The CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature examination held on February 21 ended on a largely positive note, with students across Delhi describing the paper as easy, direct and scoring. Initial reactions collected by TOI Education from multiple examination centres indicated that the question paper was closely aligned with NCERT, balanced across sections and manageable within the three-hour duration. For the 2026 board examinations, over 25 lakh Class 10 students appeared across thousands of centres nationwide. The English paper was conducted in a single shift from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM under standard CBSE guidelines.Students from Khajoori Khas centre find paper easyStudents from Govt Boys Senior Secondary School, Tukhmirpur, School No. 2, who appeared for the exam at SKV Khajoori Khas, said the paper was straightforward and less stressful compared to earlier board exams.Rizwan said, “The paper was easy; we will not term it moderate or hard. It was better than the Maths paper, which was difficult, especially the Basic Maths paper, though the Standard Maths paper was relatively easier.”Ishrar highlighted the clarity of questions. “The questions were directly asked from the NCERT, and the passages were simple. We could understand them easily and answer without confusion.”Ishan added that most sections were comfortable to attempt but noted a minor challenge. “The paper was easy overall and most sections were straightforward. However, I found some questions in the grammar section a bit difficult, especially those on reported speech.”Most students from the centre said they were able to complete the paper on time and had a few minutes left for revision.Mixed reactions from Shree Ram Colony centreAt Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Shree Ram Colony, where students from GGSSS Sonia Vihar appeared, the overall response was positive, though a few candidates found one section slightly challenging.Kajal said, “The overall paper was manageable, but I found Section C a bit tough compared to the other sections.”However, her classmates Rita and Swati described the paper as scoring. Rita said, “The paper was easy and felt like a scoring one.” Swati added, “It was an easy paper overall, and most questions were straightforward.”Students from the centre also said that the reading passages were clear and that the writing tasks followed familiar formats, which helped them manage time effectively.Teachers’ analysis: Moderate, balanced and student-friendlyMahima Dudeja, PGT English at JAIN International Residential School (JIRS), described the paper as moderately easy and well-structured.“The overall Grade X English Language and Literature paper was moderately easy. The language was lucid and coherent, enabling smooth comprehension. The paper was balanced and competency-based, requiring students to think critically, compare ideas and draw logical conclusions rather than rely on rote learning,” she said.She noted that students who could interpret figurative and metaphorical meanings had an advantage. In Section A, the factual passage included an Assertion–Reason question, while the discursive passage was largely direct and accessible.In Section B, the writing tasks placed greater emphasis on the Letter to the Editor, and the analytical paragraph was fact-based but easy to attempt. However, she pointed out a minor issue: “The reported speech question had a punctuation inconsistency, framed as an interrogative but ending with a full stop, which may have briefly confused attentive students.”For Section C, the literature questions were understanding-based and scoring for students familiar with themes and messages.Clear guidelines and manageable within timeVinnita Maheshwari, Subject Matter Expert at Lancers Army Schools, also termed the paper moderate to easy.“Most questions were directly based on the prescribed syllabus. The comprehension was scoring, and clear word limits and format guidelines made it easier for students to organise their answers,” she said.She added that the paper offered balanced choices in writing tasks and maintained good distribution of marks across topics. “The paper was fair, student-friendly and manageable within time, without requiring excessive brainstorming.”Overall trendTeachers noted that the paper aligned closely with the syllabus and rewarded clarity of concepts, careful reading and analytical thinking. With English now over, students will next appear for the Science examination scheduled for February 25.
