CBSE Class 10 English Weightage 2026, Chapter Wise Marks Distribution
CBSE class 10 English weightage 2026 helps you see how many marks each part of your exam is worth. The paper has 80 marks for the big test and 20 marks for school work. It is split into three main parts: Reading (20 marks), Writing and Grammar (20 marks), and Literature (40 marks).
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CBSE Class 10 English Weightage 2026
When you study CBSE class 10 English weightage 2026, you find out that the exam checks four big skills. These are reading, writing, grammar, and your knowledge of book stories. The total time you get to write the paper is 3 hours.
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Reading Skills: 20 Marks
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Writing & Grammar: 20 Marks
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Literature: 40 Marks
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Internal School Work: 20 Marks
The Literature section is the biggest part. It counts for half of your written marks. This means you should spend a lot of time reading the stories and poems in your textbooks. The questions will be a mix of small ones, like tick-the-box (MCQs), and long ones where you write a few paragraphs.
Using CBSE Class 10 English Chapter Wise Weightage 2026
Looking at the CBSE class 10 English chapter wise weightage 2026 helps you pick which stories to read first. While all stories are important, some appear more often in the exam as big 6-mark questions.
|
Section |
Topic |
Marks |
|
Section A |
Reading Unseen Passages |
20 Marks |
|
Section B |
Grammar and Writing |
20 Marks |
|
Section C |
First Flight (Prose & Poetry) |
Approx. 28 Marks |
|
Section C |
Footprints Without Feet |
Approx. 12 Marks |
In the Literature part, you will get "Reference to Context" questions. These are 5 marks each. You will get one from a poem and one from a story. This is why you must know the name of the author and the main theme of every chapter.
CBSE Class 10 Weightage 2026 English Sections
The CBSE class 10 weightage 2026 English layout makes it easy to plan your day. If you are good at grammar, you can finish that part fast. If you like stories, focus on the 40 marks for literature.
Section Breakdown:
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Reading: You get two passages. One is a long story and the other has charts or data. Each is worth 10 marks.
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Writing: You write a Formal Letter (5 marks) and an Analytical Paragraph (5 marks).
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Grammar: You answer 10 small questions about tenses, modals, and reported speech (10 marks).
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Literature: You answer short questions (3 marks each) and long ones (6 marks each).
By knowing this, you can practice writing letters and paragraphs every week. This way, you won't feel rushed during the actual exam.
Check Out: CBSE Class 10 Sample Papers
Writing and Grammar Marks Distribution
The CBSE class 10 weightage 2026 English for Section B is divided equally between creative writing and technical grammar. You can’t afford to lose marks here because the formats are very scoring.
Writing Skills (10 Marks)
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Formal Letter (5 Marks): Based on a given situation, such as a letter to an editor.
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Analytical Paragraph (5 Marks): Writing based on a map, chart, graph, or cues.
Grammar Topics (10 Marks)
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Determiners and Tenses: Vital for gap-filling exercises.
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Reported Speech: Covers commands, requests, statements, and questions.
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Subject-Verb Concord: Checked through error correction or omission tasks.
Literature Chapter Wise Weightage 2026
The literature section is the most vital part of the exam, carrying 50% of the theory marks. We can break down the CBSE class 10 English chapter wise weightage 2026 to see which lessons deserve the most attention.
First Flight (Prose & Poetry)
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Prose Lessons (2 Marks Each): "A Letter to God," "Nelson Mandela," "Glimpses of India," and "The Sermon at Benares" are high-frequency topics.
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Poetry (1 Mark Each): Poems like "Dust of Snow," "Fire and Ice," and "The Ball Poem" usually appear in extract-based questions.
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The Proposal: This play is a vital part of the long-answer section, often carrying 6 marks.
Footprints Without Feet
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Supplementary Reader (2 Marks Each): Chapters like "The Thief’s Story," "Bholi," and "The Necklace" are frequently tested.
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Character Sketches: We suggest focusing on "The Midnight Visitor" and "A Triumph of Surgery" for character-based analysis.
Class 10 English Weightage Chapter Wise Marks 2026 CBSE
The class 10 English weightage chapter wise marks 2026 CBSE also includes 20 marks that your teachers give you at school. This is called Internal Assessment. It is a great way to get a high score because the work is done throughout the year.
Check Out: CBSE Class 10 Question Banks
Internal Assessment and Results
When looking at CBSE class 10 English chapter wise weightage for board exam 2026, don't forget the 20 marks from your school. Also, historical data like the CBSE results of class 10th shows that checking was strict, with a drop in students scoring above 90%.
Internal Assessment Components
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Listening and Speaking Skills: 5 Marks.
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Portfolio / Written Work: 5 Marks.
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Art-integrated Projects: 5 Marks.
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Subject Enrichment: 5 Marks.
Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English 2025-26
CBSE Class 10 English Weightage FAQs
What is the total marks for the English paper?
The total is 100 marks. 80 marks are for the written board exam and 20 marks come from your school assessments.
Which section has the most marks?
Section C, which is Literature, has the most marks. it is worth 40 marks, which is half of your written test.
How many unseen passages are in the exam?
There are two unseen passages. One is a discursive passage and the other is a factual passage with a chart or data to look at.
Is there a choice in the questions?
Yes. For most long questions and some short ones, you can pick between two different options. This helps you choose the one you know best.
What grammar topics are important for 2026?
The most important ones are Tenses, Modals, Subject-Verb Concord, and Reported Speech.





