Class 11 Engineering Graphics Syllabus 2026-27
The class 11 engineering graphics syllabus 2026-27 carries subject code 046 and splits into a 70-mark theory paper plus a 30-mark practical, verified against the official CBSE curriculum document on cbseacademic.nic.in on 2026-07-13. The entire subject spans Plane Geometry, Solid Geometry and Machine Drawing for theory, with hands-on CAD and physical modelling for the practical.
Solid Geometry alone holds 30 of the 70 theory marks, making it the heaviest unit to prepare.
Course Structure and Marks Distribution
The theory exam runs for 3 hours and carries 70 marks; the practical exam also runs for 3 hours and carries 30 marks, taking the total to 100. The table below mirrors the unit-wise marks from the official CBSE curriculum (NCERT, p. 2).
| S. No. | Unit | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I | Plane Geometry (Introduction; Lines, angles, rectilinear figures; Circles, inscribing and circumscribing) | 10 |
| II | Solid Geometry (Orthographic projection of points, lines, plane figures, solids; Section of solids) | 30 |
| III | Machine Drawing (Orthographic projections of simple machine blocks; Isometric projection of laminae) | 30 |
| — | Practical | 30 |
| Total Marks | 100 | |
Because Solid Geometry carries the maximum theory weight, allocate the largest share of revision time to orthographic projections and sections of solids. A smaller effort on Plane Geometry still pays off, since its construction techniques underpin the later drawing tasks.
Unit-wise Topics in Class 11 Engineering Graphics
The three theory units break down into nine sub-topics. Two of these topics are explicitly marked FOR INTERNAL ASSESSMENT ONLY in the official document (NCERT, pp. 2–3), which means they will not appear in the final board theory exam. Study them for the practical and sessional work, but do not expect them in the written paper.
Unit I: Plane Geometry (10 Marks)
- Introduction — English alphabets (capital and small) and numerals in standard proportions; unidirectional/aligned system of dimensioning and conventions as per SP 46:2003 (Revised); engineering drawing instruments.
- Lines, angles, and rectilinear figures — construction of lines, angles, and their divisions; simple questions on triangles, square, rhombus, regular pentagon, and hexagon.
- Circles, inscribing and circumscribing — construction of circles, inscribing and circumscribing of circles in equilateral triangle, square, rhombus, regular pentagon, and hexagon.
For internal assessment only: Introduction to Engineering Curves — definition and applications of Ellipse, Parabola, Hyperbola, Involute, Helix, Cycloids and Sine Curve. Do not prepare these for the theory exam.
Unit II: Solid Geometry (30 Marks)
- Orthographic projection of points and lines — dimensioning and conventions strictly as per SP 46:2003 (Revised).
- Orthographic projection of regular plane figures — triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, circle, and semi-circle.
- Orthographic projection of right regular solids — cube; prisms and pyramids (triangular, square, pentagonal, and hexagonal); cone; cylinder; sphere; hemi-sphere; frustum of pyramids and cone, with axis (a) perpendicular to HP/VP, (b) parallel to HP and VP both.
- Section of solids — cubes; prisms and pyramids (square, triangular, pentagonal, and hexagonal); cones; cylinders; spheres, kept with axis perpendicular to HP/VP, made by a vertical cutting plane.
Unit III: Machine Drawing (30 Marks)
- Orthographic projections of simple machine blocks.
- Isometric projection of laminae — construction of isometric scale showing main divisions of 10 mm and smaller divisions of 1 mm each; isometric projection (drawn to isometric scale) of regular plane figures — triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, circle, and semi-circle, with surface parallel to HP or VP (keeping one side either parallel or perpendicular to HP/VP).
For internal assessment only: Isometric View (drawn to full size scale) of regular plane figures. The exam tests Isometric Projection (drawn to isometric scale), not Isometric View.
Practical and Internal Assessment Breakdown
The 30-mark practical is evaluated across drawing, sketching, and oral work. The official curriculum (NCERT, pp. 3–4) requires a minimum of 15 practicals, with at least three drawn from each of the five activity categories listed below.
Practical Activity Categories
- Graphic designs/murals — making different types of graphic designs or murals for interior/exterior decorations in colour, using geometrical figures or 3D solids with CollabCAD or any equivalent pertinent software.
- Engineering curves — drawing an ellipse (by trammel and thread method) on the ground, drawing sheet, plywood, or cardboard.
- Developing solids — constructing cube, cuboid, prisms and pyramids (triangular, square, pentagonal, and hexagonal), right circular cylinder and cone, using cardboard or thick paper.
- Section of solids — preparing sections of prisms, pyramids, sphere, etc. with clay, soap-cake, plasticine, wax, or 3D printing technology, when the cutting plane is parallel, perpendicular, or inclined to the base.
- Top-view (plan) — preparing the top-view of a classroom, lab, or home (Drawing Room, Bedroom, Study Room, Kitchen) and drawing different objects therein.
The official document also recommends two industrial visits to an industry, manufacturing plant, or higher educational institute to acquaint students with present-day methods and technology.
Practical Evaluation Scheme
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| (a) Practical (2) | 15 |
| (b) Drawing/Sketch | 5 |
| (c) Viva-voce | 5 |
| (d) Sessional Work | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
All practicals must include drawing or sketching of the views; this component is evaluated as part of the 5-mark Drawing/Sketch head. The CollabCAD software is the CBSE-recommended tool for the CAD project, though any equivalent pertinent software is accepted.
Exam Pattern and Grading Scheme
Class XI assessment is carried out at the school level, but the pattern mirrors the Class XII Board examination. The theory paper is a single 3-hour paper for 70 marks, and the practical is a single 3-hour paper for 30 marks (NCERT, p. 2).
Absolute Grading Scale for Class XI
Class XI uses absolute grading (fixed mark ranges), not the positional grading used for Class XII. This distinction matters because your final marks convert directly to grades based on the scale below, not relative to other students (NCERT, p. 13).
| Mark Range | Grade |
|---|---|
| 91–100 | A1 |
| 81–90 | A2 |
| 71–80 | B1 |
| 61–70 | B2 |
| 51–60 | C1 |
| 41–50 | C2 |
| 33–40 | D |
| 32 and below | Essential Repeat |
The minimum passing mark is 33 out of 100 (Grade D). Scoring 32 or below results in Essential Repeat. Because the grading is absolute, a student scoring 91 marks earns A1 regardless of how peers perform — a key difference from Class XII’s positional system.
Deletions and Changes in the 2026-27 Syllabus
The official CBSE document for 2026-27 does not list any newly deleted chapters or units compared to the previous rationalised syllabus. The three-unit structure (Plane Geometry, Solid Geometry, Machine Drawing) and the 70/30 theory-to-practical split remain consistent.
The key boundary that students must understand is the set of topics marked FOR INTERNAL ASSESSMENT ONLY. These topics are part of the syllabus and must be studied for the practical and sessional work, but they will not appear in the 70-mark theory exam:
| Topic | Unit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Curves (Ellipse, Parabola, Hyperbola, Involute, Helix, Cycloids, Sine Curve) | Plane Geometry | Internal assessment only — not on theory exam |
| Isometric View (drawn to full size scale) of regular plane figures | Machine Drawing | Internal assessment only — not on theory exam |
Students often over-prepare these excluded topics for the board theory exam. The official document is explicit: Isometric Projection (drawn to isometric scale) is on the theory exam, while Isometric View (drawn to full size scale) is not. Similarly, Engineering Curves are defined and applied for the practical, not the written paper.
Chapter-wise Study Material
Chapter-wise study material for every unit above:
| Study material | Status |
|---|---|
| Engineering Graphics Notes | Coming soon |
For deeper preparation, you can also explore our Class 11 Engineering Graphics notes or browse the full collection of Class 11 notes across all subjects. Our CBSE notes hub covers additional classes and revision materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the exact marks for theory and practical in CBSE Class 11 Engineering Graphics?
The theory paper is worth 70 marks (3 hours) and the practical is worth 30 marks (3 hours), for a total of 100 marks. This split is confirmed in the official CBSE curriculum document for session 2026-27, subject code 046.
Is Engineering Curves included in the final theory exam?
No. The official document marks Engineering Curves (Ellipse, Parabola, Hyperbola, Involute, Helix, Cycloids, and Sine Curve) as FOR INTERNAL ASSESSMENT ONLY. You will study them for the practical and sessional work, but they will not appear in the 70-mark theory paper.
What software is required for the Engineering Graphics CAD project?
The CBSE-recommended software is CollabCAD, though the document accepts any equivalent pertinent software. The CAD project involves creating simple solids or machine blocks and submitting a project file.
How is the 30-mark practical evaluated in Class 11 Engineering Graphics?
The 30 marks are split across four heads: Practical (15 marks for two tasks), Drawing/Sketch (5 marks), Viva-voce (5 marks), and Sessional Work (5 marks). A minimum of 15 practicals must be completed, with at least three from each of the five activity categories.
What is the difference between Isometric Projection and Isometric View in this syllabus?
Isometric Projection is drawn to an isometric scale (with main divisions of 10 mm and smaller divisions of 1 mm) and is tested in the theory exam. Isometric View is drawn to full size scale and is marked FOR INTERNAL ASSESSMENT ONLY — it is not on the theory paper.
Both deal with regular plane figures like triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, circles, and semi-circles.
Reference: CBSE Class 11 Engineering Graphics curriculum document, session 2026-27 as stated on cbseacademic.nic.in.