ICSE Class 10 English Language and Literature Syllabus for Academic Session 2024-25 (Subject code 01)
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) provides details regarding the exam pattern, section – wise break up of marks, details of questions, word limit, etc for Class 10 English Language and Literature Paper for the academic session 2024-25 on its official website. Students can check out the post below to know the paper pattern, syllabus, grammar topics and writing skills syllabus for ICSE Class 10 English Language and Literature paper for Board Exam 2025.
Syllabus for ICSE Class 10 English Language and Literature
There will be two papers:
- Paper 1: English Language
- Paper 2: Literature in English
- Each of these papers will be of two hours duration.
Marking Scheme
Paper 1:
- English Language (80 Marks)
- Internal Assessment (20 Marks)
Paper 2:
- Literature in English (80 Marks)
- Internal Assessment (20 Marks)
PAPER 1 – ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Two hours) – 80 Marks
All questions will be compulsory.
Question 1: Candidates will be required to write a composition of about 300– 350 words from a choice of subjects which will test their ability to: organise, describe, narrate, report, explain, persuade or argue, present ideas coherently with accuracy and precision, compare and contrast ideas and arrive at conclusions, present relevant arguments and use correct style and format.
The topics will be varied and may be suggested by language or by other stimuli such as pictures. The topics will be so chosen so as to allow the candidates to draw on first-hand experience or to stimulate their imagination.
The organisation of subject matter, syntax, punctuation, correctness of grammatical constructions and spelling will be expected to be appropriate to the mode of treatment required by the subject.
Question 2: Candidates will have to write a letter from a choice of two subjects requiring either a formal or a friendly mode of treatment. Suggestions regarding the content of the letter may be given. The format of the letter with address, introduction, conclusion, etc., will form part of the assessment. Special attention must be paid to the format of the letter with emphasis on tone and vocabulary appropriate to the context.
Question 3: Candidates will be given a specific situation and will be required to:
- Write the text for a notice based on given directions.
- Write an e-mail on the same content as the notice.
Question 4: An unseen prose passage of about 500 words will be given. Uncommon items of vocabulary, or structure will be avoided. A question will be set to test vocabulary. Candidates will be required to show an understanding of the words/phrases in the context in which they have been used.
A number of questions requiring short answers will also be asked on the passage. These questions will test the candidates’ ability to comprehend the explicit content and organisation of the passage and to infer information, intention and attitude from it.
The last question will consist of a summary that will test the candidates’ ability to distinguish main ideas from supporting details and to extract salient points to re-write them in the form of a summary. Candidates will be given a clear indication of what they are to summarise and of the length of the summary.
Question 5: There will be a number of short answer questions to test the candidates’ knowledge of functional grammar, structure and usage.
All the items in this question will be compulsory. They will consist of correct use of prepositions, conjunctions, verbs and structure of sentences.
PAPER 2 – LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (Two hours) – 80 Marks
Candidates will be required to answer questions based on the prescribed textbooks, which include Drama, Prose (Short Stories) and Poetry.
Drama and Prose (Short Stories)
Questions set will be central to the text. Candidates will be required to show that they have understood the passage and are able to clearly respond in their own words.
Excerpts may be given from the drama and prose texts leading to questions.
Poetry
A poem, or lines from poems, will be given and questions will be set to test the candidates’ response. The questions will focus on the content, understanding and the personal response of candidates to the entire poem as a whole.
SYLLABUS TO BE COVERED
- DRAMA: Julius Caesar – William Shakespeare (Acts III, IV & V)
- TREASURE CHEST: A Collection of ICSE Short Stories & Poems (Evergreen Publications
(India) Ltd. New Delhi)
PROSE (Short Stories):
- With the Photographer – Stephen Leacock
- The Elevator – William Sleator
- The Girl Who Can – Ama Ata Aidoo
- The Pedestrian – Ray Bradbury
- The Last Lesson – Alphonse Daudet
POETRY:
- Haunted Houses – H.W. Longfellow
- The Glove and the Lions – Leigh Hunt
- When Great Trees Fall – Maya Angelou
- A Considerable Speck – Robert Frost
- The Power of Music – Sukumar Ray
NOTE: The ICSE (Class X) Examination paper will be set ONLY on the portion of the syllabus that is prescribed for Class X
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Paper 1 – English Language
Schools will prepare, conduct and record assessments of the Listening and Speaking Skills of candidates as follows:
- Two assessments in the course of the year
Award of Marks (20 Marks)
- Listening Skills: 10 marks
- Speaking Skills: 10 marks
Paper 2 – Literature in English
Schools will set, assess and record written assignments by the candidates as given below:
- Two or three assignments of reasonable length (not exceeding 1500 words in total).
Award of Marks (20 Marks)
- Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner) 10 marks
- External Examiner 10 mark
EVALUATION
- The assignments/projects are to be evaluated by the subject teacher and by an external examiner. (The External Examiner may be a teacher nominated by the Head of the school, who could be from the faculty, but not teaching the subject in the section/class. For example, a teacher of English of Class VIII may be deputed to be an External Examiner for Class X, English projects.) The Internal Examiner and the External Examiner will assess the assignments independently.