ISC Exam Pattern 2026: Get Latest Paper Pattern & Marking Scheme Here!

Indian School Certificate 2026 ( ISC )

Anangsha Patra
Updated on May 2, 2026 18:22 IST

By Anangsha Patra, Deputy Manager – Editorial

Overview

ISC Exam Pattern 2026: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) released the ISC Exam Pattern 2026 for Class 12th. All students must go through the new ISC 12th Exam Pattern 2026 to prepare for their board exam. The ISC paper pattern 2026 comprises important details like subject criteria, ISC marks distribution 2026, types of questions, and other details of ISC Class 12 syllabus 2026. ISC has released the revised Syllabus 2026. 

CISCE also mentions the duration of the exam in ISC Exam Pattern 2026 for Class 12th. The ISC Board exams 2026 will likely be held between February 13 and April 5, 2026. Read the entire page below to know more about ISC Exam Pattern 2026 for Class 12th.

Table of contents
  • Subject-wise ISC 12th Exam Pattern 2026
  • ISC Exam Pattern 2026 - Distribution of marks
  • ISC Syllabus 2026
  • FAQs on ISC 12th Exam Pattern 2026
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Subject-wise ISC 12th Exam Pattern 2026

The ISC board exam will be conducted only once this year. The subject-wise ISC 12th exam pattern 2026 is provided below:

ISC Exam Pattern 2026 English

English will comprise two parts: English language and literature In English. Both parts will have two papers: theory and project work. Theory Paper will comprise 80 marks and project work will comprise 20 marks.

Theory Paper will have four sections

Section-1 (20 marks)

Students need to write a composition which should comprise 400-450 words.

Section-2 

In this section, students need to write an article, review or report on a given point. (15 marks)

Students also need to write a proposal on a given situation. (10 marks)

 

Section-3

This section will include short questions and grammar & structure based questions.(15 marks)

 

Section-4

This section will include unseen passages in which questions need to read and give answers. (20 marks)

 

Project work also will have 2 sections

Section-1

This section will include listening and speaking skills. (10 marks)

 

Section-2

In this section an examiner will visit the school to test students’ assessment. (10 marks)

ISC Exam Pattern 2026 History

History will also comprise two papers theory and project work. Theory Paper will weigh 80 marks and project work will weigh 20 marks.

Theory Paper

The Theory Paper will have two parts where part-1 will weightage 20 marks and part-2 will weightage 60 marks.

Part-1

Part-1 will include short questions related to fundamental factual knowledge and understanding of Syllabus. 

Part-2

Part to will comprise 5 long questions each question will have weightage of 12 marks

Project work

Students have to undergo a project which might include a case study, a local history, Field visit or book review and film review.

Project should be at least 2000 words.

ISC Exam Pattern 2026 for Accounts 

Accounting will also include two paper theory and project work whereas theory paper will weigh 80 marks and project work will weigh 20 marks, as per ISC Marks Distribution 2025. 

Theory Theory paper will comprise of 80 Marks which will include short and long questions
Project work Project work will include of 20 marks

ISC Exam Pattern 2026 Business Studies

Business studies will also have two papers theory and project work whereas theory Paper will weigh 80 marks and project work will weigh 20 marks.

The theory paper will have two sections Section-1 will weigh 20 marks which will include short questions, testing knowledge and fundamental aspects of all the Subjects.
Section-2 will weigh of 60 marks which will consist of 8 questions and students need to answer any 5 questions, each question will comprise 12 marks
Project work Students need to make a project on any topic given by teacher which will be assessed by teacher and will comprise of 20 marks

ISC Exam Pattern 2026 Mathematics

Math will also have 2 papers- theory and project work: 80 marks for theory and 20 marks for project work. Math Syllabus will comprise 3 sections wherein section-A is compulsory for all the students, students can choose any one between section-B and section-C and attempt the questions.

Theory

Section-A will comprise 65 marks students will need to answer following questions from it.
Relations and functions- 10 marks
Algebra- 10 marks
Calculus- 32 marks
Probability- 13


Section-B will comprise 15 marks students will need to answer the following questions
Vectors- 5 marks
Three- dimensional geometry – 6 marks
Application of integrals- 4 marks
Or
Section-C
Application of calculus- 5 marks
Linear regression – 6 marks
Linear programming – 4 marks

Project work Students have to make 2 projects one from section-A and one either from section-B or from Section-C. Project will be examineed by Subject teacher and a visitor. Then, it will be approved by council. Each project will comprise 10 marks.

ISC Exam Pattern 2026 Chemistry

Chemistry will also include two papers: theory and practical. Theory paper will be of 70 marks and practical paper will be of 30 marks.

Theory

Theory paper will include mainly 3 units and each will comprise different marks.

Unit- 1 (25 marks) will include the following topics.

  • Solid state
  • Solutions
  • Electrochemistry
  • Chemical kinetics
  • Surface chemistry

Unit-2 (20 marks) will include the following topics.

  • General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements
  • p -Block Elements
  • d -and f -Block Elements
  • Coordination Compounds

Unit-3 (25 marks) will include the following topics.

  • Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
  • Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
  • Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids
  • Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen
  • Chemistry in Everyday Life

Project work

Students will have to make a project and assessment, which will be examined by a visitor examiner and teacher. Then, it will be approved by the council. 

ISC Exam Pattern 2026 Physics

Physics will also have two papers: theory and practical. Theory will be 70 marks and practical will be 20 marks.

Theory

Theory paper will carry 70 marks and the following topics will be asked in the paper.

  • Electronic
  • Current electricity
  • Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
  • Electromagnetic Induction and AlternatingCurrents
  • Electromagnetic Waves
  • Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
  • Atoms and Nuclei
  • Electronic Devices

Project work

Students have to prepare a project and practice on a topic given by the teacher. It will be examined by a teacher and a visitor examiner, then, it will be approved by the council. 

ISC Exam Pattern 2026 Biology

Biology will also have two papers: theory and practical. Theory will be of 70 marks and practical will be of 30 marks.

Theory

Theory paper will consist of 70 marks and students have no choice; they have to answer all the questions. Following topics will be included in the Theory exam.

Reproduction- 16 marks

Genetics and Evolution- 15 marks

Biology and Human Welfare- 14 marks

Biotechnology and its Applications- 10 marks

Ecology and Environment- 15 marks

Project work

Students have to prepare a project and practice on a topic given by the teacher. It will be examined by a teacher and a visitor examiner, then, it will be approved by the council. 

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Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How to prepare for ISC board exams 2026 in 20 days?
A: 

ISC board exams 2026 can be prepared in the following way.

  • Cover the whole Syllabus
  • Read Text books only
  • Utilise ISC 12th Time Table 2026
  • Focus on Revision
  • Practice ISC Sample Papers
  • Make short Notes:
  • Relax
Q:   Are ISC previous years question papers available?
A: 

Yes, Shiksha.com has released the ISC question papers 2026 for some of the major subjects. Students can click on the link provided to download them for free. 

Practising the previous years' question papers gives students an idea of the kind of questions asked and the difficulty level.

Q:   Can you tell me about a good website from where I can download sample papers for mathematics for ISC board?
A: 

You can download ISC specimen sample papers by clicking on the link - ISC sample papers 2025. Here. you can get sample papers of all subjects free of cost. 

Students are advised to visit the link above and download and start solving the sample papers to score well in the exams. These will make them familiar with the marking scheme, types of questions asked often, the difficulty level and more. 

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ISC Exam Pattern 2026 - Distribution of marks

All the students who are preparing for the ISC Exam 2026 have to choose English as a Compulsory Subject. Along with it they need to opt for three, four, or five elective subjects. Students need to pass these subjects to get passing marks in ISC Class 12 result 2026. the passing marks in ISC exam are 40% in every subject.

Students can not appear for more than six subjects, including English as a Compulsory subject. Elective Subjects include history, accountancy, Business studies, Math, physics, chemistry and biology.

ISC Exam Pattern

Subject Duration Paper Marks
English 3 hours English Language 100
Literature in English 100
History 3 hours Theory 80
Project Work 20
Geography 3 hours Theory 70
Practical and Project Work 30
Economics 3 hours Theory 80
Project Work 20
Commerce 3 hours Theory 80
Project Work 20
Accounts


3 hours Theory 80
Project Work 20
Maths 3 hours Theory 80
Project Work 20
Physics 3 hours Theory 70
Practical 15
Project Work 10
Practical File 5
Chemistry 3 hours Theory 70
Practical 15
Project Work 10
Practical File 5
Biology 3 hours Theory 70
Practical 15
Project Work 10
Practical File 5
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How do I prepare for ISC board exams 2026 in such a short time?
A: 

ISC 12th exams 2026 was held between Feb 12 and April 6, 2026. Students must read the tips below to score well in Class 12 exams 2026.

Complete the whole syllabus: The Board has already released the whole ISC syllabus 2026 online. Students must note that nothing will come out of syllabus. Covering every bit of the syllabus will help student get through the tricky questions asked during the ISC board exams 2026. Focusing on one marker because those questions are the key to score 100 and being regular with your studies. Do your best and prepare in advance so you don't panic in exams. 

Do at least one revision. Also, do at least the last three years' board question papers per subject to score well in ISC board exams.

Cover Textbooks thoroughly: One of the best ways to excel in the ISC Board Exam 2026 Class 10 is to focus on the textbooks instead of any other books. Make proper notes of all subjects, especially science, and SST. The most important thing to focus on is never to ignore SST. This subject can make your percentage very low as it contains most chapters. Hence, do not neglect it. Keep your revision game strong. It is just about balancing all the subjects. 

Utilise ISC time table 2026: ISC date sheet 2026 was released in November last year. Students are advised to use the official schedule for the ISC exams to make a strategic plan and timetable for ISC board exam preparation 2026. 

Focus on Revision: Once the syllabus is over, all you need to do is revise your syllabus and solve as many sample papers as you can. However, you can always go back to the basics for a quick run-through. Emphasize on revision and practice sample papers as it boosts confidence when you test yourself. 

Practice ISC Sample Papers 2026: Students prepping up for ISC 12th Exam 2026 must note that ISC Sample Paper 2026 are available online. These will make you familiar with the marking scheme, exam pattern, the kind of questions asked in the exam etc. 

Q:   When will CISCE conduct ISC practical exams 2026?
A: 

ISC practical exams 2026 were conducted in January 2026 in students' own schools. According to ISC time table 2026, theory exams are to be conducted between February 12 and April 6, 2026. The ISC Board theory exams 2026 were held in pen and paper format.

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ISC Syllabus 2026

ISC syllabus is released by the examination authority. It is important to be thorough with the syllabus. It comprises the topics that students need to study for the exam. Going through the syllabus, candidates can know the important topics for the exam. The syllabus is framed based on the latest exam pattern.

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FAQs on ISC 12th Exam Pattern 2026

Students can check the FAQs regarding ISC exam Pattern 2026 below:

Q:   Can you cheat in ISC class 12 board exam?
A: 

CISCE board is strictly against the practise of using any unfair means during the examinations. The board is actively working to prevent and discourage any malpractice during board examinations every year. 

So, you are advised to go through the ISC 12th syllabus and solve as many previous years question papers and sample papers to avoid cheating during the ISC 12th board exams.

Q:   How tough is the ISC exam?
A: 

The difficulty level of the ISC exam is considered to be high, or tough. However, with systematic and strategic preparation, candidates will be able to ace the test. Students must go through the ocmplete syllabus and plan finishing all the topics and units before the release of time table. They must make notes of all important points while preparing. 

Q:   Will the pre board examinations marks be considered in the Class 12 board examinations?
A: 

No, the pre board exam marks will not be considered in the Class 12 Board examination marks. Pre-Board or model exams are conducted to make students familiar with the board exam. This will help students to understand the pattern of exam, time management etc. It also help them to know how well they are prepared for the Class 12 Board examination.

Q:   Do examiners deduct marks for exceeding the word limit in the language papers in Class 12 board exam?
A: 

No, examiners will not deduct marks for exceeding the word limit. Marks will be deducted for spelling mistakes in the Language Papers. Students are advised to be careful with the spellings, so that they won't loose any marks. They are also advised not to waste time by writing much more than the word limit. 

Q:   What is the passing criteria for ISC exam?
A: 

All students need to score at least 40 per cent in all subjects to clear ISC exams. They also need to have a minimum of 75% of attendance. 

Q:   What happens if we paste money in the ISC board exam?
A: 

Students must not stick any money in their exam sheet. This is considered cheating and could result in the cancellation of exam or child being expelled from school.

Q:   Can I check my ISC Result if my ISC hall ticket is lost?
A: 

In case your ISC 12th hall ticket is lost, you can check the ISC result from your school or you can ask them for your the details mentioned in your hall ticket which, in turn, will help you check your result. Hence, you need not worry, if your ISC 12th hall ticket is lost.

Q:   Is ISC 12th board exam checking strict?
A: 

For ISC 12th, the checking 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, 11 in their schools.

So, if u have covered the entire ISC 12th syllabus and your preparation is on point, then you must not worry about the strict checking. Know the ISC exam pattern well and practice solving as many sample papers and previous years question papers as possible. You will definitely perform very well in the examinations. 

Q:   Does attendance matter in ISC?
A: 

In order to clear ISC Class 12, a student is required to have obtained at least 40% marks in four subjects including English on the cumulative average and a minimum attendance of 75% of the working days. 

So yes, attendance is very much compulsory to clear the ISC board Class 12. Students must go through the exam pattern and know the ISC syllabus. They must also solve and practice the ISC sample papers and previous years question papers to score well in the exams. Maintaining consistency in studies from the beginning will help students stay focused and will help them stay regular in school and maintain the attendance. 

Q:   How can I prepare for ISC exams 2026 using ISC date sheet?
A: 

Students appearing for ISC Board Exam must understand the strategy to utilize ISC date sheet for preparation of ISC Board Exams 2026. ISC Board Exam 2026 is conducted. Now, let us understand ways to use ISC date sheet for ISC preparation 2026.  

Prepare a subject-wise list for ISC Class 12

List down all the subjects of ISC Class 12 Board Exam. Students appearing for ISC Class 12 Board Exam will commonly be appearing for English, Mathematics, Physics, Accounts, History etc.

List down ISC syllabus and list of topics to cover

Students are advised to cover the complete ISC syllabus. It is important for students to cover the whole syllabus to score well in board exams. Students must also not forget to make note of important topics to cover to avoid last minute hassles.

Know your subject-wise strengths and weakness

Prioritize the subjects you think you are weak in. Try to cover the whole syllabus using time management. It is important to cover weak subjects before the ones you feel confident about. Use the ISC 12th timetable to know the number of preparatory days allotted to each subject. Try and cover lengthy subjects much prior to any other subjects.

Make Notes for Revision

While preparing for ISC Board Exams Class 12, students are advised to make notes for all the subjects. The short notes prepared during the preparation process will help students in last-minute revisions.

Don't forget to test yourself!

 While preparing for ISC Class 12 Board Exam, students are advised to keep testing themselves. Practice as many ISC Class 12 Sample Paper. Use previous year question papers to revise and practice for ISC board exams. Practicing sample papers will not only help students understand their preparation level but also teach them time management while making under the ISC exam pattern.

Q:   What if I reach the ISC exam centre late?
A: 

Students are advised to reach the ISC exam centre at least half an hour before the commencement of exams. The exam timings are mentioned in the Maha ISC hall ticket. In case a student gets late in reaching the exam centre, he/she must understand that they will not be given any extra time to write the exam. 

Thus, it is advised that students leave for the exam centre early considering the traffic or any other deterrent. 

Q:   What are the timings of the ISC exams?
A: 

ISC exams are held between 2 pm and 5 pm at the exam centre allotted on the admit card. Students are advised to reach the exam centre atleast half an hour prior to the commencement of exams. 

Q:   Is ISC exam pattern 2026 released?
A: 

Yes, ISC 12th pattern 2026 is released on the official website - cisce.org. Students can download the ISC pattern 2026 from the official web page. ISC has released the revised ISC syllabus 2026 on the official website. Check the ISC syllabus 2026 page for the revised pattern. 

Q:   Can we attempt both questions, if a choice is given to attempt any one of the questions in the Class 12 board exam?
A: 

The students should read the guidelines given on Class 12 board exam question paper. Doing both options will take time. So they should read the questions and the answer should be written for the one they know well.

Q:   What all things are prohibited to be carried at ISC exam centre?
A: 

Students must go through the points below to avoid the ISC board exam-day hassles:

  • All communication devices like mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, headphones, pagers, fitness bands, cameras, etc., are barred from carrying to the examination hall.
  • Accessories like wallets, goggles, handbags, and purses are not to be carried.
  • Students must not forget to carry all the stationary items that are required to appear for the ISC 12th board exams as sharing of stationery is not allowed
  • However, do not forget to carry your ISC hall ticket on all exam days
  • Students without the hall ticket will not be allowed to write their ISC board exams

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Answered a month ago

ISC exam dates 2026 were announced by the examination authority on its website. The same were made available in PDF form. It comprises the entire schedule related to the exam.

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Anangsha Patra

Contributor-Level 10

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