English — Syllabus & Chapters

The complete syllabus for English — every chapter you need to study, and how the exam paper is structured.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Who Did Patrick's Homework?
Chapter 2: How the Dog Found Himself a New Master!
Chapter 3: Taro's Reward
Chapter 4: An Indian-American Woman in Space: Kalpana Chawla
Chapter 5: A Different Kind of School
Chapter 6: Who I Am
Chapter 7: Fair Play
Chapter 8: A Game of Chance
Chapter 9: Desert Animals
Chapter 10: The Banyan Tree
Chapter 11: A Tale of Two Birds
Chapter 12: The Friendly Mongoose
Chapter 13: The Shepherd's Treasure
Chapter 14: The Old-Clock Shop
Chapter 15: Tansen
Chapter 16: The Monkey and the Crocodile
Chapter 17: The Wonder Called Sleep
Chapter 18: A Pact with the Sun
Chapter 19: What Happened to the Reptiles
Chapter 20: A Strange Wrestling Match

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are there in English?

The English syllabus has 20 chapters, listed in full above. Cover the high-weightage chapters first using the exam pattern as a guide.

How do I know which English chapters carry the most marks?

Compare the chapter list above with the exam pattern and the last few years of question papers — the topics that appear most often and the units with the highest marks are where to focus first. Always confirm weightage against the official syllabus for your exam year.

Has the English syllabus changed this year?

Boards occasionally revise the syllabus or remove topics for a session. Always download the official syllabus for your exact exam year from the official CBSE portal rather than relying on an older copy or a social-media list.

How can I prepare for English faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for English — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused English study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.