ICSE Class 5 Half-Yearly Tests: All Subjects PDF (2017-2019)
This page hosts 14 ICSE Class 5 half yearly tests across seven subjects, covering exam papers from 2017 to 2019. If you are looking for icse class 5 half yearly tests to practise with real school exam papers, the table below has the downloads. Each paper reflects the actual format schools use for mid-term exams.
Class 5 in the ICSE system does not have a board-conducted exam. Schools set their own half-yearly papers following the CISCE-aligned curriculum. You can confirm the curriculum framework on the official CISCE website. For the full set of Class 5 resources, see our main Class 5 hub page.
Download ICSE Class 5 Half-Yearly Tests PDF
These are the 14 half-yearly tests PDFs hosted on icseboard.org for ICSE Class 5, organised by subject. Each section below explains what those papers cover before the download table.
English
The English Language paper (2017) tests composition writing, letter writing, and reading comprehension. Students write a 20-mark essay from given topics, a 10-mark formal or informal letter, and answer questions from a passage. This paper helps students practise structured writing and reading skills for mid-term exams.
| Paper | Download |
|---|---|
| Half-Yearly English Language (2017) | Download PDF |
General Knowledge
The General Knowledge papers (2017 and 2018) carry 50 marks each but differ in time and format. The 2017 paper allows 2 hours and asks students to name specific facts like the largest volcano or deepest valley. The 2018 paper allows only 1 hour and has 30 one-mark direct-answer questions covering world geography, animals, and general facts.
| Paper | Download |
|---|---|
| Half-Yearly General Knowledge (2018) | Download PDF |
| Half-Yearly General Knowledge (2017) | Download PDF |
Hindi
The Hindi papers cover both Language and Literature from 2017 and 2019, each carrying 80 marks with 2 hours 15 minutes of exam time. Language papers include essay writing, letter writing, passage comprehension, and grammar exercises on tense, idioms, and sentence correction. Literature papers test poetry completion, word meanings, and chapter-based answers.
| Paper | Download |
|---|---|
| Half-Yearly Hindi Language (2017) | Download PDF |
| Half-Yearly Hindi Literature (2017) | Download PDF |
| Half-Yearly Hindi Language (2019) | Download PDF |
| Half-Yearly Hindi Literature (2019) | Download PDF |
Mathematics
The Mathematics paper (2017) is an 80-mark exam with a 2-hour-15-minute duration. Section A focuses on mental maths and multiple-choice questions, with heavy emphasis on unit conversions between millimetres, centimetres, metres, millilitres, litres, grams, and kilograms. The paper tests both calculation speed and understanding of measurement units.
| Paper | Download |
|---|---|
| Half-Yearly Mathematics (2017) | Download PDF |
Sanskrit
Both papers ask students to write Hindi translations of Sanskrit poetry, provide word meanings, and answer questions in full sentences from prescribed chapters. The 2019 paper also includes fill-in-the-blank questions from shlokas.
| Paper | Download |
|---|---|
| Half-Yearly Sanskrit (2018) | Download PDF |
| Half-Yearly Sanskrit (2019) | Download PDF |
Science
The Science papers (2017 and 2019) are 80-mark exams lasting 2 hours 15 minutes. The 2017 paper includes fill-in-the-blanks on the nervous system, the human eye, sound, nutrition, communicable diseases, and earth science topics like the earth's layers and earthquakes. One-word-answer questions test recall of key concepts.
| Paper | Download |
|---|---|
| Half-Yearly Science (2017) | Download PDF |
| Half-Yearly Science (2019) | Download PDF |
Social Studies
The Social Studies papers (2017 and 2018) are 80-mark exams with 2 hours of writing time plus 15 minutes of reading time. The 2017 paper includes fill-in-the-blanks on world heritage sites, pollution types, deserts, and tribal life. It also has choose-the-correct-word questions that test understanding of geographical and historical facts.
| Paper | Download |
|---|---|
| Half-Yearly Social Studies (2018) | Download PDF |
| Half-Yearly Social Studies (2017) | Download PDF |
What These Half-Yearly Papers Cover Inside
The 14 papers span seven subjects and three academic sessions (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19). Each paper tests the first half of the Class 5 syllabus. The formats vary by subject and year, so knowing what is inside helps you pick the right practice paper.
| Subject | Years Available | Full Marks | Time Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 2017 | Not stated on paper | Not stated on paper |
| General Knowledge | 2017, 2018 | 50 | 2017: 2 hrs; 2018: 1 hr |
| Hindi Language | 2017, 2019 | 80 | 2 hrs 15 min |
| Hindi Literature | 2017, 2019 | 80 | 2 hrs 15 min |
| Mathematics | 2017 | 80 | 2 hrs 15 min |
| Sanskrit | 2018, 2019 | 80 | |
| Science | 2017, 2019 | 80 | 2 hrs 15 min |
| Social Studies | 2017, 2018 | 80 | 2 hrs + 15 min reading |
The English Language paper (2017) asks students to write a composition worth 20 marks, a formal or informal letter worth 10 marks, and a reading comprehension passage. The passage is a story extract, followed by questions students answer in their own words.
The General Knowledge papers differ between years. The 2017 paper gives 2 hours for a 50-mark test with “Name the following” questions. The 2018 paper allows only 1 hour for the same 50 marks, with 30 direct-answer questions worth one mark each.
Hindi is split into Language and Literature papers. Both the 2017 and 2019 Language papers carry 80 marks and allow 2 hours 15 minutes. They include essay writing, letter writing, passage comprehension, grammar exercises on kaal (tense), muhavare (idioms) and sentence correction.
The Mathematics paper (2017) has a Section A with mental maths and multiple-choice questions. It focuses heavily on unit conversions — millimetres to centimetres, metres to centimetres, millilitres to litres, and grams to kilograms.
The Science paper (2017) tests fill-in-the-blanks on topics like the nervous system, the human eye, sound, nutrition, diseases, and earth science. The Sanskrit papers (2018, 2019) ask for Hindi translations of shlokas, word meanings, and full-sentence answers to questions from prescribed chapters.
How to Use These Papers for Exam Preparation
Practising with real past papers is more useful than reading summaries alone. These papers show you the exact question styles and mark distribution your school is likely to follow. Here is a step-by-step method to use them well.
- Start with the most recent paper for your subject. The 2019 papers reflect the most current question pattern.
- Set a timer matching the paper’s stated duration. For example, give yourself 2 hours and 15 minutes for the Mathematics paper.
- Write your answers on paper, not just in your head. Half-yearly exams test writing speed and presentation, especially in language subjects.
- Check the mark tags on each question. A 20-mark composition needs more detail than a 10-mark letter.
- Review your mistakes after finishing. Note which topics you got wrong and revise those chapters from your textbook.
For additional study material, you can also browse our ICSE books PDF collection and the ICSE books index for other classes.
Common Mistakes Class 5 Students Make in Half-Yearly Tests
Students lose marks in predictable ways. Knowing these mistakes in advance helps you avoid them.
| Mistake | Correct Rule | How to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Confusing mm and cm in Maths conversions | 1 cm = 10 mm; divide mm by 10 to get cm | 70 mm = 7 cm, not 700 cm |
| Writing a short paragraph for a 20-mark essay | A 20-mark answer needs an introduction, body and conclusion | Count at least three distinct paragraphs |
| Skipping the reading time in Sanskrit | Use the 15-minute reading time to read questions before writing | Do not pick up your pen during reading time |
| Answering in one word for a full-sentence question | If the paper says “answer in full sentences,” write a complete sentence | Check if your answer has a subject and verb |
| Not managing time in the 1-hour GK paper (2018) | 30 questions in 60 minutes means 2 minutes per question | Keep a clock nearby and move on if stuck |
Worked Example: Maths Unit Conversion
The 2017 Mathematics paper asks several unit conversion questions in the mental maths section. Here is a worked example using the same style.
Question: Convert 6 dm 5 cm 8 mm to metres.
Step 1: Convert each unit to metres.
- 1 dm (decimetre) = 0.1 \text{ m}, so 6 dm = 0.6 \text{ m}
- 1 cm = 0.01 \text{ m}, so 5 cm = 0.05 \text{ m}
- 1 mm = 0.001 \text{ m}, so 8 mm = 0.008 \text{ m}
Step 2: Add the values.
0.6 + 0.05 + 0.008 = 0.658 \text{ m}
Answer: 6 dm 5 cm 8 mm = 0.658 \text{ m}
The key is to convert each unit separately and then add. Students often try to convert everything at once and mix up the decimal places.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many half-yearly test papers are available on this page?
There are 14 papers across seven subjects: English, General Knowledge, Hindi (Language and Literature), Mathematics, Sanskrit, Science, and Social Studies. They cover the years 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Do all the papers have the same time duration?
No. The durations vary by subject and year. For example, the 2017 General Knowledge paper allows 2 hours, while the 2018 paper allows only 1 hour. Each paper states its own time on the cover.
Are these official CISCE board exam papers?
No. Class 5 does not have a CISCE board exam. These are school-level half-yearly test papers set according to the CISCE-aligned curriculum. Schools create their own papers following the CISCE framework.
Do the papers come with solutions?
The downloads contain the question papers only. This page provides guidance on how to use the papers and worked examples for recurring question types, but the PDFs themselves do not include answer keys.
Which subjects have papers from multiple years?
General Knowledge (2017, 2018), Hindi Language (2017, 2019), Hindi Literature (2017, 2019), Sanskrit (2018, 2019), Science (2017, 2019), and Social Studies (2017, 2018) all have papers from more than one year. English and Mathematics each have one paper from 2017.
More ICSE study material on this site
Reference: CISCE-aligned ICSE Class 5 textbook material.