By SUHAIL UR REHMAN TGT ENGLISH GBSSS JJ COLONY MPK EXTN
The recently conducted English (Language and Literature) Board Examination offered a well-rounded assessment of students’ linguistic and analytical abilities. With a maximum of 80 marks to be completed in 3 hours, the paper followed the standard three-section format: Reading Skills, Grammar and Creative Writing, and Literature. As an educator, I find the paper to be moderate in difficulty, leaning toward “student-friendly” while still demanding a high degree of critical thinking.
Section A: Reading Skills (20 Marks) – Engaging yet Analytical
The Reading section was divided into two distinct passages. The first, a descriptive piece on the global and Indian history of pancakes, was highly accessible and likely served as a confidence booster for students. However, the second passage, which focused on “Rate of Internet Reach in India: 2014-2024,” required a more technical approach. Students had to interpret data tables and understand concepts like the “digital divide” and “netizens”. While the language was not overly complex, the inclusion of Assertion and Reason questions ensured that only those with a sharp eye for detail would secure full marks .
Section B: Grammar and Creative Writing (20 Marks) – Contemporary and Practical
The Grammar portion (10 marks) was remarkably straightforward, focusing on core competencies like error correction, reported speech, and the correct use of tenses and modals. Most students should find this section scoring.
The Creative Writing section (10 marks) pushed students to engage with real-world issues. The options for the formal letter—discussing vocational education or addressing street lighting—were standard. However, the Analytical Paragraph options were the highlight. Asking students to analyze the “Indian start-up ecosystem” or “sports infrastructure” required them to synthesize provided data points into a coherent 120-word argument. This reflects the board’s shift toward testing application-based knowledge rather than rote memorization.
Section C: Literature (40 Marks) – Testing Depth, Not Just Memory
The Literature section, which carries the most weight, was a fair mix of direct and competency-based questions. The extract-based questions from Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Fire and Ice tested the students’ ability to identify tone and irony .
The short and long-answer questions were where the paper truly tested the students’ depth of understanding. Notable highlights included:
Critical Thinking: Comparing the “similarities and differences” between the tiger in the zoo and the dragon in The Tale of Custard the Dragon [8].
Evaluation: Evaluating “thoughtful parenting” in A Triumph of Surgery and the obsession with “social status” in The Necklace.
Character Analysis: Elaborating on the scientific temperament in The Making of a Scientist.
The Verdict: Moderate and Fair
Overall, the paper was well-balanced. There were no major “curveballs” or obscure questions. The “Easy” elements included the grammar and the first reading passage, while the “Moderate to Hard” elements were found in the analytical writing and the comparative literature questions.
Advice for Students: This paper rewards those who have read their NCERT textbooks thoroughly and practiced expressing their opinions on contemporary issues. The shift from “what happened in the story” to “what does this story teach us about life” is now firmly established.