Latest CBSE Syllabus for Class 11 English Core
EXAMINATION SPECIFICATIONS
Class XI (ENGLISH CORE)

One paper 3 Hours | Marks:  100

Unit  						Marks 
1. Reading Unseen Passages (Two)		20 
2. Writing					20 
3. Grammar					10 
4. Textual Questions : Textbook			30 
5. Textual Questions : Supplementary Reader	10 
6. Conversation Skills : Listening		05 
7. Conversation Skills : Speaking		05 
TOTAL						100 

SECTION - A
Reading unseen Passages for Comprehension and Note-making 20 Marks 40 Periods

Two unseen passages with a variety of questions including 5 marks for vocabulary such as words formation and inferring meaning. The total length of both the passages together should be around 1100 words.

1. The passages could be any of the following two types:
2. (a) Factual passages e.g. instructions, descriptions, reports.
     (b) Discursive passages involving opinion e.g. argumentative, persuasive.

SUMMARY - Class XI

1. (12 marks )
Number Of Words:- Around 600
Unseen Passages:- 12 Marks
Testing Areas:- Short answer type questions to test local, global and inferential comprehension
Marks Allotted:- 10
Vocabulary:- 02
 

2. (12 marks )
Number Of Words:- Around 500
Unseen Passages:- 078 Marks
Testing Areas:- Note-making in an appropriate format
Marks Allotted:- 05
Vocabulary:- 03

One of the passages should have about 600 words carrying 12 marks, the other passage should have about 500 words carrying 8 marks.

The passage carrying 08 marks should be used for testing note-making for 5 marks and testing vocabulary for 3 marks. Vocabulary for 2 marks may be tested in the other passage carrying 12 marks.

SECTION B

WRITING 20 Marks 40 periods

3. One out of two tasks such as a factual description of any event or  incident, a report or a process based on verbal input provided (80-100 words). 04 Marks.

4. One out of two compositions based on a visual and/or verbal input  (in about 100-150 words). The output may be descriptive or argumentative in nature such as an article for publication in a newspaper or a school magazine or a speech. 08 Marks

5. Writing one out of two letters based on given input. Letter types include (a) business or  official letters (for making enquiries, registering complaints, asking for and giving information, placing orders and sending replies); (b) letters to the editors (giving suggestions, opinions on an issue of public interest) or (c) application for a job. 08 Marks.

SECTION C
GRAMMAR 10 Marks 30 Periods

Different grammatical structures in meaningful contexts will be tested. Item types will include gap-filling, sentence-reordering, dialogue-completion and sentence-transformation. The grammar syllabus will include the following areas:

6. Determiners, Tenses, Clauses, Modals and Error Correction. 4 Marks.

7. Editing Task. 4 Marks

8. Reordering of sentences.  2 Marks

SECTION D
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS 40 Marks 100 Periods

Questions on the prescribed textbooks will test comprehension at different levels: literal, inferential and evaluative based on the following prescribed text books:

1. Hornbill : Text book, published by NCERT, New Delhi.
2. Snapshots : Supplementary Reader, published by NCERT, New Delhi.

English Reader 30 Marks

9. One out of two extracts based on poetry from the text to test comprehension and appreciation. 4 Marks

10. Two out of three short answer questions from the poetry section to test local and global comprehension of text (upto 30 words). 6 Marks

11. Five out of six short answer questions on the  lessons from prescribed text (upto 30 words) 2x5=10 Marks

12. One out of two long answer type questions based on the text to test global comprehension and extrapolation beyond the set text. (Expected word limit would be about 100-125 words each) 10 Marks

Supplementary Reader 10 Marks

13. One out of two long answers type questions based on Supplementary Reader to test comprehension of theme, character and incidents. (upto 100 words) 4 Marks

14. Two out of three short answer questions from the Supplementary Reader (upto 30 words) 3+3 = 6 Marks.

Prescribed Books
1. Hornbill - Text book published by NCERT, New Delhi.
2. Snapshots - Supplementary Reader published by NCERT, New Delhi.

Conversation Skills (Listening + Speaking)

Conversation Skills will be tested both as part of Continuous Assessment and at the final examination. Out of the 10 marks allotted for Conversation, 05 marks may be used for testing Listening and 05 marks may be used for testing Speaking. The Conversation Skills Assessment Scale may be used for evaluating.

Listening

The examiner will read aloud a passage based on a relevant theme or a short story. The passage may be factual or discursive. The length of the passage should be around 350 words.
The examinees are expected to complete the listening comprehension tasks given in a separate sheet while listening to the teacher. The tasks set may be gap-filling, multiple choice, true or false or short answer questions. There may be ten different questions for half a mark each.

Speaking

Narration based on a sequence of pictures. In this section the candidate will be required to use narrative language. Description of a picture (can be pictures of people or places) Speaking on a given topic to test recall of a personal experience.

NOTE: At the start of the examination the examiner will give the candidate some time to prepare. In case of narration the present tense should be used.  Topics chosen should be within the personal experience of the examinee such as: relating a funny anecdote, retelling the theme of a book read or a movie seen recently.  Once the candidate has started, the examiner should intervene as little as possible.

Conversation Skills Assessment Scale
Listening
The learner:
1. has general ability to understand words and phrases in a familiar context  but cannot follow connected speech;
2. Has ability to follow short connected utterances in a familiar context;
3. Has ability to understand explicitly stated information in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts;
4. Understands a range of longer spoken texts with reasonable accuracy and is able to draw inferences;
5. Shows ability to interpret complex discourse in terms of points of view; adapts listening strategies to suit purposes.

Speaking

The learner:
 1. Shows ability to use only isolated words and phrases but cannot operate on connected speech level;
 2. In familiar situations, uses only short connected utterances with limited accuracy;
 3. Shows ability to use more complex utterances with some fluency in longer discourse; still makes some errors which impede communication;
 4. Organizes and presents thoughts in a reasonably logical and fluent manner in unfamiliar situations; makes errors which do not interfere with communication.
 5. Can spontaneously adapt style appropriate to purpose and audience; makes only negligible errors.