India's
Academic Guidelines
While India does not have a single, nationally-recognized set of English Language Arts standards, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) provides the closest equivalent through curricula and resources developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). For Classes 1–8, NCERT’s Learning Outcomes at the Elementary Stage outline expected skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. For Classes 9–12, the CBSE syllabi and exam frameworks act as benchmarks, emphasizing competencies in comprehension, grammar, and extended writing. These resources represent the most consistent national reference point for English learning outcomes in India.
The learner...
recites poems with appropriate expressions and intonation.
Unit 5: Poetry
Unit 10: Poetry
enacts different roles in short skits
Not Applicable
responds to simple instructions, announcements in English made in class/ school
Not Applicable
responds verbally/in writing in English to questions based on day-to-day life
experiences, an article, story or poem heard
or read
Throughout All Units
describes briefly, orally/in writing about
events, places and/or personal experiences
in English
Unit 2: Descriptive Writing
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 7: Descriptive Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
reads subtitles on TV, titles of books, news
headlines, pamphlets and advertisements
Not Applicable
shares riddles and tongue-twisters in
English
Not Applicable
solves simple crossword puzzles, builds
word chains, etc.
Throughout All Units
infers the meaning of unfamiliar words by
reading them in context
Throughout All Units
uses dictionary to find out spelling and
meaning
Not Applicable
writes/types dictation of short paragraphs
(7-8 sentences)
Throughout All Units
uses punctuation marks appropriately in
reading aloud with intonations and pauses
such as question mark, comma, and full
stop
Not Applicable
uses punctuation marks appropriately in
writing such as question mark, comma, full
stop and capital letters
Throughout All Units
writes informal letters or messages with a
sense of audience
Unit 3: Persuasive Writing
Unit 8: Persuasive Writing
uses linkers to indicate connections between
words and sentences such as ‘First’, ‘Next’,
etc.
Unit 1: Informative Writing
Unit 6: Informative Writing
uses nouns, verbs, adjectives, and
prepositions in speech and writing
Throughout All Units
reads printed script on the classroom
walls, notice board, in posters and in
advertisements
Not Applicable
speaks briefly on a familiar issue like
conservation of water; and experiences of
day to day life like visit to a zoo; going to a
mela
Not Applicable
presents orally and in writing the highlights
of a given written text / a short speech /
narration / video, film, pictures, photograph
etc.
Not Applicable
The learner...
answers coherently in written or oral form
to questions in English based on day-today life experiences, unfamiliar story, poem
heard or read.
Throughout All Units
recites and shares English songs, poems,
games, riddles, stories, tongue twisters etc,
recites and shares with peers and family
members.
Not Applicable
acts according to instructions given in
English, in games/sports, such as ‘Hit the
ball!’ ‘Throw the ring.’ ‘Run to the finish
line!’etc.
Not Applicable
reads independently in English storybooks, news items/ headlines, advertisements etc. talks about it, and composes short paragraphs
Throughout All Units
conducts short interviews of people around
him e.g interviewing grandparents, teachers,
school librarian, gardener etc.
Not Applicable
uses meaningful grammatically correct
sentences to describe and narrate incidents;
and for framing questions
Throughout All Units
uses synonyms such as‘big/large’, ‘shut/
close’, and antonyms like inside/outside,
light/dark from clues in context
Unit 2: Descriptive Writing
Unit 7: Descriptive Writing
reads text with comprehension, locates
details and sequence of events
Throughout All Units
connects ideas that he/she has inferred,
through reading and interaction, with his/
her personal experiences
Not Applicable
takes dictation for different purposes, such
as lists, paragraphs, dialogues etc.
Throughout All Units
uses the dictionary for reference
Unit 2: Descriptive Writing
Unit 7: Descriptive Writing
identifies kinds of nouns, adverbs;
differentiates between simple past and
simple present verbs
Not Applicable
writes paragraphs in English from verbal,
visual clues, with appropriate punctuation
marks and linkers
Throughout All Units
writes a ‘mini biography’ and ‘mini
autobiography’
Not Applicable
writes informal letters, messages and e-mails
Unit 1: Informative Writing
Unit 3: Persuasive Writing
Unit 6: Informative Writing
Unit 8: Persuasive Writing
reads print in the surroundings
(advertisements, directions, names of places
etc), understands and answers queries
Not Applicable
attempts to write creatively (stories, poems,
posters, etc)
Unit 2: Descriptive Writing
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 5: Poetry
Unit 7: Descriptive Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
Unit 10: Poetry
writes and speaks on peace, equality etc
suggesting personal views
Not Applicable
appreciates either verbally / in writing the
variety in food, dress, customs and festivals
as read/heard in his/her day-to day life, in
storybooks/ heard in narratives/ seen in
videos, films etc.
Not Applicable
The learner...
participates in activities in
English like role play, group
discussion, debate, etc.
Not Applicable
recites and shares poems,
songs, jokes, riddles, tongue
twisters, etc.
Unit 5: Poetry
Unit 10: Poetry
responds to oral messages,
telephonic communication in
English and communicates
them in English or home
language.
Not Applicable
responds to announcements and instructions made in class, school assembly, railway station and in other public places
Not Applicable
reads a variety of texts in
English/Braille and identifies
main ideas, characters,
sequence of ideas and events
and relates with their personal
experiences
Throughout All Units
reads to seek information
from notice board, newspaper,
Internet, tables, charts,
diagrams and maps etc.
Unit 1: Informative Writing
Unit 6: Informative Writing
responds to a variety of
questions on familiar and
unfamiliar texts verbally and
in writing
Throughout All Units
uses synonyms, antonyms
appropriately deduces word
meanings from clues in context
while reading a variety of texts
Unit 2: Descriptive Writing
Unit 7: Descriptive Writing
writes words/phrases/
simple sentences and short
paragraphs as dictated by the
teacher
Throughout All Units
uses meaningful sentences
to describe/narrate factual/
imaginary situations in speech
and writing
Unit 2: Descriptive Writing
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 7: Descriptive Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
refers to dictionary to check
meaning and spelling, and
to suggested websites for
information
Not Applicable
writes grammatically correct
sentences for a variety of
situations, using noun,
pronoun, verb, adverb,
determiners, etc.
Throughout All Units
drafts, revises and writes short
paragraphs based on verbal,
print and visual clues
Throughout All Units
writes coherently with focus
on appropriate beginning,
middle and end in English/
Braille
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
writes messages, invitations,
short paragraphs and letters
(formal and informal) and with
a sense of audience
Throughout All Units
visits a language laboratory
Not Applicable
writes a Book Review.
Not Applicable
The learner...
answers questions orally and
in writing on a variety of texts
Throughout All Units
reads aloud stories and recites
poems with appropriate pause,
intonation and pronunciation
Unit 5: Poetry
Unit 10: Poetry
participates in different
activities in English such as
role play, poetry recitation,
skit, drama, debate, speech,
elocution, declamation, quiz,
etc., organised by school and
other such organisations
Throughout All Units
engages in conversations in English with family, friends, and people from different professions such as shopkeeper, salesperson etc. using appropriate vocabulary
Not Applicable
responds to different kinds
of instructions, requests,
directions in varied contexts
viz. school, bank, railway
station
Not Applicable
speaks about excerpts,
dialogues, skits, short
films, news and debate on
TV and radio, audio–video
programmes on suggested
websites
Not Applicable
asks and responds to
questions based on texts (from
books or other resources) and
out of curiosity
Throughout All Units
reads textual/non-textual
materials in English/Braille
with comprehension
Throughout All Units
identifies details, characters,
main idea and sequence of
ideas and events in textual/
non-textual material
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
thinks critically, compares
and contrasts characters,
events, ideas, themes and
relates them to life
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
reads to seek information in
print/online, notice board,
signboards in public places,
newspaper, hoardings etc.
Unit 1: Informative Writing
Unit 3: Persuasive Writing
Unit 6: Informative Writing
Unit 8: Persuasive Writing
takes notes while teacher
teaches from books/online
materials.
Throughout All Units
infers the meaning of
unfamiliar words by reading
them in context
Throughout All Units
refers dictionary, thesaurus
and encyclopedia to find
meanings/spelling of words
while reading and writing
Not Applicable
reads a variety of texts for
pleasure e.g. adventure stories
and science fiction, fairy tales,
biography, autobiography,
travelogue, etc. (extensive
reading)
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
uses approprite grammatical
forms in communication
(e.g. noun, pronoun, verb,
determiners, time and tense,
passivisation, adjective, adverb, etc.)
Not Applicable
organises sentences coherently in English/Braille with
the help of verbal and visual
clues and with a sense of
audience
Throughout All Units
writes formal letters, personal
diary, list, email, SMS, etc.
Not Applicable
writes descriptions/ narratives
showing sensitivity to gender,
environment and appreciation
of cultural diversity
Unit 2: Descriptive Writing
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 7: Descriptive Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
writes dialogues from a story
and story from dialogues
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
visits a language laboratory.
Not Applicable
writes a Book Review.
Not Applicable
The learner...
responds to instructions
and announcements in
school and public places
viz. railway station, market,
airport, cinema hall, and act
accordingly.
Not Applicable
introduces guests in English,
interviews people by asking
questions based on the work
they do.
Not Applicable
engages in conversations
in English with people
from different professions
such as bank staff, railway
staff, etc. using appropriate
vocabulary.
Not Applicable
engages in conversations in English with family, friends, and people from different professions such as shopkeeper, salesperson etc. using appropriate vocabulary
Not Applicable
uses formulaic/polite
expressions to communicate
such as ‘May I borrow your
book?’, ‘I would like to differ’,
etc.
Not Applicable
speaks short prepared
speech in morning assembly.
Not Applicable
speaks about objects/
events in the class/school
environment and outside
surroundings.
Not Applicable
participates in grammar
games and kinaesthetic
activities for language
learning.
Not Applicable
reads excerpts, dialogues,
poems, commentaries of
sports and games speeches,
news, debates on TV, Radio
and expresses opinions
about them.
Not Applicable
participates in different
events such as role play,
poetry recitation, skit,
drama, debate, speech,
elocution, declamation,
quiz, etc., organised by
school and other such
organizations;
Not Applicable
narrates stories (real or
imaginary) and real life
experiences in English.
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
interprets quotations,
sayings and proverbs.
Unit 1: Informative Writing
Unit 3: Persuasive Writing
Unit 6: Informative Writing
Unit 8: Persuasive Writing
reads textual/non-textual
materials in English/Braille
with comprehension.
Throughout All Units
identifies details, characters,
main idea and sequence
of ideas and events while
reading.
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
reads, compares, contrasts,
thinks critically and relates
ideas to life.
Throughout All Units
infers the meaning of
unfamiliar words by reading
them in context.
Throughout All Units
reads a variety of texts for
pleasure e.g. adventure
stories and science fiction,
fairy tales, also nonfiction articles, narratives,
travelogues, biographies,
etc. (extensive reading)
Not Applicable
refers dictionary, thesaurus
and encyclopedia as reference books for meaning and
spelling while reading and
writing.
Not Applicable
prepares a write up after
seeking information in
print/online, notice board,
newspaper, etc.
Not Applicable
communicates accurately
using appropriate grammatical forms (e.g., clauses,
comparison of adjectives,
time and tense, active passive
voice, reported speech, etc.)
Throughout All Units
writes a coherent and meaningful paragraph through
the process of drafting,
revising, editing and
finalising.
Throughout All Units
writes short paragraphs
coherently in English/
Braille with a proper
beginning, middle and end
with appropriate punctuation marks.
Throughout All Units
writes answers to textual/
non-textual questions after
comprehension/inference;
draws character sketch, attempts extrapolative writing.
Unit 1: Informative Writing
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 6: Informative Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
writes email, messages,
notice, formal letters,
descriptions/narratives,
personal diary, report,
short personal/biographical
experiences, etc.
Throughout All Units
develops a skit (dialogues
from a story) and story from
dialogues.
Not Applicable
visits a language laboratory.
Not Applicable
writes a Book Review.
Not Applicable
The learner...
LO9: Writes short answers, paragraphs, reports using appropriate vocabulary and grammar on a given theme.
Throughout All Units
LO10: Writes letters both formal and informal, invitations, advertisements, notices, slogans, messages, and e-mails.
Not Applicable
LO11: Writes short dialogues and participates in role plays, skits, street plays, etc., for the promotion of social causes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, human
trafficking, conservation of environment, child labour, drug abuse, promotion of literacy, etc.
Not Applicable
LO13: Takes notes and makes notes while listening to TV news, discussions, speech, reading aloud/silent reading of texts, etc., and summarises.
Not Applicable
LO15: Organises and structures thoughts, presents information and opinions in a variety of oral and written forms for different audiences and purposes.
Throughout All Units
LO16: Interprets map, graph, table to speak or write a paragraph based on interpretation.
Not Applicable
LO24: Writes short stories and composes poems on the given theme or on their own.
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 5: Poetry
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
Unit 10: Poetry
LO26: Uses bilingual and multilingual abilities to comprehend a text and participates in activities like translations and bilingual and multilingual discourses on various themes.
Not Applicable
LO30: Recognises and appreciates cultural experiences and diversity in the text and makes oral and written presentations.
Unit 4: Narrative Writing
Unit 9: Narrative Writing
LO12: Uses appropriate punctuation marks and correct spelling of words while taking down dictation.
Not Applicable
LO17: Edits passages with appropriate punctuation marks, grammar and correct spelling
Not Applicable
LO19: Uses words, phrases, idioms and word chunks for meaning-making in contexts.
Unit 2: Descriptive Writing
Unit 7: Descriptive Writing
LO20: Understands and elicits meanings of the words in different contexts, and by using dictionary, thesaurus, and digital facilities.
Not Applicable
LO23: Identifies and appreciates significant literary elements, such as, metaphor, imagery, symbol, simile, personification, onomatopoeia, intention or point of view, rhyme scheme,
themes, titles, etc.
Unit 2: Descriptive Writing
Unit 5: Poetry
Unit 7: Descriptive Writing
Unit 10: Poetry
The learner...
LO4: Uses language appropriate to purposes and perspectives.
Throughout All Units
LO5: Talks on key contemporary issues like social justice, environment, gender, etc., in speech and writing.
Throughout All Units
LO6: Participates in bilingual or multilingual discourses on various themes.
Not Applicable
LO7: Reads, comprehends, and responds to complex texts independently.
Throughout All Units
LO11: Writes paragraphs, narratives, etc., by planning revising, editing, rewriting, and finalising.
Throughout All Units
LO12: Writes reports of functions in school, family, and community activities.
Not Applicable
LO13: Writes personal, official and business letters, articles, debates, paragraphs based on visual or verbal clues, textual inputs, etc.
Unit 2: Creative Writing
Unit 4: New Media
Unit 7: Creative Writing
Unit 9: New Media
LO14: Evaluates content presented in print and in different genres/formats and presents content using symbols, graphs, diagrams, etc.
Unit 4: New Media
Unit 9: New Media
LO15: Analyses and appreciates a point of view or cultural experience as reflected in the text; presents orally or in writing.
Unit 3: Literary Studies
Unit 5: Spoken Language
Unit 8: Literary Studies
Unit 10: Spoken Language
LO17: Speaks or writes on variety of themes.
Throughout All Units
LO19: Provides facts and background knowledge in areas such as science and social science and presents viewpoints based on those facts.
Unit 3: Literary Studies
Unit 8: Literary Studies
LO21: Takes and makes notes while listening to TV news, discussions, speech, reading aloud or silent reading of texts, etc., and summarises.
Not Applicable
LO30: Develops questions for collecting data for survey on relevant issues.
Not Applicable
LO31: Writes scripts and participates in role play, skit, street plays for the promotion of social issues like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, conservation of environment,
child labour, drug abuse, and promotion of literacy, etc.
Not Applicable
LO32: Uses bilingual or multilingual ways to exchange ideas or disseminating information with the help of ICT, PPT, role play, street play, drama, written scripts, etc.
Not Applicable
LO33: Recognises and appreciates cultural experiences given in the text in a written paragraph, or in narrating the situations and incidents in the class.
Unit 5: Spoken Language
Unit 10: Spoken Language
LO9: Appreciates nuances and shades of literary meanings, talks about literary devices like onomatopoeic sounds, symbols, metaphors, alliterations, comparisons, allusions and the
poet’s or the writer’s point of view.
Unit 2: Creative Writing
Unit 3: Literary Studies
Unit 7: Creative Writing
Unit 8: Literary Studies
LO18: Consults or refers to dictionary, periodicals, and books for academic and other purposes; and uses them in speech and writing.
Not Applicable
LO20: Takes down dictation using appropriate punctuation marks and correct spelling of the words dictated.
Not Applicable
LO22: Uses grammatical items appropriate to the context in speech and writing.
Not Applicable
LO23: Uses grammatical items as cues for reading comprehension such as tense, reported speech, conjunctions, and punctuation.
Throughout All Units
LO24: Uses words according to the context and delineate it in speech and writing.
Throughout All Units
LO25: Uses formulaic and idiomatic expressions in speech and writing.
Unit 2: Creative Writing
Unit 7: Creative Writing
LO26: Makes use of collocations and idioms in speech and writing.
Unit 2: Creative Writing
Unit 7: Creative Writing
LO27: Identifies significant literary elements such as figurative language — metaphor, imagery, symbol, simile, intention or point of view, rhyme scheme, etc.
Unit 2: Creative Writing
Unit 3: Literary Studies
Unit 7: Creative Writing
Unit 8: Literary Studies
LO28: Uses the figurative meaning of words and phrases as given in the texts read.
Unit 2: Creative Writing
Unit 7: Creative Writing
