Students preparing for the CBSE Class 10 English Exam 2026 can check here the important chapters to study in order to score high in the exam. Check out the marking scheme and important English chapters here…
CBSE Class 10 English Important Chapters: Students preparing for CBSE Class 10 English exam 2026 must be done with their syllabus by now. However, it is important to know the important chapters in order to score high in the examination. CBSE 10th exams 2026 were held between February 17 and March 11, 2026. CBSE Class 10 English exam 2026 was conducted on February 21, 2026 in pen and paper format.
CBSE released the CBSE Class 10 English marking scheme 2026 on the official website. It share the weightage given to every chapter and topic in the English subject. With proper planning and strategy in place, students can allocate their study time to those chapters that are high scoring.
To score well in CBSE Class 10 English, prioritize key chapters from First Flight and Footprints Without Feet like "A Letter to God," "The Thief’s Story," and "Madam Rides the Bus". Focus on character-based questions in "The Hundred Dresses" and thematic understanding of "The Proposal".
Also read: CBSE 10th Date Sheet 2026
CBSE Class 10 English Weightage 2026 - Section-wise Marks Distribution
CBSE Board tests students' reading, writing, grammar, and literature skills in the CBSE 10th English exam. Here is a summary of the marks distribution for all chapters. Students can use this table to understand the mark distribution across sections and plan their preparation effectively.
| Section |
Marks |
|---|---|
| Reading |
20 |
| Writing Skills with Grammar |
20 |
| Language through Literature |
40 |
| Total |
80 |
Also Read: CBSE Class 10 Syllabus 2026
Class 10 CBSE English Chapter Wise Weightage
Below is the chapter-wise weightage for CBSE Class 10 English exam. Students can prepare for different chapters according to their marks.
| Book / Chapter |
Marks |
|---|---|
| First Flight (Prose) |
|
| A Letter to God |
2 |
| Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom |
2 |
| Stories About Flying |
2 |
| From the Diary of Anne Frank |
2 |
| Glimpses of India |
2 |
| Mijbil the Otter |
2 |
| Madam Rides the Bus |
2 |
| The Sermon at Benares |
2 |
| The Proposal (Play) |
2 |
| First Flight Poems |
|
| Dust of Snow |
1 |
| Fire and Ice |
1 |
| A Tiger in the Zoo |
1 |
| How to Tell Wild Animals |
1 |
| The Ball Poem |
1 |
| Amanda |
1 |
| The Trees |
1 |
| Fog |
1 |
| The Tale of Custard the Dragon |
1 |
| For Anne Gregory |
1 |
| Footprints Without Feet Supplementary Reader |
|
| A Triumph of Surgery |
2 |
| The Thief’s Story |
2 |
| The Midnight Visitor |
2 |
| A Question of Trust |
2 |
| Footprints Without Feet |
2 |
| The Making of a Scientist |
2 |
| The Necklace |
2 |
| Bholi |
2 |
| The Book that Saved the Earth |
2 |
| Grammar and Writing Skills |
20 |
| Total Marks |
80 |
Also Read: CBSE 10th Admit card
CBSE Class 10 English 2026 - Marks Distribution for Internal Assessment
The internal assessment is done at school level by the school teachers. It tests students on listening, speaking, and creative activities to develop practical language skills.
| Components of Internal Assessment |
Marks |
|---|---|
| Listening and Speaking Skills |
5 |
| Art-integrated Projects (Role Play, Skit, Dramatization etc.) |
5 |
| Portfolio / Written Work |
5 |
| Subject Enrichment Activities |
5 |
| Total Marks |
20 |
CBSE Class 10 English - Most Important Chapters for High Marks
Here are the important chapters students must read from the Prose (First Flight):
- A Letter to God: Often asked, high-scoring.
- Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom: Key for character/thematic questions.
- Two Stories About Flying: Both parts are frequently tested.
- From the Diary of Anne Frank: High probability for analytical questions.
- Glimpses of India & Madam Rides the Bus: Detailed stories, common for 5-mark questions.
- The Proposal: Essential for long-answer questions.
The list below shares the important Poetry topics from the book First Flight:
- Dust of Snow & Fire and Ice: Simple, high-scoring, and frequently asked.
- A Tiger in the Zoo & The Ball Poem: Frequently asked for thematic analysis.
- The Tale of Custard the Dragon: Often tested for character interpretation.
Check out the important topics students must study from the supplementary book - Footprints Without Feet:
- A Triumph of Surgery: High-frequency, easy to score.
- The Thief's Story: Top priority for, often carries significant weight.
- Footprints Without Feet & The Necklace: Commonly asked for theme-based questions.
- The Midnight Visitor & Bholi: High-probability for character analysis.
Also read: CBSE 10th Pattern 2026
Commonly asked questions
You can get CBSE 10th books from the Board's website- cbse.gov.in. The CBSE class 10 books for all subjects can be downloaded from this page too.
Yes, all the topics stated in CBSE 10th, 12th syllabus are covered in NCERT books. Students must refer them and cover them thoroughly before moving on to other reference books. Cover all the questions given at the back of every chapter. Shiksha. Com helps you with NCERT solutions for Chemistry Physics and Mathematics etc.
The CBSE 10th Home Science syllabus 2025 PDF download is provided below. Students can check here the distribution of marks for different chapters-
1 Concept and scope of Home Science Education and recent trends - 03 marks
2 Human growth & Development – I 08 marks
3 Family and Values- 08 marks
4 Food, Nutrition and Health -15 marks
5 Fiber and Fabric -15 marks
6 Resource Management -14 marks
7 Measures of Safety and Management of Emergencies -07 marks
Practical exams will be conducted for 30 marks.
Click here to download the complete CBSE 10th Home Science Syllabus 2025
You can download CBSE Class 10 syllabus for all subjects from cbse.nic.in. Students must finish their syllabus at least a month prior to the announcement of CBSE 10th exam dates.
CBSE Class 10 English Exam 2026 - Study Strategy for High Marks
Students must follow these points to score high in their Class 10 english board exam 2026-
- Focus on Themes & Characters: Instead of just summarizing, understand the deeper meaning and character traits, especially for 5-mark questions.
- Prioritize 5-Mark Chapters: "A Letter to God," "The Proposal," and "Madam Rides the Bus" are among the most important.
- Grammar & Writing Skills: Do not ignore grammar (Tenses, Modals) and writing skills (Letter/Analytical Paragraph), as they constitute a major portion of the 80-mark paper.
- Solve CBSE 10th Previous Year Papers: Focus on The Thief's Story and Nelson Mandela based on past trends.
News & Updates
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
A spelling error on your Class 10 or 12 marksheets will not cancel your JEE 2027 application, as the NTA form relies on what you type during registration. However, matching names and details across your ID and certificates is critical to avoid verification issues during JoSAA counselling.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
The Assam HSLC routine PDF will be available on the official website, sebaonline.org. Students should download it only from the official site. They should check every date and timing carefully.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
There are four Physics chapters. These are Light: Reflection and Refraction, The Human Eye and the Colourful World, Electricity, and Magnetic Effects of Electric Current.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
No. CBSE does not release a separate Physics PDF for 10th Class. Physics is part of the Science syllabus PDF (code 086). The Physics topics are in Unit III and Unit IV.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Students should follow the four NCERT books. These are India and the Contemporary World-II, Contemporary India-II, Democratic Politics-II and Understanding Economic Development.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Map work carries 5 marks. History has 2 marks and Geography has 3 marks. Students must locate and label places on an outline map of India.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Students get 3 hours to finish the paper. It has 38 questions. Students must answer all of them, but some have an or option. Each section of the paper carries 20 marks.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The practical exams are expected in January 2027, before the theory papers. In 2026, BSEB held the matric practicals from January 20 to January 22.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
BSEB has not announced a release date yet. The Bihar Board 10th Time Table 2027 is expected soon. Students can download it from biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in once it is out.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
Boys and girls who have passed 10th Class can apply under Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Protsahan Yojana. They register on the Medhasoft portal with details exactly as printed on their board marksheet.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Jasleen Kaur Taneja is an education editorial expert at Shiksha.com. She prepares content for school board exams. She has written 1,800+ articles with 2.8 crore reads.
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