With just one month left for the CBSE board examinations to begin, Class 12 students have now entered the most decisive phase of their preparation. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will start the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams for the academic session 2025–26 from 17 February 2026. For students appearing in Class 12, the English Core examination is scheduled for 12 March 2026. This limited time makes it crucial for students to shift their focus from learning new topics to smart revision and exam-oriented practice.
English is often considered a high-scoring subject if approached with the right strategy. Unlike subjects that rely heavily on memorization, English tests a student’s clarity of thought, comprehension skills, and ability to express ideas in a structured and grammatically correct manner. With proper planning and consistent practice, scoring well in the CBSE Class 12 English exam is completely achievable.
English plays a vital role not only in board results but also in shaping future academic and career opportunities. A strong performance in English can open doors to fields such as humanities, media, communication, journalism, and competitive examinations. The key lies in understanding the paper pattern and preparing each section with equal focus.
The English Core paper broadly consists of three sections: Reading, Writing, and Literature. Giving balanced attention to all three areas is essential to maximize scores.
The reading section is designed to assess a student’s ability to understand, interpret, and analyze unseen passages. To perform well, students should develop the habit of reading passages carefully instead of rushing through them. Regular practice with unseen passages helps improve speed and accuracy.
While practicing, focus on identifying the central idea, tone of the passage, implied meanings, and key details. Vocabulary-based questions often fetch easy marks, so paying attention to difficult words and their contextual meanings is important. Practicing note-making exercises can also significantly enhance performance in this section.
Many students find the writing section intimidating, but it does not have to be. The golden rule is to keep the language simple, clear, and well-organized. Avoid using overly complex or decorative words that may lead to grammatical errors.
Students should practice all prescribed writing formats such as letters, notices, reports, articles, and speeches. Each piece should have a clear structure with a logical flow of ideas. Writing a little every day can help build confidence, making it easier to frame answers naturally during the exam.
For the literature section, mere memorization of stories and poems is not enough. Students should aim to understand the themes, characters, symbolism, and tone of each chapter from Flamingo and Vistas. Analytical answers are always rewarded more than descriptive storytelling.
During revision, it is helpful to note down key points, important quotations, and moral lessons for quick recall. In the exam, instead of retelling the entire story, focus on analyzing characters and themes. Supporting answers with one or two relevant textual references can significantly improve the quality of responses.
Unplanned practice can waste valuable time. Experts recommend solving mock papers and sample question papers under timed conditions to improve speed, accuracy, and confidence. This also helps students identify weak areas and work on them before the final exam.
Planning answers before writing is another effective technique. Structuring responses with a brief introduction, a well-developed body, and a clear conclusion makes answers more impactful. Using short notes or mind maps during preparation can help students learn how to organize their thoughts quickly in the exam.
Even well-prepared answers can lose marks if they are poorly presented. Neat handwriting, proper spacing, and a clear structure can make a significant difference. A well-presented answer often leaves a positive impression on the examiner and can turn an average response into a high-scoring one.
Students should avoid writing answers that are too short or lack textual support. Ignoring word limits, making grammatical errors, or writing unstructured paragraphs can lead to unnecessary loss of marks. Rote learning without understanding, skipping timed practice, and neglecting vocabulary or writing formats are some other common mistakes that should be avoided.
As the CBSE Class 12 English exam 2026 approaches, students are advised to stay consistent, revise regularly, and practice smartly. English is a subject where clarity, structure, and understanding matter more than memorization. With the right strategy and focused effort in the final weeks, students can confidently aim for an excellent score in the board examination.
