CBSE Class 12 English Answer key 2025 (11 March) Released for ALL SETS

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is conducting the Class 12 English Board Exam on March 11, 2025. Both the English Core and English Elective exams will take place from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Students appearing for the CBSE 12th English Exam 2025 must follow the official guidelines and exam day instructions to ensure a smooth experience. English is a crucial subject for Class 12 students, as it enhances communication skills and plays a key role in overall academic performance. Scoring well in the CBSE Class 12 English paper can boost a student’s percentage and improve their chances of securing admission to top universities.

In this article, we will provide a detailed review of the CBSE Class 12 English exam 2025, including student reactions, expert analysis, paper pattern, and expected results. Stay tuned for the CBSE Class 12 English answer key 2025, which will help students evaluate their performance.

CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025 Overview

The CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025 is a valuable resource for students to assess their performance after the exam. Once the exam concludes, students can compare their responses with the official CBSE English answer key 2025 to estimate their scores. This key helps in understanding the correct answers, marking scheme, and question-wise distribution of marks. 

By analyzing their mistakes, students can identify areas for improvement and refine their preparation strategies for future exams. In this article, we will guide you on how to access the CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025, its significance, and how to use it effectively for self-evaluation.

CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025 PDF Download

The CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025 is a crucial tool for students to analyze their performance after the exam. This answer key contains accurate solutions for all the questions, helping students compare their responses and understand their expected scores. It also offers insights into the marking scheme, allowing students to identify mistakes and improve their preparation strategies.
The CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025 PDF will be available in different sets, such as Set 1, Set 2, and Set 3, to match the various question papers. By downloading the official PDF, students can easily verify their answers, estimate their scores, and gain clarity on their overall performance. This answer key serves as a valuable self-assessment resource for students aiming for higher marks.

CBSE English Class 12 English Marks Distribution

CBSE Class 12 English Marking Scheme

 Where to Find the CBSE Answer Key Class 12 English?

Students can access the CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025 through various reliable sources. The official CBSE website (cbse.gov.in) is the primary platform where CBSE releases the official answer key after the exam. Additionally, many educational portals, coaching institutes, and subject experts provide unofficial answer keys for immediate reference.

CBSE Class 12 English Paper Analysis 2025

CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025 SET-1

SECTION – A (READING SKILLS)

Passage-based Questions & Answers:

(i) How does the author prove in paragraph 1 that sense of humour is a double-edged sword?

Answer:
The author proves that a sense of humour is a double-edged sword by stating that while it can entertain others and make them laugh, it can also be used as a sharp wit to criticize people with snide comments. This shows that humour can have both positive and negative effects.

(ii) Cite evidence from the passage to prove that a sense of humour is a valuable tool to make someone’s life better.

Answer:
Evidence from the passage:

1. "The value of such a skill in defusing tense, aggressive situations and in managing alliances and friendships should not be underestimated either." (Paragraph 4)
2. "Schmoozing with a bunch of new people at a cocktail party is an opportunity to engage in light-hearted banter, and other people are grateful when someone is skillful enough to turn a stiff and awkward situation into fun." (Paragraph 5)

(iii) Complete the following sentence suitably with reference to paragraph 3:

One significant advantage of humour is that it helps one ________.
Answer:
"One significant advantage of humour is that it helps one cope with stress and social interactions by making situations more enjoyable and light-hearted."

(iv) Provide ONE textual evidence with reference to paragraph 5, how a good sense of humour can be a great ice breaker.

Answer:
"Schmoozing with a bunch of new people at a cocktail party is an opportunity to engage in light-hearted banter, and other people are grateful when someone is skillful enough to turn a stiff and awkward situation into fun."

(v) Select the correct option from those given in brackets to fill in the blank:

According to evolutionary psychologists, people with a sense of humour can lighten (trigger/lighten) tense situations.

(vi) Choose the correct option:

By the phrase ‘same wavelength,’ the author refers to:

(A) people of age group
(B) people who belong to the same line of profession
(C) people having similar interests and attitudes (ans)
(D) people who are working in the same organization

(vii) Complete the analogy with one word from paragraph 6:

advantage : benefit :: _______ : anger

(A) situation
(B) stare
(C) indignation (ans)
(D) arsenal

(viii) In the line "Perhaps it is indeed a single instrument, but it contains an arsenal of tools..." What does the phrase ‘arsenal of tools’ refer to?

Answer:
The phrase ‘arsenal of tools’ refers to the various ways in which humour can be used as a social skill to help navigate and manage different social situations effectively.

(ix) Provide ONE textual evidence from the text which states that lack of a sense of humour may prove to be a handicap in one’s life.
Answer:
"A person with an undeveloped sense of humour lacks a social skill that puts him or her at a severe disadvantage in the hurly-burly of everyday social life." (Paragraph 2)

(x) Choose the correct option (A) or (B) which reaffirms the idea conveyed in the above extract:

(A) Sense of humour elevates the status of a person in the social circle.
(B) People with a sense of humour are not taken seriously in society.

Answer the questions based on the given passage:

(i): As per the survey, Indian youth is broadly focused on:

Answer: (C) higher education and career opportunities.

(ii) What is the latest trend among Indian youth in preparing themselves for the job market?

Answer:
The latest trend among Indian youth is a strong preference for attaining higher education degrees while also showing an increasing awareness of changing skill requirements. 76% of youth are interested in pursuing skill development programs.

(iii) With reference to the table, state one reason for entrepreneurship being the last preference among Indian youth.
Answer:
One reason for entrepreneurship being the least preferred option (17%) is the higher preference for job security and career advancement, which are more commonly associated with public (49%) and private sector jobs (23%).

(iv) Cite two pieces of evidence from the text to show that gender bias is still a hindrance in the progress of women in society.
Answer:

1. Female respondents face discriminatory biases in hiring and have less paid work experience compared to their male counterparts.
2. 15% of female respondents report personal biases such as marital status, gender, age, or family background as barriers to employment, compared to only 9% of male respondents.

(v) Complete the following sentence suitably.
The driving force for the Indian youth to join a skill development programme is
Answer:
The driving force for the Indian youth to join a skill development programme is the increasing awareness of changing skill requirements and the need for better employment opportunities.

(vi)Classify the sentences as competency or adoption based on paragraph 5.

1. Ria embraced new technology to gain a global market for her paintings. → Adoption
2. Ria displays her artistic skill through her paintings. → Competency

(vii) Cite two pieces of evidence from the text to show that Indian youth is adapting itself to the needs of the job market.
Answer:

1. 76% of youth report being very interested in pursuing a skill development programme.
2. 86% of youth feel very or moderately up to date with changes in skill requirements.

(viii) Choose the correct option: The main roadblocks to employment opportunities for females are:
Answer: (C) (ii), (iii), and (v) → Marriage, Lack of Opportunities, and Family Background.

CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025 SET-2

SECTION – A (READING SKILLS)

1.Answer the questions based on the given passage:
(i) How does the author prove in paragraph 1 that a sense of humour is a double-edged sword?

Answer: The author explains that while a sense of humour can entertain others and bring joy, it can also be used for making snide comments or criticizing people, making it a double-edged sword.

(ii) Cite evidence from the passage to prove that a sense of humour is a valuable tool to make someone’s life better.
Answer: The passage states that a sense of humour is a socially valued trait that helps people navigate everyday social life. It also mentions that humour can help in defusing tense situations and building alliances.

(iii) Complete the following sentence suitably with reference to paragraph 3:
One significant advantage of humour is that it helps one ________.
Answer: One significant advantage of humour is that it helps one release forbidden impulses and feel superior to others, as mentioned by Freud.

(iv) Provide ONE textual evidence with reference to paragraph 5, how a good sense of humour can be a great icebreaker.
Answer: The passage states that cracking jokes, making witty remarks, and engaging in lighthearted banter at social gatherings help people connect and create a comfortable atmosphere, making humour a great icebreaker.

(v) Select the correct option from those given in brackets to fill in the blank:
According to evolutionary psychologists, people with a sense of humour can _________ (trigger/lighten) tense situations.
Answer: lighten

(vi) Choose the correct option:
“...humour can be a device for connecting people who are operating on the same wavelength.”
By the phrase ‘same wavelength’ the author refers to:
Answer: (C) people having similar interests and attitudes.

(vii) Complete the analogy with one word from paragraph 6:
advantage : benefit :: _______ : anger
Answer: indignation

(viii) In the line ‘perhaps it is indeed a single instrument, but it contains an arsenal of tools...’, what does the phrase ‘arsenal of tools’ refer to?
Answer: It refers to the various aspects of humour that serve different social purposes, such as breaking the ice, diffusing tension, and strengthening relationships.

(ix) Provide ONE textual evidence from the text which states that lack of a sense of humour may prove to be a handicap in one’s life.
Answer: The passage states that a person with an undeveloped sense of humour lacks a social skill, putting them at a severe disadvantage in everyday social life.

(x) An undeveloped sense of humour shows a lack of a social skill that puts him or her at a disadvantage.
Choose the correct option (A) or (B) which reaffirms the idea conveyed in the above extract:
Answer: (A) Sense of humour elevates the status of a person in the social circle.

Answer the questions based on the given passage:

(i) As per the survey, Indian youth is broadly focused on:
Answer: (C) Higher education and career opportunities.

(ii) With reference to paragraph 3, what is the latest trend among Indian youth in preparing themselves for the job market?
Answer: The latest trend among Indian youth is a strong preference for attaining higher education degrees and an increased interest in skill development programs. 76% of youth are very interested in skills development programs, and 70% see better employment opportunities as their main motivation for skill training.

(iii) With reference to the table, state one reason for entrepreneurship being the least preference among Indian youth.
Answer: Only 17% of Indian youth prefer entrepreneurship, possibly due to job security concerns, lack of financial support, or the risks involved in starting a business.

(iv) Cite two pieces of evidence from the text to show that gender bias is still a hindrance in the progress of women in society.
Answer:

Female respondents have less paid work experience than male respondents.
15% of female respondents report facing personal biases such as marital status, gender, age, or family background as a barrier to employment, compared to 9% of male respondents.

(v) Complete the following sentence suitably.
The driving force for the Indian youth to join a skill development programme is:
Answer: The desire for better employment opportunities and career advancement.

(vi) Paragraph 5 uses words ‘competencies’ and ‘adoption’. Classify the following sentences which talk about ‘competency’ and which talk about ‘adoption’.

Sentence 1: "Ria embraced new technology to gain a global market for her paintings."

Answer: This refers to adoption.

Sentence 2: "Ria displays her artistic skill through her paintings."

Answer: This refers to competency.

(vi) Cite two pieces of evidence from the text to show that Indian youth is adapting itself to the needs of the job market.
Answer:

76% of youth are very interested in pursuing a skills development programme.
86% of youth feel very or moderately up to date with changes in skills requirements.

(viii) Choose the correct option: The main roadblocks to employment opportunities for females are:

(i) Lack of interest
(ii) Marriage
(iii) Lack of opportunities
(iv) Overqualification
(v) Family background

Options:

(A) (i) & (ii)

(B) (iii) & (iv)

(C) (ii), (iii) & (v)

(D) (iv) & (v)

Answer: (C) (ii), (iii), and (v)

CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025 SET-3

SECTION – A (READING SKILLS)

Passage-Based Questions

(i) How does the author prove in paragraph 1 that sense of humour is a double-edged sword?

Ans: The author explains that while humour can entertain people and bring joy, it can also be used to make snide comments and criticize others, making it a double-edged sword.

(ii) Cite evidence from the passage to prove that sense of humour is a valuable tool to make someone’s life better.

Ans: The passage states that humour can defuse tense and aggressive situations and help in managing alliances and friendships, showing that it improves social interactions and relationships.

(iii) Complete the following sentence suitably with reference to paragraph 3.

Ans: One significant advantage of humour is that it helps people release suppressed emotions and impulses, as Freud believed it to be an outlet for forbidden impulses.

(iv) Provide ONE textual evidence with reference to paragraph 5, how a good sense of humour can be a great icebreaker.

Ans: The passage mentions that at social gatherings, humour can be a device for connecting people who are operating on the same wavelength, making interactions smoother and more engaging.

(v) Select the correct option from those given in brackets to fill in the blank:

Ans: According to evolutionary psychologists, people with a sense of humour can lighten (trigger/lighten) tense situations.

(vi) Choose the correct option:

Ans: By the phrase ‘same wavelength,’ the author refers to:
(C) people having similar interests and attitudes.

(vii) Complete the analogy with one word from paragraph 6:

Ans: Advantage: Benefit :: Indignation : Anger
(C) Indignation

(viii) What does the phrase ‘arsenal of tools’ refer to?

Ans: It refers to the various ways humour can be used as a social skill, each serving a unique purpose.

(ix) Provide ONE textual evidence from the text which states that lack of sense of humour may prove to be a handicap in one’s life.

Ans: The passage states that “A person with an undeveloped sense of humour lacks a social skill that puts him or her at a severe disadvantage in the hurly-burly of everyday social life.”

(x) Choose the correct option which reaffirms the idea that humour is a social skill:

Ans: (A) Sense of humour elevates the status of a person in the social circle.

Answer the questions based on the given passage:

(i) As per the survey, Indian youth is broadly focused on:

Answer:(D) Vocational diploma and public sector jobs.

(ii) With reference to paragraph 3, what is the latest trend among Indian youth in preparing themselves for the job market?

Answer: The latest trend among Indian youth is staying updated with technological adoption and digitization. About 86% of youth feel very or moderately up to date with changes in skill requirements. However, only 39% feel well-prepared for their ideal job, indicating a gap between awareness and actual readiness.

(iii) With reference to the table, state one reason for entrepreneurship being the last preference among Indian youth.

Answer: One reason for entrepreneurship being the least preferred (only 17%) is that youth prioritize job security and career advancement opportunities, which are more commonly found in public and private sector jobs rather than in entrepreneurial ventures, which involve high risks and uncertainties.

(iv) Cite two pieces of evidence from the text to show that gender bias is still a hindrance in the progress of women in society.

Answer:

1. Women often face discrimination in workplaces, where they are not given equal pay or promotion opportunities as men.
2. Societal norms and cultural expectations place restrictions on women, limiting their access to education and career growth.

(v) Complete the following sentence suitably:

Answer: The driving force for the Indian youth to join a skill development programme is the need for employment and economic stability in a competitive job market.

(vi) Paragraph 5 uses words ‘competencies’ and ‘adoption’. Classify the sentences below accordingly.

1. Sentence - 1: Ria embraced new technology to gain a global market for her paintings. → Adoption
2. Sentence - 2: Ria displays her artistic skill through her paintings. → Competency

(vii) Cite two pieces of evidence from the text to show that Indian youth is adapting itself to the needs of the job market.

Answer:

1. Many young individuals are enrolling in vocational training programs to enhance their technical skills.
2. The youth is actively engaging in digital learning and entrepreneurship to create new job opportunities.

(viii) Choose the correct option:

The main roadblocks to employment opportunities for females are:

(i) lack of interest
(ii) marriage
(iii) lack of opportunities
(iv) overqualification
(v) family background

Correct answer: (C) (ii), (iii) & (v)

CBSE Official Answer Key Class 12 English – How to Use It?

The CBSE Official Answer Key is a valuable tool for students to assess their performance. To use it effectively:

• Download the CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key PDF from the official website.
• Match your answers with the solutions provided in the key.
• Follow the CBSE marking scheme to calculate your estimated score.
• Identify mistakes and understand correct answers to improve future performance.

Why is the CBSE Official Answer Key Important?

The CBSE Class 12 English Answer Key 2025 is essential for students as it:

• Helps in self-assessment by comparing answers.
• Gives a clear understanding of the marking scheme.
• Allows students to predict their scores before the official results.
• Helps in identifying weak areas and improving exam strategies for competitive exams.

How to Access CBSE Official Answer Key Class 12?

To download the CBSE Official Answer Key 2025 for Class 12 English, follow these steps:

1. Visit the official CBSE website (cbse.gov.in).
2. Look for the "CBSE Answer Key 2025" section under the latest updates.
3. Select the Class 12 English Answer Key PDF.
4. Click on the download button and save the file for reference.

By using the CBSE English Answer Key 2025, students can accurately analyze their performance, understand their mistakes, and prepare better for future exams.