ISC Class 12 English Language and Literature Syllabus for Academic Session 2025-26 (Subject code 801)
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) provides details regarding the exam pattern, section – wise break up of marks, details of questions, word limit, etc for Class 12 English Language and Literature Paper for the academic session 2025-26 on its official website. Students can check out the post below to know the paper pattern, syllabus, grammar topics and writing skills syllabus for ISC Class 12 English Language and Literature paper for Board Exam 2026.
Syllabus for ICE Class 12 English Language and Literature
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
There will be two papers:
- Paper I: Theory (3 hours): 80 Marks
- Paper II: Project Work: 20 Marks
PAPER 1 – THEORY – 80 Marks
All questions will be compulsory.
Question One: A composition on one of a number of subjects.
Candidates will be required to select one composition topic from a choice of six. The choice will normally include narrative, descriptive, reflective, argumentative, discursive topics and original short story.
The required length of the composition is 400 – 450 words.
The main criteria by which the compositions will be marked are as follows:
(a) The quality of the language employed, the range and appropriateness of vocabulary and sentence structure, syntax, the correctness of grammatical constructions, punctuation and spelling.
(b) The degree to which candidates have been successful in organising the content of the composition as a whole and in individual paragraphs.
Question Two: There are two parts in this question and both parts are compulsory.
(a) Directed writing.
- The piece of directed writing must be based on the information and all the points provided. The required length is 250-300 words. The range of subjects includes feature article, book review, speech writing, newspaper report and statement of purpose.
- Skills such as amplifying, describing and re-stating are involved. The candidates’ ability in the above skills, including format, will be taken into account as well as their ability to handle language appropriately in the context of the given situation.
(b) Proposal Writing based on a given situation.
Candidates will be required to write a proposal based on a given situation.
- The proposal should include (i) An Introduction (ii) Objectives (iii) List of measures to be taken. A concluding statement is necessary.
- The format prescribed by the CISCE must be followed. The candidates will also be marked on linguistic ability.
Question Three: Short-answer questions to test grammar, structure and usage
All the items in this question are compulsory and their number and type / pattern may vary from year to year. They will consist of transformation of sentences, phrasal verbs, and verbs/tenses, which will test the candidates’ knowledge of the essentials of functional English grammar and structure.
Question Four: Comprehension.
A passage of about 700 words will be provided. Questions based on the passage will be as follows:
- Questions that test the candidates’ analytical skills, knowledge of vocabulary, ability to understand the content, infer information and meanings from the text.
- A question that elicits the main ideas of all or part of the passage, where the candidate will be required to frame a summary (keeping to a word limit), in a coherent manner. Marks will be awarded for expression and the candidate’s ability to summarise clearly in complete sentences. Marks will be deducted for linguistic errors.
NOTE: This part must be done in the grid form. Use of abbreviations and contractions will not be accepted.
PAPER II: PROJECT WORK – 20 Marks
- In addition to the syllabus prescribed above for Classes XI and XII, candidates are also required to be assessed in Project Work.
- Project Work in Class XII consists of assessment of candidates in three projects, one each on Listening, Speaking and Writing skills. Listening and Speaking skills are to be assessed internally, by the School, during English course work in Class XII. Writing Skills are to be assessed externally by the Visiting Examiner, appointed locally and approved by CISCE.
Listening Skills
- An unseen passage of about 500 words may be read aloud, twice, the first time at normal reading speed (about 110 words a minute) and the next time at a slower speed. The passage may be taken from any novel, newspaper, magazine article, journal and so on but not from an ICSE or ISC textbook. Students may make brief notes during the readings followed by answering objective type questions based on the passage, on the paper provided.
Speaking Skills
Students are to be assessed through an individual presentation of about three minutes followed by a discussion with the subject teacher, for another two or three minutes. Some of the themes which may be addressed are:
- Narrating an experience
- Giving directions or instructions on how to make or operate something
- Providing a description
- Giving a report
- Expressing an opinion or a theme-based conversation
Writing Skills (to be externally assessed by the Visiting Examiner) A piece of written work of about 500 words must be produced. List of suggested assignments for Project Work:
- The text of a brochure
- A product description
- A process description (e.g. instruction to operate a device, a recipe, a scientific experiment)
- Description of a sporting event
- An autobiographical experience
- Review of a television serial
EVALUATION
Marks (out of a total of 20) should be distributed as given below:
LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (PRESCRIBED TEXTS)
There will be two papers in Literature in English:
- Paper I: Theory (3 hours): 80 Marks
- Paper II: Project Work: 20 Marks
PAPER I: THEORY – 80 Marks
Candidates will be required to answer questions based on the prescribed textbooks, which include Drama, Prose (Short Stories) and Poetry.
Drama and Prose (Short Stories)
Questions set will be central to the text. Candidates will be required to show that they have understood the questions asked and are able to clearly respond in their own words. Questions will test understanding, appreciation and ability to analyse and synthesise
Poetry
Questions on a poem or a group of poems will be set to test the candidates’ response. The questions will focus on the content, understanding and the personal response of candidates to the entire poem. Candidates’ ability to appreciate content, stylistic and literary features of the poem(s) in question will also be tested.
SYLLABUS TO BE COVERED
- DRAMA: Macbeth: William Shakespeare (Acts III, IV & V)
- PRISM: A Collection of ISC Short Stories (Evergreen Publications (India) Ltd. New Delhi)
- Atithi / Guest – Rabindranath Tagore
- The Cookie Lady – Philip K. Dick
- There Will Come Soft Rains – Ray Bradbury
- Indigo – Satyajit Ray
- The Medicine Bag – Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
III. RHAPSODY: A Collection of ISC Poems (Evergreen Publications (India) Ltd. New Delhi)
- Telephone Conversation – Wole Soyinka
- Tithonus – Alfred, Lord Tennyson
- Beethoven – Shane Koyczan
- Small Towns and the River – Mamang Dai
- Death be not Proud – John Donne
NOTE: The ISC (Class XII) Examination paper will be set ONLY on the portion of the syllabus that is prescribed for Class XII.
PAPER II: PROJECT WORK – 20 Marks
Project Work in Class XII consists of assessment of Writing Skills which are to be assessed internally by the subject teacher and externally by the Visiting Examiner appointed locally and approved by CISCE.
Candidates will be required to undertake one written assignment of 1000-1500 words, which should be structured as given below:
- The written assignment must be given a title in the form of a question which should allow the candidate to explore the drama or the chosen short stories/poems in depth.
B. The written assignment must follow the structure given below:
- Introduction:
- Explanation of the question that has been framed
- Reason for choosing the text
- Brief explanation of how the candidate intends to interpret the chosen text and literary materials used in the process
- Main Body
- organised and well-structured treatment of the question using appropriate sub-headings.
- Conclusion
- comprehensive summary of the points made in the main body.
Note: The text/texts analysed in the Class XI Project Work must not be repeated in Class XII.
EVALUATION
Marks (out of a total of 20) should be distributed as given below:
