ISC Class 12 Modern English Syllabus 2026-27

The ISC (Indian School Certificate) Class 12 Modern English syllabus for the academic session 2026-27 is prescribed by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) under subject code 891. Modern English is a new subject option introduced by CISCE for Classes 11 and 12, and it runs as an alternative to the long-established compulsory English (801) course.

Every ISC candidate must offer English in one form or the other. The choice is between English (801), built around Shakespeare's Macbeth with the Prism and Rhapsody anthologies, and Modern English (891), built around George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion with the Perspectives and Reflections anthologies. The language component is the same in both; what changes is the set of literary texts. Modern English is generally described as more accessible rather than easier, since the prescribed writing is closer to contemporary usage and does not require Shakespearean English.

Like English (801), Modern English has two separate components, English Language and Literature in English, and each is examined as a full subject in its own right, with an 80-mark theory paper and 20 marks of project work.

This page sets out the complete syllabus for both components, the Class 12 prescribed texts, the exam pattern, the project work requirements, and preparation guidance for ISC 2027 candidates.

Note: Modern English (891) may not be taken together with English (801). Candidates offer one or the other, and either satisfies the ISC compulsory English requirement.

Quick Facts: ISC Class 12 Modern English 2026-27

ISC Class 12 Modern English Exam Pattern 2026-27

Modern English is examined through two independent components, each with its own theory paper and its own project work.

Important: the ISC Class 12 examination paper is set only on the portion of the syllabus prescribed for Class XII. Texts studied in Class 11 are not examined in the Class 12 board paper, although the Class 11 reading builds the critical vocabulary the Class 12 paper expects.

Component 1: English Language

The English Language paper in Modern English follows the same design as the compulsory English Language paper. All questions are compulsory.

Paper I: Theory (80 Marks)

Marks are awarded for the quality of the language employed (the range and appropriateness of vocabulary, sentence structure and syntax, grammatical correctness and command of idiom) as well as for the degree to which the response answers the question set.

New for ISC 2027: CISCE has added Blog Writing as a format within English Language Paper 1. Candidates should practise it alongside essays, articles, reports and letters.

Paper II: Project Work (20 Marks)

Project work in Class 12 consists of assessment in three skills: Listening, Speaking and Writing. Listening and Speaking are assessed internally by the school during English course work in Class 12. The Writing Skills task is externally assessed by the Visiting Examiner.

Suggested assignments for the writing component include:

1. The text of a brochure

2. A product description

3. A process description, such as instructions to operate a device, a recipe or a scientific experiment

4. Description of a sporting event

5. An autobiographical experience

6. Review of a television serial

Component 2: Literature in English (Prescribed Texts)

This is where Modern English differs from English (801). Candidates answer questions based on the prescribed textbooks, which cover Drama, Prose (short stories) and Poetry.

Paper I: Theory (80 Marks)

Questions are set on the prescribed texts and may be character-based, incident-based, theme-based, or may require critical appreciation. Questions on poetry may be set on a single poem or on a group of poems.

Prescribed Textbooks

1. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw

2. PERSPECTIVES: A Collection of ISC Short Stories (Evergreen Publications (India) Ltd, New Delhi)

3. REFLECTIONS: A Collection of ISC Poems (Evergreen Publications (India) Ltd, New Delhi)

Syllabus Prescribed for Class XII

Drama

• Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (Acts III, IV and V)

Prose: Perspectives: A Collection of ISC Short Stories

Poetry: Reflections: A Collection of ISC Poems

For reference, the Class XI portion of Perspectives and Reflections includes stories such as Lawley Road (R. K. Narayan), The Landlady (Roald Dahl), Most Beautiful (Ruskin Bond) and Dream-Children: A Reverie (Charles Lamb), and poems including Father Returning Home (Dilip Chitre), Life Doesn't Frighten Me (Maya Angelou) and A Prayer for My Daughter (W. B. Yeats). These are not examined in the ISC Class 12 board paper.

Paper II: Project Work (20 Marks)

Project work for the Literature component asks for original, creative and critical perspectives on the prescribed texts. Suggested assignments include:

• Analysis of a theme from any short story or poem in the syllabus

• Analysis of a character from the drama, or from any short story or poem in the syllabus

• Comparing and contrasting two characters or two themes drawn from different short stories or poems

• Imagining an alternate outcome or ending for a prescribed text

CISCE does not set a question paper for project work.

Modern English (891) vs English (801): Which to Choose

Both options satisfy the compulsory English requirement and both carry identical marks. The decision turns on the prescribed literature.

Modern English suits students who read confidently in contemporary English and want their literature marks to depend on interpretation rather than on decoding archaic diction. English (801) remains a strong choice for students who enjoy Shakespearean study or who intend to pursue literature at undergraduate level. Schools decide which option they offer, so confirm availability with your own school before planning around either.

ISC Class 12 Modern English Marking Scheme 2026-27

Candidates must secure a minimum of 35% to pass, which is the ISC passing criterion applied to each individual subject.

Preparation Tips for ISC Class 12 Modern English 2026-27

Read Each Prescribed Text at Least Twice

Five short stories, five poems and three acts of Pygmalion is a finite, very manageable body of work. Read everything once for the story and once for the detail: who says what, where the turning points fall, which images recur. Textual accuracy is what separates a safe answer from a vague one, and examiners credit precise reference.

Build a Theme-and-Character Grid

Most Literature questions are character-based, incident-based or theme-based. Keep a single grid listing, for each text, its central themes, its main characters and two or three quotable incidents. For Pygmalion, focus on Acts III, IV and V specifically, since those are the prescribed acts. Class, speech, transformation and independence are the threads that run through them.

Practise Critical Appreciation of Poetry

Poetry questions may be set on one poem or on a group of poems, which means you should be able to connect poems to each other as well as analyse them individually. Refugee Blues and Urban, for instance, both deal with displacement and alienation in very different registers. Practise writing on mood, imagery, structure and the poet's attitude rather than retelling the content.

Treat Proposal Writing as a Format, Not an Essay

Proposal Writing in Paper 1 has a strict expected structure: a heading, a clear statement of objectives, and a list of measures or steps. Learn the format cold and keep to the word limit. The same applies to the directed writing task: marks go to candidates who produce the right kind of document, not the longest one.

Add Blog Writing to Your Practice Rotation

Blog Writing is new to English Language Paper 1 from ISC 2027. It has a looser, more conversational register than a report or a formal letter, but it still needs a clear structure and a defined audience. Write a few timed blog pieces so the tone does not come as a surprise in the exam hall.

Do One Timed Writing Task a Week

The Language paper is long and the Composition question alone can absorb far more time than it should. One timed writing practice a week through the year, marked against the question's demands, builds both speed and control.

Start Project Work Early

Listening, Speaking and Writing projects for the Language component and the critical project for Literature are all assessed, and the Writing Skills task is seen by the Visiting Examiner. Choose your texts and topics early so you have time to revise and format the work properly.

Use the Specimen Papers Once You Have Finished the Texts

Attempt ISC Class 12 Modern English specimen papers under timed conditions after a complete reading of the Class 12 texts, then mark them against the answer key to see whether your textual detail is holding up under exam pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the subject code for ISC Class 12 Modern English?

The subject code for ISC Class 12 Modern English is 891, as assigned by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).

Is Modern English a new ISC subject?

Yes. Modern English was introduced by CISCE as a new subject option for Classes 11 and 12, alongside other new offerings such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Applied Mathematics. It is offered as an alternative to the compulsory English (801) course.

Can I take both English and Modern English at ISC?

No. CISCE does not permit English (801) and Modern English (891) to be taken together. Candidates offer one or the other, and either satisfies the compulsory English requirement.

Which drama is prescribed for ISC Class 12 Modern English?

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. The Class 12 examination is set on Acts III, IV and V.

Which short stories are prescribed for Class 12 Modern English?

Five stories from Perspectives: A Collection of ISC Short Stories. They are The Doll's House (Katherine Mansfield), Death by Scrabble (Charlie Fish), The Dreamer (Saki), Games at Twilight (Anita Desai) and The Father-Thing (Philip K. Dick).

Which poems are prescribed for Class 12 Modern English?

Five poems from Reflections: A Collection of ISC Poems. They are My Grandmother's House (Kamala Das), Refugee Blues (W. H. Auden), Urban (Nissim Ezekiel), Ode to Tomatoes (Pablo Neruda) and The Black Santa (Allison Joseph).

How many marks is ISC Class 12 Modern English?

Modern English has two components, English Language and Literature in English. Each carries 80 marks for the theory paper and 20 marks for project work, so each component totals 100 marks and the subject totals 200 marks.

Is Modern English easier than English?

It is better described as more accessible than easier. The language paper is identical in design and marked to the same standard. The difference lies in the literature: Modern English prescribes contemporary texts rather than Shakespeare, so candidates spend less effort decoding archaic language and more on interpretation. The analytical demands of the Literature paper are comparable.

Will the Class 11 texts be examined in the Class 12 board paper?

No. The ISC Class 12 examination paper is set only on the portion of the syllabus prescribed for Class XII.

What is the passing mark for ISC Class 12 Modern English?

Candidates must secure a minimum of 35%, which is the ISC passing criterion applied to each individual subject.

Where can I download the official ISC Class 12 Modern English syllabus?

The official syllabus PDF for Modern English (891) can be downloaded from the CISCE website at www.cisce.org, under the Publications or Syllabus section for the relevant ISC examination year. Confirm the prescribed text list there before buying books, since anthology contents are revised periodically.