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: The Best Christmas Present in the World & The Ant and the Cricket
Chapter 2: The Tsunami & Geography Lesson
Chapter 3: Glimpses of the Past
Chapter 4: Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory & The Last Bargain
Chapter 5: The Summit Within & The School Boy
Chapter 6: This is Jody's Fawn
Chapter 7: A Visit to Cambridge
Chapter 8: A Short Monsoon Diary & On the Grasshopper and Cricket
Chapter 9: The Great Stone Face I
Chapter 10: The Great Stone Face II
Chapter 11: How The Camel Got His Hump
Chapter 12: Children at Work
Chapter 13: The Selfish Giant
Chapter 14: The Treasure Within
Chapter 15: Princess September
Chapter 16: The Fight
Chapter 17: The Open Window
Chapter 18: Jalebis
Chapter 19: The Comet – I
Chapter 20: The Comet – II

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.