CBSE Class 10 English Exam 2025 Today: Check Sample Paper, Marking Scheme and Last-Minute Preparation Tips

CBSE 10th English Board Exam 2025

CBSE Board Exam 2025 official begins on Saturday, February 15. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the Class 10 Board Examinations for the academic year 2024-25, starting with the English paper on February 13, 2025. The exam will be held in a single shift from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

English, being a high-scoring subject, plays a crucial role in determining a student’s overall performance. To help students prepare effectively, here's a detailed overview of the exam pattern, marking scheme, and essential tips for success.

Read Also: Download CBSE Date Sheet 2025 for Class 10, 12

CBSE Class 10 English Paper Pattern and Syllabus

The CBSE Class 10 English Board Exam is divided into three sections, each designed to assess different language skills. The total duration of the exam is 3 hours, and the maximum marks allotted are 80. Below is a breakdown of the exam structure:

Section A: Reading Skills (20 Marks)

This section evaluates a student's ability to comprehend and interpret unseen passages. It includes:

Two unseen passages (factual, descriptive, or literary) with a variety of questions such as MCQs, short answers, and vocabulary-based queries.

Download: CBSE Class 10 Sample Paper 2025

Section B: Writing Skills and Grammar (20 Marks)

This section tests a student's proficiency in grammar and creative writing. It comprises:

Grammar: Exercises on gap filling, sentence reordering, editing, and transformation.

Writing: Tasks like formal/informal letter writing, article writing, story writing, or speech writing.

Section C: Literature Textbook (40 Marks)

This section is based on the prescribed literature textbook. It includes:

Extract-based questions: From prose and poetry.

Short and long answer questions: Testing understanding, interpretation, and critical analysis of texts.

Also Read - CBSE Board Exam 2025: 100+ Best Wishes, Messages, and Motivational Quotes for Students

Marking Scheme

The CBSE provides a detailed marking scheme to ensure transparency and fairness in evaluation. Key points to note include:

Download: CBSE 10th English Marking Scheme 2025

Value Points: The marking scheme offers suggested value points for answers. However, students are encouraged to express their ideas in their own words. If the response is correct and well-articulated, full marks should be awarded.

Extra Questions: If a student attempts an extra question, the examiner will evaluate the answer that deserves more marks and disregard the other with a note stating "Extra Question."

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs): In case a student marks more than one option for an MCQ, no marks will be awarded.

Preparation Tips for CBSE Class 10 English Board Exam 2025

• Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Familiarise yourself with the syllabus, question paper format, and marking scheme.
• Practice Reading Comprehension: Regularly practice unseen passages to improve your reading speed and comprehension skills. Focus on identifying key ideas, themes, and vocabulary.
• Enhance Writing Skills: Practice different types of writing tasks, such as letters, articles, and stories. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and coherence.
• Revise Grammar Rules: Brush up on essential grammar topics like tenses, modals, reported speech, and sentence transformation. Practice exercises from sample papers and previous years’ question papers.
• Master the Literature Section: Thoroughly read and understand the chapters and poems from the prescribed textbooks. Practice answering extract-based and long-answer questions to improve your analytical skills.
• Solve Sample Papers and Mock Tests: Regularly attempt sample papers and timed mock tests to build confidence and improve time management. Analyze your mistakes and work on weak areas.
• Focus on Presentation: Write neat and well-structured answers. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points wherever necessary to make your answers more organized and readable.
• Stay Calm and Confident: On the day of the exam, stay calm and read the question paper carefully. Allocate time wisely and attempt questions you are most confident about first.