ICSE Board Exam 2026: Time Table, Date Sheet, Syllabus, Specimen Paper & Pattern

ICSE time table 2026 is expected to release in October 2025. The ICSE 10th time table 2026 will be out on the official website- cisce.org.

The ICSE date sheet 2026 shares particulars like exam days, dates, timings along with other guidelines for students to follow. Students must ensure that they go through the entire ICSE syllabus 2026 and know the ICSE exam pattern. This will make them familiar with the marking scheme, difficulty level,   the types of questions asked in the exam etc. They must also solve and practice ICSE question papers of previous years and sample papers to get familiar with the exam pattern. 

Following the some of the ICSE preparation tips following which students will be able to prepare smoothly and achieve the desired top scores in the ICSE class 10th Board examination:

• Go through the complete ICSE Class 10th syllabus and analyse the contents
• Prepare a study time table and study plan to cover the syllabus content
• Include time for revision
• Practise the questions provided in the prescribed textbooks
• Attempt specimen question papers of ICSE Class 10
• Solve previous year class 10 ICSE question papers
• Analyse your strengths and weaknesses

ICSE and CBSE both are equally good in their way of rendering education but considering the need of today's competitive world, I would say CBSE is better. CBSE has a comprehensive way of rendering education which is more appealing and understandable by the students and furthermore the concepts taught have a more practical focused approach which is in my opinion a merit point of CBSE.

The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations, CISCE, popularly known as ICSE Board conducts ICSE 10th board exams in between February and April. Almost 2.5 lakh students appear for the ICSE Board Exams and ISC 12th Board Exams every year.

The full form of ICSE is Indian Certificate of Secondary Education. It is a class 10 examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). The exam is held every year in February and March, and the results are usually declared in May.

To pass the ICSE exam, students need to score at least 33% marks in each subject and 33% marks in aggregate. The difficulty level of the ICSE exam is considered to be quite tough, and students are advised to prepare well in advance to secure good marks. If a student has cleared all subjects in the ICSE examination, they can reappear in one or more subjects to improve their grades.

The ICSE time table 2026 will share the subjects, exam day, dates, timings, duration for all subjects. Along with this, it also shares the general guidelines to be followed by students. 

ICSE time table 2026 will likely be out in November 2025 and the exams will be held between February 18 and March 27, 2026 in pen and paper format. Students can download the official ICSE date sheet 2026 by clicking on the link provided. 

As per the ICSE exam day guidelines 2025, the following items are not allowed to be carried inside the exam hall:

• Mobile phones
• Bluetooth devices
• Earphones
• Microphones
• Pagers
• Health bands or any other electronic gadgets
• Any printed/blank/hand written paper
• Log tables
• Writing pads
• Scales

It is important to note that any unfair means will not be allowed during the exam, and students must not carry any electronic gadgets inside the exam hall. They must reach the examination hall at least 30 minutes before the commencement of the examination, and must carry their respective ICSE admit cards.

Yes, ICSE 10th syllabus 2026 is released on the official website for all subjects. Students can download it and start preparing for the final board exams. 

The syllabus shares the topics and chapters to be covered in order to obtain good marks in the ICSE board exams 2026. Students can click on the links provided to download the entire syllabus. 

The duration of the ICSE 2026 exam for class 10 will be 2/3 hours and varies from subject to subject. The exam will consist of five subjects, including English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Each subject will have a different number of questions, with English having 20 questions, Hindi having 15 questions, Mathematics having 25 questions, Science having 25 questions, and Social Studies having 20 questions. The questions will be multiple-choice and short-answer type, and students will be required to answer all questions. There will be no negative marking for incorrect answers. It is advisable to attempt all questions and complete the paper within the given time frame. 

Yes, CISCE released the ICSE specimen sample papers for the session 2025-26 for all subjects. The sample papers are out on the official website- cisce.org. Students can download them from the official website or they can also download the ICSE sample papers and previous years question papers from the link provided on this page. 

Students must solve and practice the ICSE 10th sample papers 2026 as they will make them familiar with the marking scheme, the types of questions asked frequently in the exam, the difficulty level and more. Students must also solve the sample papers within the stipulated time to learn time management.

The ICSE exam pattern is quite comprehensive and covers a wide range of subjects and topics. The difficulty level of the exam can vary depending on the individual student's background and preparation. However, based on past year papers and experts' reviews, the exam can be considered moderately challenging.

The English Language paper has a composition section that requires creativity and writing skills, while the Literature in English paper has a mix of MCQs and short answers. Mathematics and Science papers have a good balance of theoretical and numerical questions.

It's important to note that the exam pattern and difficulty level can vary for each subject and year, so it's always a good idea to review past year papers and specimen papers to get a better idea of what to expect.

To prepare for the ICSE exams 2026, you can start by practicing with past year question papers and sample papers. Focus on developing your reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar skills. You can also practice writing compositions, letters, and other types of essays. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the marking scheme and the different types of questions that are asked in the exam.

The duration of the ICSE board exam 2026 for Group-I subjects like History, Civics, Geography, and English will be 3 hours. The exam will consist of 75 minutes for each paper, with a 15-minute break in between. The papers will be held on different dates, so please check the exam schedule carefully. Remember to reach the exam center early and take all necessary documents with you. All the best!

Losing your ICSE admit card 2026 can be a stressful situation. But don't worry, there are ways to resolve this issue.

Firstly, you can check with your school whether they have a copy of the admit card. If they do, you can request them to provide you with one.

If your school doesn't have a copy, you can try contacting the ICSE Board directly. They may be able to provide you with a duplicate admit card or guide you on how to obtain one.

You can also check with the examination center where you will be taking the exam. They may have a copy of the admit card on record.

In any case, it's essential to have a copy of the admit card with you on the exam day. Without it, you may not be allowed to take the exam.

So, if you have lost your ICSE admit card 2026, please take immediate action to obtain a duplicate one. Don't wait until the last minute, as it may cause inconvenience and unnecessary stress.

To obtain their ICSE Admit Card 2026, students can collect it from their school. The ICSE 10th hall ticket 2026 will be made available on the official website of the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) in February. Schools can access the ICSE admit card using their login details.

Students must check for any discrepancies in their ICSE 10th hall ticket 2026. In case of any errors or discrepancies, students should immediately contact the authorities. The admit card will contain important details such as the student's personal information, exam date, timings, and exam center address. Students must carry the admit card to the exam centre on all exam days. No student will be allowed to sit for the exam without the admit card.

The ICSE Class 10 admit card for the 2026 session will be made available in February 2026. As soon as the admit cards are released, students can pick them up from the school administration.Students who are qualified to sit for the ICSE Class 10 board exams can get their admission cards from the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations. Only applicants who complete the application form successfully will receive their ICSE Class 10 admission card. The exam admit card is made available 7-15 days in advance. Admit cards are available for pickup by students from the administration of their individual schools. The information that students filled out on the application form is contained on the ICSE Class 10 admit card. 

CISCE has discontinued the practice of issuing two documents, i.e. a Statement of Marks and a Pass Certificate to students who clear the ICSE examination. Instead, those who qualify the examination will be issued only one document titled 'Pass Certificate Cum Statement of Marks'.
The students who appear for a Supplementary Examination will be issued only a Statement of Marks.
Students must also note that the result of the students will be declared as 'Qualified / 'Not Qualified' as the case may be, instead of 'Pass Certificate Awarded' / 'Pass Certificate Not Awarded'.

ICSE result 2026 will likely be declared in he last week of April 2026. Students can check their 10th result 2026 ICSE board using their index number, UID and  captcha code. 

The ICSE result 2026 is expected to be released in the last week of April 2026. Students can check their ICSE result 2026 using their roll number and index ID. Students must note that the ICSE result 2026 released online is provisional. They will need to collect the original marksheet from school. 

For Class 10th, it is considered to be strict. However, it is said that the checking done by evaluators is lenient in comparison to the checking done by them in Class 9 in their schools.

The full form of ICSE is Indian Certificate of Secondary Education. It is a class 10 examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). The exam is held every year in February and March, and the results are usually declared in May.

To pass the ICSE exam, students need to score at least 33% marks in each subject and 33% marks in aggregate. The difficulty level of the ICSE exam is considered to be quite tough, and students are advised to prepare well in advance to secure good marks. If a student has cleared all subjects in the ICSE examination, they can reappear in one or more subjects to improve their grades.

Students must note that in order to pass ICSE Board Exams 2026, students must score a minimum of 35 per cent in aggregate and per subject to pass. The official websites reads, “STATEMENT OF MARKS will be issued to all students who appeared for the examination. The pass marks for each subject is 35%.”

In case you are unable to download the ICSE specimen question papers 2026 from the official website, you can click on ICSE sample papers to download year-wise sample papers and previous years' question papers for free. 

Solving and practicing the sample question papers will help you get better marks in the exams.

Hi Vasima, The only formula to success is hard work and dedication. Go through your syllabus properly and after that, go through sample question papers like ten years for practice and to understand the pattern of the examination.

Students must note the subject-wise ICSE passing marks in ICSE. To acquire the pass certificate, students must score at least 35% in 5 subjects out of 6 and achieve an aggregate mark of 33% as the passing marks out of 100 in ICSE. The ICSE passing marks out of 80 is 26.

In case you fail in one subject in the 10th ICSE board exam, you can appear for improvement exam for that particular subject. The only subject you have to compulsorily pass in ICSE 10th is English. If you fail in only one subject (other than English), you will get your pass certificate. Let us take an example. You pass in all subjects, but fail in English. Now, you won’t get your pass certificate and have to appear for supplementary exam. But, let us consider you pass in English, but failed in HCG only. You will get your pass certificate but will also be given a chance to appear for the improvement exam and improve your scores.

It's important to remember that failing in one subject doesn't define your abilities, and there are often opportunities to make up for it. Remember to stay positive and seek support from your teachers and school counselors.

ICSE Improvement Result 2026 is expected to be released in the last week of July 2026. The result is released on the official website- cisce.org, and students can check their results using their UID and index number. 

The ICSE improvement result 2026, which is released online, is provisional. Students need to collect their original marksheet from school.

No, CISCE does not release the ICSE toppers list along with the ICSE result. The Council has stopped the practice of releasing the toppers list to avoid unhealthy competition. However, Shiksha.com interviews students who manage to score over 90 percent in their Class 10 board exams to learn about their preparation strategy, and tips they want to share with those preparing for the upcoming session. Students can read these interviews by clicking on the ICSE result link provided here.

Yes, CISCE prints the statement of marks and hands it over to students after a few days of the announcement of results.

Here's the screenshot of the marksheet-

 

Some of the Popular Vocational Courses after 10th in India are:

1. ITI (Industrial Training Institute) Courses - Electrician/Fitter/Mechanic/Welder/Plumber
2. Diploma in Computer Applications (DCA)
3. Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT)
4. Know in Business Management
5. Diploma in Fashion Design
6. Diploma in Hotel Management
7. Diploma in Web Design
8. Diploma in Agriculture

Know more about their eligibility criteria, admission process, scope and career prospects here

Some of the common subjects covered in Arts or Humanities stream are:

Class 10 students often take a lot of stress thinking about how to choose stream after 10th or which stream is the best after 10th. There are three broader types of streams available, namely Science, Commerce anf Arts. Science includes subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology; Commrce stream includes subjects like Accountacy, Economics, Business Studies, Mathematics etc. and Arts incolve Geography, History, Political Science and more. Students should select a stream which has subjects of their interests. They can decide on a stream after considering the points such as your interests, strengths and weaknesses, future career opportunities and more. Click on the link below to read more on How to decide an academic stream after Class 10?

ICSE 10th Result 2026 is expected to be out in the first week of May 2026 on the official website- cisce.org. Students need to enter their index number and UID to check their results. Along with the official website, students can also check their results vis SMS by sending a message in the format below:

• SMS format: ICSE send the same to this number: 09248082883.

• SMS Example: ICSE 1786257

ICSE Class 10 result 2026 will be released online on the official website cisce.org. The results can also be checked via SMS and  DigiLocker app. To check the ICSE result 2026 via SMS, students need to send a message in the format-

• SMS format: ICSE send the same to this number: 09248082883.

• SMS Example: ICSE 1786257

Students must note that they will need to collect the original marksheet from school after a few days of the announcement of the result.

• Students can download their ICSE result 2026 by logging into the DigiLocker website or mobile application.
• Students will get credentials for DigiLocker accounts on the phone via SMS.
• Enter your details in the app to check the ICSE 10th result 2026 online

An extra layer of security has been introduced for downloading mark sheets from DigiLocker.

To get the marksheets from DigiLocker, students can visit the official website for initiation of their account confirmation process. Students must note that they will need a PIN to download their marksheet from the app. How do you get it? To strengthen the security and privacy of the students' data, the PIN has been introduced.

To confirm the DigiLocker account, students will first have to select their class first either class 10 or 12 and then enter their school code, and roll number. Further, they access the six-digit security PIN from their schools. The PIN will be provided by their school, if not received, students will have to contact their school. The PIN will be a numeric value. Example: If pin number given by school is '012345', students will have to enter only 012345.

ICSE specimen question papers 2026 are released on the official website - cisce.org. Students are advised to download and practice the ICSE specimen papers 2026 from our ICSE question papers page. Practicing these sample papers help them to be familiar with the exam pattern and ICSE marking scheme.