CBSE Class 10 English Previous Year Question Papers with Solutions (2020-2026)

CBSE's question paper page has the same 2026 paper and the paper from the second Class 10 board examination of 2026, and its marking scheme page has the schemes.

CBSE Class 10 English sample paper 2026-27 with solutions

The official 2026-27 sample paper for English Language and Literature (code 184) and its marking scheme, which works as the answer key, are free PDFs on CBSE's academic website. The sample paper states that there is no change in the question paper design or assessment pattern for 2026-27. It has 11 questions, like the 2026 board paper, and opens with a 435-word passage comparing plastic and eco-friendly toys.

CBSE Class 10 English 2026 paper: marks, questions and choices

This is Set 1 (2/1/1), counted from the paper and CBSE's marking scheme:

• Reading, 20 marks, no choice: a passage on the history of pancakes around the world (10 marks, 8 questions) and a factual passage on internet use in India (10 marks, 9 questions).
• Grammar, 10 marks: any ten of twelve 1-mark tasks, among them reported speech, error correction, tenses and modals.
• Writing, 10 marks: a letter (5) and an analytical paragraph of about 120 words (5), each with an OR.
• Literature, 40 marks: two extracts of 5 marks, any four of five 3-mark answers from First Flight (12), any two of three from Footprints without Feet (6), and two long answers of 6 marks.
• One-mark questions: 30 of the 80 marks, 14 in reading, 10 in grammar and 6 in the extracts.
• Expression and accuracy: 17 marks across writing and literature, plus 1 for the letter's format.
• Written length: the word limits add up to roughly 640 to 780 words, not counting reading and extract answers.

Source: CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature paper 2/1/1 (March 2026), its marking scheme and the 2026-27 curriculum, Gradehunt analysis.

Both long-answer options in Q10 asked you to compare two texts: A Tiger in the Zoo with The Tale of Custard the Dragon, or The Sermon at Benares with For Anne Gregory. In that question, the scheme's 2 expression marks look for a balanced comparison and a synthesis of the two texts, and the content marks need points from both. Practise linking poems and prose, not just learning each chapter on its own.

What the 2026 English marking scheme rewarded

• Grammar is right or wrong. The scheme says full credit for a correct answer and no half marks in this section.
• The analytical paragraph gets its 2 content marks only if at least four trends or points are analysed and tied together, and 1 mark for two. The scheme warns examiners not to accept a plain description or summary of the data, and it expects linking words such as however, in contrast and therefore.
• The letter's format mark drops to ½ if one or two parts are missing and to zero if more than two are missing. Format earns nothing if the content is irrelevant.
• In writing, ½ mark is cut when there are three or more spelling errors along with errors in punctuation and grammar.
• Short literature answers of 40 to 50 words carry 2 marks for content, with at least two points backed by the text, and 1 for expression.

Split by marks, three hours works out to about 45 minutes for reading, 45 for grammar and writing, and 90 for literature.

How to practise with Class 10 English previous year papers

• Write the 2026 sets and the 2026-27 sample paper first, since 2027 follows the same design.
• Move to 2025, 2024 and 2023, one full paper per sitting.
• Use 2022 and 2020 for extra reading passages and literature questions. The 2022 exam was held in two terms, so its papers are shorter.
• Mark your letter and analytical paragraph against the scheme in separate passes for format, content, organisation and accuracy.

Gradehunt's 10 Years Solved Papers (PYQ) for CBSE Class 10 is the next step once these are done: ten years of board questions sorted chapter by chapter, each with its year and marks, and step-by-step solutions amended to the 2026-27 syllabus.

Past papers with solutions for Science, Maths and Social Science are also on Gradehunt.