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CBSE Class 10 English Exam Pattern 2026 has been released by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on its official website. The maximum marks allotted for the CBSE 10th English exam 2026 are 100 marks, out of which 80 marks are for the theory exam, and 20 marks are for the internal assessment. Class 10th English exam pattern has three sections: Reading (20 marks), Writing Skills & Grammar (20 marks), and Literature (40 marks). CBSE Board has not made any significant changes in the CBSE Class 10 English blueprint 2026. The ratio of competency-based questions (MCQs, case-based questions, source-based integrated questions), select response type questions, and constructed response questions (short and long answer questions) will be 50:20:30. Students must go through the CBSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026 to be aware of the topics that are included this year.
The CBSE 10th board exams 2026 will start on February 17 and will end on March 9, 2026 while the optional phase for improvement will be from May 15 to June 1, 2026. The CBSE Class 10 Date Sheet 2026 was released on September 24, 2025 . The CBSE 10th English exam pattern mentions the typologies of questions asked in the exam, the exam duration, and so on. After completing the CBSE 10th syllabus, students must solve the previous year's question papers, and CBSE Class 10 English Sample Paper 2026 . Continue reading the article to know more about the CBSE Class 10 English Blueprint 2026.
CBSE Class 10 English Exam Pattern 2026
The maximum mark for the theory paper of CBSE Class 10 English Exam 2026 will be 80. The theory paper will be conducted for 3 hours from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm. The CBSE English Curriculum 2026 comprises the reading and writing sections and the language and literature part. From the table below, students can check out the CBSE Class 10 English Blueprint 2026 for the theory paper:
| Sections | Particulars | Periods | Number of Questions | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Reading Skills | 40 periods |
| 20 Marks |
| B | Writing Skills and Grammar | 40 periods |
| 20 Marks |
| C | Language through Literature | 50 periods |
| 40 Marks |
CBSE Class 10 English Practical Blueprint 2026
The CBSE Class 10 English Internal Assessment 2026 will be conducted for a total of 20 marks. The maximum time allotted for the internal assessment is 2 hours. The parameters on which the CBSE class 10 English internal assessment will be evaluated are:
The listening and speaking skills are to be assessed on the following parameters:
- Interactive competence (Initiation & turn taking, relevance to the topic)
- Fluency (cohesion, coherence, and speed of delivery)
- Pronunciation d. Language (grammar and vocabulary)
CBSE Class 10 English Exam Pattern 2026 PDF Download
You can simple click on the CBSE Class 10 English Exam Pattern 2026 PDF given below to download and check the latest CBSE 10th English exam pattern for both theory nd internal assessment:
| CBSE Class 10 English Exam Pattern 2026 PDF Download |
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CBSE Class 10 English Question Paper Pattern 2026
The CBSE Class 10 English Question Paper will consist of a total of 11 questions including MCQs, very short answer type, short answer type, and long answer type questions. The CBSE class 10 English Curriculum 2026 is divided into three parts where the reading and writing sections will carry 20 marks each. The language and literature portion will carry 40 marks. The question paper pattern of CBSE Class 10 English exam 2026 is given below:
| Section | Features | Competencies | Marks Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Reading Skills | Conceptual understanding, decoding, analysing, inferring, interpreting and vocabulary | 20 |
| B | Writing Skills with Grammar | Creative expression of an opinion, reasoning, justifying, illustrating, appropiracy of style and tone, using appropriate format and fluency. Applying conventions, using integrated structures with accuracy and fluency. | 20 |
| C | Language through Literature | Recalling, reasoning, appreciating, applying literary conventions illustrating and justifying etc. Extract relevant information, identifying the central theme and sub-theme, understanding the writer’s message and writing fluently. | 40 |
Also read: CBSE Class 10 English Important Questions 2026
CBSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026
The CBSE Class 10th English syllabus 2026 is provided below:
Section A: Reading Skills
| I. Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passage | 20 Marks |
|---|---|
Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions/Very Short Answer Questions will be asked to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation and vocabulary. |
|
Section B: Writing Skills and Grammar
| II. Grammar | 10 Marks |
|---|---|
| |
| 3. The courses at the secondary level seek to cement high professional grasp of grammatical items and levels of accuracy. Accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar will be assessed through Gap Filling/ Editing/Transformation Ten out of twelve questions will be attempted. | |
| III. Writing Skills | 10 Marks |
|
4. Writing a Descriptive Paragraph (word limit 100-120 words), describing a person/event / situation, based on visual or verbal cue/s. One out of two questions to be answered
.
5. Writing a Story (on a given cue/title)/Diary Entry, in 100-120 words. One out of two questions is to be answered . |
|
Section C: Language through Literature
| IV. Reference to the Context | 5+5 = 10 Marks |
|---|---|
|
6. One extract out of two, from Drama / Prose
7. One extract out of two, from Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions will be asked to assess interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, appreciation and vocabulary. | |
| IV. Short & Long Answer Questions | |
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8. Four out of Five Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words from the book FIRST FLIGHT to assess interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation.
9. Two out of Three Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words each from FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET to assess interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation. 10. One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from FIRST FLIGHT to be answered in about 100-120 words each to assess creativity, imagination and extrapolation beyond the text and across the text. This can be a passage-based question taken from a situation/plot from the text. 11. One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET, on theme or plot involving interpretation, extrapolation beyond the text and inference or character sketch to be answered in about 100-120 words. |
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Students must prepare well for the CBSE Class 10 English exam 2026 as this is one of the compulsory subjects whose passing scores will be counted. The CBSE Class 10 Result 2026 will be declared in May 2026 tentatively.
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FAQs
Yes, the CBSE Class 10 English Exam Pattern 2025-26 is available on the official website of CBSE at cbseacademic.nic.in.
The CBSE Class 10 English Exam Pattern 2025-26 includes three parts where the reading and writing sections will carry 20 marks each. The language and literature portion will carry 40 marks.
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