English — Syllabus & Chapters

The complete syllabus for English — every chapter you need to study, and how the exam paper is structured.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Composition Writing
Chapter 2: Directed Writing
Chapter 3: Proposal Writing
Chapter 4: Functional Grammar and Sentence Structure
Chapter 5: Comprehension and Summary Writing
Chapter 6: English Language Project Work
Chapter 7: Macbeth: Act III
Chapter 8: Macbeth: Act IV
Chapter 9: Macbeth: Act V
Chapter 10: Atithi / Guest - Rabindranath Tagore
Chapter 11: The Cookie Lady - Philip K. Dick
Chapter 12: There Will Come Soft Rains - Ray Bradbury
Chapter 13: Indigo - Satyajit Ray
Chapter 14: The Medicine Bag - Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
Chapter 15: Telephone Conversation - Wole Soyinka
Chapter 16: Tithonus - Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Chapter 17: Beethoven - Shane Koyczan
Chapter 18: Small Towns and the River - Mamang Dai
Chapter 19: Death be not Proud - John Donne
Chapter 20: Literature Written Assignment

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are there in English?

The English syllabus has 20 chapters, listed in full above. Cover the high-weightage chapters first using the exam pattern as a guide.

How do I know which English chapters carry the most marks?

Compare the chapter list above with the exam pattern and the last few years of question papers — the topics that appear most often and the units with the highest marks are where to focus first. Always confirm weightage against the official syllabus for your exam year.

Has the English syllabus changed this year?

Boards occasionally revise the syllabus or remove topics for a session. Always download the official syllabus for your exact exam year from the official ICSE & ISC portal rather than relying on an older copy or a social-media list.

How can I prepare for English faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for English — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused English study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.