CBSE Class 10 English exam prep 2026: These faculty-backed tips can turn an average answer script into a 95+ scorer
On February 21, when Class 10 students sit for CBSE English (Language and Literature), they won’t just be writing an exam. They’ll be practising a life skill that keeps showing up—in entrance tests, college applications, internships, interviews, even the first email you send to a new boss. English is one subject where marks matter, yes, but so does confidence: the ability to read carefully, think clearly, and say what you mean without panic.The three-hour, 80-mark paper (Code No. 184) is also fairly predictable in design: Reading (20 marks), Grammar and Writing (20 marks), and Literature (40 marks). Half the battle is simply knowing what the paper is asking for and where the marks lie. This is because in English, it’s rarely about “big words”—it’s about clear answers, clean structure, and not losing easy marks to avoidable mistakes. With the exam approaching, we spoke to English faculty to identify what truly matters, starting from key topics to revise and silly mistakes to avoid.
CBSE Class 10 English 2026: What are the key topics to revise?
With the CBSE Class 10 English (Language and Literature) exam nearing, revision works best when students are clear about what the paper repeatedly tests. According to Shahar Banu, Dean Academics & English Educator (Class X), Sunbeam School, Ballia (UP), English is a subject where depth of understanding matters far more than surface-level reading.In literature, Banu underlines the need for complete coverage of the syllabus. “Students should revise all prose and poetry chapters thoroughly, paying close attention to the themes, character sketches, moral values and the author’s message,” he says.He also stresses practising from the right material. “Working through textual questions and previous years’ papers helps students understand the pattern of questions CBSE usually asks.”For writing skills, Banu’s advice is straightforward and exam-focused. “Students must practise formal letters, analytical paragraphs and notices strictly as per the latest CBSE format,” he says.He adds that presentation plays a key role in scoring. “Answers should show clarity, proper organisation and a clear structure, because examiners reward writing that is easy to follow.”When it comes to grammar, Banu identifies specific areas students should revise without fail. “Revision should include tenses, subject–verb agreement, modals, reported speech, and editing or omission,” he says. Accuracy, he points out, can make grammar a high-scoring section. “These areas can fetch easy marks if students attempt them carefully and avoid careless mistakes.”Together, these core areas—literature, writing skills and grammar—form the backbone of effective revision for the CBSE Class 10 English 2026 exam.
CBSE Class 10 exam English exam 2026: Write to be understood, not to impress
Pankaj Kumar Singh, English Faculty at Sunbeam School, UP, offers students a simple rule for the last-mile revision. “Write as if your words are speaking, not performing,” he says. Singh’s suggestion is a small daily drill with outsized impact. “Read one short passage, a news article, or a poem aloud, then rewrite its essence in your own words,” he says. Done consistently, it sharpens expression, steadies tone, and builds the kind of confidence that shows up on exam day—not as flamboyance, but as control. “The English exam doesn’t reward perfection,” Singh says. “It rewards authentic voice and clarity of thought.”
Class 10 English Board exam tip: Make your answers easy to check
Singh reminds students that presentation is not cosmetic. “Presentation also counts,” Singh says. “Leave space between answers, underline key phrases, and maintain neatness.” In an English paper where examiners move quickly, these small habits make answers easier to read and harder to miss. Expressing similar thoughts, Banu says, “A neat presentation with logical flow leaves a lasting impression.”
CBSE Class X English prep: Don’t retell the story, read it
In the literature section, many answers collapse under their own familiarity. Students know the chapters so well that they end up retelling the plot, mistaking recall for analysis. Banu warns that this is where marks are most easily lost. “In literature answers, avoid story narration,” he says. “Focus on interpretation and textual evidence.”CBSE is not checking whether students remember what happened next. It is looking for whether they understand why it happened, what it reveals about characters, and how the writer builds meaning. An answer that anchors its point in the text, even briefly, will always score higher than one that simply recounts the storyline.
CBSE Class X English paper: 3 key mistakes to avoid
English answers don’t fail dramatically; they quietly give marks away. Faculty who evaluate board scripts every year say the most common mistakes are not about syllabus gaps but how students choose to write under pressure. Here are three avoidable errors for you to avoid.Confusing length with quality: “One common error is mistaking length for quality. Clarity always outweighs complexity. Avoid using memorised lines — they sound artificial and fetch fewer marks,” says Singh. Long answers don’t impress if they drift. Examiners look for relevance, logic, and clear expression—not how many lines a student can fill.Ignoring spelling and punctuation: According to Banu, small errors can quietly chip away at an otherwise good answer. “Being careless about spelling and punctuation are small errors that can reduce marks,” he says. These mistakes rarely get flagged loudly, but they accumulate, especially in writing tasks and long answers.Using complex but incorrect grammar: Banu also cautions against trying too hard to sound sophisticated. “Use complex or incorrect grammar. Examiners prefer simple and correct English,” he says. In CBSE English, accuracy beats ambition. A clean, simple sentence earns more marks than a complicated one that collapses halfway.
