CBSE Class 10 English 2026: Cracking the Non-Grammar Sections

 

CBSE Class 10 English 2026: Cracking the Non-Grammar Sections

While grammar is about precision, the rest of the English paper is about expression and analysis. In 2026, CBSE is leaning heavily into "Competency-Based Questions." This means the examiners don't just want to know what happened in a story, but why it matters and how it relates to real-world data.

Here is your high-probability model set for the non-grammar portions of the exam.

Section A: Reading Skills (20 Marks)

I. Discursive Passage (10 Marks)

Read the snippet below: "The 'Slow Living' movement has gained traction in 2025-26 as a response to digital burnout. It emphasizes quality over quantity and mindfulness over multitasking. While critics argue it is a luxury for the elite, proponents suggest that even small shifts—like a tech-free morning—can improve mental health significantly."

Q1. Why is the 'Slow Living' movement considered a response to 'digital burnout'? (1M) Q2. Rationalize the critics' view that slow living is a "luxury for the elite." (2M) Q3. The passage suggests that ___________ is a prerequisite for mental health in the digital age. (1M)

II. Case-Based Factual Passage (10 Marks)

This section usually provides a graph or chart to analyze.

Q4. Based on the data, which medium has seen the most consistent growth over the four-year period? (1M) Q5. Infer one reason why audio content (podcasts/audiobooks) might be narrowing the gap with text-based content. (2M) Q6. "The trend from 2024 onwards suggests a visual-first audience." Support this statement with evidence from the graph. (2M)

Section B: Writing Skills (10 Marks)

III. Formal Letter (5 Marks)

Prompt: You are Sam/Sana, a resident of Green View Apartments, Pune. Your locality has been facing frequent power cuts during the evening hours, affecting students' studies for the upcoming board exams. Write a letter to the Executive Engineer of the State Electricity Board in 100-120 words, highlighting the issue and suggesting a regulated schedule if cuts are unavoidable.

IV. Analytical Paragraph (5 Marks)

Prompt: The pie chart below shows the primary sources of stress among teenagers in 2026. Write an analytical paragraph (100-120 words) interpreting the data and offering a concluding thought on mental wellness.

Section C: Literature (40 Marks)

V. Reference to Context (Extracts)

Extract 1 (Prose - Madam Rides the Bus): "The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way — 'which is almost nothing at all,' she heard one well-dressed man say, but to Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one month to the next, it seemed a fortune."

  1. Why did thirty paise seem like a "fortune" to Valli? (1M)

  2. What does this extract reveal about Valli’s financial background compared to the "well-dressed man"? (2M)

  3. Identify the tone of the narrator in this passage. (1M)

Extract 2 (Poetry - Amanda!): "I am an orphan, roaming the street. I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet. The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet."

  1. Is Amanda actually an orphan? Why does she imagine herself as one? (2M)

  2. What does the phrase "silence is golden" imply about her home environment? (1M)

  3. State the poetic device used in the line "The freedom is sweet." (1M)

VI. Short Answer Questions (Any 4 - 12 Marks)

  • A Letter to God: Why did the postmaster decide to answer Lencho's letter? What does this tell us about his character?

  • Nelson Mandela: What did Mandela mean by "an extraordinary human disaster"?

  • The Midnight Visitor: How is Ausable different from the "romantic" image of a secret agent?

  • Sermon at Benares: What is the significance of the "mustard seed" in Kisa Gotami’s journey of grief?

VII. Long Answer Questions (Any 2 - 12 Marks)

  1. Comparison: Both Bholi and the Young Seagull (His First Flight) overcame fear. Compare their journeys. How did external support (the teacher/the mother bird) play a role in their success?

  2. Values: "Humanity still exists." Discuss this statement with reference to the characters of the Postmaster in A Letter to God and the lady in The Midnight Visitor (Contrast their intentions).

✅ Quick Revision Tips for Section C

  • Theme Mapping: Always start your long answers with the central theme of the chapter. (e.g., "In the story 'The Necklace', Guy de Maupassant highlights the dangers of vanity...")

  • Keywords: Use specific terms like 'apartheid', 'resilience', 'metaphorical loss', or 'indomitable spirit' to impress the examiner.

  • Character Sketches: Be ready to compare characters. CBSE 2026 loves asking how two different characters would react to the same situation.

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