CBSE Class 12 English Core Previous Year Question Papers (2022–2026)
Download every CBSE Class 12 English Core board paper from 2022–2026 as a free PDF, with the official CBSE marking scheme. Or practise all 213 questions online, one by one, with answers (136 have marking-scheme solutions).
Key facts
- Highest-weightage chapters: Literature (19.0 marks), Writing Skills (10.5 marks), Grammar (2.0 marks) on average per paper, across 8 board papers
- Board papers available: 9 papers from 2022 to 2026 with official marking schemes, free PDF
- Practice questions: 213 questions, 136 with marking-scheme answers, free online
Class 12 English Core board papers with marking schemes
Two sets per year from different CBSE regions. Question papers are published by CBSE; click a PDF to download it free.
| Paper | Questions | Free download | Answers | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board exam 2026 · Set 1/1/1 | 13 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
| Board exam 2026 · Set 1/3/1 | 13 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
| Board exam 2025 · Set 1/1/1 | 11 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
| Board exam 2025 · Set 1/2/1 | 13 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
| Board exam 2024 · Set 1/1/1 | 13 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
| Board exam 2024 · Set 1/2/1 | 13 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
| Board exam 2023 · Set 1/1/1 | 13 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
| Board exam 2023 · Set 1/2/1 | 13 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
| Board exam 2022 · Set 1/2/1 · Term 2 | 6 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
Class 12 English Core sample paper 2026-27
CBSE released the 2026-27 Sample Question Paper on 21 September 2026 and confirmed there is no change in the question paper design for 2026-27. Practise it first: it shows exactly how your board paper will look.
| Paper | Questions | Free download | Answers | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample paper 2026-27 | 13 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
Chapter-wise weightage (from 8 board papers)
Average marks each chapter carried per board paper. Start revision with the chapters at the top.
| Chapter | Share | Avg. marks per paper |
|---|---|---|
| Literature | 19.0 | |
| Writing Skills | 10.5 | |
| Grammar | 2.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 1.8 |
Most repeated English Core questions in CBSE board exams
The same question, or a near-identical one, appeared in more than one CBSE board exam year.
- P a g e 9. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (a) or (b) : 61=6 (a) And in dark hutments, next to lines of flames of flickering oil lamps, sit boys and girls with their fa…
Asked in 2023, 2026Literature3 marks - Attempt any ONE of two extracts given : 6 1 = 6 (a) And in dark hutments, next to lines of flames of flickering oil lamps, sit boys and girls with their fathers and mothers, welding pieces of coloured glass into circle…
Asked in 2023, 2026Literature1 mark
CBSE additional practice papers for Class 12 English Core
| Paper | Questions | Free download | Answers | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional practice paper 2023-24 | 13 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
| Additional practice paper 2023-24 · Set 2 | 13 | Question paper PDF | Marking scheme PDF | Practise online |
| Additional practice paper 2021-22 | 60 | Question paper PDF | Not published | Practise online |
| Additional practice paper 2021-22 | 6 | Question paper PDF | Not published | Practise online |
Frequently asked questions
Where can I download CBSE Class 12 English Core previous year question papers for free?
All CBSE Class 12 English Core board papers from 2022–2026 are listed on this page as free PDF downloads, together with the official marking schemes. You can also practise every question online in the free BoardPrep app.
Are marking schemes included with the Class 12 English Core papers?
Yes. The official CBSE marking scheme is linked next to each paper where CBSE has published it. In the app, 136 of the 213 questions show their marking-scheme answer.
Which chapters carry the most marks in Class 12 English Core?
In recent board papers the highest-weightage chapters were Literature, Writing Skills, Grammar. See the chapter-wise weightage table above for the full list.
Has the CBSE exam pattern changed for 2026-27?
No. CBSE's notification of 21 September 2026 says there is no change in the question paper design or assessment pattern for 2026-27, and the passing criteria stay the same as 2025-26.
Is BoardPrep free?
Yes. All papers, the question bank, the paper generator, mock tests and the Pattern Challenge are free to use.
Practise Class 12 English Core free
Question-wise practice with answers, chapter tests, board-pattern paper generator with PDF download, and a daily streak to keep you going.