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ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025 & Marking Scheme

Author at PW

March 17, 2025

ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025 & Marking Scheme: The ICSE Class 10 exams are a crucial milestone for students across India. This exam is conducted by the CISCE, these exams assess academic knowledge and practical skills across diverse subjects, maintaining strict standards of assessment. To excel, students must familiarise themselves with the ICSE exam pattern and marking scheme. We will do a comprehensive breakdown and provide clarity on subject divisions, marks distribution, internal assessments, and tips for success.

ICSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025

This table clearly breaks down groups, subjects, marks distribution, and examination duration for ICSE Class 10.

Group I: Compulsory Subjects

Subject	Question Type	ICSE Board Exam Total Marks
English	- Paper 1: English Language - Composition, Letter, Notice/Email, Unseen Prose/Passage. - Paper 2: Literature in English - Drama, Prose, and Poetry from prescribed textbooks.	80 for each paper and 20 marks for internal assessment.
History & Civics	- Part I (30 marks): Short-answer questions covering the entire syllabus (Compulsory). - Part II (50 marks): Section A and Section B; answer two out of three questions from each section.	80 for the paper and 20 marks for internal assessment.
Geography	- Map-based questions (20 marks). - Structured questions based on prescribed syllabus topics such as landforms, climate, population, etc.	80 for the paper and 20 marks for internal assessment.
Second Language	- Grammar-based questions. - Composition writing. - Literature questions based on prose and poetry.	80 for the paper and 20 marks for internal assessment.

Check out: ICSE Class 10th Combo Set of 8 Books For 2025

Group II: Elective Subjects

Subject	Question Type	ICSE Board Exam Total Marks
Mathematics	- Section A (Compulsory): Short-answer questions covering arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. - Section B: Application-based questions; choose four out of six questions.	80 for the paper and 20 marks for internal assessment.
Science	- Physics: Questions on topics like force, energy, and electricity. - Chemistry: Chemical reactions, periodic table, and numericals. - Biology: Human anatomy, plant physiology, and ecology.	80 for each paper and 20 marks for internal assessment.
Economics	- Questions based on microeconomics, demand-supply, and national income. - Data interpretation and graph-based problems.	80 for the paper and 20 marks for internal assessment.
Commercial Studies	- Case studies and application-based questions on trade, commerce, and business operations.	80 for the paper and 20 marks for internal assessment.
Environmental Science	- Structured and case-based questions on environmental issues, conservation, and sustainable development.	80 for the paper and 20 marks for internal assessment.

Group III: Skill-Based Subjects

Subject	Question Type	ICSE Board Exam Total Marks
Computer Applications	- Application-based questions on programming concepts, algorithms, and problem-solving.	50 for the paper and 50 marks for internal assessment.
Economic Applications	- Practical questions on market behavior, pricing, and consumer decisions.	50 for the paper and 50 marks for internal assessment.
Commercial Applications	- Questions based on applied commerce principles, trade scenarios, and case studies.	50 for the paper and 50 marks for internal assessment.
Art & Performing Arts	- Questions on creative techniques and practical tasks for drawing, painting, or performing arts.	50 for the paper and 50 marks for internal assessment.
Home Science	- Practical and theoretical questions on nutrition, cooking, and home management.	50 for the paper and 50 marks for internal assessment.
Physical Education	- Questions on health, fitness, and physical training techniques. Practical sessions to test athletic skills.	50 for the paper and 50 marks for internal assessment.
Yoga	- Questions on yoga theory, including asanas, their benefits, and meditation techniques. Practical exam to assess asana performance.	50 for the paper and 50 marks for internal assessment.

The ICSE exam tests students' knowledge, practical skills, and analytical abilities. The exam mix of three groups allows students flexibility in choosing subjects while adhering to a structured academic framework.

Check out: ICSE Class 10 Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics Book

ICSE Marking Scheme 2025

The ICSE marking scheme gives points for understanding, applying what you've learned, and creative thinking. Here's a breakdown of the marking scheme of ICSE Class 10 for 2025:

	Marking scheme of ICSE class 10
Group	Subjects	External Examination Marks	Internal Assessment Marks	Weightage in Percentage
Group I	Compulsory Subjects (English, Second Language, History & Civics, Geography)	80	20	80% External, 20% Internal
Group II	Elective Subjects (Mathematics, Science, Economics, Commercial Studies, Environmental Science, Modern/ Classical Language)	80	20	80% External, 20% Internal
Group III	Skill-Based Subjects (Computer Applications, Economic Applications, Commercial Applications, Art, Performing Arts, Home Science, Physical Education, Yoga, etc.)	50	50	50% External, 50% Internal

Passing Marks: Students must score a minimum of 33% in each subject, which applies to both external examinations and internal assessments.

Subject Combinations to Avoid:

Environmental Science (Group II) + Environmental Applications (Group III).
Economics (Group II) + Economic Applications (Group III).
Commercial Studies (Group II) + Commercial Applications (Group III).

This table simplifies the ICSE Class 10 Marking Scheme for better understanding.

Passing Marking For Class 10

There is passing marks for clear the ICSE board exam pattern, students must meet the following requirements:

Minimum Marks required students to score at least 33% in each subject to pass.
ICSE Passing Marks Out of 80 and a minimum of 27 marks is required in the external examination.

Also check, ICSE Board Books

Total Marks of ICSE Class 10

The total marks of ICSE Class 10 are distributed across all subjects, including internal and external assessments.

Group I Subject:
Each subject totals 100 marks (80 external + 20 internal).
Group II Subjects:
Each subject totals 100 marks (80 external + 20 internal).
Group III Subjects:
Each subject totals 100 marks (50 external + 50 internal).

Students typically appear for six to eight subjects, resulting in an aggregate of 600-800 marks.

Essential Features of ICSE Exam Pattern 2025

The ICSE exam pattern shows the importance of a balanced approach to learning. It has features include:

Focus on Application-Based Learning: Questions test conceptual clarity and real-world application.
Complete Internal Assessment: Encourages participation in projects, group activities, and experiments.
Skill-Based Education: Group III subjects prepare students for vocational and creative careers.
Flexibility in Subject Choice: Students can tailor their subjects to align with future academic or career goals.

Tips to Prepare for ICSE Class 10 Exams

Scoring well in the ICSE board exam pattern requires strategic planning and disciplined work. Find some preparation tips:

Understand the Syllabus: Familiarise yourself with the ICSE Class 10 syllabus for each subject to ensure complete coverage.
Practice Past Papers: Try to solve previous years' question papers to understand the exam pattern and marking scheme.
Focus on Internal Assessments: You can participate actively in class projects and practice to high internal marks.
Time Management: Allocate sufficient time to revise each subject and practice writing answers within the stipulated time.
Seek Guidance: Consult teachers or tutors for doubts and guidance on difficult topics.

Subject Combinations to Avoid for Better Study

The ICSE board has specific rules regarding subject combinations to maintain academic integrity:

Environmental Science (Group II) and Environmental Applications (Group III) cannot be taken together.
Economics (Group II) and Economic Applications (Group III) are not permitted simultaneously.
Commercial Studies (Group II) and Commercial Applications (Group III) cannot be combined.

The ICSE Class 10 exam pattern 2025 and marking scheme are curated to provide students with a complete education, focusing on both theoretical and practical skills. You can understand the ICSE marking scheme and by following the ICSE board exam pattern, students can plan their preparation effectively and achieve academic success.