ISC Class 12 English Literature Paper Pattern
Paper 2 of ISC Class 12 English, Literature in English, is 80 marks in three hours, with five compulsory questions on the prescribed texts: two objective questions in Section A and one question each on Drama, Prose and Poetry in Section B. Project work adds 20 marks.
- 80marks, theory paper
- 3 h + 15 minwriting time and reading time
- 20 marksproject work
Paper 2 (Literature in English): 80 marks
| Section | Questions | Marks | What it asks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | Q1: ten multiple-choice questions of 1 mark | 10 | one question on each of several texts: drama, prose and poetry |
| Section A | Q2: ten completion items of 1 mark | 10 | complete a sentence about a scene, story or poem |
| Section B | Q3: Drama (Macbeth): two short answers of 5 marks and one long answer of 10 marks (an either-or) | 20 | the play |
| Section B | Q4: Prose (short stories): two short answers of 5 marks and one long answer of 10 marks (an either-or) | 20 | the short stories |
| Section B | Q5: Poetry: two short answers of 5 marks and one long answer of 10 marks (an either-or) | 20 | the poems |
| Total | five questions, all compulsory | 80 |
Layout from the 2026 board paper.
What the question paper says
- There are five questions; answer all. In Question 1 write only one option as the answer.
- An internal choice is given in the long answer question on Drama, Prose and Poetry.
- Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions in Section B.
- You get 15 minutes of reading time before the three hours.
Project work
Project work carries 20 marks besides the 80-mark theory paper: a written assignment on the drama, short stories or poems, marked 10 by the teacher and 10 by the visiting examiner, as set out in CISCE’s English syllabus.
The prescribed texts for 2027 are Macbeth (Acts III, IV and V); the short stories Atithi / Guest, The Cookie Lady, There Will Come Soft Rains, Indigo and The Medicine Bag; and the poems Telephone Conversation, Tithonus, Beethoven, Small Towns and the River and Death be not Proud.
Open real English Literature papers
- ISC English Literature 2026 Question PaperBoard paper
- ISC English Literature 2026 Improvement PaperImprovement
- ISC English Literature 2025 Question PaperBoard paper
- ISC English Literature 2025 Specimen PaperSpecimen
- ISC English Literature 2025 Improvement PaperImprovement
- ISC English Literature 2025 Competency Focused Questions (CFQ)Practice
- All English Literature papers
Common questions
How many marks is ISC Class 12 English Literature?
80 marks in three hours (Paper 2, Literature in English), plus 20 marks of project work.
How is the ISC Literature paper divided?
Section A has two one-mark questions of ten parts each (20 marks). Section B has three 20-mark questions, one each on Drama, Prose and Poetry: two short answers of 5 marks and one long answer of 10 marks, with a choice in the long answer.
Is there a word limit in ISC English Literature?
Yes. The instructions say not to exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions in Section B.
Which texts are prescribed for ISC Class 12 English Literature 2027?
Macbeth (Acts III, IV and V); the short stories Atithi/Guest, The Cookie Lady, There Will Come Soft Rains, Indigo and The Medicine Bag; and the poems Telephone Conversation, Tithonus, Beethoven, Small Towns and the River and Death be not Proud.
Keep reading
Checked against the printed instructions of the 2026 board papers and the 2027 specimen papers, and CISCE’s ISC 2027 syllabus. Last checked 2026-10-16.