CBSE Syllabus for Class 12 English 2024-2025

CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus - Core and Elective (CBSE)

English is a compulsory language for the senior higher secondary classes (XI & XII). It is not a part of the core subject for students but one of the secondary subjects. The Core English course is compulsory, whereas the Elective course is selective and can be opted for as an extra subject. The cbse syllabus for the above-mentioned course is given below along with the marking weightage.

CBSE Class 12 Syllabus for Other Subjects

CBSE Class 12 Hindi Syllabus
CBSE Class 12 Maths Syllabus
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Syllabus
CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus
CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus
CBSE Class 12 Economics Syllabus

Class 12 CBSE English Syllabus

English Core

SECTION

TERM 1

WEIGHTAGE (IN MARKS)

TERM II

WEIGHTAGE (IN MARKS)

A

Reading Comprehension: ( Two Passages)

  • Unseen passage (factual, descriptive or literary/ discursive or persuasive)
  • Case Based Unseen (Factual) Passage

14

(8+6 Marks)

Reading Comprehension: (Two Passages)

  • Unseen passage (factual, descriptive or literary/ discursive or persuasive)
  • Case Based Unseen (Factual) Passage

14

(8+6 Marks)

B

Creative Writing Skills :

Short Writing Tasks

  • Notice Writing
  • Classified Advertisements

Long Writing Tasks(One)

  • Letter to an Editor (giving suggestions or opinion on issues of public interest)
  • Article Writing

3+5 marks Total=08

Creative Writing Skills :

Short Writing Tasks

  • Formal & Informal Invitation Cards or the Replies to Invitation/s

Long Writing Tasks(One)

  • Letter of Application for a Job
  • Report Writing

3+5 Marks Total=08

C

Literature :

Literary-prose/poetry extracts ( seen- texts ) to assess

comprehension and appreciation, analysis, inference, extrapolation

 

Literature:

Questions based on extracts/texts to assess comprehension and appreciation, analysis, inference, extrapolation

 
   

11 Marks for

   
 

Questions Based on Texts to

assess comprehension and appreciation, analysis, inference, extrapolation

Book- Flamingo (Prose)

  • The Last Lesson
  • Lost Spring
  • Deep Water

Flamingo + 7 Marks for Vistas = 18 Marks

Book-Flamingo (Prose)

  • The Rattrap
  • Indigo

Book-Flamingo (Poetry)

  • A Thing of Beauty
  • Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

11 Marks for

Flamingo + 7 Marks for Vistas = 18 Marks

 

Book-Flamingo (Poetry)

  • My Mother at Sixty-Six
  • An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum
  • Keeping Quiet

Book-Vistas (Prose)

  • The Third Level
  • The Enemy
 

Book-Vistas (Prose)

  • Should Wizard Hit Mommy?
  • On the Face of It
  • Evans Tries an O Level
 
 

TOTAL

40

TOTAL

40

 

ASL

10

ASL

10

 

GRAND TOTAL

40 + 10 = 50

GRAND TOTAL

40 + 10 = 50

 

English Elective

 

 

SECTION

TERM I

WEIGHTAGE (IN MARKS)

TERM II

WEIGHTAGE (IN MARKS)

A

Reading Comprehension:

  • Unseen passage (literary or discursive)
  • Unseen Poem
  • Case Based Unseen (Factual) Passage

10 marks

(5+2+3)

Reading Comprehension:

  • Unseen passage (literary or discursive)
  • Unseen Poem
  • Case Based Unseen (Factual) Passage

10 marks

(5+2+3)

B

Creative Writing Skills:

  • Discursive/interpretative writing

Essay (on an Argumentative/Discursive/Reflective/ Descriptive topic )

Article Writing( on a contemporary/topical issue)

10 marks

(3+3+4)

Creative Writing Skills

  • Speech( on a contemporary/t opical issue)
  • Report Writing ( on a contemporary/t opical issue)

10 marks

(5+5)

C

Applied Grammar: Transformation of Sentences( Voice/Speech/ Clauses/ Change of sentence types)

4 marks

Applied Grammar: Transformation of Sentences( Voice/Speech/ Clauses/ Change

of sentence types)

4 marks

D

Literature

MCQs (from Kaleidoscope) -from short stories/poetry

/non-fiction/ drama

Book- Kaleidoscope-Short Stories

  • I Sell my Dreams - GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
  • Eveline- JAMES JOYCE

Book- Kaleidoscope-Poetry

  • A Lecture Upon the Shadow- JOHN DONNE
  • Poems by Milton- JOHN MILTON
  • Poems by Blake- WILLIAM BLAKE
  • Kubla Khan - S.T.COLERIDGE

Book- Kaleidoscope- Non fiction

  • Freedom- G.B.SHAW
  • The Mark on the Wall - VIRGINIA WOOLF

Book- Kaleidoscope-Drama

1. Chandalika- RABINDRANATH TAGORE

11 marks

(2+3+3+3)

Literature

MCQs (from Kaleidoscope) -from short stories/poetry /non-fiction/ drama

Book- Kaleidoscope-Short Stories

A Wedding in Brownsville- ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER

Book- Kaleidoscope-Poetry

Trees - EMILY DICKINSON

The Wild Swans of

Coole- W.B.YEATS

Time and Time Again - A.K.RAMANUJA N

Book- Kaleidoscope- Non fiction

Film-making - INGMAR BERGMAN

  • Why the Novel Matters

D.H. LAWRENCE

11 marks

(2+3+3+3)

E

Fiction :

A Tiger for Malgudi ( R K Narayan)

OR

The Financial Expert ( R K Narayan)

Part I & II

05 marks

Fiction :

A Tiger for Malgudi ( R K Narayan)

OR

he Financial Expert ( R K Narayan)

Part III,

IV & V

05 marks

 

TOTAL

40 marks

TOTAL

40 marks

 

SEMINAR

  • Presentation – book review /a play /a short story/a novel/novella (tale, table, 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 tobe followed by a discussion.

10 marks

SEMINAR


Presentation – book review

/a play /a short story/a novel/novella (tale, table, 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.

10 marks

 

GRAND TOTAL

40 + 10

50 marks

GRAND TOTAL

40 + 10

50 marks

Objectives:

The general objectives at this stage are:

  • to build greater confidence and proficiency in oral and written communication •

  • to develop the ability and knowledge required in order to engage in independent reflection and inquiry

  • to use appropriate English to communicate in various social settings

  • to equip learners with essential language skills to question and to articulate their point of viewto build competence in the different registers of English

  • to develop sensitivity to, and appreciation of, other varieties of English, Indian Englishes, and the culture they reflect

  • to enable the learner to access knowledge and information through reference skills ( consulting a dictionary/thesaurus, library, internet etc.)

  • to develop curiosity and creativity through extensive reading to facilitate self-learning to enable them to become independent learners

  • to review, organize and edit their own work and work done by their peers At the end of this stage learners will be able to do the following:

  • give a brief oral description of events/incidents of topical interest

  • retell the contents of authentic audio texts (weather reports, public announcements, simple advertisements, short interviews, etc.)

  • participate in conversations, discussions, etc. on topics of mutual interest in non-classroom situations

  • narrate the story depicted pictorially or in any other non-verbal mode respond in writing to business letters, official communications

  • read and identify the main points/significant details of texts like scripts of audio-video interviews, discussions, debates, etc.

  • write without prior preparation on a given topic and be able to defend or explain the position taken/views expressed in a summary of short lectures on familiar topics by making/taking notes

  • write an assessment of different points of view expressed in a discussion/debate read poems effectively ( with proper rhythm and intonation )

  • grasp the theme of the poem and appreciate the creative uses of language

  • to transcode information from a graph/chart to a description/report

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Frequently Asked Questions

There are 5 chapters in the CBSE Class 12 syllabus for English. 

You can get the free PDF for CBSE Syllabus Class 12 English on the website of Orchids International School. 

To prepare for the Class 12 English exam effectively, learn the key concepts given in the syllabus. Additionally, practice each question given in the textbook and revise the topics thoroughly. 

Some of the good resources for studying Class 12 English are NCERT textbooks, worksheets, and practice materials from some reputed schools like the Orchids International School. 

The concepts covered in the CBSE Class 12 syllabus are very basic which helps students to understand the fundamentals and lay a solid foundation for higher classes.