ICSE Class 10 Physics Previous Year Question Papers

This page hosts class 10 physics previous year question papers for ICSE Physics Science Paper 1. The table below lists all 8 papers we have verified, from 2020 through 2026, including one internal selection test. Use them for timed practice, not as a source of solved answers.

Download ICSE Class 10 Physics Question Papers PDF

These are the 8 question papers PDFs hosted on icseboard.org for ICSE Class 10 Physics, organised by subject. Each section below explains what those papers cover before the download table.

This set follows the two-hour Science Paper 1 format, with a compulsory 40-mark section and four more questions chosen from the rest. The papers here range from an internal selection test to full board-style papers, opening with structured questions on moment of force, kilowatt-hour and energy conversion. Use them to check exact question phrasing and mark values before a timed practice attempt.

How the ICSE Physics Paper 1 Exam Is Structured

The board sets a two-hour paper for Physics Science Paper 1. Papers from 2023 (521) through 2026 mark the paper Maximum Marks: 80, split into a compulsory section worth 40 marks and a second section where you answer any four of the remaining questions.

Older papers use different section labels. The 2020 paper and the 2022-23 comparative exam call the two parts Section I and Section II, while papers from 2023 (521) onward switch to Section A and Section B. The 40-mark compulsory part and the “attempt four from the rest” rule stay the same across all years.

Every paper carries the same instructions: 15 minutes of reading time before you can write, and marks for each part shown in square brackets, like [2] or [15]. Question 1 in the compulsory section is usually a 15-mark block of short items.

Topics That Repeat Across the Physics Papers

Across the papers in this collection, a few topics come back every year. Knowing them helps you decide where to spend revision time.

• Moment of force and equilibrium – tested in the 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2026 papers, as a definition question, a lever problem, or an MCQ.
• Energy conversion (one form of energy changing into another) – appears in the 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2026 papers, usually as a one-line example or MCQ.
• Kinetic energy and how it changes with speed – shows up in both 2023 papers and in the 2024 papers.

These are not the only topics tested, but they are the ones the papers show recurring most often.

Worked Examples Based on the Recurring Question Types

These examples use original numbers. They follow the same style as the recurring questions above, so you can practise the method before a real paper.

Example 1 – Moment of force. A spanner of length 0.3 m applies a force of 50 N perpendicular to a nut. Find the moment of force.

1. Moment of force = force x perpendicular distance.
2. Moment = 50 N x 0.3 m.
3. Moment = 15 Nm.

Example 2 – Kinetic energy. A ball of mass 0.5 kg moves at 4 m/s. Its speed increases to 8 m/s. Find how many times its kinetic energy increases.

1. Kinetic energy = half x mass x speed squared.
2. Initial KE = 0.5 x 0.5 x 4 x 4 = 4 J.
3. Final KE = 0.5 x 0.5 x 8 x 8 = 16 J.
4. 16 J divided by 4 J = 4. Kinetic energy becomes four times larger.

Example 3 – Energy conversion. Name the energy conversion when a torch bulb lights up after you press its switch.

Answer: chemical energy stored in the battery changes to electrical energy, then to light energy, with some heat given off.

How Marks Are Allocated: Reading the [2] and [15] Tags

Marks are printed in square brackets after each part. A [2] tag next to a definition question means the examiner expects a short, complete statement, plus a formula or unit where relevant. A one-word answer will not get both marks.

The [15] tag on Question 1 in several papers covers a block of multiple-choice items, worth one mark each. Several papers instruct you to write only the correct option, not to copy out the question. Follow that instruction exactly, or you risk losing time.

For numerical parts, always show the formula, substitute values with units, and state the final answer with its unit. Missing a unit is a common way to lose a mark on an otherwise correct calculation.

What These Papers Cover Inside the Physics Syllabus

The chapters behind these papers set clear scope. Knowing the formulas below tells you what covers inside the paper before you open it.

• Force: moment of a force (torque), its SI and CGS units, conditions for equilibrium, and centre of gravity.
• Work, energy and power: W = F.S.cos(theta), W = mgh, P = W/t, and units such as kWh, erg and horsepower (1 HP = 746 W).
• Machines: mechanical advantage (MA = Load / Effort), velocity ratio (distance moved by effort divided by distance moved by load), and efficiency, which stays below 100% in practical machines.
• Refraction of light: how speed, wavelength and frequency change between media, and the condition for a ray to pass undeviated.

These points come from the CISCE-aligned chapters this class studies. Editions differ slightly by school, so check your booklist for the exact wording.

How to Use These Papers for Exam Preparation

1. Attempt one full paper under a strict two-hour clock before checking anything else.
2. Mark every answer against the bracketed marks – if a part is [2], write two distinct points.
3. List every topic you got wrong, and revise that chapter from your textbook before the next paper.
4. Repeat with a paper from a different year so you are not just memorising one set of questions.
5. Use the syllabus formulas above as a quick checklist right before the exam, not as your first read of the topic.

For related chapter PDFs, see the ICSE Class 10 study resources and the Class 10 Physics textbook PDFs on this site. For the official exam scheme and circulars, check the CISCE website.

Common Mistakes Students Make While Attempting These Papers

• Writing answers during the first 15 minutes, which every paper marks as reading time only.
• Copying out the MCQ question or all four options instead of writing just the chosen answer.
• Attempting more than four questions in the optional section, or fewer than four – both waste time or lose marks.
• Mixing SI and CGS units for moment of force instead of stating the unit asked for.
• Skipping the unit in a numerical final answer, even when the working is correct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many previous year physics papers are on this page?
This page hosts 8 ICSE Physics Paper 1 papers, from 2020 through 2026, including one selection test.

Do these papers come with solutions?
No. These are the original question papers only; there are no solved answers attached.

What is the exam pattern for ICSE Physics Paper 1?
It is a two-hour paper. Recent years mark it out of 80, with a compulsory 40-mark section and four more questions chosen from the rest.

Which physics topics come up most often in these papers?
Moment of force and equilibrium, energy conversion, and kinetic energy recur across the 2020-2026 papers in this set.

Are these downloads free?
Yes. Every file in the table above is a direct PDF download with no signup required.

More ICSE study material on this site

• Class 10
• Class 10 Books
• ICSE Icse Books Pdf Free
• ICSE Books

Reference: CISCE-aligned ICSE Class 10 textbook material.