Students taking English (Core) in CBSE Class 12 are expected to have acquired a considerable degree of proficiency in English. Hence, the course aims at promoting higher-order language skills.

With English acquiring the status of a global language, English, as a subject at the CBSE Class 12 stage, aims at preparing students for higher education, where a fairly high degree of proficiency in English may be required and, also, as an entry into the world of work. The curriculum at the CBSE Class 12 stage caters to both groups by promoting the language skills required for academic study as well as the language skills required for the workplace.

The objectives of curriculum at the CBSE Class 12 stage are: to perceive the overall meaning and organisation of the text; to promote advanced language skills with an aim to develop the skills of reasoning; through meaningful activities; to develop greater confidence and proficiency in the use of language skills necessary for social and academic purposes; to develop the capacity to appreciate literary use of English and also use English creatively and imaginatively;

The curriculum emphasizes on areas of grammar like: the uses of different tense forms for different kinds of narration; the use of passive forms in scientific and innovative writings; converting one kind of sentence/clause into a different kind of structure as well as other items to exemplify stylistic variations in different discourses.