FBISE Examinations English (Compulsory) Syllabus

English (Compulsory) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for English (Compulsory) in FBISE Examinations, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Comprehension and Reading Skills

   3 topics

   • Unseen Passage Comprehension
   • Summarizing Paragraphs
   • Reference to the Context
2. 2

   Grammar and Usage

   5 topics

   • Parts of Speech
   • Tenses
   • Active and Passive Voice
   • Direct and Indirect Speech
   • Punctuation
3. 3

   Vocabulary

   3 topics

   • Synonyms and Antonyms
   • Idioms and Phrases
   • Pairs of Words
4. 4

   Composition and Writing

   4 topics

   • Essay Writing
   • Letters and Applications
   • Story Writing
   • Dialogue Writing
5. 5

   Prose and Textbook Lessons

   2 topics

   • Short Questions from Lessons
   • Central Idea and Themes
6. 6

   Poetry

   2 topics

   • Paraphrasing of Poems
   • Explanation of Stanzas
7. 7

   Translation

   2 topics

   • Urdu to English Translation
   • Sentence Construction

English (Compulsory) flashcards for FBISE Examinations

21 of 51 cards from the English (Compulsory) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In an Unseen Passage Comprehension question, what is the recommended first step before attempting the questions?

   Read the entire passage quickly once for general meaning (skimming), then read it a second time carefully (scanning) to locate specific answers.

2. When answering comprehension questions, what rule governs the language you should use in your answers?

   Answer in your own words wherever possible, in complete sentences, and avoid copying long sentences directly from the passage unless a quotation is required.

3. What is the difference between 'skimming' and 'scanning' a passage?

   Skimming is reading quickly to get the overall gist/main idea; scanning is searching the text for specific details, keywords, or facts.

4. How should you find the meaning of a difficult word in an unseen passage if asked?

   Use the context (surrounding words and sentences) to guess the meaning, since the answer must fit the sense of the passage.

5. What is a summary (precis) of a paragraph?

   A shortened version that expresses the central idea and main points of the original in your own words, omitting examples, repetitions, and unnecessary details.

6. What is the standard length of a precis/summary relative to the original passage?

   Roughly one-third (about 1/3) the length of the original passage.

7. In which tense and person should a precis normally be written?

   In the third person and usually in the past tense (reported form), not in the first person of the original.

8. List three things that must be omitted when summarizing a paragraph.

   Examples and illustrations, repetitions, and unnecessary details such as quotations, figures of speech, and direct speech (converted to indirect).

9. What should a good summary always have, and what should it never include?

   It should always have a suitable title and the main idea; it should never include your own opinions, new information, or direct quotations from the text.

10. In a 'Reference to the Context' question, what three parts must your answer typically include?

    (1) The name of the poem/lesson and its poet/author, (2) the context (what is happening before and around the lines), and (3) the explanation/meaning of the given lines.

11. What is the purpose of a 'Reference to the Context' question in the exam?

    To test whether the student knows the source of the lines and can explain their meaning within the situation of the text.

12. How many parts of speech are traditionally recognized in English, and name them.

    Eight: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection (article is sometimes added as a ninth).

13. What is a noun? Give its four main kinds.

    A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea. Its kinds are: proper, common, collective, and abstract (sometimes also material).

14. What is a pronoun, and name the main types.

    A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun. Types: personal, possessive, reflexive, demonstrative, interrogative, relative, and indefinite.

15. What is the difference between an adjective and an adverb?

    An adjective modifies (describes) a noun or pronoun; an adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

16. What is a conjunction? Give an example of a coordinating and a subordinating conjunction.

    A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses. Coordinating example: 'and'/'but'/'or'; subordinating example: 'because'/'although'/'if'.

17. What is a preposition? Give three examples.

    A preposition shows the relation of a noun or pronoun to another word in the sentence. Examples: in, on, at, under, between.

18. What is an interjection? Give an example.

    An interjection is a word that expresses sudden emotion or feeling. Example: Alas!, Hurrah!, Oh!, Wow!

19. How many tenses are there in English, and what are the three main divisions?

    Twelve tenses, grouped into three main divisions: Present, Past, and Future, each having four forms (Indefinite/Simple, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect Continuous).

20. What is the structure (formula) of the Present Indefinite (Simple Present) tense?

    Subject + base verb (verb + s/es with third person singular). Example: He writes a letter.

21. What is the structure of the Present Continuous tense?

    Subject + is/am/are + verb-ing. Example: She is writing a letter.

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