Class 10

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) conducts the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) examination for Class 10 students. Established by the local examination syndicate of the University of Cambridge and headquartered in New Delhi, CISCE is one of India’s most prestigious educational boards. The ICSE examination is conducted in English medium following the general education curriculum as per the National Education Policy 1986.

This comprehensive guide provides the complete syllabus for ICSE Class 10 (2025-26 academic year | ICSE 2026 Board Examinations), along with study materials, preparation tips, and information about future competitive exams.

ICSE Class 10 – Subjects & Group System

For the ICSE Class 10 examination, students must take a total of seven subjects, divided into three groups:

• Group I (Compulsory Subjects): English, Second Language, History, Civics & Geography (combined paper).
• Group II (Any Two Subjects): Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology – as a combined or separate papers), Mathematics, Economics, Commercial Studies, Technical Drawing, Computer Science, Environmental Science, etc.
• Group III (Any One Subject): Computer Applications, Home Science, Fashion Designing, Physical Education, Yoga, Cookery, etc.

ICSE Class 10 – English Syllabus (2025-26)

Paper I: English Language

Paper II: Literature in English

DRAMA

• Julius Caesar – William Shakespeare (Acts III, IV, and V only)
• Treasure Trove – A collection of ICSE poems and short stories (as per CISCE prescription)

POETRY

• Haunted Houses – H.W. Longfellow
• The Glove and the Lions – Leigh Hunt
• When Great Trees Fall – Maya Angelou
• A Considerable Speck – Robert Frost
• The Power of Music – Sukumar Ray

PROSE (Short Stories)

• With the Photographer – Stephen Leacock
• The Elevator – William Sleator
• The Girl Who Can – Ama Ata Aidoo
• The Pedestrian – Ray Bradbury
• The Last Lesson – Alphonse Daudet

ICSE Class 10 – Second Language Syllabus (2025-26)

Indian Languages

Students may choose from the following Indian languages (as offered by their school):

Ao-Naga, Assamese, Bengali, Dzongkha, Garo, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Khasi, Kokborok, Lepcha, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Mizo, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Tangkhul, Telugu, Urdu, or any other language of an Indian community approved by CISCE.

Modern Foreign Languages

• French
• German
• Spanish

ICSE Class 10 – History, Civics & Geography Syllabus (2025-26)

Section A: Civics

The Union Legislature

• Lok Sabha – composition, powers, and functions
• Rajya Sabha – composition, powers, and functions
• Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

The Union Executive

• The President – election, powers, and functions
• The Vice-President – election, powers, and functions
• Prime Minister and Council of Ministers – appointment, powers, functions, collective responsibility

The Judiciary

• The Supreme Court – composition, powers, and functions (original, appellate, advisory)
• The High Courts – composition, powers, and functions
• Subordinate Courts – structure and functions

Section B: History

The Indian National Movement (1857–1917)

• The First War of Independence, 1857 – causes, events, consequences
• Factors leading to the growth of Nationalism – socio-religious reform movements, role of the press
• First Phase of the Indian National Movement (1885–1907) – Moderates and their contributions
• Second Phase of the Indian National Movement (1905–1916) – Partition of Bengal, Swadeshi Movement, Surat Split, Home Rule Movement

Mass Phase of the National Movement (1915–1947)

• Mahatma Gandhi – Non-Cooperation Movement (causes, programme, suspension, impact)
• Khilafat Movement, Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy
• Chauri Chaura incident – causes and impact
• The Civil Disobedience Movement – Simon Commission, Poorna Swaraj declaration (Lahore Session 1929), Dandi March, programme and impact
• Gandhi-Irwin Pact and the Second Round Table Conference
• The Quit India Movement – Quit India Resolution, significance, and impact
• Forward Bloc (objectives) and Indian National Army (objectives and contribution of Subhas Chandra Bose)
• Independence and Partition of India – Mountbatten Plan (clauses and acceptance), Indian Independence Act of 1947 (clauses only)

The Contemporary World

• The First World War – causes, events, consequences
• Rise of Dictatorships – Fascism in Italy, Nazism in Germany
• The Second World War – causes, events, consequences
• United Nations – formation, objectives, principles, organs (General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, ICJ, Secretariat, Trusteeship Council)
• Major agencies of the United Nations – UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO (any four functions of each)
• Non-Aligned Movement – objectives, role of India

Section C: Geography

Part I: Map Work

Interpretation of Topographical Maps

• Locating features with the help of a four-figure grid reference
• Definition of contour and contour interval; identification of landforms marked by contours (steep slope, gentle slope), triangulated height, spot height, and benchmark
• Interpretation of colour tints used on a topographical survey of India map
• Identification and definition of types of scale given on the map
• Measuring direct distance and calculating area using the scale given
• Marking directions between different locations using eight cardinal points
• Identifying sites of prominent villages and/or towns, types of occupation and means of communication using the index
• Identification of drainage patterns (Dendritic, Trellis, Radial, Disappearing) and settlement patterns (Scattered, Compact)
• Identification of direction of flow, left bank and right bank of a river
• Identification of natural and man-made features
• Meaning of important terms – relative height/depth, broken ground, surveyed tree, fireline, causeway, aqueduct, digging

Map of India

• Mountains, Peaks and Plateaus – Himalaya, Karakoram, Aravalli, Vindhya, Satpura, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Deccan Plateau, Chotanagpur Plateau
• Plains – Northern Plains, Coastal Plains
• Desert – Thar Desert
• Rivers – Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri
• Water Bodies – Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean
• Passes – Khyber, Bolan, Nathu La, Shipki La
• Longitude – 82°30’E (Standard Meridian)
• Direction of Winds – South-West Monsoons, North-East Monsoons
• Distribution of Minerals – iron ore, coal, bauxite, petroleum
• Soil Distribution – alluvial, black, red, laterite soils
• Cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune
• Population – distribution and density

Part II: Geography of India

• Location, Extent and Physical features
• Climate – factors influencing climate, seasons (monsoon, retreating monsoon, winter, summer), distribution of rainfall
• Soil Resources – types, distribution, soil erosion and conservation
• Natural Vegetation – types (tropical rainforest, tropical deciduous, tropical thorn, montane, mangrove), distribution and conservation
• Water Resources – sources, irrigation, multipurpose river projects, water conservation
• Mineral and Energy Resources – types, distribution, conservation
• Agriculture – types, major crops (rice, wheat, millets, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, jute, tea, coffee), agricultural development
• Manufacturing Industries – agro-based (cotton, jute, sugar), mineral-based (iron and steel, aluminium, cement), chemical, IT industries
• Transport – roadways, railways, waterways, airways
• Waste Management – types of waste, methods of disposal, waste management practices

ICSE Class 10 – Science Syllabus (2025-26)

Science Paper I: Physics

• Force, Work, Power and Energy – force (momentum, Newton’s laws), work, power, energy (kinetic, potential), mechanical energy, machines
• Light – refraction through glass slab, prism, lens, human eye, defects of vision and correction
• Sound – characteristics, echo, applications
• Electricity and Magnetism – electric current, Ohm’s law, resistance, heating effect, magnetic effect, electromagnetic induction, household circuits
• Heat – specific heat capacity, calorimetry, latent heat
• Modern Physics – radioactivity, nuclear fission and fusion, uses and hazards

Science Paper II: Chemistry

• Periodic Properties and variations of Properties – periodic trends, groups and periods
• Chemical Bonding – ionic bond, covalent bond, polar and non-polar molecules
• Study of Acids, Bases and Salts – properties, pH scale, preparation of salts
• Analytical Chemistry – identification of cations and anions
• Mole Concept and Stoichiometry – mole, molar mass, percentage composition, empirical formula, chemical equations
• Electrolysis – electrolysis of lead bromide, copper sulphate solution, applications
• Metallurgy – extraction of metals (aluminium, iron, zinc), alloys
• Study of Compounds:
  • Hydrogen Chloride – preparation, properties, uses
  • Ammonia – preparation, properties, uses
  • Nitric Acid – preparation, properties, uses
  • Sulphuric Acid – preparation, properties, uses
• Organic Chemistry – hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes), alcohols, carboxylic acids, isomerism

Science Paper III: Biology

• Basic Biology – cell division (mitosis, meiosis), genetics (Mendel’s laws, monohybrid cross, sex determination)
• Plant Physiology – photosynthesis, transpiration, mineral nutrition
• Human Anatomy and Physiology:
  • Circulatory System – heart, blood vessels, blood components, lymphatic system
  • Excretory System – kidneys, urine formation
  • Nervous System – brain, spinal cord, neurons
  • Endocrine System – glands and hormones
  • Reproductive System – male and female reproductive systems, reproductive health
• Population – population growth, demographic structure, population control
• Pollution – types, causes, effects, control measures
• Human Evolution – theories of evolution, evidence, human ancestry

ICSE Class 10 – Mathematics Syllabus (2025-26)

• Commercial Mathematics – Goods and Services Tax (GST), Banking (recurring deposit accounts), Shares and Dividends
• Algebra – Linear equations in two variables, quadratic equations, ratio and proportion, factorization, indices, logarithms, arithmetic progression, geometric progression
• Geometry – Similarity, congruency, circles (tangents, secants, cyclic quadrilaterals), constructions
• Mensuration – Area and perimeter of circle, sector, segment; surface area and volume of cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, sphere, hemisphere
• Trigonometry – Trigonometric ratios, identities, complementary angles, heights and distances
• Statistics – Mean, median, mode, ogive, histogram, frequency polygon, bar graph
• Probability – Basic probability concepts, coin, dice, card problems

ICSE Class 10 – Economics Syllabus (2025-26)

• The Productive Mechanism – factors of production (land, labour, capital, entrepreneur), division of labour
• Theory of Demand and Supply – demand, law of demand, elasticity of demand, supply, law of supply
• Market – types of markets (perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, oligopoly)
• Banking in India – commercial banks, central bank (RBI), functions, credit creation
• Inflation – meaning, causes, effects, control measures
• Consumer Awareness – consumer rights, consumer protection, consumer courts

ICSE Class 10 – Commercial Studies Syllabus (2025-26)

• Stakeholders in Commercial Organisations – owners, shareholders, board of directors, employees, customers
• Marketing and Sales – marketing mix, advertising, sales promotion, e-commerce
• Finance and Accounting – sources of finance, capital, revenue, financial statements
• Human Resources – recruitment, selection, training, motivation, leadership
• Logistics – supply chain management, warehousing, transportation
• Banking – types of bank accounts, bank services, digital banking
• Government initiatives in Environment Protection – environmental laws, sustainable development

ICSE Class 10 – Computer Applications Syllabus (2025-26)

• Revision of Class IX Syllabus – operating system, GUI, internet, ethics
• Introduction to Object Oriented Programming concepts – OOP principles (encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction)
• Elementary Concept of Objects and Classes – objects, classes, attributes, methods
• Values and Data types – primitive data types (int, float, double, char, boolean), type conversion
• Operators in Java – arithmetic, relational, logical, assignment, increment/decrement
• Input in Java – Scanner class, BufferedReader class
• Mathematical Library Methods – Math class methods (pow, sqrt, max, min, random, etc.)
• Conditional constructs in Java – if, if-else, switch-case
• Iterative constructs in Java – for, while, do-while loops
• Class as the Basis of all Computation – defining classes, creating objects
• User-defined Methods – method definition, parameters, return types, call by value
• Constructors – default constructor, parameterized constructor, constructor overloading
• Library classes – String, wrapper classes (Integer, Double, etc.)
• Encapsulation – access specifiers (private, public, protected), getters and setters
• Arrays – one-dimensional arrays, two-dimensional arrays, array operations
• String handling – String methods (length, charAt, substring, indexOf, equals, compareTo, toUpperCase, toLowerCase, trim)

ICSE Class 10 – Fashion Designing Syllabus (2025-26)

• The choice, purchase, use and care of tools and equipment, including sewing machines, for dressmaking
• Definition of a pattern. Methods of preparing patterns – knowledge of figure measurements, awareness of figure problems, layouts and the sequence of processes in assembling garments
• Methods of pressing and finishing garments
• The use and making of simple or traditional designs and decorative stitchery in the construction and decoration of garments and articles

ICSE Class 10 – Study Plan to Maximize Score in 2026 Board Exams

Consider these essential points to obtain excellent marks in your ICSE Class 10 board examinations:

1. Create a realistic study schedule: Design your routine according to your strengths and weaknesses. Allocate more time to subjects/topics you find challenging.
2. Complete syllabus early: Aim to complete the entire syllabus at least two months before the board exams. This leaves ample time for revision and practice.
3. Practice numerical problems regularly: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry require consistent practice. Solve problems from each chapter, including previous years’ board questions.
4. Master diagrams and labeling: In Biology and Geography, practice drawing and labeling diagrams. Many board exam questions are directly based on diagrams.
5. Write and practice: For English and language papers, practice writing compositions, letters, and grammar exercises regularly within the stipulated time.
6. Solve previous years’ question papers: Practice at least the last 10 years of ICSE board question papers under timed conditions. This helps you understand the exam pattern, marking scheme, and frequently asked questions.
7. Take mock tests: Simulate exam conditions by taking full-length mock tests. Analyze your performance and work on weak areas.
8. Revise regularly: Set aside time for daily, weekly, and monthly revision. Regular revision is essential to retain information and recall it during exams.
9. Do not set unrealistic goals: Unrealistic targets can demotivate you. Set achievable daily and weekly goals to maintain consistency and motivation.
10. Stay healthy: Eat nutritious food, sleep 7-8 hours daily, take short breaks during study sessions, and practice relaxation techniques to manage stress.

Competitive Exams after Class 10 (2026–2027)

After completing Class 10, students can appear for various national and international competitive examinations that open doors to prestigious scholarships and academic programs.

Major Competitive Exams for Class 10 Pass-outs

• National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) – Class 10 – Two-stage scholarship exam conducted by NCERT
• Indian National Olympiad (INO) – For students interested in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, and Junior Science
• National Interactive Maths Olympiad (NIMO) – Class 10
• KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) – For students interested in research careers in basic sciences
• RMO (Regional Mathematical Olympiad) – For mathematically inclined students
• National Science Olympiad (NSO) – Class 10
• International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) – Class 10
• International English Olympiad (IEO) – Class 10
• National Standard Examination in Astronomy (NSEA)
• Indian National Earth Science Olympiad (INESO)
• National Biotechnology Olympiad (NBO) – Class 10

Scholarship and Entrance Exams for Class 11 Admissions

• JEE Main / JEE Advanced – For admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs (after Class 12)
• NEET-UG – For admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH courses (after Class 12)
• Various state-level engineering and medical entrance exams
• Scholarship exams for Class 11 and 12 – offered by various government and private organizations

Important Notes and Disclaimers

• This page is updated for ICSE Class 10 – Academic Year 2025-26 | ICSE 2026 Board Examinations based on the official curriculum prescribed by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).
• The syllabus may vary slightly depending on the affiliated school. Students are advised to refer to the syllabus provided by their respective schools and teachers.
• For the latest updates, circulars, sample papers, and examination dates, candidates must regularly visit the official CISCE website (https://www.cisce.org).
• For specific queries related to subject combinations, textbooks, or examination dates, students should contact their school authorities.

This page is for informational purposes only. ALLEN Overseas has verified the information from official sources (cisce.org). However, students must refer to official notifications from CISCE and their respective schools for final confirmation.