ICSE Syllabus 2026: Class 6 to 10 Complete Guide
The ICSE Syllabus 2026 covers Class 6 through Class 10 and is set by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). CISCE is a private, national-level board headquartered in New Delhi that conducts the ICSE (Class 10) and ISC (Class 12) examinations every year. For the 2026 session, approximately 2.6 lakh students sat for the ICSE Class 10 board exam, which ran from February 17 to March 30, 2026 as a pen-and-paper examination. CISCE has confirmed no syllabus release for 2026-27, so every student should plan to cover the full curriculum from day one.
Unlike CBSE, the ICSE board follows a detailed, application-based curriculum with strong emphasis on English, Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies. Students also get flexibility through elective subjects in Group II and Group III. This page is your central resource for the curriculum across all middle and secondary classes — subject lists, prescribed textbooks, PDF download links, and chapter-wise solution links, all in one place. For the official curriculum documents, always refer to cisce.org.
Whether you are in Class 6 just joining the board’s affiliated schools, or in Class 10 preparing for your board exams, understanding the full scope of what CISCE expects is the single most important step you can take. Use this guide alongside the official CISCE documents to build a study plan that leaves nothing out.
How ICSE Marks and Exams Work in 2026
Understanding the exam structure helps you plan better. The ICSE Class 10 assessment is divided into three groups. Group I subjects are compulsory for all students. Group II requires students to select at least two subjects. Group III is optional but can strengthen your overall score. Here is a quick summary of how each group is assessed for the 2026 session:
| Group | Subjects | External Marks | Internal Marks | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group I (Compulsory) | English, History & Civics, Geography | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Group II (Any 2 of 4) | Maths, Science, Second Language, Environmental Science | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Group III (Optional) | Computer Applications, Art, Cookery, etc. | 50 | 50 | 100 |
The minimum passing mark in each subject is 33%. CISCE has discontinued compartment exams. Students who wish to improve their scores in the 2026 session can appear for the improvement examination, scheduled from July 1 to July 17, 2026. This is an important change — do not assume a compartment exam option exists.
Internal assessments (the 20-mark component in Group I and Group II) are conducted by your school and submitted to CISCE. These marks are added to your external board paper score. Treat internal assessments seriously — they can make a meaningful difference to your final percentage.
ICSE Syllabus 2026 – Class 6
Class 6 is where many students first enter the ICSE system. The curriculum at this stage builds foundational skills in language, numbers, and general science. Textbooks from Selina Publishers are widely used across CISCE-affiliated schools at this level. Getting comfortable with the Selina format early makes the transition to board classes much smoother.
Class 6 Subjects and Prescribed Books
- Mathematics: Selina Concise Mathematics – Class 6
- Science: Selina Concise Science – Class 6 (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- English: Treasure Chest (Frank Brothers) / Morning Star English
- History & Civics: Total History & Civics – Class 6 (Morning Star)
- Geography: Voyage – A Course in Geography (Class 6)
- Hindi / Second Language: As prescribed by the school
- Computer Studies: Kips Cyber Beans / Viva Digital Computer
📄 PDF Coming Soon‘>Download Class 6 Science Syllabus PDF
👉 View Selina Solutions for Class 6 | 👉 Explore Recommended Books for Class 6
ICSE Syllabus 2026 – Class 7
Class 7 builds directly on what was covered in Class 6. Mathematics introduces ratio and proportion, algebraic expressions, and basic geometry. Science begins to separate more clearly into Physics, Chemistry, and Biology concepts, preparing students for the structured three-branch approach they will follow from Class 9 onwards.
Class 7 Subjects and Prescribed Books
- Mathematics: Selina Concise Mathematics – Class 7
- Science: Selina Concise Science – Class 7
- English Language & Literature: Treasure Chest / Morning Star
- History & Civics: Total History & Civics – Class 7
- Geography: Voyage – A Course in Geography (Class 7)
- Hindi: School-prescribed textbook
- Computer Studies: Kips / Viva
📄 PDF Coming Soon‘>Download Class 7 Science Syllabus PDF
👉 View Selina Solutions for Class 7 | 👉 Explore Recommended Books for Class 7
ICSE Syllabus 2026 – Class 8
Class 8 is a critical bridge year before board-level preparation begins. Topics like linear equations, mensuration, cell biology, and chemical reactions are introduced here. Students who develop strong study habits in Class 8 consistently find Classes 9 and 10 significantly more manageable — especially in Mathematics and Science.
Class 8 Subjects and Prescribed Books
- Mathematics: Selina Concise Mathematics – Class 8 or ML Aggarwal Mathematics – Class 8
- Science: Selina Concise Science – Class 8
- English Language: Treasure Chest / Communicative English
- History & Civics: Total History & Civics – Class 8
- Geography: Voyage – A Course in Geography (Class 8)
- Hindi: School-prescribed textbook
- Computer Applications: Kips Cyber Beans – Class 8
📄 PDF Coming Soon‘>Download Class 8 Science Syllabus PDF
👉 View Selina Solutions for Class 8 | 👉 Explore Recommended Books for Class 8
ICSE Syllabus 2026 – Class 9
Class 9 is officially part of the CISCE board preparation cycle. The board prescribes specific books and chapters that feed directly into Class 10 topics. Many chapters in Class 9 — particularly in Maths and Science — are prerequisites for board exam questions. Treating Class 9 as a non-board year is one of the most common mistakes students make.
Class 9 Core Subjects and Prescribed Books
- Mathematics: Selina Concise Mathematics – Class 9 or ML Aggarwal Understanding Mathematics – Class 9
- Physics: Selina Concise Physics – Class 9
- Chemistry: Selina Concise Chemistry – Class 9
- Biology: Selina Concise Biology – Class 9
- English Language: Workbook by Xavier Pinto (Morning Star)
- English Literature: Treasure Chest – Poems and Short Stories (Class 9)
- History & Civics: Total History & Civics – Class 9 (Morning Star)
- Geography: Total Geography – Class 9 (Morning Star)
- Computer Applications: Sumita Arora / Kips Computing with Java
📄 PDF Coming Soon‘>Download Class 9 Science Syllabus PDF | View Selina Solutions for Class 9
Study Tip for Class 9 Students
Do not treat Class 9 as a relaxed year. CISCE expects full chapter coverage throughout the academic year. Practise from Selina or ML Aggarwal from the very beginning — do not save everything for the final term. The habits you build in Class 9 directly shape your Class 10 board performance, and there is no shortcut to replacing them.
ICSE Syllabus 2026 – Class 10 (Board Exam Year)
Class 10 is where everything comes together. The ICSE board exam for the 2026 session was conducted from February 17 to March 30, 2026 as a pen-and-paper examination. For students currently in Class 10 and preparing for the 2027 board exams, CISCE has released the syllabus with no reductions — every chapter in every prescribed textbook is examinable. Start early and cover everything.
Class 10 Compulsory Subjects (Group I)
- English Language (Paper 1): Grammar, composition, and comprehension
- English Literature (Paper 2): Prescribed poems, drama, and prose
- History & Civics: Total History & Civics – Class 10 (Morning Star)
- Geography: Total Geography – Class 10 (Morning Star)
Class 10 Group II Subjects (Choose Any Two)
- Mathematics: Selina Concise Mathematics – Class 10 or ML Aggarwal Understanding Mathematics – Class 10
- Physics: Selina Concise Physics – Class 10
- Chemistry: Selina Concise Chemistry – Class 10
- Biology: Selina Concise Biology – Class 10
- Second Language (Hindi/Regional): School-prescribed books
- Commercial Studies: As prescribed by CISCE
- Economic Applications: As prescribed by CISCE
Class 10 Group III Subjects (Optional)
- Computer Applications: Sumita Arora Java – Class 10
- Physical Education
- Art (Drawing / Painting)
- Cookery / Home Science
- Technical Drawing Applications
📄 PDF Coming Soon‘>Download Class 10 Physics Syllabus PDF | 📄 PDF Coming Soon‘>Download Class 10 Biology Syllabus PDF
👉 View Selina Solutions for Class 10 | 👉 View ML Aggarwal Solutions for Class 10
Key Chapters to Focus on in Class 10 Maths
Based on CISCE specimen papers and past board trends, these chapters carry the highest weightage in the Class 10 Maths paper. Prioritise them, but do not skip anything — the paper draws from the full curriculum:
- Quadratic Equations
- Arithmetic Progression (AP)
- Mensuration (Cylinder, Cone, Sphere)
- Trigonometry
- Coordinate Geometry
- Statistics (Mean, Median, Ogive)
- Probability
- Similarity and Circle Theorems
👉 View Important Questions for Class 10 Maths
Why Selina and ML Aggarwal Books Are the Standard for ICSE
A common question from students is: why do ICSE-affiliated schools use Selina or ML Aggarwal instead of NCERT? The answer lies in how CISCE designs its curriculum. The board expects detailed, step-by-step working across all numerical subjects. Selina and ML Aggarwal are structured to match the exact chapter order, terminology, and question formats used in CISCE papers.
NCERT books are designed for CBSE. While they build conceptual understanding, they do not cover the additional topics or question styles that appear in ICSE board exams. For example, ICSE Class 10 Maths includes topics like Banking and Shares & Dividends that have no NCERT equivalent. Using the wrong textbook is one of the most preventable preparation mistakes.
If your school has prescribed ML Aggarwal for Maths, stick with it for problems and use Selina as a secondary reference. For Science, Selina remains the dominant choice across most CISCE-affiliated schools nationwide. Check the official book list issued by your school each year, and cross-reference with the CISCE curriculum document on cisce.org if you are unsure.
How to Use This Syllabus Guide Effectively
Having access to the curriculum is only useful if you act on it. Here is a practical approach for students at each stage:
- Classes 6–8: Focus on completing every chapter before your school exams. Do not leave chapters for revision only. Active practice from the start builds the recall you need later.
- Class 9: Download the CISCE curriculum document from cisce.org at the start of the year. Mark every chapter that feeds into Class 10 topics. These are your highest-priority areas.
- Class 10: Use the official CISCE specimen paper alongside your textbook. The specimen paper shows you the exact format, marks distribution, and question types. Practise it under timed conditions at least twice before the board exam.
For all classes, use the internal assessment calendar given by your school. The 20 marks from internal assessments are easier to secure with consistent effort throughout the year. Do not treat them as lower priority than the written exam.
👉 View the ICSE 2026 Exam Timetable | 👉 Download ICSE Specimen Papers
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
No, there has been no syllabus reduction for the 2026-27 academic session. CISCE expects students to cover the complete syllabus as prescribed for each subject. It is advisable to refer to the official CISCE website for the most up-to-date subject-wise syllabus documents.
Students need to score a minimum of 33% marks in each subject to pass the ICSE board examination. This passing criterion applies to both the written papers and any internal assessment components. Failing to meet this threshold in any subject may result in the student being declared unsuccessful in that particular subject.
ICSE students are required to study six subjects, which include English as a compulsory subject along with a selection from various group subjects covering sciences, mathematics, humanities, and vocational options. The exact combination depends on what your school offers and your personal academic interests. English Literature and English Language are both treated as separate compulsory papers.
The official syllabus for all subjects can be downloaded directly from the CISCE official website at cisce.org under the publications or syllabus section. Make sure to select the correct year and class to avoid confusion with older versions. Always rely on the official source rather than third-party websites to ensure accuracy.
Yes, many ICSE subjects include an internal assessment or practical component that contributes to the overall marks. The weightage varies by subject, with some subjects allocating 20% to internal work and the remaining 80% to the written examination. Students should take internal assessments seriously as they can significantly impact the final grade.