ICSE Class 10 Biology Book – Complete Chapter List, Syllabus & Solutions

The ICSE Class 10 Biology book most widely used in ICSE-affiliated schools is Concise Biology Class 10 by Selina Publishers, aligned with the official CISCE 2026-27 syllabus. Whether you are preparing for the February–March 2026 board exams (scheduled from 17 February to 30 March 2026) or working through your school year, this page gives you the complete chapter list, Selina solutions, exam weightage, and the topics that appear most frequently in ICSE board papers. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has confirmed no syllabus release for 2026-27, so every chapter listed here is examinable.

Biology in Class 10 covers human body systems, genetics, plant physiology, evolution, and pollution. The external written exam carries 80 marks and the internal assessment carries 20 marks. You need at least 33% in each component to pass, as per the CISCE passing criteria.

Use the chapter table below to navigate directly to solutions, or scroll further for the exam pattern, high-priority topics, and study tips curated specifically for the 2025-26 academic session.

ICSE Class 10 Biology Book – Full Chapter List with Solutions

The 15 chapters below follow the Selina Concise Biology Class 10 textbook, the primary reference for most ICSE schools across India. This book is fully aligned with the curriculum published on cisce.org. Click any chapter link to access its worked solutions.

Important: NCERT does not publish books for the ICSE curriculum. The Selina Concise Biology series is the standard textbook prescribed by most ICSE-affiliated schools and is fully mapped to the official syllabus available on cisce.org. There is no syllabus release for the 2026-27 session — all 15 chapters are in scope for the board exam.

For chapter-wise notes and summaries, see our ICSE Class 10 Biology Notes page. For past papers with solutions, visit ICSE Class 10 Question Papers.

ICSE Class 10 Biology Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme (2026)

The Biology written exam for the February–March 2026 session is a pen-and-paper test. Understanding the structure before you sit down to revise will save you time and help you allocate effort correctly.

Section A is compulsory for all candidates and typically includes MCQs, fill-in-the-blanks, match-the-column, diagram labelling, and short-answer questions. Section B contains longer descriptive questions that test your conceptual understanding and diagram-drawing ability. Since you choose 4 out of 6 questions, pick the ones where you are strongest — but prepare at least 5 to stay safe.

Improvement exams: CISCE has discontinued the old compartment system. Students who need to improve their score can appear for the improvement exams scheduled from 1 July to 17 July 2026.

Chapter-wise Weightage for ICSE Biology 2026 (Approximate)

CISCE does not publish exact chapter-wise marks. However, based on the official specimen paper and the pattern seen across multiple past papers, the following topics consistently carry the highest weightage in the written exam:

• The Circulatory System — appears almost every year; diagram-based questions on heart structure and blood circulation pathways are extremely common
• Genetics (Mendel’s Laws) — cross problems, Punnett square calculations, and phenotype/genotype ratios are tested every session
• Photosynthesis — factors affecting the rate, light and dark reactions, and the balanced equation often appear in Section A
• The Nervous System — labelled neuron diagrams and reflex arc sequence questions recur frequently
• The Excretory System — nephron structure, urine formation, and the process of ultrafiltration are consistently high-priority
• Meiosis — stages and comparison with mitosis in tabular form score reliably
• Transpiration and Absorption by Roots — definitions, osmosis vs diffusion, and stomata diagrams
• The Endocrine System — gland-hormone-function tables are a recurring format in Section A

Important Topics in the ICSE Class 10 Biology Book to Prioritise

Every chapter in the Selina Biology textbook is examinable, but time is limited in the months before the February 2026 exam. Based on the pattern across the last five years of ICSE board papers, here is a ranked approach to your revision.

High-Priority Topics (Revise First)

• Meiosis vs Mitosis — draw and label each stage; make a side-by-side comparison table; this topic appears in multiple question formats
• Monohybrid and Dihybrid Crosses — practise solving at least 10 Punnett square problems until you can write the genotype, gametes, and phenotype ratio without prompting
• Structure of the Heart — a fully labelled diagram of the heart with the path of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood is worth 3–5 marks in most papers
• Nephron Diagram — know every part by name and understand ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption, and tubular secretion as a sequence
• Photosynthesis Equation — memorise the balanced chemical equation and be able to explain each stage in 3–4 sentences
• Types of Neurons and Reflex Arc — draw the reflex arc and label sensory neuron, relay neuron, and motor neuron with the correct direction of impulse
• Endocrine Glands — prepare a table: Gland | Hormone | Function | Disorder caused by deficiency. This format scores well in Section A.
• Pollution — for each type (air, water, soil, noise) list two causes, two effects, and two prevention measures — a total of 24 points that covers almost any question variant

Practical Exam Tips for ICSE Biology 2026

• Diagrams carry independent marks — draw them in pencil, use a ruler for straight lines, and label with a horizontal line (not arrows that cross each other). A well-drawn, fully labelled heart or nephron diagram can earn 3–4 marks on its own.
• Learn definitions precisely — terms like osmosis, transpiration, reflex action, and photosynthesis have specific key phrases that ICSE markers look for. Write them from the Selina textbook, not paraphrased versions.
• Show all steps in genetics problems — always write the genotype of parents, the gametes each parent produces, the Punnett square, and the phenotype ratio. Skipping steps loses marks even if your final answer is correct.
• Manage time in Section A — it is compulsory with no choice. Spend no more than 45 minutes on it so you have enough time for four Section B questions.
• Use Selina solutions correctly — solve the exercise first, then check the solution. Using solutions as a reading resource rather than a checking tool weakens your recall under exam conditions.
• Internal assessment matters — the 20 marks from school practicals and projects can be the difference between passing and failing if your theory marks are close to 33%. Treat lab records seriously.

Recommended Reference Books for ICSE Class 10 Biology

The Selina Concise Biology textbook covers everything required for the board exam. These supplementary books are useful only if you want additional practice questions or need a different explanation style for a difficult topic.

If you are short on time in the final two months before the exam, stick entirely to the Selina textbook, solve every exercise, and cross-check using the chapter solutions linked in the table above. Adding a second book is only productive after you have completed the primary one.

For subject-wise preparation across all Group II sciences, see our ICSE Class 10 Syllabus page. For the complete timetable, visit our ICSE Class 10 Timetable 2026 page.

ICSE Class 10 Biology – Study Plan for February 2026 Boards

With the exam window running from 17 February to 30 March 2026, most students have roughly four months of focused preparation from October onwards. Here is a realistic chapter grouping to make that time count.

Suggested 4-Month Revision Schedule

This schedule assumes you are covering Biology alongside your other ICSE subjects. Adjust the pace based on how much school instruction you still have. The key rule: finish the Selina textbook exercises before attempting any past papers — questions in past papers will feel familiar only when the textbook concepts are solid.