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NEB Grade 11 & 12 New Syllabus: English
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NEB Grade 11 & 12 English Syllabus — Complete Overview

English is a compulsory subject for every student enrolled in Grade 11 and Grade 12 under the National Examination Board (NEB), Nepal — regardless of stream, whether Science, Management, Humanities, or Education. Often considered one of the most scoring as well as one of the most challenging subjects at the +2 level, Compulsory English is designed to build strong reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while also exposing students to a wide range of literature. The syllabus has been developed by the Curriculum Development Centre (CDC), Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, under the Secondary Education Curriculum 2076, implemented from the academic year 2077 BS and continuing through later batches.

This page provides the official NEB English syllabus PDF for both Grade 11 and Grade 12, along with a complete breakdown of the course structure, exam pattern, prescribed textbooks, and preparation strategies to help you perform well.

Subject Information at a Glance

  • Subject Name: English (Compulsory)
  • Subject Code: Eng.003 (Grade 11) | Eng.004 (Grade 12)
  • Subject Type: Compulsory (all streams — Science, Management, Humanities, Education)
  • Developed by: Curriculum Development Centre (CDC), Government of Nepal
  • Curriculum Framework: Secondary Education Curriculum 2076 (implemented from academic year 2077 BS)
  • Prescribed Textbooks: First Flight (Grade 11) and Footprints Without Feet (Grade 12), published under NEB guidelines
  • Total Full Marks: 75 (Theory) + 25 (Internal Evaluation) = 100
  • Pass Marks: 27 (out of 75 in theory); 10 (out of 25 in internal)
  • Exam Duration: 3 hours (theory paper)

Why Is English Compulsory in Grade 11 and 12?

English functions as Nepal’s primary language for higher education, international communication, science, technology, business, and tourism. The NEB has made it compulsory at the higher secondary level because strong English proficiency directly affects students’ performance in university admissions, competitive entrance exams (IOE, MBBS/BDS, CSIT, management aptitude tests), and eventual career opportunities — particularly in fields connected to global markets, research, and digital industries.

Beyond exam scores, the subject is structured to develop genuine communicative competence. Students engage with both functional language tasks (formal writing, presentations, comprehension) and literary texts (short stories, poems, essays, one-act plays) so they leave +2 level with both practical communication skills and an appreciation of literature in English.

NEB English Syllabus — Course Structure (Grade 11 & 12)

The prescribed English textbooks for both Grade 11 (First Flight) and Grade 12 (Footprints Without Feet) are organized into two major sections: Language Development and Literature. Each section serves a distinct purpose in building students’ overall English competence.

Language Development

    The Language Development section presents a series of thematic, issue-based reading passages drawn from both local (Nepali) and global contexts. These contemporary thematic texts are designed to develop intensive reading skills and build competence in grammar, vocabulary, speech, and different types of writing. Typical themes covered across Grade 11 and 12 include education, communication, media, history and culture, health, ecology, democracy and human rights, career and entrepreneurship, science and technology, globalization, and immigration and identity. Each thematic unit pairs a reading passage with grammar exercises, vocabulary building activities, and writing tasks connected to the theme. NEB Plus 2

    2. Literature

    The Literature section introduces students to a range of literary genres — short stories, poetry, essays, and drama — written by both Nepali and international authors. Students study these texts for theme, character, narrative technique, and literary devices, and are expected to answer interpretive and analytical questions about them in the exam. This section also nurtures students’ own creative writing ability, encouraging them to write short narratives, descriptive pieces, and reflective essays inspired by the literary forms they study.

    3. Grammar and Vocabulary

    Grammar is taught contextually alongside the thematic reading passages rather than as an isolated topic, but the exam tests it directly through dedicated grammar items. Key grammar areas commonly covered include:

    • Tenses and subject-verb agreement
    • Voice (active and passive)
    • Narration (direct and indirect speech)
    • Clauses and complex sentence structures
    • Modals and conditionals
    • Articles, prepositions, and determiners
    • Punctuation and word formation (affixes)
    • Vocabulary in context, synonyms, and antonyms

    4. Writing Skills

    The writing component evaluates students’ ability to produce different formats of written English clearly and coherently. Common writing tasks in the NEB English exam include:

    • Formal and informal letter writing
    • Essay writing (argumentative, descriptive, narrative)
    • Report writing
    • Summary and précis writing
    • Notice and memo writing
    • Curriculum Vitae (CV) and application writing
    • Dialogue writing and speech writing

    NEB English Exam Structure

    The NEB English examination, like other compulsory subjects, follows a theory-plus-internal evaluation pattern:

    • Theory Examination: 75 marks (3-hour written exam conducted by NEB)
    • Internal Evaluation: 25 marks (conducted by the school/college throughout the year)
    • Internal evaluation typically includes listening and speaking assessments, assignments, project work, and class participation
    • Minimum pass marks in theory: 27 out of 75
    • Minimum pass marks in internal: 10 out of 25

    The theory paper combines reading comprehension questions (both seen and unseen passages), literary analysis questions from the prescribed texts, grammar exercises, and writing tasks. Because a meaningful portion of the paper draws on unseen passages and general writing ability rather than rote memorization, consistent practice in reading and writing — not just memorizing answers — is the most reliable way to score well.

    Difference Between Grade 11 and Grade 12 English Syllabus

    The overall structure — Language Development plus Literature, supported by grammar and writing skills — remains consistent between Grade 11 and Grade 12. However, the specific thematic units and literary texts differ between the two prescribed textbooks, First Flight for Grade 11 and Footprints Without Feet for Grade 12. Grade 12 generally introduces more complex texts, broader thematic scope (such as power and politics, war and peace, and critical thinking), and demands a higher level of analytical depth in written responses compared to Grade 11. Students should study their respective grade’s prescribed textbook closely, since both seen-passage and literature questions are drawn directly from it.

    Tips to Score High in NEB English Examination

    • Read every prescribed unit thoroughly: Both Language Development passages and Literature texts are tested directly. Understand the theme, key vocabulary, and main arguments of each unit.
    • Practice unseen passage comprehension regularly: A portion of the reading section uses unseen passages, so practicing comprehension with unfamiliar texts (not just the textbook) builds real exam readiness.
    • Strengthen grammar through application, not memorization: Practice grammar exercises in context — rewriting sentences, transforming voice and narration, and using grammar correctly within paragraphs rather than isolated drills alone.
    • Write essays and letters under timed conditions: Practicing writing tasks within a set time limit builds the speed and structure needed for the actual 3-hour exam.
    • Build a working vocabulary list: Note down new words, their meanings, and example sentences from each unit. Vocabulary questions and word usage in writing both benefit from this habit.
    • Review past NEB English question papers: This helps you understand recurring question patterns, commonly tested literary texts, and expected answer length and depth.
    • Don’t neglect internal evaluation components: Active participation in listening, speaking, and classroom writing tasks throughout the year secures a significant share of the internal 25 marks with relatively low extra effort.

    How to Use the Official Syllabus PDF

    The official NEB English syllabus PDF published by CDC is embedded above for your reference. Use it to:

    • Confirm the exact units, passages, and literary pieces prescribed for your grade
    • Check the grammar and writing components emphasized in the official curriculum
    • Understand how language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) are integrated across units
    • Cross-check your school’s teaching pace against the official course outline

    Always rely on the official syllabus and your prescribed textbook (First Flight or Footprints Without Feet) as your primary study material, since notes-based guides can occasionally miss updates made by CDC.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Is English compulsory for all streams in Grade 11 and 12?

    Yes. English is compulsory for every NEB Grade 11 and 12 student, regardless of stream — Science, Management, Humanities, or Education. It is one of the three compulsory subjects alongside Nepali and Social Studies / Mathematics.

    What is the subject code for English in Grade 11 and Grade 12?

    The subject code for English in Grade 11 is Eng.003, and for Grade 12 it is Eng.004. These codes appear on NEB’s official admit cards, mark sheets, and result publications.

    What are the prescribed English textbooks for NEB Grade 11 and 12?

    The prescribed textbook for Grade 11 is First Flight, and for Grade 12 it is Footprints Without Feet. Both books are divided into Language Development and Literature sections, in line with NEB’s Secondary Education Curriculum 2076.

    How many marks does the NEB English theory exam carry?

    The NEB English theory examination carries 75 marks, conducted as a 3-hour written exam by NEB. An additional 25 marks come from internal evaluation conducted by the school throughout the year, bringing the total full marks to 100.

    Can I score well in English by only memorizing answers?

    Memorization alone is risky, since the exam includes unseen passage comprehension and writing tasks that require original responses. A balanced approach — understanding the prescribed texts, practicing grammar in context, and developing genuine writing and comprehension skills — is far more reliable for scoring well consistently.

    Where can I find English notes and important questions for Grade 11 and 12?

    You can find English study resources, notes, and important questions on nneducation.com. Browse our English course materials from the Courses section. For the official syllabus, the PDF is embedded at the top of this page.

    Related Resources on NN Education