English is the one subject where most students either score very high (90+) or lose marks unnecessarily. The difference is knowing the format rules and grammar patterns that CBSE tests every year. Here's your complete guide.
Section A ā Reading (20 marks) | Section B ā Writing & Grammar (20 marks) | Section C ā Literature (40 marks)
Section A ā Reading Comprehension (20 marks)
How to Score 18-20/20 in Reading
Step 1 ā Skim first (30 seconds): Read headlines, first and last sentence of each paragraph to get the gist.
Step 2 ā Read questions first: Know what you're looking for before reading in full.
Step 3 ā Answer in complete sentences: Never just write single words unless the question says "list."
Step 4 ā Don't add your own opinion: In factual passages, the answer is always in the text.
Step 5 ā For title/heading questions: The title must reflect the main idea of the passage, not just one paragraph.
Note-Making Format (5 marks)
CBSE is strict about format:
Title: [Main topic in 3-5 words]
1. [Main heading]
1.1 [Sub-point]
1.2 [Sub-point]
2. [Main heading]
2.1 [Sub-point]
Abbreviations:
govt. ā government
edu. ā education
Rules:
- Use abbreviations (at least 4-5 required)
- Use incomplete sentences, not full sentences
- Points must be in parallel structure (all nouns or all verb phrases)
Section B ā Writing & Grammar (20 marks)
Formal Letter Format (5 marks)
[Your address]
[City, Pin code]
[Date: DD Month YYYY]
The [Designation],
[Organisation name],
[Address]
Subject: [One line, specific]
Sir/Madam,
[Opening: I am writing to...]
[Body: 2-3 paragraphs]
[Closing: I hope..., I request..., I look forward to...]
Yours faithfully/sincerely,
[Name]
[Class and Section]
Use "Yours faithfully" when you don't know the person's name. Use "Yours sincerely" when you've addressed them by name (Dear Mr./Ms. X). CBSE deducts marks for mixing these up.
Types of formal letters CBSE asks:
- Complaint letter (to shopkeeper, municipality, newspaper editor)
- Application letter (job, leave, scholarship)
- Letter to editor (on social issue)
- Enquiry letter (admission, course details)
Notice Writing Format (4 marks)
[NAME OF SCHOOL/ORGANISATION]
NOTICE
Date: [DD Month YYYY]
[HEADING IN CAPITALS]
[Body: who, what, when, where, how many words: 50-60]
[Name]
[Designation]
Common mistakes:
- Forgetting the word "NOTICE" as a header
- Not including the date
- Making the notice too long (keep it under 60 words for body)
- Not mentioning contact person or whom to report to
Article Writing Format (5 marks)
[Title: Catchy, relevant]
By: [Your name/given name]
[Introduction: Hook + what you'll discuss]
[Body: 2-3 paragraphs ā facts, examples, solutions]
[Conclusion: Call to action or summary]
Article vs Letter: Articles are for newspapers/magazines ā use persuasive, public-facing language. No "Dear Editor" in articles.
Grammar (6 marks)
Gap filling / Editing / Reported speech ā these are the three main grammar formats.
Grammar ā Rules You Must Know
Tenses Quick Reference
| Tense | Structure | Signal words |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | V/V+s | always, usually, every day |
| Present Continuous | am/is/are + V-ing | now, at this moment |
| Present Perfect | has/have + VĀ³ | just, already, yet, recently |
| Simple Past | VĀ² | yesterday, ago, last week |
| Past Continuous | was/were + V-ing | at that time, while |
| Past Perfect | had + VĀ³ | before, after, by the time |
| Simple Future | will + V | tomorrow, next week |
Subject-Verb Agreement (most tested)
-
Either/Neither + or/nor: Verb agrees with the nearer subject ā "Neither the students nor the teacher was present" ā
-
Collective nouns: Usually singular ā "The committee has decided" ā
-
Each/Every/Anyone/Everyone/No one: Always singular ā "Everyone is ready" ā
-
Two subjects joined by "and": Plural ā "Ram and Shyam are brothers" ā
Reported Speech ā Rules
| Direct | Change to |
|---|---|
| "I am happy" | He said (that) he was happy |
| "I will come" | He said he would come |
| "Did you eat?" | He asked if I had eaten |
| "Please sit down" | He requested me to sit down |
| "Don't touch it" | He warned me not to touch it |
Pronoun changes: "I/me" ā "he/she/they" based on who's speaking Time word changes: "now" ā "then", "today" ā "that day", "tomorrow" ā "the next day"
Active and Passive Voice
Present: The boy kicks the ball ā The ball is kicked by the boy Past: She wrote a letter ā A letter was written by her Future: They will build a bridge ā A bridge will be built by them Present perfect: He has eaten the food ā The food has been eaten by him
The editing task in CBSE asks you to find errors ā common ones are wrong tense, wrong article (a/an/the), wrong preposition, subject-verb disagreement. Learn to spot these quickly.
Articles ā a, an, the
Use "a" before: consonant sounds (a book, a university ā "yu" sound) Use "an" before: vowel sounds (an apple, an honest man ā silent "h") Use "the" before: specific nouns, unique things (the sun, the Prime Minister), superlatives
No article: Before proper nouns, countries, languages, games (India, cricket, English)
Section C ā Literature (40 marks)
How Marks Are Distributed
| Question type | Marks | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice (MCQs) on extracts | 10 | 10 MCQs |
| Short answer questions | 12 | 4 Ć 3 marks |
| Long answer (character/theme essay) | 8 | 2 Ć 4 marks |
| Value-based / imaginative | 10 |
First Flight ā Quick Chapter Key Points
| Chapter | Character/Topic | Key theme | Expected Q type |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Letter to God | Lencho, postmaster | Faith, irony | Character sketch of postmaster |
| Nelson Mandela | Mandela | Freedom, equality | Explain "twins" of apartheid |
| Two Stories About Flying | Pilot, seagull | Courage | Compare two stories |
| From the Diary of Anne Frank | Anne Frank | Friendship, isolation | Why did Anne start diary? |
| Glimpses of India | Coorg, Jaisalmer | Cultural heritage | Describe one place |
| Mijbil the Otter | Gavin Maxwell | Human-animal bond | Describe Mij's behavior |
| Madam Rides the Bus | Valli | Curiosity, innocence | What did Valli see? |
| The Sermon at Benares | Kisa Gotami | Grief, acceptance | The parable's meaning |
| The Proposal | Lomov, Natalya | Satire on marriage | Comedy elements |
Footprints Without Feet ā Key Stories
| Story | Character | Theme | Key question type |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Triumph of Surgery | Tricki | Over-pampering | Describe treatment |
| The Thief's Story | Hari Singh, Anil | Trust, redemption | Why didn't Hari steal? |
| The Midnight Visitor | Ausable | Wit, quick thinking | Explain Ausable's trick |
| A Question of Trust | Horace Danby, woman | Deception | Who was the real thief? |
| Footprints Without Feet | Griffin | Invisible man | How did Griffin get food/shelter? |
| The Making of a Scientist | Richard Ebright | Curiosity, hard work | What made Ebright a scientist? |
| The Necklace | Matilda/Mathilde | Pride, consequences | How did one night change Matilda's life? |
| Bholi | Bholi, father, Bishamber | Empowerment | How does Bholi find her voice? |
| The Book That Saved the Earth | Think-Tank | Satire | Comic elements in the play |
Poems ā Key Themes
| Poem | Poet | Theme | Must-know line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dust of Snow | Robert Frost | Mood change | Crow in hemlock tree |
| Fire and Ice | Robert Frost | Destruction | Desire = fire, hate = ice |
| A Tiger in the Zoo | Leslie Norris | Captivity vs freedom | "Locked in a concrete cell" |
| How to Tell Wild Animals | Carolyn Wells | Humour, identification | Funny definitions |
| The Ball Poem | John Berryman | Loss, responsibility | "What is the boy now?" |
| Amanda | Robin Klein | Freedom, discipline | Amanda imagines freedom |
| Animals | Walt Whitman | Human vs animal nature | Envy animals' simplicity |
| The Trees | Adrienne Rich | Nature vs human control | Trees breaking free |
| Fog | Carl Sandburg | Imagery | "On little cat feet" |
| The Tale of Custard the Dragon | Ogden Nash | Appearance vs reality | Custard's bravery |
| For Anne Gregory | W.B. Yeats | Inner beauty | Only God can love truly |
Last-Minute English Strategy
Do these the night before:
- Revise 3 letter formats (complaint, editor, application)
- Read tense conversion rules once
- Check subject-verb agreement rules
- Read your 3 most important First Flight character summaries
In the exam:
- Spend max 40 minutes on Sections A + B (reading + writing)
- Literature gets the most marks ā spend 45-50 minutes here
- Always write in neat paragraphs ā legibility matters
In CBSE English, each mistake (spelling, tense, punctuation) costs you marks. Reread each answer once before moving on. Students who reread once score 5-8 more marks than those who don't.
Practice CBSE Class 10 English comprehension and grammar at JoyOfExams.in