CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026 by Experts: Practice for Last Minute Revision

CBSE Class 12th English Board Exam 2026: The CBSE Class 12 English exam is scheduled for March 12, 2026. As a crucial subject, English significantly contributes to boosting overall board exam scores. To ensure students prepare effectively, we have made available a CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper. This expert-designed resource is perfectly suited for last-minute revision and focused practice on important questions.

The provided sample paper is a complete last minute guide that offers clear explanations of how the actual examination will be. Students are advised to download the CBSE Class 12 English Paper PDF using the links below. Utilizing this resource is an excellent way to strengthen your preparation and achieve high marks in the upcoming board examination.

Exclusive!

CBSE Class 12 Revised Exam Pattern 2026 

The English question paper will carry 80 marks (Theory) and will be divided into four sections based on the curriculum's four core units:

CBSE Class 12 English Question Paper Pattern 2026

The question paper will contain three sections, all of them are compulsory. Check the tabulated information below for more clarity:

Prominent Features of CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026

• Prepared by Experienced Faculty – Designed by subject experts to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Based on the Latest Syllabus and Exam Pattern – Aligned with the CBSE Class 12 English syllabus for 2026.
• Includes Important Questions – A valuable resource for practicing key topics and question types.
• Offers Additional Questions – Provides a variety of questions beyond those in the CBSE-issued sample paper.
• Comes with Solutions – Facilitates quick and effective revision by providing well-structured answers.
• Available in PDF Format – Easily downloadable for convenient access and offline practice.

CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026

Check and download the Class 12 English sample Paper to Boost your preparation for the upcoming CBSE Class 12 English

SECTION A: READING SKILLS (22 Marks)

1. Read the following passage carefully: (12 Marks)

(1) In a room filled with people, each face illuminated by the soft glow of their smartphones, moments drift away like autumn leaves in the wind. The constant hum of notifications fills the air, punctuating conversations like an incessant drumbeat. Every vibration or ping sends fingers flying to screens, a response ingrained by years of digital conditioning.

(2) Anxiety gnaws at the edges of consciousness when the phone is out of reach, a phantom limb syndrome that leaves us feeling incomplete without our digital appendage. The fear of missing out permeates every moment spent away from the screen, driving us to constantly check for updates.

(3) Thumbs move with the speed and precision of skillful pianists, tapping out messages and scrolling through feeds with practiced ease. Yet amidst the flurry of activity, the true rhythm of life remains unheard, drowned out by the dissonance of digital noise.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above:

• I. How does the author use the metaphor of ‘autumn leaves in the wind’ to interpret the passing of time? (1)

• II. Choose the correct response to complete the sentence: (1)

  • The phrase ‘phantom limb syndrome that leaves us feeling incomplete...’ points towards:

    • (A) A deep psychological dependence on technology for a sense of wholeness.

    • (B) Excessive physical damage that can be caused by constant use of digital devices.

• III. Why refer to digital noise as ‘dissonance’ in paragraph 3? (1)

  • (A) It creates a jarring and chaotic environment that disrupts focus.

  • (B) It contributes to a sense of overload, overwhelming the senses.

  • (C) It interferes with our ability to engage with meaningful aspects of our life.

  • (D) It induces stress by interrupting with regular updates about the device.

• IV. Complete the analogy with ONE word from paragraph 4: (1)

  • whisper : quietly :: ________ : loudly

• V. Assess why the statement ‘we find ourselves increasingly isolated in a sea of digital faces’ employs irony. (2)

2. Read the following passage carefully: (10 Marks)

A survey was conducted among 2,000 college students and young professionals to analyze preferences for corporate roles, start-ups, or service professions. Corporate jobs were associated with financial stability, while start-ups appealed to those valuing autonomy.

Answer the following questions based on the given passage:

• I. What was the main purpose of the survey? (1)

  • (A) To determine job popularity in rural vs urban areas.

  • (B) To explore patterns in career aspirations and factors influencing them.

  • (C) To analyze the success rate of startups.

  • (D) To assess salary expectations.

• II. Classify the following as ‘influence’ or ‘motivation’: (1)

  • (1) Peer pressure leads teenagers to prefer packaged snacks.

  • (2) The drive to maintain health as one ages leads middle-aged adults to choose fruits.

• III. Based on the graph, which job category has the highest percentage in the ‘Highly Preferred’ category? (1)

SECTION B: CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS (18 Marks)

3. Attempt ANY ONE of the following: (4 Marks)

• (A) You are Daljeet Kaur, a member of the Teen Well-Being Association, Chandigarh. Your association is planning free pottery classes every Sunday. Write a notice in about 50 words inviting registrations

• (B) Your school is planning an inter-class seminar on ‘The Importance of Mental Health’. As the head of the organizing committee, write a notice in about 50 words for classes XI-XII.

4. Attempt ANY ONE of the following: (4 Marks)

• (A) Draft an invitation from Vani Gopalan, Chief Project Officer of an NGO, for the launch of the ‘Each One Teach One’ programme

• (B) You are Bina Bedekar. You have been invited to inaugurate a science exhibition at National Public School, Mumbai. Write a formal reply accepting the invitation.

5. Attempt ANY ONE of the following in 120–150 words: (5 Marks)

• (A) Write a letter to the editor of a local daily about the benefits of financial literacy education for children. You are Chitra Mahapatra from Puri.

• (B) You are Maya Syiem. Apply for the post of Illustrator at ‘A New World’ publishing house. Include your bio-data.

6. Attempt ANY ONE of the following in 120–150 words: (5 Marks)

• (A) Write an article for The Progressive Educator on the role of digital communication in education.

• (B) As senior editorial board member Devaki Fernandes, write a report on the school cultural festival.

SECTION C: LITERATURE (40 Marks)

7. Read the extract and answer ANY ONE (A or B): (6 Marks)

A.“Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas... would put on clean clothes and walk about with their brothers in the shade...”

• I. What is a common outcome of all wars described? (1)

• II. The imagery of ‘walking in the shade’ represents: (1)

  • (A) Readiness for conflict (B) Reflection and unity (C) Physical environment (D) Post-conflict routine

OR

B.“When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie... the tigers in the panel... will go on prancing...”

• I. What does the phrase ‘terrified hands’ suggest about Aunt’s life? (1)

8. Read the extract and answer ANY ONE (A or B): (4 Marks)

A.“...eggs were thirteen cents a dozen in 1894. But I’ve never again found the corridor that leads to the third level...”

• I. What does Charley’s focus on 1894 prices suggest? (1) 

OR

B.“Derry: You look at me... and then you see my face and you think. ‘That’s bad... the ugliest thing I ever saw.’”

• I. What does Mr. Lamb mean by “Not the whole of you”? (1)

9. Read the extract and answer ANY ONE (A or B): (6 Marks)

A.“What a thunderclap these words were to me! ... My last French lesson!”

• I. The metaphor ‘thunderclap’ indicates: (1) 

OR

B.“Garbage to them is gold. It is their daily bread...”

• I. How does the perception of garbage differ between children and adults in Seemapuri? (1)

10. Answer ANY FIVE in 40–50 words each: (10 Marks)

• I. Identify hope in ‘Lost Spring’.

• II. Interpret Kamala Das’s use of visual imagery regarding time.

• III. Significance of the toy tiger in ‘The Tiger King’.

• IV. Symbolism of the rattrap.

• V. Rudyard Kipling’s view on interviews.

• VI. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

11. Answer ANY TWO in 40–50 words each: (4 Marks)

• I. Importance of the ‘Students on Ice’ programme.

• II. Zitkala-Sa’s feelings of powerlessness.

• III. Derry’s perspective on how people console others.

12. Answer ANY ONE (A or B) in 120–150 words: (5 Marks)

• (A) Analyse inequality in ‘A Roadside Stand’ and ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’.

• (B) Compare ambitions of Sophie (Going Places) and the office boy (Poets and Pancakes).

13. Answer ANY ONE (A or B) in 120–150 words: (5 Marks)

•  (A) Analyse traditions and patriotism in ‘The Enemy’. 

• (B) Discuss narrative techniques and escapism in ‘The Third Level’.

The expert-designed CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2026 is an indispensable tool for focused, last-minute revision, helping students master the exam pattern and key concepts. Utilize this resource to practice important questions, manage your time effectively, and achieve your target score in the upcoming board examination.