NIOS 202 — English
This is a complete, free study companion for NIOS 202 — English — built around what the exam actually asks. The topics examiners repeat most are Modals for Requests, Duties, and Possibility, Raja, the Snake, and Family Alarm, and Prefixes and Direct-Indirect Speech. The syllabus runs to 27 chapters. Below you'll find the full topic-frequency ranking, the exam paper pattern, every chapter, a step-by-step study plan, and the official downloads — everything in one place.
Everything here is free. We're an independent student resource, not the official NIOS body, so always confirm the current syllabus and exam dates on the official NIOS website before you rely on them.
Key information
- Subject code
- 202
- Level
- Class 10
- Programme
- CL10
- Exam
- On-Demand Examination System
- Conducted by
- National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
Most important topics (by past-paper frequency)
| # | Topic | Times asked | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modals for Requests, Duties, and Possibility | 49 | 8.7% |
| 2 | Raja, the Snake, and Family Alarm | 40 | 7.1% |
| 3 | Prefixes and Direct-Indirect Speech | 34 | 6.1% |
| 4 | Shoeshining, Survival, and the Dignity of Labour | 33 | 5.9% |
| 5 | Hurt, Guilt, and Reconciliation | 31 | 5.5% |
| 6 | Free Verse, Adverbs, and Writing an Appeal for Peace | 29 | 5.2% |
| 7 | Refrain, Environmental Vocabulary, and Writing to the Editor | 29 | 5.2% |
| 8 | Noise Pollution and Damage to Health | 28 | 5% |
| 9 | Sequencing Events and Talking about Animals in Captivity | 27 | 4.8% |
| 10 | Simple Past, Questions, and Reflective Writing | 26 | 4.6% |
| 11 | Early Life, Varanasi, and the Shehnai Tradition | 25 | 4.5% |
| 12 | Statements, Phrasal Verbs, and Grammar in Context | 25 | 4.5% |
Based on how often each topic appeared in official previous-year question papers.
Exam paper pattern
| Section | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Q1-Q3 | Answer objective questions based on an unseen reading passage. These include true or false, one-word or blank-type answers, and a vocabulary item. |
| Q4-Q6 | Answer objective writing-skill questions based on practical writing situations such as a notice, article or letter. You choose the correct alternatives about format, tone, content and purpose. |
| Q7-Q11 | Answer objective grammar questions in subparts. These test blanks, verb forms, prepositions, conjunctions and related usage items. |
| Q12-Q16 | Answer objective literature questions in subparts. These include sentence completion, true or false, matching and passage-based blank answers from the prescribed lessons. |
| Q17-Q20 | Answer short reading-comprehension questions based on the Part B passage. Responses are brief and focus on meaning, detail and interpretation. |
| Q21-Q23 | Complete three writing tasks: one brief message-writing task, one longer composition with an internal choice, and one shorter formal or informal writing task with an internal choice. The order of the 2-mark, 4-mark and 6-mark questions changes across sets, but the overall writing pattern remains the same. |
| Q24-Q28 | Answer grammar questions in subparts on verbs, conjunctions, prepositions, dialogue completion and reported speech. The exact order of these grammar tasks may vary by set. |
| Q29-Q35 | Answer literature questions in one or two sentences, along with one slightly longer literature answer that may carry an internal choice. The position of the 3-mark literature question changes across sets. |
What you will study (chapters)
- Chapter 1
- How the Squirrel Got His Stripes
- Chapter 2
- Kondiba - A Hero
- Chapter 3
- A Tiger Comes to Town-II
- Chapter 4
- A Tiger Comes to Town-I
- Chapter 5
- Snake Bite
- Chapter 6
- Tall Trees
- Chapter 7
- A Birthday Letter
- Chapter 8
- Noise: How IT Affects Our Lives
- Chapter 9
- The Shoeshine
- Chapter 10
- Nine Gold Medals
- Chapter 11
- The Last Stone Mason
- Chapter 12
- Stealing and Atonement
- Chapter 13
- My Elder Brother
- Chapter 14
- Indian Weavers
- Chapter 15
- My Vision for India
- Chapter 16
- My Only Cry
- Chapter 17
- Caring for Others
- Chapter 18
- The Little Girl
- Chapter 19
- A Prayer for Healing
- Chapter 20
- New Good Things from Rubbish
- Chapter 21
- The Village Pharmacy
- Chapter 22
- The Truth
- Chapter 23
- The Return of the Lion
- Chapter 24
- Co-operate and Prosper
- Chapter 25
- Once Upon a Time
- Chapter 26
- Ustad Bismillah Khan
- Chapter 27
- The Parrot Who Wouldn’t Talk
Official textbook
- NIOS 202 — English — official textbook / study material — Free download from the official source.
How to study NIOS 202 — English and score well
- Start with the highest-frequency topics — In NIOS 202 — English, Modals for Requests, Duties, and Possibility, Raja, the Snake, and Family Alarm, Prefixes and Direct-Indirect Speech, and Shoeshining, Survival, and the Dignity of Labour appear again and again in past papers. Master these first — they return the most marks for the time you put in.
- Learn how the paper is set — The NIOS 202 — English paper is split into sections (see the exam pattern above). Knowing the marks each section carries tells you how long to spend on each — then practise to that timing.
- Practise with previous-year papers — Solve the last 5–10 years of NIOS NIOS 202 — English papers under timed, exam-like conditions. Past papers show exactly which topics repeat and how questions are worded.
- Revise actively, not passively — Write a one-page summary for each of the 27 chapters — key definitions, formulas and the points examiners reward — then re-test yourself instead of re-reading.
- Mark your answers with the official scheme — After each practice paper, score yourself against the official marking scheme. It shows how marks are awarded step-by-step, so you learn to present answers the way examiners expect.
Exam tips: how to score higher in NIOS 202 — English
Where students lose marks: rushing the high-weightage questions, skipping the steps the marking scheme rewards, and saving easy sections for last. Read the whole paper first, attempt your strongest section early to bank marks, and always show your working.
Manage your time: split your time in proportion to the marks each section carries, keep a few minutes at the end to check, and never leave a question blank — a partial, structured answer still earns partial marks.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important topics in NIOS 202 — English?
Based on past papers, the most frequently asked topics include Modals for Requests, Duties, and Possibility, Raja, the Snake, and Family Alarm, Prefixes and Direct-Indirect Speech. The full ranked list with how often each appears is in the "Most important topics" section above.
Where can I download NIOS 202 — English previous-year question papers?
Official NIOS previous-year question papers are available on the official NIOS website. Open the Question Papers section for the direct link, plus the exam pattern and the topics that repeat most.
How can I prepare for NIOS 202 — English faster?
Start with the highest-frequency topics, learn the exam pattern so you know how each section is marked, and practise with past papers. A subject-aware study tutor can quiz you on exactly these topics.
A Gyani AI tutor trained on the NIOS 202 — English syllabus and past papers can quiz you on the most-asked topics and show you exactly what to revise.