CBSE Class 12 English exam 2026 analysis: Students find paper easy to moderate, Check question paper PDF here

CBSE Class 12 English exam 2026

The Class 12 English exams took place today, March 12, 2026. English is a significant exam for students across all disciplines. Once the three-hour test was over and candidates emerged from the exam rooms, discussions immediately focused on the questions themselves, their difficulty, and how well the paper mirrored the students’ year-long preparation. For a plethora of students, the paper felt familiar. Initial assessments indicated that the question paper adhered closely to the NCERT curriculum and the formats utilized in pre-board assessments. Although the general difficulty was perceived as easy to moderate, some students encountered a minor increase in complexity within certain question sets, especially Set 3.

A paper grounded in textbook study

The English examination evaluated students across various sections, encompassing reading comprehension, writing proficiency, and literary analysis. Students reported that most questions were straightforward and closely mirrored the content of the NCERT textbooks, thereby enabling well-prepared candidates to approach the examination with assurance. Furthermore, students observed that the exam’s structure was familiar, closely mirroring the format of the school-level pre-board.One more problem noticed by students was that the format of the exams was familiar, much closer to the pattern of school-level pre-board exams. This certainty enabled most of the applicants to finish the paper within the stipulated time comfortably.

Variation across sets

There were, however, slight variations in the level of difficulty observed in the sets of questions by students. Sets 1 and 2 were broadly characterized as very easy, whereas Set 3 was somewhat more challenging, mainly due to the fact that there were no multiple-choice questions in Section 1.Although there was this difference, the general feeling among students was good, with most of them having high expectations.Despite this variation, the overall consensus among students remained positive, with many expecting strong scores. Students describe paper as manageable and scoring.Dev, a student of Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Mustafabad, who appeared for the examination at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Khajuri Khas, said the paper felt largely predictable and accessible.“The overall paper was easy to moderate, and it felt very similar to the kind of questions we had practised during our pre-board examinations. Most of the answers could be written directly from the NCERT textbooks if students had studied the chapters carefully. According to many of my classmates, Set 1 and Set 2 were very easy, while Set 3 appeared slightly more difficult because Section 1 did not include MCQs, which made it feel a little lengthier. Still, for students who prepared well from the textbooks and revised writing formats, the paper was definitely scoring.”

Emphasis on NCERT-based learning

Kunal, another student from Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Mustafabad, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the role of consistent preparation.“The English paper mainly tested how well students understood the NCERT lessons and how effectively they practised writing formats throughout the year. Many of the literature questions felt familiar, and the passages were straightforward to interpret. Although some students found Set 3 slightly more demanding, the overall structure of the paper remained predictable. Anyone who had studied regularly and practised previous papers would have found it comfortable to attempt.”

A key subject for Arts students

Priyant, also from the same school, emphasised that English remains a crucial subject for Arts stream students, often contributing significantly to overall board scores.“For Arts students, English is one of the most important subjects because it helps strengthen the overall percentage in the board examinations. This year’s paper felt quite balanced and approachable. The questions were largely drawn from themes and chapters that we had already studied in the NCERT books, and the writing section followed the formats we practised repeatedly in class. Since the paper resembled our pre-board exams, many students are hopeful of securing good marks.”

A familiar and scoring examination

Overall, the Class 12 English examination appeared to reward consistent preparation and strong familiarity with NCERT texts. With most questions remaining within the expected framework, students who had revised thoroughly and practised writing formats are likely to benefit from the paper’s scoring nature.As the board examination schedule continues, students now shift their focus to upcoming subjects, even as today’s English exam leaves many hopeful of strong results.

CBSE class 12 English question paper PDF

The official question paper PDF for CBSE class 12 English exam is provided below.