ICSE Exam Pattern 2025: Know Marking Scheme & Exam Duration

Indian Certificate of Secondary Education 2025 ( ICSE )

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Exam On: 18 Feb '25 - 27 Mar '25

Updated on Jan 6, 2025 17:14 IST

ICSE Exam Pattern 2025: Council of Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) released the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education or ICSE exam pattern 2025 through ICSE specimen question papers on the official website. The ICSE board exam 2025 will be conducted only once between February 18 and March 27, 2025 in pen and paper format. The ICSE pattern lists the marking scheme, duration, and the different types of questions that are asked in the exam.  Students preparing for the exam must go through the ICSE 10th exam pattern 2025 and solve as many ICSE question papers of previous years’ for better preparation. The ICSE exam pattern for different subjects is provided below. 

ICSE 10th Exam Pattern 2025 - Highlights

  • This year, the ICSE board exams will be conducted ONLY ONCE. The board is likely to conduct the Board exams twice from the academic session 2025-26. 
  • The exams will be conducted in February/March 2025.
  • They will be held in offline mode.
  • The duration for every paper is 2/2,5 hours (varying for different subjects).
  • Students will have to write the paper for a maximum of 80 marks. 20 marks are allotted for internal assessment.
  • Students can click on ICSE 10th time table 2025 to check the tentative exam dates. These will be updated soon after the official dates are announced.
  • Students can check the ICSE board syllabus 2025 to know the chapters and topics to be covered for exam.

Also read: Quick prep tips to score above 90% in CISCE 10th, 12th exams

ICSE Pattern 2025

Groups Subjects
Group-I – 80% exam + 20% internal assessment History
Civics
Geography
English
Second Language
Group-II – 80% exam + 20% internal assessment

Physics
Chemistry
Biology

Mathematics
Economics
Modern foreign language
Classical language
Environmental Science

Group-III – 50% external exam + 50% internal exam Performing Arts
Computer Applications
Commercial Applications
Economic Applications
Arts
Yoga
Cookery
Physical Education
Fashion Designing
Environmental Applications
Technical Drawing Applications
Home Science
Modern foreign language

Subject-wise ICSE Board Pattern 2025

Students can find the ICSE exam pattern for some of the major subjects below.

ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025 for English

English Language (Paper-I)

The duration of the exam is 2 hours (for writing the answers)

The maximum marks allotted will be 80
Students will first get 15 minutes to read the question paper
The question paper will have five questions
The first question requires writing a composition. It is advisable to spend not more than 30 minutes on answering it.
The second question is letter-writing. Students should not spend more than 20 minutes on it.
Next question is on notice writing or email writing

For the fourth question, an unseen passage would be given and students have to answer the questions the given related to the passage. The students are also provided with a choice in this question.

The last question tests the students on their English Grammar skills.

English Literature (Paper-II)

The duration of the exam is 2 hours (for writing the answers)

Maximum marks allotted will be 80
Students will first get 15 minutes to read the question paper
Section A contains 16 MCQs. It is necessary to attempt all questions in this section
Students are to attempt one question each from all sections B, C and D and one more question from any Section of their choice

ICSE Exam Pattern 2025 for Hindi

Hindi (Second Language)

The duration of the exam is 2 hours (for writing the answers)

Maximum marks allotted will be 80
Students will first get 15 minutes to read the question paper
Section A will require students to write a composition (250 words approx), letter writing, answer questions related to an unread passage and some MCQs. It is important to answer all questions in Section A. 
From Section B, students will have to attempt any four questions (It is important to answer at least one question from each of the two books read in class and any other two questions) 

ICSE Pattern 2025 for Mathematics

Mathematics

The duration of the exam is 2.5 hours (for writing the answers)

Maximum marks allotted will be 80
Students will first get 15 minutes to read the question paper
Students must attempt all questions from section A and any four questions from section B
All working, including rough work, must be done on the same sheet as the rest of the answer. Omission of essential working will result in loss of marks

For more details on ICSE pattern 2024, students can click on ICSE specimen question papers 2024 and download them. 

Q:   How many marks are allotted for the 6-mark questions in the ICSE 2025 exam pattern for Group 3 subjects like Physical Ed & Fashion Des?

A:

ICSE 2025 exam pattern for Group-III subjects like Physical Education and Fashion Designing have 6-mark questions.
The marks allotted for these questions are 24.
These questions are designed to test the candidates' critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The questions will be based on practical and theoretical knowledge.
Candidates are advised to allocate sufficient time to answer these questions.
The questions will be from the entire syllabus, and candidates must be familiar with all the topics.
It is essential to answer all parts of the question to score maximum marks.
The questions will be evaluating the candidates' understanding, application, and analysis of the subject.

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Q:   What is the duration of the ICSE board exam 2025 for Group-I subjects, such as History, Civics, Geography, and English?

A:

The duration of the ICSE board exam 2025 for Group-I subjects like History, Civics, Geography, and English will be 3 hours. The exam will consist of 75 minutes for each paper, with a 15-minute break in between. The papers will be held on different dates, so please check the exam schedule carefully. Remember to reach the exam center early and take all necessary documents with you. All the best!

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ICSE Exam 2025: Combination of subjects that are not allowed

In the ICSE 2024, students are not allowed to select certain combinations of subjects. These are:

  • Environmental Science in Group II and Environmental Applications in Group III
  • Economics in Group II and Economic Applications in Group III
  • Commercial Studies in Group II and Commercial Applications in Group III
  • Sanskrit as a second language in group I and Sanskrit as a classical language in group II
  • Modern Foreign Language must be a different language for all groups

Q:   How can I stay updated on any changes to the ICSE exam pattern 2025?

A:

To stay updated on any changes to the ICSE exam pattern 2025, you can regularly check the official website of the Council of Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) for any announcements or updates. You can also follow Shiksha.com as it provides information on ICSE exams and exam patterns. Additionally, you can contact your school authorities or teachers for any information or clarification on the exam pattern.

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ICSE 2025: Points to note

  • Students will be required to choose their optional subjects during Class 9 registration. Also, they will not be allowed to change the subjects in class 10.
  • Apart from the two optional subjects, students can also choose one additional subject from group II.
  • Students have the choice to opt for one additional secondary language if they have already chosen Hindi as one of their second languages.

Q:   What items are not allowed to be carried inside the exam hall during the ICSE exam 2025?

A:

As per the ICSE exam day guidelines 2025, the following items are not allowed to be carried inside the exam hall:

  • Mobile phones
  • Bluetooth devices
  • Earphones
  • Microphones
  • Pagers
  • Health bands or any other electronic gadgets
  • Any printed/blank/hand written paper
  • Log tables
  • Writing pads
  • Scales

It is important to note that any unfair means will not be allowed during the exam, and students must not carry any electronic gadgets inside the exam hall. They must reach the examination hall at least 30 minutes before the commencement of the examination, and must carry their respective ICSE admit cards.

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Q:   How many minutes will students have to complete the ICSE 2025 exam, according to the time table?

A:

According to the ICSE council, students have 2 hours (120 minutes) to complete the exam. This includes the time for reading the question paper and answering the questions. The exam is held in offline mode, and students are not allowed to carry any electronic gadgets inside the exam hall.

The duration of the exam may vary for different subjects, but 2 hours is the standard duration for most papers. Students are advised to utilize their time carefully and think about the answers before writing them down on the answer sheet.

It is important to note that the ICSE exam 2025 will be held in offline mode, and students will not be allowed to use any unfair means during the exam. Students must reach the examination hall at least 30 minutes before the commencement of the examination.

Overall, it is important for students to be well-prepared and manage their time effectively during the exam.

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ICSE preparation tips

  • Students must go through the complete ICSE syllabus and ICSE 10th exam pattern thoroughly before beginning to prepare for exams
  • Complete the syllabus at least one or two months before the commencement of the examination. This will leave them ample time for revision
  • Make a plan of study and follow it religiously
  • By following the latest ICSE 10th exam pattern 2025 and practicing more with previous year papers and sample papers, students will perform better

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Marking Scheme for ICSE Exams

The marking scheme of ICSE (CISCE Class 10) is given below:

  • Group 1 is Compulsory for all
  • Students may select any 2 subjects from group 2 and any 1 subject from group 3.

Group 1

Subject Name

Percentage Marks - External Exams (%)

Percentage Marks-Internal Exams (%)

English

80

20

Second Language

80

20

History, Civics & Geography

80

20

Environmental Science

80

20

Group 2:

Subject Name

Percentage Marks-External Exams (%)

Percentage Marks-Internal Exams (%)

Mathematics

80

20

Science

80

20

Economics

80

20

Commercial Studies

80

20

Technical Drawing

80

20

A modern Foreign Language

80

20

Classical Language

80

20

Computer Science

80

20

Environmental Science

80

20

Agricultural Science

80

20

Group 3

Subject Name

Percentage Marks-External Exams (%)

Percentage Marks-Internal Exams (%)

Computer Applications

50

50

Economic Applications

50

50

Commercial Applications

50

50

Art

50

50

Performing Arts

50

50

Home Science

50

50

Cookery

50

50

Fashion Designing

50

50

Physical Education 

50

50

Yoga

50

50

Technical Drawing Applications

50

50

Environmental Applications

50

50

A Modern Foreign Language

50

50

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Q:   In case the ICSE exam goes digital, will they follow the same exam pattern?

A:

There is no information about ICSE 10th exams going digital this year. In case this happens, the board will inform if any changes are made in the ICSE exam pattern.

For now, the Council will conduct ICSE exams in pen and paper format in February, March 2024. Students must go through the detailed ICSE syllabus and exam pattern to know the topics, units to study and to know the marking scheme, the difficulty level and more. 

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FAQs on ICSE Exam Pattern 2025

Students can check the FAQs on ICSE exam pattern 2025 below:

Q:   What is the duration of the ICSE 2025 exam for class 10, and how many questions will be asked in each subject?

A:

The duration of the ICSE 2025 exam for class 10 will be 2/3 hours and varies from subject to subject. The exam will consist of five subjects, including English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Each subject will have a different number of questions, with English having 20 questions, Hindi having 15 questions, Mathematics having 25 questions, Science having 25 questions, and Social Studies having 20 questions. The questions will be multiple-choice and short-answer type, and students will be required to answer all questions. There will be no negative marking for incorrect answers. It is advisable to attempt all questions and complete the paper within the given time frame. 

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Q:   What is the external examiner's role during the ICSE 2025 practical exams and internal assessments, as per the ICSE exam pattern?

A:

According to the ICSE exam pattern 2025, there will be one external examiner for the practical exams and internal assessments. This external examiner will be a teacher who does not teach the examinee's class for that particular subject. The external examiner will evaluate 10 marks out of the total 20 marks allotted for the subject.

The remaining 10 marks will be evaluated by the subject teacher. The ICSE board has specified that the external examiner will be from a different school than the examinee's school. This is to ensure fairness and impartiality in the evaluation process.

The external examiner will assess the students' performance based on the ICSE exam pattern and marking scheme. They will look for the students' understanding of the subject matter, their ability to apply the concepts, and their critical thinking skills.

The ICSE board has also specified that the external examiner will not be aware of the students' identities during the evaluation process. This will help maintain the anonymity of the students and prevent any bias in the evaluation.

Overall, the external examiner plays an important role in ensuring the fairness and credibility of the ICSE exam pattern for practical exams and internal assessments in 2025.

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ICSE subjects are divided into 3 groups. Students can check the details below:

Groups

Subjects

Group 1

History, Civics, Geography

English

Second Language (one/two)

Group 2

Science (Physics/Chemistry/Biology)

Mathematics

Commercial Studies

Economics

Environmental Science

Classical Language

Modern Foreign Language

Group 3

Arts

Performing Arts

Computer Applications

Economic Applications

Commercial Applications

Fashion Designing

Physical Education

Yoga

Cookery

Home Science

Modern Foreign Language

Technical Drawing Applications

Environmental Applications

ICSE 10th Exam Pattern 2025: Marking Scheme

The marking scheme for subjects included in Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 varies and is listed in the table below:

ICSE Class 10 Group 1 Marking Scheme

Subject

External Exams (%)

Internal Exams (%)

English

80

20

Second Language

80

20

History & Civics 

80

20

Geography

80

20

ICSE Class 10 Group 2 Marking

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