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The ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus has been officially released by CISE for the year 2025-2026 on the official website, cisceboard.org.
The ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus will include 2 written papers of 80 marks each and 20 marks for the internal assessment. The Total marks of the CSE Class 10 English Exam will be 200 marks, 100 marks per paper.
- In ICSE English Paper 1, English Language will be asked for 80 marks for 2 hours, testing candidates' writing and grammar skills. Including 300-350-word composition, formal & informal letter, email/notice writing, unseen passage and grammar section.
- In ICSE English Paper 2, in which Literature in English of 80 marks for 2 hours will be asked, it will test your literary understanding.
- Including Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, also prose and poetry from the Treasure Trove anthology, focusing on themes, character analysis & figures of speech.
- As per the ICSE Class 10 English syllabus, the internal assessment of 20 marks per exam will evaluate candidates' listening & speaking skills for paper 1 and written assignments for paper 2.
The Schools should conduct 2 assessments of each category according to the CISCE Guidelines.
The ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus will include the list of syllabus, section-wise weightage, marking scheme & internal assessment for the year 2025-2026.
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ICSE Class 10 Grading System| Key Summary: In this Article, we have discussed about ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus, Download PDF, Section-wise syllabus, Important Topics & Marking Scheme.
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- What is the ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus?
- ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026 – Paper-wise
2.1 ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus Paper 1: English Language (80 Marks)
2.2 ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus Paper 2: Literature in English (80 Marks)
2.3 ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus: Internal Assessment (20 Marks per Paper)
- ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus: Topic-wise Weightage
3.1 ICSE Class 10 Paper 1: English Language (80 Marks)
3.2 ICSE Class 10 Paper 2: Literature in English (80 Marks)
3.3 ICSE Class 10 Internal Assessment (20 Marks Each Paper)
- ICSE Class 10 English Internal Assessment Syllabus
- ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus: Important Topics
- ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus: Preparation Strategy
- ICSE Class 10 English Previous Years Question Papers
7.1 English Language
- FAQs for ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026
What is the ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus?
The ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus is released by CISCE. The Syllabus is divided into 2 main papers: Paper 1(English Language) and Paper 2 (Literature in English), including additional internal assessment marks as well.
The ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus will test candidates' writing, grammar, comprehension and literary skills.
ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026: Overview
| Component | Details | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: English Language |
| 80 | 2 Hours |
| Paper 2: Literature in English |
| 80 | 2 Hours |
| Internal Assessment | Listening & Speaking Skills (Paper 1) + Written Assignments (Paper 2) | 20 + 20 | Conducted by School |
| Total | Paper 1 + Paper 2 + Internal Assessment | 200 | — |
Also Read
ICSE Class 10 Exam PatternICSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026 – Paper-wise
The ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus includes 2 papers of 80 marks each and an internal assessment of 20 marks each. The Paper 1 will focus on language and writing skills, whereas Paper 2 will evaluate candidates' literary understanding of texts.
The Internal Assessment will strengthen the listening, speaking and writing skills analysis.
ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus Paper 1: English Language (80 Marks)
It is high scoring for candidates strong in grammar and structure, composition & letter writing will require practice in different formats.
The Comprehension will improve the reading speed and vocabulary of candidates.
| Section | Topics Covered | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Composition |
| Around 300 to 350 words; testing creativity, organization, grammar, and vocabulary |
| Letter Writing | Formal & Informal letters | Based on real-life situations; evaluating tone, format, and expression |
| Email Writing | Formal/Informal emails | Concise and structured writing with clear subject and body |
| Notice Writing | Notices for school/official events | Tests ability to present key details briefly and clearly |
| Unseen Passage | Comprehension & summary | Reading comprehension with inference, vocabulary, and analysis questions |
| Grammar | Functional grammar exercises | Includes transformation of sentences, prepositions, tenses, joining, and synthesis |
ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus Paper 2: Literature in English (80 Marks)
The Drama Questions will test character analysis, themes, and dialogues, prose and poetry will require close reading and critical interpretation, memorising quotes will help in scoring value added marks.
| Section | Topics Covered | Prescribed Texts |
|---|---|---|
| Drama | Play by Shakespeare | The Merchant of Venice – themes, characters, acts, and dialogues |
| Prose (Short Stories) | Narrative & thematic analysis | Treasure Trove anthology – selected stories (e.g., The Last Lesson, The Girl Who Can, The Pedestrian, etc.) |
| Poetry | Literary devices, meaning, appreciation | Treasure Trove anthology – prescribed poems (e.g., When Great Trees Fall, The Power of Music, etc.) |
ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus: Internal Assessment (20 Marks per Paper)
Good internal marks will boost candidates' overall performance, speaking/listening in english will help not only in board but also in future interviews and communication skills.
| Component | Topics/Activities | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Listening Skills |
| Students answer questions based on understanding of spoken English |
| Speaking Skills |
| Tests fluency, clarity, pronunciation, and confidence |
| Written Assignments (Literature) | Essays/short responses on prescribed texts | Students prepare 2–3 assignments (~1500 words in total) to show literary understanding |
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ICSE Class 10 SyllabusICSE Class 10 English Syllabus: Topic-wise Weightage
In the ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus, Paper 1 will focus on writing and grammar skills, whereas Paper 2 will evaluate candidates' literary skills of prescribed drama, prose and poetry.
Candidates should know the topic-wise weightage for better understanding.
ICSE Class 10 Paper 1: English Language (80 Marks)
| Section | Weightage (Approx.) | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Composition (300–350 words) | 20 | Creativity, coherence, grammar, vocabulary |
| Letter Writing (Formal/Informal) | 10 | Format, tone, correctness |
| Email/Notice Writing | 10 | Conciseness, clarity, structure |
| Unseen Passage (Comprehension) | 20 | Reading, inference, vocabulary |
| Grammar (Functional) | 20 | Usage, sentence structure, syntax |
ICSE Class 10 Paper 2: Literature in English (80 Marks)
| Section | Weightage (Approx.) | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Drama (The Merchant of Venice) | 30 | Character, themes, dialogues, critical analysis |
| Prose (Treasure Trove Short Stories) | 25 | Themes, narrative style, character sketches |
| Poetry (Treasure Trove Poems) | 25 | Literary devices, meaning, appreciation |
ICSE Class 10 Internal Assessment (20 Marks Each Paper)
| Component | Weightage | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Listening Skills | 10 | Understanding spoken English |
| Speaking Skills | 10 | Fluency, clarity, pronunciation |
| Written Assignments (for Literature) | 20 | Analytical essays on prescribed texts |
ICSE Class 10 English Internal Assessment Syllabus
The Internal Assessment for ICSE Class 10 English will carry 20 marks for language and literature, with a total of 40 marks each. The ICSE Class 10 English Internal Assessment Syllabus will evaluate candidates' listening, speaking and writing skills in the school-based format.
The ICSE Class 10 English Marks will be combined with the board marks to calculate the final score, which makes them useful for candidates to score 90+.
| Component | Topics/Tasks Included | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Listening Skills | Listening to short stories, passages, poems, news reports, speeches, or conversations and answering related questions | 10 |
| Speaking Skills | Prepared speech, extempore, debates, declamation, group discussion, role play, poetry recitation | 10 |
| Written Assignments | Based on prescribed texts (Merchant of Venice + Treasure Trove): character sketches, book reviews, theme analysis, creative writing, essays | 10 |
| Project Work/Portfolio | Long essays, reports, reviews, dramatizations, creative projects linked to prose/poetry/drama | 10 |
ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus: Important Topics
The ICSE Class 10 English syllabus 2026 is vast, but certain topics are repeatedly emphasized in board exams.
Paper 1 (Language) focuses on writing skills, comprehension, and grammar, while Paper 2 (Literature)emphasiseddepth understanding of prescribed texts.
Below is a topic-wise breakdown of important areas to prioritize:
| Paper | Section | Important Topics | Why Important |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Language | Composition |
| Frequently asked; carries 20 marks |
| Letter Writing |
| Scoring; often repeated formats | |
| Email/Notice |
| Straightforward & high-scoring | |
| Comprehension | Unseen passages with inference-based Qs | Tests reading + vocabulary | |
| Grammar |
| 20 marks; error-free attempt boosts score | |
| Paper 2: Literature | Drama | The Merchant of Venice – key scenes: Act III, Scene I & IV; themes: mercy vs justice, friendship, prejudice | Carries highest weightage (30 marks) |
| Prose |
| Frequently repeated in past years | |
| Poetry |
| Focus on literary devices & central ideas |
ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus: Preparation Strategy
The ICSE Class 10 English Exam will carry 200 marks, in which 8prioritisell be for language and literature both and 40 marks for the internal assessment.
For Scoring well, candidates need to balance practice, forex analysis, grammar accuracy, and speaking/listening.
| Section | Preparation Strategy | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Language (Paper 1) | Write 2 essays & 2 letters weekly; practice more than 10 unseen passages and daily 15-min grammar section | Builds accuracy & writing speed |
| Literature (Paper 2) | Revise Merchant of Venice act-wise; make theme/character notes for prose & poetry; solve last 10 years’ questions | Improves textual analysis & exam readiness |
| Internal Assessment | Practice debates, speeches, group discussions; listen to English podcasts; submit polished assignments | Easy 35+/40 scoring |
| Overall Strategy | 1 hour daily (30 min Language + 30 min Literature); weekly timed mock papers; vocab & idiom revision | Balanced prep + consistent improvement |
Also Read
ICSE Class 10 Preparation TipsICSE Class 10 English Previous Years Question Papers
Here is the list of previous years’ question papers to understand and evaluate the question paper pattern and difficulty level of the ICSE Class 10 English exam:
English Language
English Literature
Also Read
ICSE Class 10 Previous Year Question paperFAQs for ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026
Ques. What is the syllabus of ICSE Class 10 English?
Ans. The ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus is divided into 2 papers: Paper 1 of English Language and Paper 2 of Literature in English, also including internal assessment as well.
| Paper | Topics Included | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language (Paper 1) | Composition, Letter/Email/Notice Writing, Comprehension, Functional Grammar | 80 |
| Literature in English (Paper 2) | The Merchant of Venice (Drama), Treasure Trove (Prose & Poetry) | 80 |
| Internal Assessment | Listening, Speaking, Written Assignments, Projects | 40 |
| Total | — | 200 |
Ques. Is ICSE English tough?
Ans. The ICSE English is considered moderately challenging as it focuses on:
- Strong grasp of functional grammar, transformation, syntax.
- In-depth literature analysis (Merchant of Venice & Treasure Trove).
- Creative + formal writing (essays, letters, speeches).
Ques. How to get 90% in ICSE English?
Ans. By aiming for 90% and above in ICSE English, candidates can focus on high-weightage areas.
- Practice 2 essays & 2 letters every week.
- Revise Merchant of Venice scene-wise + literary devices in poetry.
- Attempt 10 years’ past papers for Literature.
- Secure full marks in Internal Assessment (35–40/40).
- Focus on grammar accuracy as it contributes 25% of Paper 1.
Ques. What is the new pattern for ICSE 2026?
Ans. The ICSE Class 10 English exam pattern remains similar from year to year.
| Paper | Sections | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: English Language | 5 sections – Essay, Letter, Email/Notice, Comprehension, Grammar | 80 |
| Paper 2: Literature in English | 3 sections – Drama, Prose, Poetry | 80 |
| Internal Assessment | Listening, Speaking, Written Work, Projects | 40 |
Ques. How many chapters are in 10th English ICSE?
Ans. The number of chapters depends on Paper 2 (Literature in English), as Paper 1 focuses on skills.
| Section | Chapters/Texts |
|---|---|
| Drama | The Merchant of Venice (full play) |
| Prose (Treasure Trove) | 10 short stories |
| Poetry (Treasure Trove) | 15 poems |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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