ICSE Class 10 Quarterly Tests Biology: 3 PDFs
Here you can download all 3 ICSE class 10 quarterly tests biology PDFs. These papers cover the first-term syllabus and help students practice the exact question format used in school-level exams. The focus keyword icse class 10 quarterly tests biology points to past papers from 2018, 2019, and a 2026 first-term exam.
Download ICSE Class 10 Biology Quarterly Tests PDF
These are the 3 quarterly tests PDFs hosted on icseboard.org for ICSE Class 10 Biology, organised by subject. Each section below explains what those papers cover before the download table.
This group contains three ICSE Class 10 Biology quarterly and first-term test papers from 2018, 2019, and 2026. Each paper covers the first-term syllabus, including cell structure, chromosomes, genetics, and absorption by roots. The papers include naming questions, fill-in-the-blanks, MCQs, and diagram-based questions that mirror the actual school exam format.
| Paper | Download |
|---|---|
| Quarterly Biology (2018) | Download PDF |
| First Term Biology (2026) | Download PDF |
| Quarterly Biology (2019) | Download PDF |
What These Biology Papers Cover
The three papers in the table span different academic years. Each paper tests the first-term portion of the ICSE Class 10 Biology syllabus. The topics repeat heavily across years, which makes these papers useful for spotting exam patterns.
The 2018 and 2019 papers carry 80 marks with a time limit of 2 hours plus 15 minutes. The 2026 first-term paper also carries 80 marks but allows exactly 2 hours. This difference matters when you time yourself during practice.
Topics That Appear Across Years
Certain topics show up in multiple papers. These are the high-frequency areas you should study first.
| Topic | Years Asked | Question Type |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption by roots (osmosis, hypotonic, hypertonic) | 2018, 2019, 2026 | Fill-in-the-blanks, MCQ, diagram |
| Cell structure and organelles | 2018, 2019, 2026 | Name the following, MCQ |
| Chromosomes and DNA-histone complex | 2018, 2019 | Name the following |
| Cell division (mitosis stages) | 2026 | MCQ |
| Transpiration and water movement | 2019, 2026 | Assertion-reason, short answer |
| Endocrine glands and hormones | 2019 | Labelled diagram, short answer |
| Genetics and inheritance | 2018 | Definitions |
The 2018 paper asks you to name the complex consisting of a DNA strand and a core of histones. The 2019 paper repeats the same question. This tells you the examiners treat chromosome structure as a core concept.
How to Use These Papers for Preparation
Use these papers after you finish the first-term chapters from your textbook. The chapters tested here include Cell — The Structural and Functional Unit of Life, Structure of Chromosomes and Cell Division, Genetics, and Absorption by Roots. You can find the full book set on our Class 10 books page.
- Read the chapter from your Selina textbook first.
- Attempt the 2018 paper under the 2-hour-15-minute limit.
- Check which questions you left blank or got wrong.
- Revise those topics, then attempt the 2019 paper.
- Use the 2026 paper last, since it uses the newer MCQ and assertion-reason format.
The 2026 paper introduces assertion-reason questions that do not appear in the older papers. This reflects a shift in how schools are testing application over recall. Practice reading both statements carefully before choosing an option.
Marking Guidance From the Paper Tags
The mark tags in these papers tell you how much to write. A question tagged [5] needs five distinct points or definitions. A question tagged [1] needs one word or one sentence.
- 5-mark naming questions: Write five correct terms. No explanations needed.
- 5-mark fill-in-the-blanks: Use each word from the box only once. The 2018 paper gives six words for five blanks.
- 15-mark MCQ section (2026 paper): Read all four options. Some questions have assertion-reason pairs, so check if both statements are true before picking an answer.
- Diagram questions: Label every part the question asks for. The 2019 paper asks you to label parts numbered 1 to 3 and give one function each.
Worked Example: Osmosis Fill-in-the-Blanks
The 2018 paper gives a paragraph on water absorption with six words: endosmosis, hypertonic, osmosis, isotonic, hypotonic, cortical, exosmosis. Here is how to think through it.
The paragraph describes water entering a root hair from the soil. Water moves by the process of osmosis. The soil solution is hypotonic compared to the cell sap, which means it has a lower solute concentration. The water then passes through the cortical cells by cell-to-cell osmosis and reaches the xylem.
The key rule: water always moves from a hypotonic solution to a hypertonic solution across a semi-permeable membrane. If you mix up hypotonic and hypertonic, your entire paragraph will be wrong.
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Confusing hypotonic and hypertonic: Hypotonic has a lower solute concentration. Hypertonic has a higher concentration. Water moves toward hypertonic.
- Writing definitions instead of names: When the question says “Name the following,” write only the term. Writing a full definition wastes time and earns no extra marks.
- Skipping diagram labels: The 2019 paper gives marks for each labelled part. An unlabelled diagram earns zero even if the drawing is correct.
- Ignoring the assertion-reason format: In the 2026 paper, both statements can be true but the reason may not explain the assertion. Read carefully before choosing option c.
For more resources across all subjects, visit our main Class 10 hub. You can also check the official CISCE website for the latest syllabus updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many biology quarterly test papers are available?
There are 3 papers in the download table: the 2018 quarterly exam, the 2019 quarterly exam, and the 2026 first-term exam.
What is the duration of each paper?
The 2018 and 2019 papers allow 2 hours plus 15 minutes. The 2026 first-term paper allows exactly 2 hours. Always check the instruction line on the paper you are attempting.
What is the maximum marks for these papers?
All three papers carry a maximum of 80 marks. Each paper is divided into Section A (40 marks) and Section B (40 marks).
Do these papers include solutions?
No. The downloads contain the question papers only. This page provides topic analysis and worked examples to help you answer the questions yourself.
Which textbook chapters do these tests cover?
The papers test the first-term syllabus: Cell structure, Chromosomes and Cell Division, Genetics, and Absorption by Roots. These correspond to the first four chapters of the Selina Biology textbook.
More ICSE study material on this site
Reference: CISCE-aligned ICSE Class 10 textbook material.