ICSE Syllabus 2027 Class 10 — Complete Subject-Wise Guide for All Papers

In short: ICSE Class 10 has a fundamentally different structure from CBSE. Science is split into three separate papers: Physics (80 marks), Chemistry (80 marks), and Biology (80 marks), each with 20 marks internal assessment. Maths has two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2). English has two papers (Language and Literature). This guide covers the complete syllabus for every ICSE subject in 2027 with chapter lists and marks distribution.

Why ICSE Syllabus Is Different

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) designs a deeper, more application-oriented syllabus compared to CBSE. Key differences:

For the complete marks weightage chapter-by-chapter, see the ICSE Class 10 Science marks weightage guide.

Physics (Paper 1: 80 Marks Theory + 20 Internal)

The Physics paper covers 10 main topics:

1. Force, Work, Power and Energy — Machines (lever, pulley), work-energy theorem, power calculations
2. Light — Refraction, lenses, prisms, total internal reflection, spectrum
3. Sound — Reflection of sound, echoes, resonance, characteristics of sound
4. Electricity and Magnetism — Ohm's law, circuits, electromagnetic induction, transformers
5. Heat — Calorimetry, specific heat, latent heat
6. Modern Physics — Radioactivity, nuclear fission and fusion

Section structure: Section A (40 marks, compulsory short questions) + Section B (40 marks, attempt 4 out of 6 long questions).

Priority chapters: Electricity and Magnetism (14-16 marks), Light (12-14 marks), Force/Work/Power (10-12 marks).

Chemistry (Paper 2: 80 Marks Theory + 20 Internal)

1. Periodic Table and Periodicity — Trends in properties, electronic configuration
2. Chemical Bonding — Ionic and covalent bonding, electron dot structures
3. Acids, Bases and Salts — Properties, pH, salt preparation
4. Analytical Chemistry — Identification of cations and anions
5. Mole Concept and Stoichiometry — Mole calculations, empirical/molecular formula
6. Electrolysis — Electrode reactions, electroplating
7. Metallurgy — Extraction of aluminium and iron
8. Organic Chemistry — Homologous series, IUPAC nomenclature, functional groups

Priority chapters: Acids/Bases/Salts (10-12 marks), Mole Concept (8-10 marks), Organic Chemistry (8-10 marks), Metallurgy (8-10 marks).

Biology (Paper 3: 80 Marks Theory + 20 Internal)

1. Basic Biology — Cell structure, mitosis, meiosis
2. Plant Physiology — Photosynthesis, transpiration, absorption
3. Human Anatomy and Physiology — Circulatory, excretory, nervous, endocrine, reproductive systems
4. Genetics — Mendel's laws, sex determination
5. Population and Environment — Pollution, biodiversity, conservation

Priority chapters: Human Anatomy (20-24 marks), Plant Physiology (14-16 marks), Genetics (8-10 marks).

Mathematics (80 Marks Theory + 20 Internal)

1. Commercial Mathematics — Compound interest, shares, GST
2. Algebra — Linear equations, quadratic equations, ratio/proportion, factorisation
3. Coordinate Geometry — Distance, section formula, slope, equation of line
4. Geometry — Circles (tangent properties, cyclic quadrilaterals), similarity
5. Mensuration — Cylinder, cone, sphere, combined solids
6. Trigonometry — Ratios, identities, heights and distances
7. Statistics — Mean, median, mode, ogive, inter-quartile range
8. Probability — Classical probability, combined events

ICSE Maths unique topics (not in CBSE): GST calculations, shares and dividends, inter-quartile range, equation of a line (slope-intercept form).

See the ICSE Class 10 Maths marks weightage guide.

English (Two Papers)

English Paper 1: Language (80 Marks)

• Composition: essay, letter, notice, email
• Comprehension: unseen prose passage
• Grammar: sentence transformation, tenses, voice, reported speech, prepositions

English Paper 2: Literature (80 Marks)

• Prose: extracts and context questions from prescribed stories
• Poetry: extracts, themes, literary devices
• Drama: Shakespeare play (The Merchant of Venice or prescribed alternative)
• Supplementary reading

Hindi (80 Marks Theory + 20 Internal)

• Gadya (prose) and Kavya (poetry) from ICSE-prescribed textbook
• Grammar: Sandhi, Samas, Muhavare, Alankar
• Letter writing, essay writing
• Unseen comprehension

Other Subjects

ICSE also examines:

• History and Civics (80 + 20): Indian history, civics, world history
• Geography (80 + 20): Physical geography, India, map work
• Computer Applications (50 Theory + 50 Practical): Java programming basics
• Second/Third Language options

Where to Download the Official Syllabus

Visit cisce.org → Regulations & Syllabi → ICSE (Class 10) → Subject-wise PDFs.

Preparation Strategy

1. Start with Science — three papers mean three times the preparation time compared to CBSE.
2. Practicals matter — 20 marks per subject across Physics, Chemistry, Biology = 60 marks from practicals alone.
3. Use the Section B choice wisely — in each Science paper, you attempt 4 out of 6 long questions. Prepare 5 topics well so you always have a choice.
4. Maths unique topics — GST, shares, equation of a line are not in CBSE. Spend dedicated time on these.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many papers does an ICSE Class 10 student write?

Typically 9-10 papers: English Language, English Literature, Hindi/Second Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History & Civics, Geography, and optional subjects like Computer Applications.

Is the ICSE syllabus harder than CBSE?

ICSE covers more topics in greater depth, especially in Chemistry (Mole Concept, Organic Chemistry) and Physics (Transformers, Calorimetry). However, "harder" depends on preparation. ICSE questions test understanding rather than rote memorization.

When does CISCE release the ICSE date sheet?

CISCE typically releases the ICSE timetable in November-December, about 2-3 months before the exam.

Is NCERT useful for ICSE preparation?

For conceptual understanding, yes. But ICSE exam questions follow the CISCE syllabus, which includes topics not in NCERT (like Mole Concept, Transformers, GST). Use your ICSE textbooks (Selina, Frank, etc.) as primary sources.

What is the passing mark for ICSE?

You need at least 33% in each subject (theory + internal combined) to pass.

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