NEET / State Class 12 Board (e.g. ISC) English Syllabus

English syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for English in NEET / State Class 12 Board (e.g. ISC), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   English Language (Paper 1)

   4 topics

   • Composition Writing
     • Descriptive, narrative, argumentative and discursive essays
     • Story writing and reflective composition
   • Directed Writing
     • Article and report writing
     • Notice, email and speech writing
   • Comprehension Passage
     • Inference, vocabulary and contextual meaning
     • Summarising and precis of given passage
   • Grammar and Usage
     • Tenses, prepositions and transformation of sentences
     • Error correction and sentence rephrasing
2. 2

   Prose (Literature in English, Paper 2)

   3 topics

   • Prescribed Prose Texts
     • Themes, plot and narrative technique
     • Character analysis and authorial intent
   • Short Stories
     • Critical appreciation and central idea
     • Setting, conflict and resolution
   • Contextual Reference Questions
     • Significance of extracts within the text
3. 3

   Drama

   3 topics

   • Prescribed Play
     • Plot construction and dramatic structure
     • Major and minor characters
     • Themes, conflict and dramatic irony
   • Critical Appreciation of Drama
     • Soliloquy, dialogue and stagecraft
     • Symbolism and imagery
   • Scene and Act Analysis
     • Turning points and climax
4. 4

   Poetry

   3 topics

   • Prescribed Poems
     • Central idea, tone and mood
     • Poet's message and theme
   • Poetic Devices
     • Imagery, metaphor, simile and personification
     • Rhyme scheme, alliteration and symbolism
   • Critical Appreciation of Poetry
     • Structure, form and stanza analysis

English flashcards for NEET / State Class 12 Board (e.g. ISC)

23 of 51 cards from the English deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In ISC composition writing, what are the four main essay types a student may be asked to write?

   Argumentative (discursive), descriptive, narrative, and reflective essays.

2. What is the recommended word limit for the ISC Class 12 English composition (essay)?

   Approximately 400-450 words.

3. What three-part structure should every well-organised essay follow?

   Introduction (states the topic/thesis), body (developed paragraphs with arguments/examples), and conclusion (summary or final reflection).

4. In an argumentative essay, what is a counter-argument and why is it included?

   A counter-argument presents the opposing viewpoint; it is included and then refuted to show balanced reasoning and strengthen the writer's own position.

5. What is the defining feature of a reflective essay compared to other essay types?

   It explores the writer's personal thoughts, feelings and musings on an abstract idea (e.g. patience, fear) rather than narrating events or arguing a case.

6. What is the purpose of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?

   It states the main idea of the paragraph so the rest of the paragraph develops and supports that single point.

7. What is 'directed writing' in the ISC English paper?

   A task where students write a functional text (letter, speech, report, article, etc.) following specific given instructions and using supplied points or a situation.

8. List four common formats tested under directed writing in ISC English.

   Formal/informal letters, speeches, reports, and notices/articles (also debates and proposals).

9. What are the essential parts of a formal letter format?

   Sender's address, date, receiver's address/designation, salutation, subject line, body, complimentary close, and signature with name.

10. How does the salutation and tone of an informal letter differ from a formal letter?

    Informal letters use a personal salutation (e.g. 'Dear Riya') and a friendly, conversational tone; formal letters use 'Dear Sir/Madam' and an objective, polite tone.

11. What three structural parts make up a speech for directed writing?

    An opening address/greeting to the audience, the body presenting points, and a strong closing that thanks the audience.

12. In report writing, what key elements should the opening of a report contain?

    A heading/title, the name of the reporter, and the place and date of the event being reported.

13. What is the purpose of the comprehension passage section in ISC English?

    To test a student's ability to read, understand, infer meaning, and answer questions including vocabulary and summary based on an unseen passage.

14. What is the difference between a factual and an inferential comprehension question?

    A factual question's answer is stated directly in the passage; an inferential question requires deducing meaning not explicitly stated.

15. What is the golden rule for answering comprehension questions in your own words?

    Convey the same meaning using different vocabulary and sentence structure rather than copying phrases directly from the passage.

16. In a comprehension summary, what content should be excluded?

    Examples, illustrations, repetitions, quotations, and the writer's own opinions or comments not part of the required points.

17. When asked the meaning of a word 'as used in the passage', what must you do?

    Give the contextual meaning that fits the sentence, not just any dictionary definition of the word.

18. What is the difference between a phrase and a clause in grammar?

    A phrase is a group of words lacking a subject-verb pair; a clause contains both a subject and a finite verb.

19. What is the difference between the active and passive voice?

    In active voice the subject performs the action ('She wrote the letter'); in passive voice the subject receives the action ('The letter was written by her').

20. How is reported (indirect) speech formed from direct speech for a present-tense statement?

    The reporting verb and the tense of the reported clause shift back one step (present to past), pronouns and time/place words are adjusted, and quotation marks are removed.

21. What are the three degrees of comparison of adjectives, with an example?

    Positive, comparative, and superlative — e.g. tall, taller, tallest.

22. What is subject-verb agreement?

    The rule that a verb must agree with its subject in number and person — a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject a plural verb.

23. Name the four main types of sentences by structure.

    Simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.

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