The CBSE Class 10 English syllabus for 2026 is now available, and it outlines all the topics students need to prepare for in the board exams. This syllabus includes details for both Reading and Writing Skills, Grammar, and the Literature sections from the two NCERT textbooks – First Flight and Footprints Without Feet. Students who are aiming for good marks in English must understand the complete breakdown of marks and topics.
I’m writing this post because many students are still not sure what has been added, removed or changed in the English syllabus for 2026. Understanding the syllabus is the first step before starting proper preparation. Often, we study chapters or practise grammar topics that are not even part of the paper, simply because we don’t check the official syllabus. With the new session beginning, it’s important to have the latest information to avoid confusion. That’s why I have explained all the components of the English syllabus in simple language and also shared how to download the official PDF for your reference.
CBSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026 – Overview
The English subject for Class 10 is divided into three main sections:
1. Section A – Reading
This part checks your ability to understand and analyse texts.
- Factual passage (like news articles, event reports)
- Discursive passage (like opinions or essays)
Both passages will test vocabulary, inference, tone, and understanding.
2. Section B – Writing & Grammar
Writing – 10 Marks
- Formal Letter (complaint, enquiry, placing order etc.)
- Analytical Paragraph based on graph/chart/cue
Grammar – 10 Marks
The following grammar topics will be included:
- Tenses
- Modals
- Subject-verb concord
- Reported speech
- Determiners
- Clauses
3. Section C – Literature
This section will have questions based on your textbooks:
First Flight (Prose & Poetry)
Prose:
- A Letter to God
- Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
- Two Stories About Flying
- From the Diary of Anne Frank
- Glimpses of India
- Mijbil the Otter
- Madam Rides the Bus
- The Sermon at Benares
- The Proposal (Play)
Poetry:
- Dust of Snow
- Fire and Ice
- A Tiger in the Zoo
- How to Tell Wild Animals
- The Ball Poem
- Amanda!
- Animals
- The Trees
- Fog
- The Tale of Custard the Dragon
- For Anne Gregory
Footprints Without Feet (Supplementary Reader)
- A Triumph of Surgery
- The Thief’s Story
- The Midnight Visitor
- A Question of Trust
- Footprints Without Feet
- The Making of a Scientist
- The Necklace
- Bholi
- The Book That Saved the Earth
Internal Assessment
This includes listening, speaking skills, classwork, projects and periodic tests.
Download PDF – CBSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026
You can easily download the official syllabus PDF by following these steps:
- Visit the CBSE Academic website: https://cbseacademic.nic.in
- Click on ‘Curriculum’ and select ‘Secondary Curriculum’
- Choose Class 10 and select English Language & Literature
- Click on the syllabus PDF link to download
N.B: If you want to download the PDF then, CLICK HERE
Final Words
English is one of those subjects where smart preparation gives quick results. If you know the exact syllabus, you can plan your reading and revision time more effectively. Every year, I come across students who waste hours learning poems or grammar rules that were removed two years ago. Don’t make that mistake. Keep the syllabus PDF on your phone or print it and stick it on your wall. Follow it strictly and you’ll be surprised how much more confident you feel during exams. Start early and practise regularly – that’s the best way to make English your strong subject in Class 10.
