CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025: Marking Scheme & Exam Duration

Q: How is CS Professional exam conducted, offline or online?

The Institute of Ccompany Secretaries of India conducts the CS Professional exam in offline mode. The exam is held in a pen and paper mode. Enrolled candidates must report at the allotted exam centre on the day of examination. Candidates will be allowed to bring the black or blue point ball pen. OMR sheets and question paper will be provided at the exam centre.

Q: What is the duration for ICSI CS Professional exam?

The duration of CS Professional exam for each paper is three hours. CS Professional exam is divided into two groups. The CS Professional group 1 consist of four papers whereas, second group consists of three papers. Candidates will have to attempt the questions of each paper within the given time duration. ICSI CS Professional December 2025 datesheet has been released.

Q: What is ICSI CS Professional total marks?

The total score for CS Professional examination is 100 marks for each paper. Group 1 of CS Professional consists of three papers and one elective paper which is of total 400 marks and group 2 of CS Professional consists of three papers and one elective paper which is of total 400 marks. Overall the total marks for CS Professional examination is 800 marks. Candidates must score minimum of 50% in aggregate in 40% in each paper to qualify the exam.

Q: What is CS Professional passing marks?

ICSI CS Professional passing marks refers to minimum score required by cadidates in each subject to qualify the CS Professional exam. As per ICSI, candidates must score minimum 40 percent in each subject and 50% overall to qyalify the examination. Candidates failing to meet the CS Professional qualifying criteria will not be considered pass. They shall appear for the CS Professional examination in upcoming session.

Q: What is ICSI CS pre examination test?

Students who are registered under CS Executive new syllabus and CS Professional new syllabus shall have to appear for the Pre examination test to become eligible to enroll and appear for the CS Executive or CS Professional examination. The exam will be conducted by ICSI. the exam will be served as an eligibility criteria to appear for the main examinations. Candidates will be required to pay the pre examination test fee of INR 1000 online. Once the payment is realised, candidates will be sent invitation along with the login ID and password.

Q: What is the exam pattern for the ICSI-CS?

ICSI CS exam pattern mentions the exam duration, subjects, marking scheme, exam name, and medium of the examination to the candidates appearing for the exam. Candidates appearing for the CS Executive or CS Professional examination must check the exam pattern to become aware about the examination. Check the table below to know the ICSI CS exam pattern highlights: Features Details Mode of Exam Centre-based examination; Offline Duration of Exam Three hours for each paper Marks 100 marks for each paper Language of Question Paper English Nature of questions MCQs and Descriptive Pre-Examination Requirement Complete a Pre-Examination Test to become eligible to Enroll First Examination Under New Syllabus 2022 Executive- December 2023 Professional- June 2024 Last Attempt Under Old Syllabus 2017 Executive- December 2024 Professional- June 2025

Q: What is the duration for ICSI CS Professional exam?

The duration of CS Professional exam for each paper is three hours. CS Professional exam is divided into two groups. The CS Professional group 1 consist of four papers whereas, second group consists of three papers. Candidates will have to attempt the questions of each paper within the given time duration. ICSI CS Professional December 2025 datesheet has been released.

Q: When will CS Professional examination be conducted for the upcoming session?

ICSI has announced the CS Professional exam dates 2025 for December session at icsi.edu. Candidates preparing for the CS Professional examination Dec 2025 can check the updated schedule below: CS Professional New Syllabus (2022) Exam Dates Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)- Principles and Practice (Group 1) 22-Dec-2025 Strategic Management and Corporate Finance (Group 2) 23-Dec-2025 Drafting, Pleading and Appearances (Group 1) 24-Dec-2025 No Examination 25-Dec-2025 Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency 26-Dec-2025 Compliance Management, Audit and Due Diligence (Group 1) 27-Dec-2025 Elective 2 (One out of 5 subjects): [Open book examination] Group 2 Arbitration, Mediation and Conciliation Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Corporate Tax Planning Labour Laws and Practice Banking and Insurance- Laws and Practice Insolvency and Bankruptcy- Law and Practice 28-Dec-2025 Elective 1 (One out of 4 subjects) [Open book exam] Group 1 CSR and Social Governance Internal and Forensic Audit Intellectual property Rights- Law and Practice Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and Cyber Security- Law and Practice 29-Dec-2025

Q: Is ICSI CS enrollment window open?

Yes, ICSI CS December 2025 enrollment window without late fee opened on August 26. Candidates can enroll for ICSI CS Executive and CS Professional Dec 2025 till prescribed last date. Only candidates who have registered for the ICSI CS examination will be able to enroll for the exam. Candidates enrolling after prescribed last date will have to pay the late fee of INR 250.

Q: How to appear for ICSI CS pre examination test?

To appear for the ICSI CS Pre Examination Test (PET) candidates must refer the steps mentioned below: Step 1- Visit the official website of ICSI Step 2- Click on the 'E-learning' tab followed by Pre-Interview Test (PET) tab Step 3- Select the examination to appear for Step 4- Select the module Step 5- Enter the login credentials- Your login ID is your registration number (without any slash sign) suffix with @icsi.edu for example- If your registration number is 1234567/10/2018 then your login ID will be 1234567102018 [at]icsi.edu and fefault password for first time login is Learn@1234 Step 6- Appear for the Pre-interview test online.

Registration - 26 Aug '25 - 10 Oct '25

Updated on Sep 29, 2025 11:08 IST

By Shruti Garg, Assistant Manager- Editorial

CS Professional exam pattern 2025 for December session is structured into two groups. The exam is categorised into seven papers consisting of Descriptive and Elective papers held at designated ICSI exam centres. The ICSI CS Professional exam pattern outlines the mode of the exam, type of questions, number of questions, marking scheme, exam duration, and other relevant details.

ICSI CS Professional Dec 2026 exam will commence on December 22. To qualify the exam, candidates must score a minimum of 40% in each paper and 50% overall. The duration of each paper in CS Professional exam is three hours.

Table of content

ICSI CS Professional 2025 Exam Highlights
ICSI CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025
FAQs on ICSI CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025

ICSI CS Professional 2025 Exam Highlights

Refer to the table below to check the highlights of ICSI CS Professional exam pattern:

Features	Details
Mode of Exam	Centre-based examination; Offline
Duration of Exam	Three hours for each paper
Groups	Two groups
Papers	Seven papers 4 papers and an elective paper in group 1 3 papers and an elective paper in group 2
Marks	100 marks for each paper
Language of Question Paper	English
Nature of questions	Descriptive
Pre-Examination Requirement	Complete a Pre-Examination Test to become eligible to Enroll
Frequency of Exam	held twice in a year- June & December

Commonly asked questions

Q: How is CS Professional exam conducted, offline or online?

Q: What is the duration for ICSI CS Professional exam?

ICSI CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025

Candidates peparing for CS Professional 2025 must check the detailed CS Professional exam pattern below:

Group 1

Paper Number	Subjects	Marks
1	Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) – Principles & Practice Part I – Governance and Sustainability	65
	Part II – Risk Management	20
	Part III- Environment & Sustainability Reporting	15
2	Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances Part I - Drafting and Conveyancing	70
2	Part II - Pleadings and Appearances	30
3	Compliance Management, Audit & Due Diligence Part I – Compliance Management	40
3	Part II – Audit & Due Diligence	60
4	Elective 1 (Select one Paper out of 4 Elective Papers)

Group 2

Paper Number	Subjects	Marks
5	Strategic Management & Corporate Finance Part I – Strategic Management	40
5	Part II – Corporate Finance	60
6	Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency Part I – Corporate Restructuring	40
	Part II – Valuation	20
	Part III – Insolvency, Liquidation & Winding up	40
7	Elective 2 (Select one Paper out of 5 Elective Papers)

Mode of Examination: Descriptive
For Elective Papers: Descriptive & Open Book
Duration: 3 Hours (each paper)
Marks: 100 Marks (each paper)

Elective Papers 1

Paper Number	Elective Subjects	Marks
4.1	CSR & Social Governance Part I – Corporate Social Responsibility	50
4.1	Part II – Social Governance	50
4.2	Internal and Forensic Audit Part I – Internal Audit	60
4.2	Part II – Forensic Audit	40
4.3	Intellectual Property Rights – Law & Practice	100
4.4	Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and Cyber Security – Laws & Practice	100

Elective Papers 2

Paper Number	Elective Subjects	Marks
7.1	Arbitration, Mediation & Conciliation Part I – Arbitration & Conciliation	70
7.1	Part II – Mediation	30
7.2	Goods and Services Tax (GST) & Corporate Tax Planning Part I – Goods and Services Tax (GST)	70
7.2	Part II – Corporate Tax Planning	30
7.3	Labour Laws & Practice	100
7.4	Banking & Insurance – Laws & Practice Part I – Banking Laws	50
7.4	Part II – Insurance Laws	50
7.5	Insolvency and Bankruptcy – Law & Practice	100