CBSE Class 12 Sample Paper 2025–26 (English Core, Code 301) Solution
CBSE Class 12 Sample Paper 2025–26 (English Core, Code 301).
I’ll now solve it section by section in a neat exam-style way so you can practice directly.
✅ SOLVED SAMPLE PAPER (CBSE Class XII – 2025–26)
SECTION A – Reading Skills (22 marks)
Q1 (Passage from Great Expectations)
I. Pip was trembling → “…the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all…” ✅
II. The sea = ‘savage lair’ → to show its wild and frightening nature. ✅
III. Answer: D. via Pip’s knowledge of the surrounding area (not a reason). ✅
IV. “Keep still, or I’ll make you pay!” = B. threat ✅
V. The fearful man was in discomfort because his shoes were broken / he was soaked in water and mud / his teeth chattered. ✅
VI. “Give it mouth!” = C. Answer the question ✅
VII. Ate ‘ravenously’ = shows extreme hunger / starvation. ✅
VIII. His question about Pip’s mother and reaction = shows he was paranoid, suspicious and wanted to ensure no one would interfere in his escape. (40 words) ✅
IX. Forcing Pip to look up → creates helplessness and fear, heightens tension as Pip feels trapped under his power. (40 words) ✅
X. Main idea = A. Pip’s encounter with a frightening man who demands information ✅
Q2 (Survey Passage – Job Preferences)
I. Purpose: B. To explore patterns in career aspirations and the factors influencing them ✅
II. Findings to be representative ✅
III. Policymakers need to encourage → Start-ups / family businesses / service professions (as they need incentives). ✅
IV. Correct trend = C. Service professions have a higher percentage ‘Highly Preferred’ compared to corporate jobs. ✅
V. Corporate jobs = better for Riya → provide salary security and defined growth, unlike start-ups/family business. ✅
VI. ‘Limited mentorship opportunities’ = D. Difficulty in finding experienced professionals to guide career paths ✅
VII. Emerging industries & technology research → helps youth plan careers better, adapt to change, and make informed decisions. (40 words) ✅
VIII. NOT addressed = B. The impact of gender on career preferences ✅
SECTION B – Creative Writing Skills (18 marks)
✍️ SECTION B – Creative Writing Skills (18 Marks)
CBSE Class 12 English Sample Paper 2025-26
Section B – Creative Writing Skills (Solved)
Q3. Notice Writing (4 Marks)
Strategy:
– Write in a box.
– Include: Name of organisation, heading, date, event details, contact info.
– Keep it formal, clear, concise.
A) Notice – Pottery Classes
TEEN WELL-BEING ASSOCIATION, CHANDIGARH
NOTICE
Date: 20 Sept 2025
FREE POTTERY CLASSES
The Association is organising free pottery classes every Sunday morning at the Community Hall to encourage creativity among young residents. All interested may register at the Association office by 25th Sept 2025.
For details, contact: Daljeet Kaur (Member)
B) Notice – Eco-Fiesta
ABC SCHOOL, MADURAI
NOTICE
Date: 20 Sept 2025
ECO-FIESTA
Our school is organising an ‘Eco-Fiesta’ to raise awareness about environmental issues on 30th Sept 2025 at the School Grounds. Students are invited to participate in activities and food stalls.
For registration, contact: Keerthi (Secretary, Environmental Club)
Q4. Invitation / Reply (4 Marks)
Strategy:
– Invitation → formal, includes occasion, date, venue, request to join.
– Reply → acknowledge invitation, accept/decline, gratitude.
A) Formal Invitation – Annual Music Festival
JKL SCHOOL, JAMSHEDPUR
The Cultural Committee cordially invites
Mr. Gajendra Hansda (acclaimed musician)
to perform and judge the ANNUAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
on 15th October 2025 at 5:00 p.m.
in the School Auditorium.
Vignesh Kumar
(Cultural Secretary)
B) Formal Reply – Science Exhibition Invitation
45, Ashok Vihar
Nagpur
20 Sept 2025
The Principal,
National Public School, Mumbai
Respected Sir/Madam,
I sincerely thank you for inviting me to inaugurate the Science Exhibition on 10th Oct 2025 at my alma mater. It is an honour and privilege. I gladly accept the invitation and express my gratitude.
Yours faithfully,
Bina Bedekar
Q5. Letter Writing (5 Marks)
Strategy:
– Letter to Editor → formal format, issue + suggestions.
– Job Application → cover letter + biodata.
A) Letter to Editor – Spotting Sports Talent
13-A, Gol Bazaar
Jaisalmer
20 Sept 2025
The Editor
The Nation Today
Subject: Need to Assess Sports Talent at Young Age
Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to highlight the importance of recognising sports talent at a young age.
Many children show natural sporting abilities in their formative years, yet their talent often remains unnoticed. If teachers and coaches actively identify these abilities early, children can build strong foundational skills. Grooming them with discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship will create a larger pool of skilled athletes.
Such efforts will not only strengthen our sports culture but also enhance national pride. I request the concerned authorities to initiate structured programmes for spotting and nurturing talent at school level.
Yours sincerely,
Pranab Chauhan
B) Job Application – Junior Marketing Executive
51/A, 2nd Floor
Shalimar Vihar, Delhi
20 Sept 2025
The HR Manager
XYZ Marketing Firm
Delhi
Subject: Application for the post of Junior Marketing Executive
Sir,
In response to your advertisement in The Urban Echo, I wish to apply for the post of Junior Marketing Executive.
I am a graduate in Business Administration with excellent communication and analytical skills. I have done internships in marketing campaigns and possess knowledge of digital tools. I assure you of my dedication and ability to contribute positively.
Kindly find my biodata attached.
Yours faithfully,
Lakshmi Kapur
Bio-data:
– Name: Lakshmi Kapur
– Date of Birth: 15 Aug 2003
– Address: 51/A, Shalimar Vihar, Delhi
– Qualifications: BBA (Marketing), Delhi University, 2024
– Skills: MS Office, Digital Marketing, Team Leadership
– Experience: Internship at BrightAds Pvt. Ltd. (6 months)
– Languages: English, Hindi
Q6. Article / Report (5 Marks)
Strategy:
– Article → heading, byline, intro, body, conclusion.
– Report → factual, past tense, third person, highlights.
A) Article – Digital Communication in Education
Role of Digital Communication in Education
– by Nooran Sheikh
Digital communication tools have transformed education by making it more engaging and accessible. Online learning platforms and virtual classrooms break geographical barriers, allowing students from remote areas to access quality resources.
Interactive tools enhance student engagement, making learning active rather than passive. Teachers have adopted new roles as facilitators, guiding learners to explore knowledge independently.
Accessibility has improved with recorded lectures, digital libraries, and real-time doubt solving. These tools also improve learning outcomes by allowing personalised learning at different paces.
Digital communication, thus, is not just a convenience but a necessity in modern education. It prepares students for a tech-driven future.
B) Report – Cultural Festival
Cultural Festival at LMN School, Kochi
– Report by Devaki Fernandes
The annual cultural festival of LMN School, Kochi, was held on 10th Sept 2025 with great enthusiasm. The event aimed to celebrate the school’s achievements and foster creativity among students.
The programme included dance, music, skits, and an art exhibition. Students also displayed innovative projects. Food stalls added flavour to the celebration.
The participation level was high, with students showcasing immense talent. Teachers and parents appreciated the efforts and teamwork displayed.
The festival was a grand success, reflecting the school’s vibrant cultural spirit.
Q3. Notice Writing (4 marks)
Q: Inter School Debate Competition on Digital Education, 25 Sept 2025, school auditorium. Draft a notice as Cultural Secretary.
📌 Format (Box with heading, date, issuing authority)
SJS Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Silana
NOTICE
Date: 12 Sept 2025
Heading: Inter School Debate Competition
All students are hereby informed that our school is organizing an Inter School Debate Competition on the topic “Digital Education: Boon or Bane” on 25th September 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in the school auditorium.
Interested students from classes XI & XII may give their names to the undersigned by 20th September 2025.
Prizes will be awarded to the best speakers.
(Riya Sharma)
Cultural Secretary
Q4. Invitation & Reply (4 marks)
Q: Formal Invitation for Silver Jubilee Celebration of school + one reply (acceptance).
📌 (a) Formal Invitation
SJS Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Silana
cordially invites you to the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the school
on 1st October 2025 at 5:00 p.m.
at the School Auditorium.
Chief Guest: Hon’ble Director, School Education Haryana
Your gracious presence will be a source of inspiration.
Principal
Shaheed Jagbir Singh GGSSS, Silana
📌 (b) Formal Reply (Acceptance)
Mr. & Mrs. Yadav
thank the Principal for the kind invitation to the Silver Jubilee Celebration of SJS GGSSS, Silana on 1st October 2025 and are pleased to confirm their presence at the event.
Q5. Letter Writing (5 marks)
Q: Letter to Editor about reckless driving by school bus drivers.
📌 Format: Sender’s Address → Date → Receiver → Subject → Body → Sign off
House No. 121,
Silana, Jhajjar
10 Sept 2025
The Editor,
The Tribune,
Chandigarh
Subject: Reckless Driving by School Bus Drivers
Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the authorities to the reckless and dangerous driving by school bus drivers in Jhajjar district.
Every morning, buses are seen overloaded with children, overtaking vehicles rashly, and ignoring traffic signals. This reckless behavior endangers not only the lives of innocent students but also pedestrians.
I request the transport department and school authorities to implement strict monitoring, speed governors, and penalties to ensure the safety of school children.
I hope this issue is addressed urgently.
Yours faithfully,
Rohit Sharma
Q6. Article Writing (5 marks)
Q: Article on Importance of Mental Health for Youth (150 words).
📌 Format: Title → Byline → Body
Importance of Mental Health for Youth
By A Student Correspondent
Today’s youth faces immense pressure from academics, peer competition, social media, and family expectations. While physical health is often prioritized, mental health remains neglected, leading to anxiety, stress, and even depression.
Mental health is the foundation of overall well-being. A healthy mind enhances concentration, creativity, and decision-making. Youth must be taught to value self-care, positive thinking, and resilience. Schools should organize counseling sessions, yoga, and awareness programs to break the stigma around mental health.
Parents must maintain open communication and avoid unnecessary pressure. Seeking professional help should be encouraged instead of being seen as a weakness.
It is rightly said: “A sound mind in a sound body is the true key to success.” The well-being of our nation lies in the hands of healthy youth—physically and mentally.
📚 SECTION C – Literature (40 Marks)
✅ Section C – Literature (Q7 to Q13)
Q7. Extract-based Question (6 marks)
Option A – My Mother at Sixty-six
I. The ‘ashen face’ suggests weakness, lifelessness, and old age, indicating the mother’s fragile physical condition. ✅
II. The awareness was sudden. ✅
III. The phrase adds contrast – the liveliness of children highlights the mother’s frailty, creating a bittersweet tone. ✅
IV. Theme – inevitability of aging and mortality. ✅
V. Correct option – c) Overwhelmed by a sense of anguish. ✅
VI. Incorrect statement – b) The poet makes exclusive use of melancholic imagery. ✅
Option B – Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
I. ‘Terrified hands’ suggest a life full of fear, suppression, and hardships. ✅
II. Tigers’ movements reflect fearlessness and confidence. ✅
III. Tigers contrast with Aunt’s life: they are bold and free, while she is trapped and oppressed. ✅
IV. Correct option – wedding band on her finger. ✅
V. Correct option – c) A child playing freely in a park. ✅
VI. Correct option – a) Art is a timeless expression that outlives its creator. ✅
Q8. Extract-based Question (4 marks)
Option A – The Third Level
I. Suggests Charley values the simplicity and peace of the past more than money. ✅
II. He has been unsuccessful despite repeated efforts to locate the corridor. ✅
III. Irony – Louisa thinks Charley’s search is madness, but later she too joins him, showing the attraction of escapism. ✅
IV. Correct option – a) finding comfort in a hobby that is familiar. ✅
Option B – On the Face of It
I. Mr. Lamb means Derry is more than his scar; he has other qualities. ✅
II. Correct option – C. “Maybe he really sees more than just my face.” ✅
III. Mr. Lamb sees Derry’s scar as only one part of him. ✅
IV. The dialogue shows Derry’s isolation and Lamb’s effort to bridge the emotional distance through empathy. ✅
Q9. Extract-based Question (6 marks)
Option A – The Rattrap
I. Correct option – B. 2 and 4 (kindness + respect). ✅
II. Correct answer – silently. ✅
III. Correct option – B. He felt obligated to trust her kindness. ✅
IV. The blacksmiths were astonished because a poor tramp was treated like a guest of honour. ✅
V. Guilt over stealing money made him fearful that his crime would be exposed. ✅
VI. Completion – Fear that he would be caught and punished by the law. ✅
Option B – Going Places
I. Correct answer – arrival of night. ✅
II. Correct option – A. 1, 3 and 5. ✅
III. Correct answer – A. appearance vs. reality. ✅
IV. Correct line – “Sophie felt a tightening in her throat.” ✅
V. The word ‘cluttered’ with ‘heavy-breathing’ stresses the suffocating, stifling atmosphere at home. ✅
VI. The poor, steamy, cramped room intensifies the mood of hardship and limitations. ✅
Q10. Short Answer Questions (Any 5, 2 marks each)
I. The Last Lesson: French was a symbol of identity and pride; the narrator regretted not valuing it earlier. ✅
II. Deep Water: Teaches us that courage and persistence can conquer fear. ✅
III. A Thing of Beauty: Beauty provides hope, positivity, and strength to face challenges. ✅
IV. Keeping Quiet: Symbolises peace with nature and self-reflection. ✅
V. The Interview: Shows interviews are intrusive, prying, and disrespectful of privacy. ✅
VI. Lost Spring: The narrator’s voice highlights the depth of poverty and lost childhood better than a plain narrative. ✅
Q11. Short Answer Questions (Any 2, 2 marks each)
I. Journey to the End of the Earth: Such programmes make students aware of climate change and responsibility towards the planet. ✅
II. Cutting of My Long Hair: Shows humiliation, loss of cultural identity, and helplessness. ✅
III. On the Face of It: Derry’s remark shows people often give false consolation instead of truly understanding suffering. ✅
Q12. Long Answer (120–150 words)
Option A – Indigo & The Roadside Stand
Both Indigo and The Roadside Stand depict the struggles of the poor against injustice and neglect. In Indigo, Gandhi fights for the rights of oppressed peasants in Champaran, who were forced into unfair agreements by British landlords. His leadership inspires dignity, courage, and the beginning of freedom from fear.
On the other hand, The Roadside Stand highlights the plight of rural villagers, ignored and cheated by wealthy city dwellers. Their roadside stalls remain empty as the rich drive past, indifferent to their needs. The villagers’ hope for development clashes with exploitation, leaving them disheartened.
Thus, both works converge on the theme of inequality. While Gandhi offers hope through leadership and justice, Frost exposes society’s indifference. Together, they urge us to adopt compassion, equality, and fairness for building a humane society.
Option B – Poets & Pancakes & Going Places
Dreams and aspirations form the central theme of both Poets and Pancakes and Going Places. In Poets and Pancakes, the office boy dreams of becoming a film star but remains stuck in a petty job, frustrated at his insignificance. His unfulfilled desires mirror the gap between ambition and harsh reality.
Similarly, Sophie in Going Places lives in a world of fantasy, imagining encounters with celebrity Danny Casey. Her dreams of glamour and escape contrast sharply with her modest background and family struggles. Her illusions reflect the universal desire of youth to rise above limitations.
Both characters embody the conflict between dreams and reality. While dreams provide hope and escape, they also bring disappointment when disconnected from truth. These works remind us to nurture ambition but remain grounded in practicality and self-awareness.
Q13. Long Answer (120–150 words)
Option A – The Enemy
Dr. Sadao’s moral dilemma in The Enemy highlights the conflict between patriotism and humanity. As a Japanese doctor, his duty was to serve his nation during the war. Yet, as a human being and healer, he could not abandon the wounded American soldier.
Initially, he feels torn—sheltering an enemy could brand him a traitor. Still, he chooses to save the soldier, guided by his conscience and medical oath. His compassion triumphs over political boundaries, showing that human life is sacred, irrespective of nationality.
Through Sadao’s choices, the story conveys that humanity is the highest duty. True courage lies in following one’s conscience, even in times of war and prejudice. His actions inspire readers to put compassion and moral responsibility above blind nationalism.
Option B – The Tiger King
The Tiger King uses satire, irony, and humour to expose the arrogance and folly of rulers. The Maharaja, obsessed with killing tigers to defy a prophecy, believes power can control fate. His pride leads him to reckless actions, exploiting nature and people alike.
Irony dominates the tale—the prophecy comes true not through a real tiger, but a toy one. His careless handling of the wooden tiger ultimately causes his death, making his grand efforts futile. The exaggerated humour in his obsession makes the story engaging yet deeply symbolic.
Through satire, the writer mocks blind superstition, abuse of authority, and arrogance of kings. The story becomes both amusing and thought-provoking, teaching us that fate, truth, and humility stand above power and pride. Its witty style makes the moral unforgettable.
🌟 Golden Tips
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Use textual references/keywords for literature answers.
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Keep answers precise & within word limit.
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Maintain neat handwriting + underlining keywords.
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Don’t leave anything blank → attempt all.
