Banner 0
Banner 1
Banner 2
Banner 3
Banner 4
Banner 5
Banner 6
Book Online Demo
Try Test

CBSE Class 11 English Syllabus 2025-26

By Swati Singh

|

Updated on 8 Jul 2025, 14:54 IST

The CBSE Class 11 English Core syllabus for the 2024–25 academic session aims to improve students' command over both written and spoken English. It emphasizes the development of key language skills such as reading comprehension, grammar, and communication abilities. The syllabus includes a variety of components designed to enhance students' reading, writing, and expressive capabilities in the English language. Following the latest CBSE guidelines is essential to stay in sync with the prescribed curriculum. By adhering to the updated syllabus, students can concentrate on crucial topics, optimize their study schedule, and confidently prepare for exams, especially when using helpful tools.

CBSE Class 11 English Syllabus 2025-26

The CBSE Class 11 English syllabus for the academic year 2023–24 has been officially released by the Central Board of Secondary Education. Students are encouraged to download the syllabus in PDF format and review it carefully to plan their study schedule effectively.

Fill out the form for expert academic guidance
+91

Download Links:

  • Class 11 English Core Syllabus PDF (2025–26)
  • Class 11 English Elective Syllabus PDF (2025–26)

Both the English Core and Elective syllabi are available in downloadable PDF format. These documents include detailed chapter-wise content as well as the marking scheme for each section, helping students understand the weightage and prepare accordingly.

Unlock the full solution & master the concept
Get a detailed solution and exclusive access to our masterclass to ensure you never miss a concept

English Core Syllabus

A. Reading Comprehension (20 Marks)

  • Unseen Passage (Factual, Descriptive or Literary) – 12 marks
  • Case-based Passage with Visual Input – 8 marks

B. Creative Writing Skills (20 Marks)

Ready to Test Your Skills?
Check Your Performance Today with our Free Mock Tests used by Toppers!
Take Free Test
  • Notice Writing – 5 marks
  • Poster Making / Advertisement – 5 marks
  • Letter to the Editor / Complaint / Enquiry / Application – 5 marks
  • Speech / Debate / Article Writing – 5 marks

C. Grammar (10 Marks)

  • Determiners
  • Tenses
  • Clauses
  • Modals
  • Subject-Verb Concord
  • Voice
  • Reported Speech

D. Literature (30 Marks)

cta3 image
create your own test
YOUR TOPIC, YOUR DIFFICULTY, YOUR PACE
start learning for free

1. Hornbill (Main Textbook):

  • The Portrait of a Lady – Khushwant Singh
  • We're Not Afraid to Die... – Gordon Cook & Alan East
  • Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues – A.R. Williams
  • The Ailing Planet – Nani Palkhivala
  • The Browning Version – Terence Rattigan
  • Silk Road – Nick Middleton

Poetry (Hornbill):

  • A Photograph – Shirley Toulson
  • The Laburnum Top – Ted Hughes
  • The Voice of the Rain – Walt Whitman
  • Childhood – Markus Natten
  • Father to Son – Elizabeth Jennings

2. Snapshots (Supplementary Reader):

  • The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse – William Saroyan
  • The Address – Marga Minco
  • Ranga’s Marriage – Masti Venkatesha Iyengar
  • Albert Einstein at School – Patrick Pringle
  • Mother’s Day – J.B. Priestley
  • The Ghat of the Only World – Amitav Ghosh

E. Internal Assessment (20 Marks)

Ready to Test Your Skills?
Check Your Performance Today with our Free Mock Tests used by Toppers!
Take Free Test
  • Listening and Speaking Skills (ASL): 10 marks
  • Portfolio / Project Work / Class Assignments: 10 marks

English Elective Syllabus

A. Reading (20 Marks)

  • Unseen Passage – 12 marks
  • Vocabulary and inference-based MCQs – 8 marks

B. Writing (20 Marks)

cta3 image
create your own test
YOUR TOPIC, YOUR DIFFICULTY, YOUR PACE
start learning for free
  • Note Making and Summary Writing – 5 marks
  • Report Writing – 5 marks
  • Advertisement / Poster – 5 marks
  • Article / Speech / Debate – 5 marks

C. Grammar (10 Marks)

  • Reordering of sentences
  • Gap filling
  • Editing and error correction
  • Transformation of sentences
  • Modals and connectors
  • Tense usage

D. Literature (30 Marks)

Textbook: Woven WordsProse:

  • The Lament
  • A Pair of Mustachios
  • The Rocking-Horse Winner
  • The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
  • Pappachi’s Moth
  • The Third and Final Continent

Poetry:

  • The Peacock
  • Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds
  • Coming
  • Telephone Conversation
  • The World Is Too Much With Us
  • Ode to a Nightingale
  • Ajamil and the Tigers

E. Assessment (20 Marks)

  • Project Work / ASL / Class Activities: 20 marks

CBSE Class 11 English Core – Question Paper Design (2025–26)

SectionType of QuestionMarks
AReading Comprehension (2 Passages – one factual/literary + one case-based)20
BCreative Writing Skills (Notice, Poster/Ad, Letter, Speech/Debate/Article)20
CGrammar (Tenses, Modals, Clauses, Voice, etc.)10
DLiterature (Hornbill & Snapshots – Prose + Poetry + Supplementary)30
Total (Theory)80
EInternal Assessment (Listening, Speaking, Portfolio, Class Activities)20
Grand Total100

FAQs on CBSE Class 11 English Syllabus

What are the two types of English subjects offered in CBSE Class 11?

CBSE Class 11 offers two English subjects:

  • English Core (Code: 301): Focuses on functional English, literature, reading comprehension, and writing skills.

  • English Elective (Code: 001): Designed for students with a keen interest in advanced English literature and language structure.

What is the main difference between English Core and English Elective?

English Core emphasizes communication skills, general literature, and grammar suited for most academic streams.

English Elective is more advanced and literary in nature, including complex prose, poetry, and enriched vocabulary and expression, ideal for students pursuing humanities or literary studies.

How many marks are allotted to internal assessment in Class 11 English?

The internal assessment carries 20 marks, which includes:

  • ASL (Assessment of Speaking and Listening): 10 marks

  • Portfolio/Class Projects/Participation: 10 marks

What are the major books prescribed for English Core?

For Class 11 English Core, CBSE prescribes:

  • Hornbill (Main Reader)

  • Snapshots (Supplementary Reader)

These books include a mix of prose, poetry, and short stories from Indian and world literature.

Which book is used for English Elective in CBSE Class 11?

The CBSE Class 11 English Elective syllabus uses the textbook:

Woven Words, which includes a curated collection of prose, poetry, and short stories.

What is the exam pattern for English Core in Class 11?

The theory exam is for 80 marks and includes:

Reading Comprehension (20 marks)

Writing Skills (20 marks)

Grammar (10 marks)

Literature from Hornbill & Snapshots (30 marks)

Plus, 20 marks are reserved for internal assessments.

Are grammar topics included in the Class 11 English syllabus?

Yes, grammar is an important component in both English Core and Elective. Topics include:

Tense

Modals

Determiners

Clauses

Reported Speech

Voice

Subject-Verb Agreement