ISC Class 12 Malayalam Syllabus 2026-27

The ISC (Indian School Certificate) Class 12 Malayalam syllabus for the academic session 2026-27 is prescribed by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). Malayalam is the official language of Kerala and one of the classical languages of India, with a literary tradition spanning over a thousand years. As an ISC language subject, Malayalam offers students a structured academic engagement with the language at an advanced level, developing skills in reading, writing, literary analysis, and critical appreciation of one of the subcontinent's richest literary heritages.

The Class 12 Malayalam syllabus builds directly on the foundation established in Class 11 and represents the final year of formal school-level study of the language. The curriculum is designed to develop advanced reading comprehension, precise written expression, grammatical accuracy, and an informed appreciation of the major literary forms and authors of Malayalam literature. Students engage with a carefully selected set of prescribed texts that represent the breadth of the Malayalam literary tradition across poetry, prose, and drama.

The ISC Malayalam examination tests four core competencies: reading and comprehension of unseen passages, written composition in functional and creative forms, grammar and language use, and critical engagement with prescribed literary texts. This integrated approach produces students who are not merely proficient users of Malayalam but confident, analytical readers and thoughtful writers in the language.

This page covers the complete ISC Class 12 Malayalam syllabus for 2026-27, including the examination pattern, the section-wise breakdown of the theory paper, the prescribed texts, the marking scheme, and expert preparation tips to help students plan their academic year effectively.

Quick Facts: ISC Class 12 Malayalam 2026-27

ISC Class 12 Malayalam Exam Pattern 2026-27

The ISC Class 12 Malayalam examination for the session 2026-27 consists of a written theory paper of three hours duration carrying 80 marks, and an internal assessment component carrying 20 marks conducted throughout the academic year by the school. The theory paper is divided into three sections, each testing a distinct competency area. There is no separate practical examination for Malayalam.

Overall Assessment Structure

Theory Paper: Section-wise Breakdown

The 80-mark theory paper is structured into three sections. Section A tests reading comprehension through unseen passages. Section B tests writing skills across a range of functional and creative composition types. Section C tests detailed knowledge and critical appreciation of the prescribed literary texts. Each section is compulsory, but choices are offered within sections.

Internal Assessment: Components

ISC Class 12 Malayalam Marking Scheme 2026-27

ISC Class 12 Malayalam Detailed Syllabus 2026-27

The ISC Malayalam syllabus for Class 12 is organised into four interconnected areas: reading comprehension, writing skills, grammar and language study, and the study of prescribed literary texts. Together, these areas develop students who can read Malayalam with depth and precision, write in the language with accuracy and appropriate style, and engage meaningfully with the literary heritage of one of India's oldest and most celebrated classical languages.

Section A: Reading Comprehension

This section tests students' ability to read and understand unseen passages in Malayalam. Two passages are provided, which may include a prose extract, a factual or informational passage, and occasionally a short poem or verse extract. Questions test a range of reading sub-skills from literal recall to inference, vocabulary in context, and the ability to summarise ideas concisely in the student's own Malayalam.

1.1 Comprehension of Unseen Prose Passages

•        Reading for literal comprehension: identifying stated facts, events, and information from the passage

•        Reading for inference: drawing conclusions from implied meaning; identifying the author's tone, purpose, and attitude

•        Vocabulary in context: understanding word meanings from surrounding text; antonyms, synonyms, and contextual definitions in Malayalam

•        Summary writing in Malayalam: condensing a given passage to a specified word limit while retaining key ideas and using the student's own language

•        Appreciation of prose style: recognising figurative language, descriptive writing, and narrative technique

1.2 Comprehension of Unseen Poetry or Verse

•        Reading a short poem or verse extract and responding to comprehension and appreciation questions

•        Identifying the central idea, theme, and emotional register of the poem

•        Understanding imagery, metaphor, and poetic devices used in the verse

•        Paraphrasing selected lines or stanzas in clear, simple Malayalam prose

Section B: Writing Skills

This section develops students' ability to write accurately and effectively in a range of functional and creative forms in Malayalam. Students are assessed on their command of standard written Malayalam, the appropriateness of register and tone to the writing task, the organisation and coherence of their content, and the correctness of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Students select from the choices offered within the section.

2.1 Formal Writing

•        Formal letter writing: letters of complaint, request, application, enquiry, and official correspondence in standard Malayalam letter format

•        Notice writing: official notices for schools, organisations, and community events in the prescribed format

•        Report writing: formal reports on events, meetings, surveys, or social issues in structured Malayalam

2.2 Informal and Creative Writing

•        Informal letter writing: personal letters to friends, relatives, and acquaintances in natural, idiomatic Malayalam

•        Essay writing: argumentative, descriptive, narrative, and reflective essays on given topics; approximately 250 to 350 words

•        Story writing: composing a short story from given visual or verbal prompts in Malayalam

•        Dialogue writing: writing a conversation between two or more characters on a given situation

•        Expansion of a proverb (pachimozhi): developing a short essay or paragraph from a given Malayalam proverb

2.3 Functional Writing

•        Diary entry: writing a personal diary passage recording an experience, emotion, or event in Malayalam

•        Speech writing: composing a structured speech for a given occasion or topic in standard Malayalam

•        Paragraph writing: developing a well-structured paragraph on a given topic or beginning sentence

Section C: Prescribed Texts

This section requires students to engage in close critical reading of the prescribed literary texts. The CISCE prescribes specific Malayalam texts for Class 12 each session, drawn from across the genres of prose (Gadyam), poetry (Padyam), and drama (Natakam). The selection includes works by celebrated Malayalam authors and represents a range of literary periods, styles, and themes, from the classical devotional and epic traditions to the modern and contemporary literary movements of Kerala. Students must demonstrate both detailed textual knowledge and the ability to analyse, interpret, and appreciate the literary qualities of the prescribed works.

3.1 Prescribed Prose (Gadyam)

•        Close reading and comprehension of prescribed prose extracts, essays, and short stories

•        Understanding the central argument, theme, and narrative or discursive structure of each prose piece

•        Identifying the author's viewpoint, tone, and characteristic stylistic features

•        Contextual questions (prasangam): identifying the speaker or narrator, the context, and the significance of given passages

•        Short answer questions on character, plot, setting, theme, and language of prescribed prose texts

•        Critical appreciation: analysing the literary merits and social, philosophical, or cultural significance of selected prose works

3.2 Prescribed Poetry (Padyam)

•        Reading and recitation of prescribed poems with correct intonation, rhythm, and emotional expression

•        Understanding the literal and figurative meaning of all prescribed poems

•        Identification and explanation of poetic devices: upama (simile), rupakam (metaphor), anuprasa (alliteration), yamakam (rhyme), and other alankaram (figures of speech) characteristic of Malayalam poetry

•        Understanding the rasa (emotional essence) and bhava (feeling) of each prescribed poem

•        Paraphrasing: expressing the meaning of selected verses or stanzas in clear prose Malayalam

•        Reference to context questions: identifying the poem, the poet, the occasion, and the significance of given lines

•        Critical appreciation of the poem's imagery, metrical structure, and emotional and thematic impact

3.3 Prescribed Drama (Natakam)

•        Reading and understanding the prescribed drama text in its entirety

•        Character analysis: identifying key characters, their traits, motivations, relationships, and development

•        Dramatic structure: understanding the plot, conflict, rising action, climax, and resolution

•        Dialogue analysis: understanding how character, theme, and dramatic tension are conveyed through spoken Malayalam

•        Themes and social context: identifying the central themes and the social, historical, or psychological issues addressed by the playwright

•        Stage directions and dramatic technique: understanding the visual and performative dimensions of the play

•        Reference to context and critical appreciation questions on selected scenes and passages

3.4 Grammar and Language Study (Integrated Throughout)

•        Vibhakti (case endings) and their correct application in written Malayalam

•        Samasam (compound words): types, formation rules, and analysis in Malayalam

•        Alankaram (figures of speech): identification, explanation, and application in both analytical and original writing

•        Kalam (tense) and Kriya (verb): correct conjugation of verbs in formal and literary Malayalam

•        Vakya parivartanam (sentence transformation): active to passive voice, direct to indirect speech

•        Sandhi (phonological junction rules) in written Malayalam: their identification and application

•        Word formation: roots (dhatu), prefixes (upasargam), and suffixes (pratyayam) in Malayalam

•        Proverbs (pachimozhi) and idioms (samsarabhagam): meaning, usage, and application in writing

•        Punctuation in Malayalam: correct use of all standard punctuation marks in formal writing

Prescribed Authors and Literary Texts: ISC Malayalam 2026-27

The CISCE prescribes specific texts for the ISC Class 12 Malayalam examination each session. Students and teachers must obtain the confirmed list of prescribed texts for 2026-27 directly from the official CISCE website at cisce.org or from the CISCE-published syllabus document for the session, and must ensure they are using the correct editions. The following represents the standard categories and types of authors and works included in the ISC Malayalam prescription.

Prescribed Prose Authors and Works

•        Essays and reflective prose by major 20th and 21st-century Malayalam writers from the Navotthana (Renaissance) and modern periods

•        Short stories (kathakal) by celebrated Malayalam fiction writers, including writers associated with the Modernist movement in Malayalam literature

•        Autobiographical and biographical prose: extracts from aatmakatha and jeevithacharitram traditions

•        Social and reform-oriented prose: works in the tradition of social commentary and humanist writing in Malayalam

•        Works by significant prose writers including Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, S.K. Pottakkatt, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, O.V. Vijayan, and their contemporaries

Prescribed Poetry Authors and Works

•        Classical Malayalam poetry: selected verses from the Ramacharitam, Manipravalam tradition, and Kilippattu (parrot-song) forms

•        Devotional and philosophical poetry: works from the Thunchath Ezhuthachan tradition and the Niranam poets

•        Modern Malayalam poetry: poems by G. Sankara Kurup, N.V. Krishna Warrier, Akkitham, O.N.V. Kurup, and their contemporaries

•        Contemporary Malayalam poets whose work engages with social justice, personal experience, and Kerala's cultural identity

•        Women poets in Malayalam: selected works by significant 20th and 21st-century women writers including Sugathakumari

Prescribed Drama (Natakam)

•        A full-length Malayalam play by a significant 20th or 21st-century Malayalam dramatist

•        Representative works from the tradition of Sangeetanatakom (musical drama) or Samoohanatakam (social realist drama)

•        Plays by prominent Malayalam playwrights such as N. Krishna Pillai, Thoppil Bhasi, K.T. Muhammad, G. Sankara Pillai, or their contemporaries

Chapter-wise Overview Table

Preparation Tips for ISC Class 12 Malayalam 2026-27

ISC Malayalam rewards students who combine a deep connection to the language with systematic and organised study. The three sections of the theory paper test distinct competencies, and effective preparation must address each section individually while building the overall fluency in standard written Malayalam that underpins performance across all three.

1. Read Widely in Standard Written Malayalam

The most effective preparation for any language paper is extensive reading. Make it a daily habit to read Malayalam newspapers such as Mathrubhumi, Malayala Manorama, and Deepika, along with literary magazines, short stories, and essays throughout the year. Wide reading builds vocabulary naturally, exposes students to varied writing styles, and develops the reading fluency essential for the comprehension section. Keep a vocabulary notebook to record unfamiliar words encountered in your reading, along with their meanings and example sentences.

2. Practise Section A Comprehension Regularly

The reading comprehension section rewards precision and the ability to express ideas concisely in Malayalam. Practise working through unseen passages regularly, first without a time limit and then progressively under timed conditions. Pay particular attention to inference questions, which require reading between the lines, and to summary writing, which requires identifying the most important ideas and restating them within a specified word limit in your own Malayalam. Avoid copying sentences verbatim from the passage.

3. Master All Writing Formats in Section B

Section B covers a wide range of functional and creative writing forms. Each form has specific conventions of layout, register, tone, and structure that must be followed correctly to earn full marks. Study the correct format for formal letters, informal letters, notices, reports, and speeches in Malayalam. Practise writing at least two examples of each form. For essay and creative writing, always plan your content in rough before writing, using a clear introduction, developed body paragraphs, and a purposeful conclusion.

4. Study Prescribed Texts Thoroughly

Section C is based entirely on the prescribed texts, and there is no substitute for thorough reading of every prescribed prose piece, poem, and drama. Read each text multiple times: once for overall understanding, once for analytical reading (noting themes, characters, imagery, and language), and once specifically for reference-to-context and critical appreciation preparation. For the drama, understand every scene, character, and key exchange of dialogue. For poetry, be able to paraphrase every poem in the prescription and identify its central theme, rasa, and literary devices.

5. Prepare Dedicated Notes for Reference to Context Questions

Reference to context questions (prasangam) require you to identify the text, the speaker or narrator, the occasion, and the significance of quoted lines, and are a standard feature of Section C. Prepare a revision sheet for each prescribed text listing the most important and frequently quoted passages, with notes on who speaks them, in what context, and why they matter. Consistent revision of these notes in the weeks before the examination ensures accurate identification under time pressure.

6. Revise All Grammar Topics Systematically

Grammar questions are embedded across all three sections rather than appearing in a dedicated section. Ensure you have revised all prescribed grammar topics: vibhakti pratyayam, samasa types, alankaram, tense and verb conjugation, vakya parivartanam, sandhi rules, and idioms and proverbs. Prepare a concise grammar revision notebook covering each topic with definitions, examples, and exercises. Review it regularly in the second half of the year.

7. Take Internal Assessment Marks Seriously

Internal assessment carries 20 marks and is assessed by the school throughout the year. Submit written assignments on time, maintain a well-organised portfolio of your written work, prepare thoroughly for periodic tests, and participate actively in speaking and listening activities. These marks are considerably easier to secure with consistent effort than equivalent marks in the written examination and should never be treated as a low priority.

8. Solve Previous Years' ISC Malayalam Papers

Solving past ISC Malayalam question papers under timed examination conditions is one of the most efficient preparation strategies. Aim to work through at least the last eight to ten years' papers. This builds familiarity with the question types specific to the ISC Malayalam paper, reveals patterns in how prescribed texts are examined, and develops the time management skills needed to complete all three sections within three hours. After each practice paper, review your responses carefully, focusing on where marks were lost and why.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the subject code for ISC Class 12 Malayalam?

The subject code for ISC Class 12 Malayalam is 73, as prescribed by the CISCE for the 2026-27 academic session.

Q2. How many marks does the ISC Class 12 Malayalam theory paper carry?

The ISC Class 12 Malayalam theory paper carries 80 marks and is three hours in duration. The remaining 20 marks are allocated to internal assessment conducted by the school, bringing the total to 100 marks.

Q3. How is the ISC Malayalam theory paper divided?

The 80-mark theory paper is divided into three sections. Section A (Reading Comprehension) carries 20 marks and tests unseen passage comprehension. Section B (Writing Skills) carries 30 marks and covers functional and creative composition. Section C (Prescribed Texts) carries 30 marks and tests knowledge and critical appreciation of the prescribed prose, poetry, and drama.

Q4. Are the prescribed texts for ISC Malayalam the same every year?

The CISCE revises the prescribed text list periodically, though individual texts may remain on the list across multiple sessions. Students and teachers must obtain the confirmed list of prescribed texts for 2026-27 directly from the official CISCE website at cisce.org and ensure they are using the correct editions. Using an outdated text list is a significant risk that must be avoided.

Q5. Is Malayalam available as both a first language and a second language in ISC?

Yes. The CISCE offers Malayalam as both a first language and, in some subject combinations, a second language option. The syllabus content and depth of literary study differ slightly between the two versions. Students must confirm with their school and the CISCE which version they are registered for and ensure their preparation aligns with the correct syllabus.

Q6. What types of writing tasks appear in Section B of the ISC Malayalam paper?

Section B typically offers a choice of writing tasks drawn from the following forms: formal letter, informal letter, essay, notice, report, speech, diary entry, story writing, and expansion of a proverb (pachimozhi vistar). Students are usually required to complete two tasks from the options given. Each form carries specific format and register requirements that must be followed correctly.

Q7. Are grammar questions tested separately in the ISC Malayalam paper?

Grammar is not tested in a separate dedicated section in the ISC Malayalam paper. Instead, grammatical knowledge is assessed in an integrated way across all three sections: correct language use is expected in all written compositions in Section B, grammar-based questions may appear within Section A, and language analysis questions appear in Section C. A strong command of Malayalam grammar is therefore essential for performance across the entire paper.

Q8. How should students approach critical appreciation questions in Section C?

Critical appreciation questions require students to analyse a passage or poem from multiple perspectives: its central theme, the author's or poet's craft and style, the use of literary devices and alankaram, the emotional impact, and the social or cultural significance of the work. Structure your answer with a brief introduction identifying the text, followed by analysis of content and themes, analysis of language and technique, and a conclusion evaluating the work's overall significance. Avoid retelling the content without analysis; marks are awarded for critical observations.

Q9. When is the ISC Class 12 Malayalam examination conducted?

The ISC Class 12 board examinations are typically held in February and March. Students should refer to the official CISCE website at cisce.org for the confirmed date sheet and timetable for the 2026-27 session and plan their revision schedule accordingly.