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.