English Core Class 11 Syllabus 2025

The syllabus consists of three sections: (i) Reading Skills (ii) Writing Skills and Grammar (iii) Literature.

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Exam Structure

Section Area of Learning Marks
A Reading Skills 26
B Writing Skills and Grammar 23
C Literature & Long Reading Text 31
  Total 80

Section A: Reading Skills

Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passage (10+8 = 18 Marks)

1. One unseen passage to assess comprehension, interpretation inference and vocabulary. The passage may be factual, descriptive or literary.

2. One unseen case-based passage with verbal/visual inputs like statistical data, charts etc. to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation.

The combined word limit for both the passages will be 600-750.

Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions will be asked.

3. Note Making and Summarization based on a passage of approximately 200-250 words.

i. Note Making: 5 Marks

  • Title: 1
  • Numbering and indenting: 1
  • Key/glossary: 1
  • Notes: 2

ii. Summary (up to 50 words): 3 Marks

  • Content: 2
  • Expression: 1

Section B: Writing Skills and Grammar

Grammar (7 Marks)

4. Questions on Gap filling (Tenses, Clauses)

5. Questions on re-ordering/transformation of sentences

Creative Writing Skills (16 Marks)

6. Short writing task - Classified Advertisements up to 50 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered (3 Marks - Format: 1 / Content: 1 / Expression: 1)

7. Short writing task - Poster up to 50 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered. (3 marks - Format: 1 / Content: 1 / Expression: 1)

8. Long Writing task - Speech in 120-150 words based on verbal / visual cues related to some contemporary / age-appropriate topic. One out of the two given questions to be answered.

9. Long Writing task - Debate based on visual/verbal inputs in 120-150 words, thematically related to contemporary, topical issues. One out of the two given questions to be answered. (5 Marks - Format: 1 / Content: 2 / Expression: 2)

Section C: Literature

Literature Text Book and Supplementary Reading Text

This section will have variety of assessment items including Multiple Choice Questions, Objective Type Questions, Short Answer Type Questions and Long Answer Type Questions to assess comprehension, analysis, interpretation and extrapolation beyond the text.

10. One Poetry extract out of two from the book Hornbill to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis and appreciation. (3 x 1 = 3 Marks)

11. One Prose extract out of two from the book Hornbill to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis and appreciation. (3 x 1 = 3 Marks)

12. One prose extract out of two from the book Snapshots to assess comprehension, interpretation and analysis. (4 x 1 = 4 Marks)

13. Two Short answer type question (one from Prose and one from Poetry from the book Hornbill), out of four, to be answered in 40-50 words. Questions should elicit inferential responses through critical thinking. (3 x 2 = 6 Marks)

14. One Short answer type question, from the book Snapshots, to be answered in 40- 50 words. Questions should elicit inferential responses through critical thinking. Any 1 out of 2 questions to be done. (3 x 1 = 3 Marks)

15. One Long answer type question, from Prose/Poetry Hornbill, to be answered in 120-150 words. Questions can be based on incident / theme / passage / extract / event as reference points to assess extrapolation beyond and across the text. The question will elicit analytical and evaluative response from student. Any 1 out of 2 questions to be done. (1 x 6 = 6 Marks)

16. One Long answer type question, based on the chapters from the book Snapshots to be answered in 120-150 words to assess global comprehension and extrapolation beyond the text. Questions to provide evaluative and analytical responses using incidents, events, themes as reference points. Any 1 out of 2 questions to be done. (1 x 6 = 6 Marks)

Hornbill

  • The Portrait of a Lady (Prose)
  • A Photograph (Poem)
  • We're Not Afraid to Die… if we can be together
  • Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues
  • The Laburnum Top (Poem)
  • The Voice of the Rain (Poem)
  • Childhood (Poem)
  • The Adventure
  • Silk Road (Prose)
  • Father to Son

Snapshots

  • The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse (Prose)
  • The Address (Prose)
  • Mother’s Day (Play)
  • Birth ( Prose)
  • The Tale of Melon City