The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education(ICSE) has released the Class 10 exam pattern on its official website, cisceboard.org. Candidates should follow the exam pattern provided to score more marks in the exam. The ICSE Class 10 exam pattern is of two sections: Written Annual Exams and Internal Correspondence. The ICSE Class 10 exams will be of 2 or 3 hours duration, depending on the subject.
The ICSE board follows a set exam pattern that includes long questions, short questions, and more. Moreover, the board has divided the subjects into 3 groups and the marking scheme is different for each group.
- The subjects for first and second groups will include a theory exam of 80 marks and practical exam of 20 marks.
- For the subjects of the third group, there will be a theory and practical exam of 50 marks each.
- The ICSE Class 10 exam registrations will begin from October, 2026.
- The ICSE Class 10 exam fees are revised from 2026, to be Rs. 4350 per candidate.
- The ICSE Class 10 exams are likely to be conducted in February-March, 2026
Also Read:
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Highlights
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern FAQs
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern : Marking Scheme
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern : Marking Scheme FAQs
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2026 : Subject-Combinations Not Allowed
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Syllabus
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Syllabus FAQs
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Fees 2026
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Fees 2026 FAQs
- ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern FAQs
ICSE Class 10 Exam Highlights
The ICSE Class 10 Exam Highlights are listed in the table below:
| PARTICULARS | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Indian Certificate of Secondary Education(ICSE Class 10th) |
| Conducting Body | Council for The Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Exam Level | Matriculate |
| Exam Duration | 2 or 3 hours |
| Exam Fees | Rs. 4350 |
ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern
- The ICSE Class 10 exams are conducted in pen-and-paper offline mode for 2 or 3 hours depending on the subject.
- Students have to write a 80 marks paper and 20 marks are assigned for internal assessment, through project work, practical work and assignments.
- Students are given 15 minutes time to read the question paper. No scribbling is allowed on the question paper.
The ICSE Class 10 exams are conducted from subjects based in three groups. Candidates can choose their subjects according to the guidelines provided in the website. The three groups are listed below:
| Groups | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Group-I – 80% exam + 20% internal assessment | History Civics Geography English Second Language |
| Group-II – 80% exam + 20% internal assessment | Physics Chemistry Biology Mathematics Economics Modern foreign language Classical language Environmental Science |
| Group-III – 50% external exam + 50% internal exam | Performing Arts Computer Applications Commercial Applications Economic Applications ArtsYoga Cookery Physical Education Fashion Designing Environmental Applications Technical Drawing Applications Home Science Modern foreign language |
Also Check: ICSE 10th Exam Dates
ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques. Do all the groups in the ICSE Class 10 exam have the same marking scheme?
Ans. No, while Group I and Group II have 80% in written examination and 20% allocated to internal assessment; Group III has 50% allotted to external exam and the rest 50% to internal exam.
Ques. Is Group I subjects compulsory for all?
Ans. Yes, the subjects in Group I have to be attempted by all. The subjects are listed as follows:
- History
- Civics
- Geography
- English
- Second Language
ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern : Marking Scheme
The subject-wise marking scheme is stated below for candidates to follow:
| SUBJECTS | MARKING SCHEME | WEIGHTAGE | TOTAL MARKS |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Paper I: Language
| Written - 80% | 100 |
| Internal - 20% | |||
Paper II: Literature
| Written - 80% | 100 | |
| Internal - 20% | |||
| Second Language | - | Written - 80% | 100 |
| Internal - 20% | |||
| History & Civics | Section A: MCQs (Objective)
| Written - 80% | 100 |
| Internal - 20% | |||
| Geography |
| Written - 80% | 100 |
| Internal - 20% | |||
| Physics | - | Written - 80% | 100 |
| Chemistry | 100 | ||
| Biology | Internal - 20% | 100 | |
| Mathematics | 100 |
Also Read:
Marking Scheme for ICSE Exams: Group and Subject Wise
The marking scheme of ICSE (CISCE Class 10) is given below:
- Group 1 is Compulsory for all
- Students may select any 2 subjects from group 2 and any 1 subject from group 3.
Group 1: Compulsory Subjects
| Subject Name | Percentage Marks - External Exams (%) | Percentage Marks-Internal Exams (%) |
|---|---|---|
| English | 80 | 20 |
| Second Language | 80 | 20 |
| History, Civics & Geography | 80 | 20 |
| Environmental Science | 80 | 20 |
Group 2: Elective Subjects
| Subject Name | Percentage Marks-External Exams (%) | Percentage Marks-Internal Exams (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 80 | 20 |
| Science | 80 | 20 |
| Economics | 80 | 20 |
| Commercial Studies | 80 | 20 |
| Technical Drawing | 80 | 20 |
| A modern Foreign Language | 80 | 20 |
| Classical Language | 80 | 20 |
| Computer Science | 80 | 20 |
| Environmental Science | 80 | 20 |
| Agricultural Science | 80 | 20 |
Group 3: Skill-Based Subjects
| Subject Name | Percentage Marks-External Exams (%) | Percentage Marks-Internal Exams (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Applications | 50 | 50 |
| Economic Applications | 50 | 50 |
| Commercial Applications | 50 | 50 |
| Art | 50 | 50 |
| Performing Arts | 50 | 50 |
| Home Science | 50 | 50 |
| Cookery | 50 | 50 |
| Fashion Designing | 50 | 50 |
| Physical Education | 50 | 50 |
| Yoga | 50 | 50 |
| Technical Drawing Applications | 50 | 50 |
| Environmental Applications | 50 | 50 |
| A Modern Foreign Language | 50 | 50 |
ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern : Marking Scheme FAQs
Ques. What questions are expected from History and Civics?
Ans. History and Civics are together a subject, from where the following questions can be expected:
- Section A: MCQs (Objective)
- History: 18 Marks
- Civics: 12 Marks
- Section B: Subjective (Descriptive)
- History: 30 Marks
- Civics: 30 Marks
Ques. When are the ICSE Class 10 exams beginning?
Ans. The ICSE Class 10 exams are beginning in February, 2026 and are expected to end in around March, 2026. Students should follow the timetable given in the official website.
ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2026 : Subject-Combinations Not Allowed
For the ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2026, candidates cannot choose the following subject combinations:
- Environmental Science in Group II and Environmental Applications in Group III
- Economics in Group II and Economic Applications in Group III
- Commercial Studies in Group II and Commercial Applications in Group III
- Sanskrit as a second language in group I and Sanskrit as a classical language in group II
- Modern Foreign Language must be a different language for all groups
ICSE Class 10 Exam Syllabus
As of now, no changes or revisions in the syllabus of the ICSE Class 10 exam have been announced by the CISCE.
The syllabus is overall divided into three groups:
- Group I (including Compulsory subjects such as English, Social Science)
- Group II (any two subjects from the list)
- Group III (any one subject from the list)
Based on the previous year's exam analysis, we have provided the detailed bifurcation in the ICSE Class 10 exam syllabus below:
| GROUP | SUBJECTS |
|---|---|
| Group I: Compulsory Subjects | English, Second Languages (Indian or Modern Foreign Languages), History & Civics, and Geography |
| Group II: Choose Any Two | Mathematics, Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), Economics, Commercial Studies, Technical Drawing, Modern Foreign Language, Classical Language, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Agricultural Science |
| Group III – Choose Any One | Computer Applications; Economic Applications; Commercial Applications; Arts; Performing Arts; Home Science; Cookery; Fashion Designing; Physical Education; Yoga; Technical Drawing Applications; Environmental Applications; Modern Foreign Languages |
ICSE Class 10 Exam Syllabus FAQs
Ques. How many subjects do I need to choose from Group II?
Ans. Candidates can choose any two subjects from Group II. The subjects from which students can choose from are listed here:
- Mathematics, Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- Economics
- Commercial Studies
- Technical Drawing
- Modern Foreign Language
- Classical Language
- Computer Science
- Environmental Science
- Agricultural Science
ICSE Class 10 Exam Fees 2026
The ICSE Class 10 fees for the year 2026 has been revised and has been increased to Rs. 4350 per candidate. This uniform fee is charged directly by CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations) and includes all local expenses, meaning schools are no longer permitted to collect additional fees for the conduct of examinations.
Also Read:
ICSE Class 10 Exam Fees 2026 FAQs
Ques. Has the ICSE Class 10 exam fees been increased?
Ans. The fees for the ICSE Class 10 examinations, for the year 2026 has certainly increased to Rs. 4350 per candidate. This fee ensures that no extra fees are separately charged from the candidates by the school.
Ques. What are the fees for any additional paper and reappearing for any paper?
Ans. Yes, the ICSE board charges a certain amount of fee fees for any additional paper and reappearing for any paper.
For an additional paper, students need to pay Rs. 500 extra, while for reappearing for any paper, students are charged a fee of Rs. 600.
ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques. What are the necessary eligibility criteria for the ICSE Class 12 exam 2026?
Ans. Students appearing for the ICSE Class 10 exam must meet the following eligibility criterias, listed as follows:
| Eligibility Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| School Enrollment | Must be enrolled in a CISCE-affiliated school |
| Previous Class | Must have passed the Class 9 annual examination |
| Attendance | Fulfill the minimum attendance requirement as prescribed by CISCE/school |
| Exam Form & Fee | Must submit through the school before the deadline |
Ques: Has the exam pattern of ICSE Class 10 2026 been revised?
Ans. As of now, there are no such changes in the ICSE Class 10 exam pattern announced by the board. Based on the previous year's exam analysis, we have provided the ICSE Class exam pattern 2026 below in a tabular format:
| Components | Marks Weightage |
|---|---|
| Theory Papers | 80 marks |
| Internal Assessment/Practical/Projects | 20 marks |
| Practical Subjects (e.g., Science, Computer Application, Home Science) | Mandatory practical exams |
| Passing Criteria | Minimum 33% in each subject |
Ques. Is 89.6 considered 90 in ICSE?
Ans. No, 89.6 is not considered 90 in the ICSE system, as the distinction grade (A1 or Outstanding) is typically awarded for scores of 91-100%, and the "Excellent" grade (A2) is for 81-90%. A score of 89.6% would fall into the A2 category for excellent performance, but would not qualify for the higher distinction grade.
Ques. Is the total marks 500 or 600 in ICSE?
Ans. The ICSE Class 10 exams are technically for a total of 600 marks, but they follow a "best of five" system, meaning your final percentage is calculated out of 500 marks, by dropping your lowest-scoring subject (English is compulsory).
Ques. Ques: Is the 33% passing criteria compulsory for the ICSE Class 10 examination?
Ans. The information regarding the passing criteria of the ICSE Class 10 examination is given below in a tabular format:
| PARTICULARS | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Minimum Passing Marks | 33% in each subject |
| Theory & Internal Assessment | Must pass both separately |
| Result Declaration | Expected in May 2026 |
| Result Access | Online at cisce.org using Unique ID & Index Number |
| Certificates Required | Digital mark sheets & passing certificates available on DigiLocker |
Ques. Is the ICSE Class 10 exam checking strict?
Ans. The ICSE Class 10 exam checking is done on the basis of a template answer script prepared by the board and provided to the teachers. Teachers are asked to follow the marking scheme to award students the deserved marks.
Ques. What documents should I carry with me to the ICSE Class 10 examination?
Ans. Several documents are required to be carried by the candidates to the ICSE Class 10 examination hall. The list of the documents are as follows:
- ICSE Class 10 Admit Card
- ICSE Class 10 Registration Card
- Workable pens
- Transparent pencil case
- Geometry box (for Mathematics)
*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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