CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2025-26: Download PDF, Exam Pattern,

If you're preparing for your Class 12 board exams, the CBSE Class 12 English sample paper for 2025-26 is one of your best allies. This model question paper gives you a realistic preview — what kinds of questions will appear, how marks are distributed, how much time to allot — and helps you practice under conditions similar to the real exam.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through:

• What the sample paper is and why it matters
• Key features and structure for English (Core / Elective)
• How to download and use it smartly
• Tips to practice effectively
• Common mistakes to avoid
• Final checklist before the exam

Let’s jump right in.

What Is a Sample Paper, and Why Should You Use It?

A sample paper is an officially released mock exam created by CBSE. It mirrors the actual board paper in structure and marking, so it’s not just practice — it’s your roadmap.

Here are its main benefits:

1. Understanding the exam pattern
   You’ll know how many sections there are (reading, writing, literature), how many questions in each, mark weightages, etc.

2. Knowing marking scheme expectations
   With the official marking scheme, you’ll see how examiners award marks for content, expression, grammar, coherence, and presentation.

3. Time management practice
   Solving the full paper under timed conditions lets you train your speed and pacing.

4. Identifying weak areas
   Through self-assessment, you’ll note concepts you struggle with — grammar, unseen passages, literary analysis — and focus revision there.

5. Boosting confidence
   Repeated exposure to board-level questions reduces anxiety on exam day.

CBSE has published the Sample Question Paper (SQP) and Marking Scheme for Class 12 English (Core) for 2025-26. See the CBSE Academic website for official PDFs.

Structure & Key Features of the 2025-26 English Sample Paper

Knowing the layout in advance helps you strategize your attempt.

Official Structure (English Core, Code 301)

• The sample paper has 13 compulsory questions.
• These are divided into three main sections:
  1. Reading
  2. Writing / Grammar / Creative Expression
  3. Literature (Textbook + Supplementary)
• Total marks: 80
• Time: 3 hours (expected)
• Questions include unseen passages, short/long answers, writing tasks, and detailed literature-based questions.

This format is consistent with CBSE’s published sample.

What’s New / What to Note

• The sample paper is aligned with the latest syllabus and exam pattern — no surprises in structure.
• Emphasis on competency-based questions (application, critical thinking) is rising in all subjects, including English.
• Your performance will be judged not only by what you write, but how you write — clarity, coherence, grammar, and presentation all carry weight.

How to Download & Use the Sample Paper

Here’s how you make the most of it:

1. Go to CBSE’s academic site
   Visit the official CBSE site (cbseacademic.nic.in) under “Sample Question Papers 2025-26 → Class XII → English” to download the sample paper and marking scheme.

2. Also check trusted educational portals
   Platforms like Shiksha, Vedantu, and SelfStudys provide PDFs with solutions.

3. Print a copy
   Practice on paper rather than screen — it’s closer to exam conditions and helps with handwriting, spacing, etc.

4. Solve under timed conditions
   Allocate exactly 3 hours, avoid distractions, simulate the exam environment. That way, your speed and time management improve.

5. Check with marking scheme
   After finishing, cross-check your answers using the official marking scheme. Note where you lost marks — grammar mistakes, weak linkages, incomplete arguments — and correct them.

6. Repeat regularly
   Solve multiple sample papers (at least 2–3) and past years’ papers. This builds confidence and sharpens your efficiency.

Section-Wise Strategy & Tips

Each section in the paper demands a slightly different approach.

1. Reading Section (Unseen Passages / Comprehension)

• Read the passage once fully before answering. Then go back for detail questions.
• Underline keywords in questions and scan the passage for those.
• For inference or tone questions, don’t just guess — back your answer with lines from the text.
• If there's a vocabulary question (meaning in context), match meaning with context clues.

2. Writing / Grammar / Expression

• Follow the word limit (don’t overshoot).
• Plan your structure briefly — intro, body, conclusion — for essays or letters.
• For grammar tasks like gap filling, editing, or rewriting, practice common rules ahead (tenses, subject–verb agreement, active/passive, punctuation).
• Use variety in vocabulary and sentence structure to score better in expression.

3. Literature + Supplementary Books

• Know your chapters & poems well (characters, themes, critical lines, symbolism).
• For long questions, make points in bullet form first, then expand, so structure remains clean.
• Quote lines when needed (but don’t overuse).
• Stay on the topic — don’t drift off into unrelated details.

Smart Practice Tips to Maximize Scoring

• Daily short practice is better than last-minute cramming. Even 15–20 minutes daily on grammar or unseen passage pays off.
• Timed mini-mock tests: Once a week, solve a portion (say, just the reading or writing section) in 30 minutes.
• Peer review: Swap your answer sheet with a friend and grade each other using the marking scheme. You’ll catch errors you miss yourself.
• Revise your mistakes: Maintain an “errors notebook” for grammar slips or weak ideas and revisit it regularly.
• Vocabulary building: Maintain a small notebook of new words with meanings and practice using them in sentences.
• Use past board papers: This helps you see patterns of repeating or favorite topics in English.
• Simulate exam day: A week before the exam, take one full paper without breaks, replicate exam hall conditions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Knowing common errors can save you unnecessary marks loss:

1. Not reading instructions properly
   E.g. "Answer any two" but you answer three. Always scan instructions carefully first.
2. Overshooting word limits
   Long answers that ramble lose coherence and may be penalized.
3. Poor handwriting / presentation
   Neat writing, paragraphs, spacing, underlining — these small touches improve readability.
4. Weak transitions and linkages
   Jumping from one point to another without logical flow is hard to follow.
5. Ignoring grammar & careless mistakes
   Even one misplaced comma or wrong tense can cost marks in language sections.
6. Failing to back answers with textual evidence
   In literature or comprehension, back your answer with lines from the text.
7. Time mismanagement
   Spending too long on one question and leaving easier ones undone.

Related topic -> CBSE Class 12 Maths Sample Paper 2025-26

Before Exam: Final Checklist for Students

Conclusion

The CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2025-26 is more than just a mock test — it’s a blueprint for success in your board exam. If you approach it smartly — by solving under timed conditions, analyzing mistakes, strengthening weak spots, and practicing technique — you’ll not only improve your marks, but also your confidence.

Remember: consistency > last-minute cramming. Use sample papers regularly, maintain clarity in expression, back your answer