Everything You Need to Know About the CBSE Class 10 English Exam 2026

The CBSE Class 10 English Exam 2026 is scheduled for February 21, 2026. Both the English (Communicative) and English (Language and Literature) papers will take place on this date, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

The English Language and Literature exam consists of questions totaling 80 marks, organized into 11 compulsory questions across three sections.

Question Paper Structure:

Section A: Reading Skills - 20 marks
Section B: Grammar and Creative Writing Skills - 10 marks
Section C: Literature Textbook - 40 marks

For the English Communicative paper, there are 12 compulsory questions, divided into four sections:

Section A: Reading Skills - 22 marks
Section B: Writing Skills - 22 marks
Section C: Grammar - 10 marks
Section D: Literature - 26 marks

The marking scheme for the exam has also been released and can be found on the CBSE Academic website.

How to Download the Marking Scheme:

Follow these steps to access the marking scheme:

1. Visit the official CBSE Academic website at cbseacademic.nic.in.
2. Click on the sample paper link on the homepage.
3. Choose the link for Class 10 or Class 12.
4. Select the marking scheme for the Class 10 English paper.
5. A PDF file will open. Review and download it for reference.

Keep a printed copy for future use. For further details, candidates can refer to the official CBSE Academic website.