CBSE Class 5 English Syllabus

CBSE 5th Class English Syllabus for 2023-24 Examination 

CBSE Class 5 English Syllabus is the first stage for students to acquire the more complex concepts, English grammar is where students will learn how to construct narratives with paragraphs and language. The  5th class syllabus introduces English Grammar to the students. It comprises the language and its basics. So, the students of Class 5 need to know the syllabus in detail. For the benefit of students, the article has provided the complete syllabus and chapter-wise distribution.

The syllabus of Class 5 CBSE is divided into two parts- Literature and English language. The article discusses the list of chapters, topics, and contents in the following paragraphs. Students must know the syllabus properly to score well in the exam.

CBSE Class 5 Syllabus for Other Subjects

CBSE Class 5 Syllabus

  • CBSE Class 5 English Syllabus

CBSE Class 5 English Syllabus 2023-24 Examination

A PDF file for the CBSE Class 5 English syllabus 2023-24 is given below. Students can download the file to their devices and use it during their study time.

Class 5 CBSE English Syllabus

As it is mentioned earlier the syllabus of CBSE Class 5 English is divided into two parts- Literature and English language besides grammar. However, before getting into the details of the syllabus, here is an overview of the kind of questions they can expect in the exam.

Section A (Reading)

All questions will be asked as per the topics given in English language.

Section B (Writing)

All questions will be asked from the topics under the English language.

Section C (Grammar)

All questions will be asked from the topics listed under the English language.

Section D (Literature)

All questions will be asked from the topics under the English language.

English Syllabus for Class 5

English is one of the major languages of communication in the world. It may not be the foremost spoken dialect in the world. However, the dialect is spoken in over 53 nations and is spoken by over 400 million people in the world as a first language. Moreover, in various professions, English writing or speaking is required as a stepping stone for a successful career. Today, more than one billion people around the world are learning this language which speaks volumes of the importance of the English language. The majority of students and professionals learn English as a second language for a bright career prospect, especially students going abroad either for higher studies or professional reasons, you need to enhance your communication skills while you are still in school. Moreover, to communicate with a person or to address a group of people, language is used for many purposes, so it is all the more crucial to learn it the right way.

CBSE prepares an English language curriculum to enable students to formulate and develop their communicative competencies through practicing listening, speaking, reading, writing, and linguistic knowledge (grammar, pronunciation & grammar)  the importance of learning English very well, especially in a country like India which is a multilingual country. So, learning different languages is more difficult than one common language, i.e., English. Learning English can help you get admission into a prestigious university, and may even help you get a better job,  besides helping you to read and appreciate materials available worldwide in English and enhance your knowledge.

Learning and mastering the language becomes even more demanding when you travel to foreign countries. You may find yourself out of place if you can’t communicate well and at times it can be quite embarrassing and it’s better late than never. But, for illustrations, critical analysis, writing a thesis, and data interpretation, you need to improvise your language and make the most of it while you are still in school. Additionally, you must be able to converse in the language especially while going on excursions, business tours, or other professional activities. It has become a major language for business communication.

List of chapters in Class 5 English Syllabus Literature Section 

English literature has become the lingua franca of global communication and is one of the most popular as a second language across the world and the most widely spoken language after  Mandarin. Many literature laureates have established the glory of English literature and made it one of the most loved subjects in the world. Literature holds unfathomable importance in the mental growth of a child, therefore it’s important to strengthen the foundation of learning before moving to middle school. So, Class 5 students require developing an interest in English literature not only to broaden their perspective but it’s time for them to express their feelings, emotions as chunks of information for others to clearly decipher.

The following list provides you with the details of the chapters from the literature section.

Unit– 1 

Chapter – Wonderful Waste

It is an interesting story in English literature of Class 5. This makes students acquainted with a delicious and famous dish called Avial which originated in Kerala. Here, students learn how waste materials can be used to make wonderful things by being creative.

  • Poem – Ice Cream Man

The poem is about a person whom children love the most, the ice cream man. In this poem, the poet here discusses how an ice cream man brings joy and happiness to a child during hot summer days.

Unit –2

  • Chapter – Flying Together

The story tells students about team spirit. It depicts how a flock of geese escaped the trap built by a hunter by flying together. It also focuses on teamwork and collaboration.

  • Poem – Teamwork

In the poem written by Jan Nigro students can learn the importance of collaboration at work. It teaches students the effectiveness of teamwork. The moral of the poem is depicted through a basketball game.

Unit – 3 

  • Chapter – Robinson Crusoe Discovers a Footprint

As the name goes, the story shows how Robinson Crusoe discovers a footprint on an isolated island and what follows next. He was initially happy to see the footprints. However, the fear of being attacked hits him later. The agony and pain of being all alone on an island and longing for company is reflected there.

  • Poem – My Shadow

The poem is written from the perspective of a young child who finds joy in the company of his own shadow. It revolves around the curiosity of a child on seeing his shadow. He is amused and confused at seeing someone doing exactly the same he does. He innocently believes that the shadow is afraid of being alone.

Unit – 4 

  • Chapter – My Elder Brother

It is a story about two brothers who are poles apart in terms of opinions, personalities, and thoughts. While the elder believes in building a strong foundation education while the other doesn’t. The story makes students understand the importance of elders and younger people. We must respect the elderly, and we shouldn’t feel offended when they scold us.

  • Poem – Crying

The poem tells students there is nothing wrong with crying. In fact, one must cry to their heart’s content. The poet says you should cry till your pillow is soaked. In fact, he says it does not help to cry just a little bit. Crying helps you relieve from sadness.

Unit – 5 

  • Chapter – Rip van Winkle

It is a story about a Dutch-American man. Although he is a lazy fellow, everyone likes him. This chapter is based on a German folktale in which the farmer’s life changes after meeting some dwarfs.

  • Poem – The Lazy Frog

It tells the students that laziness is not a good thing at all. It is shared by the lazy frog who doesn’t do any work all  day long. It is the same for a frog and a human being.

Unit – 6 

  • Chapter – Talkative Barber

It tells you about a barber who always keeps talking. It conveys to the students that being too talkative is not good at all.

  • Poem – Class Discussion

Through the class discussion, the poem says that not every person in the world is the same.

Unit – 7 

Chapter – Gulliver’s Travels

It is an adventurous story of Lemuel Gulliver and what he experiences in the land of Lilliputians.

  • Poem – Topsy Turvy Land

It is a very interesting story that talks about a weird land that is upside down.

Unit – 8 

  • Chapter – The Little Bully

The story revolves around a little boy who keeps on teasing everyone. So, nobody wants to play with him.

  • Poem – Nobody’s Friend

It tells how we can make friends by sharing things. People who don’t share are selfish and fail to have friends.

Unit – 9 

  • Chapter – Around the World

This story is based on Mr. Phileas Fogg, who traveled around the world in 80 days with his companion. The story perfectly encapsulated the essence of the sheer will of a person who wants to follow their passion.

  • Poem – Sing a Song of People

It brings on the story of the reality of today’s fast-paced world. Everyone is in a tearing hurry. The poet urges people to take a break and live in the moment.

Unit – 10 Literature Syllabus

  • Chapter – Who will be Ningthou?

It talks about the characteristics that a king must possess.

  • Poem – Malu Bhalu

The poem takes through the life of Malu Bhalu. It tells how parents help us learn to fight challenges in life.

English Grammar for Class 5 CBSE Syllabus

Grammar is the backbone of the  English language. CBSE knows that English is the foundation of learning.  Students need to learn Grammar and English composition in the initial phase of their education so as to acquire a decent level of communication to express feelings, experiences, information, and opinions, and learn to understand themselves and others before moving to middle school. English writing and speaking are valued differently in the world. It is no less than necessary for the students of the CBSE board to learn to communicate in English, and learning  Grammar is essential which is integral to mastering any language.

Here is the list of topics that is covered in the Grammar section of the CBSE Class 5 English Syllabus

  1. Word Formation
  2. Antonyms
  3. Synonyms
  4. Rhyming Words
  5. Suffix and Prefix
  6. Homonyms
  7. Homophones
  8. Wh- Questions
  9. Contractions
  10. Vocabulary Building
  11. Determiners
  12. Nouns
  13. Pronouns
  14. Verbs
  15. Adverbs
  16. Adjectives
  17. Degrees of Comparison
  18. Conjunctions
  19. Prepositions
  20. Punctuation Marks
  21. The Gerund
  22. The Participle
  23. Infinitives
  24. Mood
  25. Modals
  26. Types of Sentences
  27. Jumbled Sentences
  28. Clauses
  29. Case
  30. Subject-Verb Agreement
  31. Tenses
  32. Use of Do and Does
  33. Similes
  34. Proverbs
  35. Idioms and Phrases
  36. Alliteration
  37. Speech
  38. Question and Answers
  39. Story Completion
  40. Report Writing
  41. Writing Skills
  42. Essay Writing
  43. Letter Writing – Formal and Informal
  44. Comprehension
  45. Diary Entry
  46. Notice Writing
  47. Paragraph Writing
  48. Messages


FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

There are 10 units, including chapters and poems. There are a total of 48 chapters in the English Grammar of Class 5 CBSE syllabus. The chapters are mentioned above in detail.

You can download the syllabus from the file given at the beginning of the article. You can also download the PDF file from the CBSE website. You can further store it on your device, and browse through the syllabus and the study material available on the Extramarks website.

As per the recommendations of the NCERT books, the only book recommended to the students of Class 5 for English is Marigold.

There are a total of 48 chapters in the English Grammar of Class 5 CBSE syllabus. The chapters are mentioned above in detail.

Grammar is the foundation  of  English language and composition. This is the time for the students of Class 5 to learn English grammar to attain expertise in writing and communicating this language. The earlier a student starts, the better he would grasp English grammar and its components. To prepare for the Grammar questions in the exam, students can solve the CBSE Important Question and CBSE Extra Questions. You can also refer to the CBSE Revision Notes for your exam preparation.

Literature helps students broaden their perspective  and eventually helps their overall  development of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. It is said that children learn what they see and what they read.They learn to express their feelings, emotions, experiences and learn to understand themselves and others. So, literature is the key instrument   in the development of a child’s intellectual and emotional quotient.

Writing is one of the two major ways of communication. Moreover, error-free writing is required in any examination a student appears in. So, parents are often worried about their children’s poor sentence composition and handwriting. There is only one way to attain perfection and that is to practice. The more a student would practise writing, the more he  practices the better he would become in English sentence composition and handwriting.

Tips for students to study CBSE Class 5 English syllabus 

  • Well, this is something that students often ask for from their teachers, parents and seniors. To Score  good marks in Class 5 English is easy. But to grasp the subject adequately, you need to pay attention to each topic and practice regularly.
  • To make their writing skills better, students have to learn the concept of grammar very well. At the same time, they need to start practising writing and speaking regularly. The more you practice the better you will be.
  • The parents should start communicating and discussing things with their children in English. Give them the task of writing a paragraph to test their ability and find the mistakes and rectify them.
  • Teachers must conduct an effective discussion in the class to make students build a habit of speaking to people in English. They must take the English test to check their language proficiency and work on their weak areas.
  • Solve the CBSE previous year question papers and CBSE sample papers