ICSE Class 10 Syllabus 2026-27

About ICSE Class 10

ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) is conducted by CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations). ICSE Class 10 is considered more comprehensive and application-oriented than CBSE Class 10 — it has more subjects, broader coverage and a greater emphasis on comprehension and application over rote memorisation.

Subject structure: Group I (compulsory) + Group II (pick 2 from list) + Group III (pick 1 elective).

Group I (all mandatory): English Language, Literature in English, History & Civics, Geography. Group II (minimum 2, students typically take 3): Mathematics, Science (Physics + Chemistry + Biology in separate papers), Computer Science, Commercial Studies, Economics, Environmental Science, Hindi, Modern Foreign Language. Group III (1 elective): Physical Education, Art, Cookery, Yoga, etc.

Total subjects: Most ICSE students sit 7–8 papers. Passing criteria: Minimum 33% in each subject's written paper. English is compulsory to pass. Best-of-5 for aggregate: Percentage calculated on best 5 subjects (must include English and at least one language).

English Language (Paper 1)

2 hours. 80 marks (written) + 20 marks internal (oral English + written English assignments).

Section A — Composition (25 marks): One essay (350–400 words) from a choice of descriptive, narrative, argumentative and picture-based topics. Letter writing (formal letter or letter to editor). Note-making (sometimes).

Section B — Grammar and Language (30 marks): Tenses, voice, reported speech, error correction, sentence transformation, fill in the blanks. ICSE English grammar is more demanding than CBSE — particularly transformation exercises.

Section C — Comprehension (25 marks): Unseen prose passage. Questions testing comprehension, vocabulary, inference. ICSE comprehension requires precise, well-structured answers — not one-word answers.

Note: ICSE English is one of the most demanding English syllabuses at Class 10 level. Students need genuine reading and writing ability to score well, not just pattern-based preparation.

Mathematics Syllabus

2.5 hours. 80 marks (written) + 20 marks (internal project). No internal choice — answer all questions.

Section A (40 marks, compulsory): Commercial Mathematics: GST, banking, shares and dividends. Algebra: ratio and proportion, factorisation, quadratic equations. Statistics: mean (direct, assumed mean, step-deviation), histogram, ogive.

Section B (40 marks, choose 4 of 7 questions): Geometry: similarity, Pythagoras theorem, circles (chord properties, tangent, alternate segment). Coordinate Geometry: distance formula, section formula, equation of line. Trigonometry: trigonometric identities, heights and distances. Mensuration: surface area and volume of cylinder, cone, sphere, hemisphere. Probability: simple probability, complementary events.

Key differences from CBSE Maths: ICSE has Commercial Maths (shares, banking, GST), coordinate geometry is more detailed, and the paper has optional sections (B). ICSE Maths is considered slightly harder than CBSE in geometry and coordinate geometry.

Science Syllabus (Physics, Chemistry, Biology — 3 Separate Papers)

Each Science paper: 2 hours. 80 marks written + 20 marks practical.

Physics (Paper 1): Force (turning effects, equilibrium, uniform circular motion, gravitation, work, energy, power). Light (refraction, lenses, human eye, defects and correction, dispersion). Sound (wave motion, resonance, natural frequency). Electricity (OHm's law, resistors, domestic circuits, safety devices, electrical power). Modern Physics (radioactivity, nuclear energy, semiconductor devices, communication systems).

Chemistry (Paper 2): Periodic Table (Mendeleev's, modern periodic table, trends). Chemical Bonding (ionic, covalent). Acids, Bases and Salts. Analytical Chemistry (identification of ions). Mole Concept and Stoichiometry. Electrolysis. Metallurgy. Organic Chemistry (basics, hydrocarbons, alcohols, carboxylic acids).

Biology (Paper 3): Genetics (Mendel's laws, monohybrid/dihybrid cross, sex determination). Absorption by roots. Transpiration. Photosynthesis. Human Respiration. Human Excretion. Coordination in Humans (nervous + endocrine). Reproductive System. Population. Ecosystem.

History & Civics

2 hours. 80 marks.

History portion: - The Harappan Civilisation - The Vedic Age - The Rise of Janapadas and Mahajanpadas (Republics and Monarchies) - Mauryan Empire - The Gupta Era - The Delhi Sultanate - The Mughal Empire - British Colonialism and its impact - The Indian National Movement (1857–1947): phases and key leaders - Post-Independence India

Civics portion (Constitution and Government): - The Union Legislature (Parliament) - The Union Executive (President, Vice President, Council of Ministers) - The Judiciary (Supreme Court, High Courts) - Local Government (urban and rural) - Fundamental Rights and Duties

ICSE History is more detailed than CBSE History — expects chapter-level mastery of dates, leaders and cause-effect analysis.

Geography

2 hours + 30 minutes Map Work. 80 marks total (60 marks theory + 20 marks map/project).

Topics: Location and extent of India. India's physical features (relief, drainage). Climate (monsoon mechanism, types of climate). Natural vegetation and wildlife. Soil types and conservation. Mineral and energy resources. Agriculture (food crops, commercial crops, irrigation). Industries (cotton, iron & steel, IT). Transport and trade. Population: distribution, density, growth, composition.

Map Work: Identification and location of physical features, rivers, cities and resources on outline maps of India. Maps are practised with actual blank maps.

ICSE Geography has practical skills built in — map reading and drawing are explicitly tested.