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The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is a nationally recognized board examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), a private, non-governmental board of school education in India. The examination is conducted in English medium only for Class X and Class XII students. Private candidates are not permitted to appear for ICSE or ISC examinations.
The All-India Certificate Examination Conference was organized in 1952 under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, the then Education Minister. The primary objective of the conference was to replace the overseas Cambridge School Certificate Examination with an All-India examination. This conference set the foundation for the establishment of the Council.
| Examination | Full Form | Class | Eligibility |
| ICSE | Indian Certificate of Secondary Education | Class X | Open to regular students of CISCE-affiliated schools only. Private candidates are not permitted. |
| ISC | Indian School Certificate | Class XII | Two years of study beyond ICSE or equivalent examination. English medium only. |
| CVE | Certificate of Vocational Education | Class XII | Vocational curriculum designed for specific professions. Two years of study beyond ICSE or equivalent. |
ICSE-affiliated schools follow a structured curriculum across the following levels:
The Council prescribes a comprehensive curriculum for Classes VI to VIII. All students are required to study the following subjects:
| Class | Syllabus Link |
| Class 6 Detailed Syllabus | Click here for Class 6 ICSE Syllabus 2025-26 |
| Class 7 Detailed Syllabus | Click here for Class 7 ICSE Syllabus 2025-26 |
| Class 8 Detailed Syllabus | Click here for Class 8 ICSE Syllabus 2025-26 |
The ICSE curriculum for Classes IX and X is comprehensive and detailed. There are no prescribed textbooks; instead, the Council provides a list of recommended books from which schools may choose.
Candidates must study 7 subjects distributed across three groups:
| Group I (Compulsory) 4 Subjects |
Group II (Optional) 2 Subjects |
Group III (Optional) 1 Subject |
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Important Note for Overseas / Foreign Candidates: Students of foreign nationality may offer Hindi, Kannada, or French as their Second Language under Group I, subject to the approval of the Council.
For the Indian School Certificate (ISC) Examination, students of Classes XI and XII must study:
| Subject Group | Subjects |
| Languages | Indian Languages, Modern Foreign Languages, Classical Languages |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, Economics |
| Commerce | Commerce, Accounts, Business Studies |
| Sciences | Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Biotechnology |
| Others | Environmental Studies |
| Group | Subjects | Assessment Pattern |
| Group I |
|
80% External Examination + 20% Internal Assessment |
| Group II |
|
80% External Examination + 20% Internal Assessment |
| Group III |
|
50% External Examiner + 50% Internal Examiner |
| Group | Subjects | Assessment Pattern |
| Group I |
|
80% External Examination + 20% Internal Assessment |
| Group II |
|
80% External Examination + 20% Internal Assessment |
| Group III |
|
50% External Examiner + 50% Internal Examiner |
The CISCE follows a 9-point numerical grading scale for external examinations, where 1 is the highest grade and 9 is the lowest. This grading system is applicable for both ICSE Class X and ISC Class XII examinations.
| Grade | Standard | Remarks |
| 1, 2 | Very Good | Excellent performance |
| 3, 4, 5 | Credit | Pass with Credit |
| 6, 7 | Pass | Minimum passing grade |
| 8, 9 | Fail | Not eligible for pass certificate |
Minimum Passing Grade: Students must obtain a minimum of Grade 7 in each subject to be eligible for the ICSE/ISC pass certificate.
Internal assessment is conducted for Socially Useful Productive Work (SUPW) and Community Service, which is a compulsory graded subject for all ICSE and ISC students. The evaluation is based on the student’s attitude, participation, and contribution to socially productive activities.
| Grade | Standard |
| A | Very Good |
| B | Good |
| C | Satisfactory |
| D | Fair |
| E | Fail |
Note: Only grades A to D are recorded in the certificates. Grade E is considered a failure in internal assessment.
Students preparing for ICSE 2026 and ISC 2026 examinations are advised to practice previous years’ question papers and sample papers released by the Council. These resources provide:
Sample papers and previous year question papers for major subjects – including English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Economics, Commerce, and Accounts – are available on the official CISCE website (www.cisce.org).
The ICSE and ISC syllabi emphasize not only theoretical knowledge but also practical application, project work, and internal assessment. Students must be thoroughly familiar with the syllabus before beginning their exam preparation.
1. What is the difference between ICSE and ISC?
ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) is the examination conducted for Class X students. ISC (Indian School Certificate) is the examination conducted for Class XII students. Both are conducted by CISCE.
2. Can private candidates appear for ICSE 2026?
No. Private candidates are not permitted to appear for ICSE or ISC examinations under any circumstances.
3. What is the minimum passing grade in ICSE 2026?
Students must obtain a minimum of Grade 7 in each subject to be eligible for the ICSE/ISC pass certificate.
4. How many subjects are compulsory in ICSE Class X?
Students must study 7 subjects in total – 4 compulsory subjects from Group I, 2 optional subjects from Group II, and 1 optional subject from Group III.
5. Is English compulsory in ISC Class XII?
Yes. English is a compulsory subject for all ISC Class XII students.
6. What is the grading system for ICSE 2026?
CISCE follows a 9-point numerical grading scale (1 to 9) for external examinations, with 1 being the highest and 9 being the lowest. Grades 1-2: Very Good, 3-5: Credit, 6-7: Pass, 8-9: Fail.
7. Can foreign nationals appear for ICSE examinations?
Yes. Foreign nationals studying in CISCE-affiliated schools abroad are eligible to appear for ICSE/ISC examinations, subject to the same rules as Indian students.
8. What is SUPW in ICSE?
Socially Useful Productive Work (SUPW) is a compulsory graded subject for all ICSE and ISC students. It involves community service and socially productive activities, assessed through internal evaluation.
9. Are there any changes in the ICSE 2026 exam pattern?
As of now, the ICSE and ISC exam patterns for 2026 remain consistent with the 2025-26 academic session. Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official CISCE website for any updates or notifications.
10. Where can I download ICSE 2026 sample papers?
ICSE and ISC sample papers and previous years’ question papers are available on the official CISCE website (www.cisce.org) and the ALLEN Overseas portal.
This page is for informational purposes only. ALLEN Overseas has verified the information from official government sources (cisce.org). However, candidates must refer to official notifications from CISCE for final confirmation and decision-making.
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