ICSE

The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). It is designed to provide an exam in a course of general education, in accordance with the recommendations of the New Education Policy 1986, through the medium of English.

The ICSE board is renowned for its comprehensive and vast syllabus, which emphasizes a strong foundation in English language and literature, as well as a balanced approach to sciences and humanities. It is widely recognized by universities and educational institutions globally.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations was established in 1958 to replace the Cambridge School Certificate examination. It was registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 in 1967. The board was created to ensure that the educational standards of the Overseas Cambridge Examinations were maintained and adapted to the Indian context.

Over the decades, the board has evolved to include the ISC (Indian School Certificate) for Class 12 and the CVE (Certificate of Vocational Education) for vocational studies, maintaining its reputation for academic rigor and high standards of English proficiency.

The CISCE has thousands of affiliated schools across India and several schools abroad (including UAE, Singapore, and Indonesia). While it does not belong to a specific state, it has a significant presence in:

• West Bengal
• Maharashtra
• Karnataka
• Uttar Pradesh
• Kerala

The board is popular among private schools that seek a curriculum with a strong emphasis on practical knowledge and linguistic skills. You can find the list of affiliated schools on the official CISCE school finder.

The ICSE Class 10 curriculum is divided into three groups:

Grading: The final result is calculated based on an 80% external examination and 20% internal assessment (practicals/projects). For Group III, the weightage is often 50% external and 50% internal. The syllabus can be accessed at the official syllabus page.

The Class 12 examination is known as the Indian School Certificate (ISC). Students must take English as a compulsory subject and choose 3, 4, or 5 elective subjects.

• Science Stream: Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics.
• Commerce Stream: Accounts, Commerce, Economics.
• Humanities Stream: History, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology.

The ISC assessment involves theory papers (70-80 marks) and practical/project work (20-30 marks). Detailed regulations are available on the ISC Syllabus Portal.

The ICSE (Class 10) and ISC (Class 12) examinations for the year 2026 are expected to be held in February and March 2026. The official time table is typically released in late November or December of the preceding year.

Students are advised to regularly check the CISCE Downloads section for the formal notification of the 2026 Date Sheet. Results are usually announced in May 2026.

To be eligible for the ICSE 2026 exams, students must:

• Be enrolled in a school affiliated with the CISCE.
• Have completed the required attendance (usually 75%).
• Have successfully cleared the internal assessments in Class 9.

Registration: The registration process is handled entirely through the respective schools via the CAREERS portal of CISCE. Private candidates are generally not permitted unless they are former students appearing for improvement or have special permission from the Council.

To pass the ICSE (Class 10) examination, a candidate must obtain a minimum of 33% in five subjects, including English. For ISC (Class 12), the passing mark is 35% per subject.

Results are published on the Official Results Portal. The board provides digitally signed statement of marks and certificates through the DigiLocker platform for easy access and verification.

ICSE students are eligible for various national and state-level scholarships, including:

• National Talent Search Examination (NTSE): For Class 10 students.
• Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY): For students interested in research.
• Inspire Scholarship: For top performers in ISC (Class 12) pursuing Basic and Natural Sciences.

Benefits of the ICSE board include a curriculum that aligns well with international entrance exams (SAT, IELTS) and competitive exams like JEE and NEET due to its deep conceptual focus.

For official queries, students and parents can contact the Council:

• Official Website: www.cisce.org
• Head Office: Pragati House, 3rd Floor, 47-48, Nehru Place, New Delhi - 110019
• Contact Number: 011-26411706, 26413820
• Email: council@cisce.org