (1 to be attempted from each type) |
10 marks |
|
|
– Formal Letter (100–120 words, based on situation) |
1 out of 2 |
||
|
– Analytical Paragraph (based on map/chart/graph/cues, 100–120 words) |
1 out of 2 |
||
|
Section C Language through Literature |
IV. Reference to Context |
2 Extracts (1 from prose/drama, 1 from poetry) |
|
|
Types: MCQs, Objective, Very Short Answers (one-word/one-sentence), Short Answers (30–40 words) |
10 marks |
||
|
V. Short & Long Answer Questions |
|||
|
– Short Answer (First Flight): 4 out of 5 (40–50 words each) |
4 × 3 marks |
12 marks |
|
|
– Short Answer (Footprints Without Feet): 2 out of 3 (40–50 words each) |
2 × 3 marks |
6 marks |
|
|
– Long Answer (First Flight): 1 out of 2 (100–120 words) |
1 × 6 marks |
6 marks |
|
|
– Long Answer (Footprints Without Feet): 1 out of 2 (100–120 words) |
1 × 6 marks |
6 marks |
|
|
30 marks |
|||
|
Total |
80 Marks |
Also Read: CBSE 10th Sample Papers
CBSE 10th English Unit Wise Marking Scheme 2026
The Literature section of the CBSE Class 10 English Exam carries the highest weightage of 50% (40 marks) and is based on the prescribed textbooks, First Flight and Footprints Without Feet. First Flight has the weightage of 33% (26 marks), while Footprints Without Feet has the weightage of 17% (14 marks). Understanding this unit-wise distribution allows you to better allocate your study time and focus on sections that are important in the exam.
|
Sections |
Weightage |
Marks |
|
Reading skills |
25% |
20 Marks |
|
Grammar and creative writing |
25% |
20 Marks |
|
Literature - First Flight Footprints without Feet |
50% 33% 17% |
40 Marks |
Also Read: CBSE 10th English Deleted Syllabus 2026
How to Use CBSE 10th English Exam Pattern 2026?
The following are some strategic tips for using the CBSE 10th English Exam Pattern 2026:
- Understanding the exam's structure enables you to simulate exam-like conditions during practice, improving your time management skills and reducing anxiety on exam day.
- By analyzing the distribution of marks across various sections—Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Literature—you can also allocate study time proportionally and focus on specific skills required for each.
- Those who are familiar with the paper pattern can identify sections with higher weightages, such as the Literature and Reading Comprehension segments. Prioritizing hIgh weightage areas during preparation can significantly improve your overall marks.
- Frequent practice of past years' questions and sample papers, which are in line with the current exam format, improves knowledge of the different kinds of questions and their varying degrees of difficulty. This in turn encourages improved preparation and performance on the test.
- The pattern also aids you in evaluating your own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, you can start with objective or short-answer questions to see if you perform better in those areas.
- In general, having a thorough understanding of the exam format boosts self-esteem, encourages methodical revision, and eventually results in better academic achievement on the CBSE 10th English exam.
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