CBSE English Language & Literature Class 10 Syllabus
Course Structure
| Section | Topic | Marks |
| A | Reading Skills | 20 |
| B | Writing Skills with Grammar | 25 |
| C | Literature Textbooks and Extended Reading Text | 25 |
| D | Assessment of Speaking and Listening (ASL) | 20 |
| Total | 90 |
There will be one written paper of English at the end of each term carrying 70 marks. The time limit will be three hours.
It is a division of marks assigned to all the four skills of language. The distribution of marks for Formative Assessments carrying 40% weightage may be done by the schools themselves. A variety of activities to assess all the skills of language may be used for Formative Assessments.
The Summative Assessment Question Papers, if developed by the schools themselves, may be for 70 marks to which 20 marks may be added for Assessment of Speaking and Listening skills making the paper of 90 marks. The one third of the 90 marks i.e. 30 should be added each in both Summative Assessments.
Assessment of Speaking and Listening skills (ASL) will be done formally at the term end examination in Summative – II. Schools can conduct ASL for Summative – I themselves. However, assessment of these skills may also be done under the Formative activities spread over two terms.
SECTION A: READING
Qs 1-2. This section will have two unseen passages of a total length of 700-750. The arrangement within the reading section is as follows:
Q. 1: A Factual passage of 300-350 words with eight very short answer type questions. [8 marks]
Q. 2: A Discursive passage of 350-400 words with four short answer type questions to test inference, evaluation and analysis and four MCQs to test vocabulary. [12 Marks]
SECTION B: WRITING AND GRAMMAR
Q. 3: Letter to the editor / article in about 100-120 words based on visual or verbal stimulus. [5 marks]
Q. 4: Writing a short story based on a given outline or cue/s in about 150-200 words. [10 marks]
The Grammar syllabus will include the following areas in classes IX and X.
- Tenses
- Modals (have to/had to, must, should, need, ought to and their negative forms)
- Use of passive voice
- Subject – verb concord
- Reporting
- (i) Commands and requests
- (ii) Statements
- (iii) Questions
- Clauses:
- Noun clauses
- Adverb clauses of condition and time
- Relative clauses
- Determiners
- Prepositions
The above items may be tested through test types as given below:
Q. 5: Gap filling with one or two words to test Prepositions, Articles, Conjunctions and Tenses. [3 marks]
Q. 6: Editing or omission. [4 marks]
Q. 7: Sentences reordering or Sentence Transformation in context. [3 marks]
SECTION C: LITERATURE TEXTBOOKS AND LONG READING TEXT
Q.8: One out of two extracts from prose/poetry/drama for reference to context. Three very short answer questions. [3 marks]
One mark in each extract will be for vocabulary. One question will be used for testing local and global comprehension and one question will be on interpretation.
Q.9: Four short answer type questions from FIRST FLIGHT & FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET (two from each) to test local and global comprehension of theme and ideas (30-40 words each). [2×4=8 marks]
Q.10: One out of two long answer type questions to assess how the values inherent in the texts have been brought out (FIRST FLIGHT & FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET). Creativity, imagination and extrapolation beyond the text and across the texts will be assessed. (80-100 words). [4 marks]
Q.11: One out of two Long Answer Questions on theme or plot or character involving interpretation and inference in about 100-120 words based on prescribed extended reading text. [10 marks]
Prescribed Books
- FIRST FLIGHT – Textbook for Class X
- FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET – Supplementary Reader for Class X
EXTENDED READING TEXTS (either one)
- Diary of a Young Girl – 1947 By Anne Frank (unabridged edition)
- The Story of My Life – 1903 By Helen Keller (unabridged edition)
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