ICSE Class 10 Biology Books – Chapters, Practice & PDFs

The ICSE Class 10 Biology books this page covers come from the Selina Concise Biology textbook. The page lists 14 chapters — chapters 2 to 15 — from Structure of Chromosomes to Pollution. Every listed chapter has its PDF on this page, ready to open or download. Chapter 1, Cell the Structural and Functional Unit of Life, is not here yet.

Beyond the PDFs, this page tells you what is inside each chapter, counted from the book itself: how many named sections each chapter runs, how many practice questions it sets, and how many pages it prints. You can judge a chapter’s size and practice load before opening a single PDF. The same chapter-by-chapter format runs across every subject on the ICSE Class 10 books hub.

Reference: CISCE-aligned ICSE textbook material.

ICSE Class 10 Biology Books: chapter PDF downloads

Selina Concise

ICSE Class 10 Biology Books: what is inside each chapter

A section is one of the book’s own main headings; sub-headings are not counted. A practice question is a numbered item under an exercise heading, such as Progress Check or Review Questions. Pages is the chapter’s page count in the PDF.

Chapter 2: Structure of Chromosomes Cell Cycle and Cell Division (Selina Concise)

Chromosomes carry the instructions that make a cell what it is. The chapter opens with what chromosomes are and how they were discovered, then moves to their structure and the genes they hold. It explains why new cells must be produced, the types of cell division, the cell cycle, and meiosis as the division that produces gametes.

• 2.1 What Are Chromosomes?
• 2.2 Discovery of Chromosomes
• 2.3 Structure of Chromosomes
• 2.4 What Are Genes ?
• 2.5 New Cells Need to BE Produced
• 2.6 Types of Cell Division

and 2 more

The Review Questions hold the 10 questions.

Chapter 3: Genetics Some Basic Fundamentals (Selina Concise)

Genetics is the study of how living things pass features to their young. The chapter starts with what genetics is and how variations appear in populations, then traces heredity to chromosomes, separating autosomes from sex chromosomes and showing how sex is determined. From there it covers genes and their alleles, genotype and phenotype, tongue rolling as an example of inheritance, sex-linked inheritance, Mendel’s experiments and his laws, and mutation.

• 3.1 What IS Genetics ?
• 3.2 Variations in Population
• 3.3 Chromosomes—the Carriers of Heredity
• 3.4 The Two Main Categories — Autosomes and Sex Chromosomes
• 3.5 Sex Determination — Son or Daughter
• 3.6 Chromosomes — Carriers of Genes

and 7 more

Its Progress Check sets the 7 questions.

Chapter 4: Absorption by Roots the Processes Involved (Selina Concise)

Roots take in the water and minerals a plant cannot make for itself. The chapter opens with absorption by the roots and why plants need water and minerals, then the characteristics of roots that make absorption possible and how water and minerals are absorbed and conducted. It covers the importance of root-hairs and the upward movement of absorbed water, experiments on absorption and conduction, and the forces that contribute to ascent of sap.

• 4.1 Absorption by the Roots
• 4.2 Need of Water and Minerals for Plants
• 4.3 Characteristics of Roots for Absorbing Water
• 4.4 Absorption and Conduction of Water and Minerals
• 4.6 Importance of Root-Hairs and the Upward Movement of Absorbed Water and Minerals
• 4.7 Some Experiments on Absorption and Conduction of Water in the Plants.

and 1 more

The Review Questions carry the most questions — 35.

Chapter 5: Transpiration (Selina Concise)

Transpiration is the loss of water vapour from a plant’s aerial parts. The chapter defines it, then shows how transpiration is demonstrated and measured, and names its kinds. It lists the factors that affect transpiration, explains its significance, and covers direct loss of water through guttation and bleeding.

• 5.1 Transpiration
• 5.2 Demonstration of Transpiration
• 5.3 Measurement of Transpiration
• 5.4 Kinds of Transpiration
• 5.5 Factors Which Affect Transpiration
• 5.6 Significance of Transpiration

and 1 more

A single Progress Check sets a large set of 45 questions.

Chapter 6: Photosynthesis (Selina Concise)

Plants make their own food, and this chapter shows how. It opens with plants as self food producers, defines photosynthesis, and examines chlorophyll and how stomatal opening regulates the entry of CO₂. The process and its two phases come next, then leaf adaptations, the end products, factors affecting photosynthesis, experiments, the importance of photosynthesis, and the carbon cycle.

• 6.1 Plants — Self Food Producers
• 6.2 What IS Photosynthesis ?
• 6.3 Chlorophyll – the Vital Plant Pigment
• 6.4 Regulation of Stomatal Opening for Letting in CO₂
• 6.5 Process of Photosynthesis
• 6.6 Two Main Phases of Photosynthesis — (a) Light-Dependent Phase and (B) Light-Independent (Dark) Phase

and 6 more

The Progress Check sets 16 questions.

Chapter 7: The Circulatory System (Selina Concise)

Cells deep in the body need a transport system. The chapter opens with the need for transport and the fluids in our body, then takes blood apart — its functions, composition and clotting — before blood transfusion and blood groups. It works through the circulatory system, circulation in the heart, the blood vessels, the pulmonary and systemic circulations, the hepatic portal system, tissue fluid and lymph, the spleen, and examination of blood corpuscles under a microscope.

• 7.1 Need for Transport Inside the Body
• 7.2 Fluids in Our Body
• 7.3 The Blood
• 7.4 Functions of Blood
• 7.5 Composition of Blood
• 7.6 Clotting of Blood (Coagulation)

and 9 more

The Progress Check carries the most questions — 53.

Chapter 8: The Excretory System (Selina Concise)

Excretion means removing waste the body cannot use. The chapter defines the term, names the substances to be got rid of and the excretory organs, then concentrates on the kidneys and the urinary system. It covers the constituents of urine, regulation of urine output, osmoregulation, and miscellaneous information on the topic.

• 8.1 Excretion (ex : out, crete: flow)
• 8.2 Substances to BE Got Rid Off
• 8.3 The Excretory Organs
• 8.4 Kidneys (Urinary System)
• 8.5 Constituents of Urine
• 8.6 Regulation of Urine Output

and 2 more

The Review Questions hold the most questions — 31.

Chapter 9: The Nervous System (Selina Concise)

The nervous system coordinates how the body responds to the world. The chapter opens with why a nervous system is needed, then builds from the neuron as its unit to nerves and the two major divisions of the nervous system. It covers the peripheral nervous system, reflexes as involuntary actions, and the sense organs.

• 9.1 Need of Nervous System
• 9.2 Neuron (or Nerve Cell) : the Unit of the Nervous System
• 9.3 Nerves
• 9.4 Two Major Divisions of the Nervous System
• 9.5 Peripheral Nervous System
• 9.6 Reflexes (Involuntary actions)

and 1 more

The Review Questions set the most questions — 61.

Chapter 10: Endocrine Glands (Selina Concise)

Hormones keep the body’s activities in balance. The chapter opens with the need for regulation of body activities and the general properties of hormones, then works through the endocrine glands one by one. It explains the feedback mechanism that controls hormonal secretions and gives the hormones at a glance.

• 10.1 Need for the Regulation of Body Activities
• 10.2 General Properties of Hormones
• 10.3 Endocrine Glands
• 10.4 Control of Hormonal Secretions [Feedback mechanism]
• 10.5 The Hormones at a Glance

The Review Questions carry the most practice, 35 questions.

Chapter 11: The Reproductive System (Selina Concise)

Reproduction passes life from one generation to the next. The chapter opens with reproduction in general and how a baby becomes male or female, then works through the human male and female reproductive systems. It moves on to puberty, the menstrual cycle, fertilisation, implantation and pregnancy, the placenta and amnion, birth and twins, and later test-tube babies and Siamese twins.

• Reproduction in General
• Male or Female
• Reproduction in Humans
• Male Reproductive System
• A. Location of testes
• Temperature regulation in the testes

and 26 more

Practice concentrates in the Review Questions, 40 items.

Chapter 12: Population (Selina Concise)

Rising population presses hard on the planet’s resources. The chapter frames it as a global threat, traces world population through the ages and its rapid rise, and sets out a simplified model of population growth. It looks at population in India, pressure on natural resources and urbanisation, the need to reduce the growth rate, control measures, population education, and methods of contraception.

• 12.1 Rising Population — a Global Threat
• 12.2 World Population Through the Ages
• 12.3 Rapid Rise in Population
• 12.4 Population Explosion — a Serious Global Concern
• 12.5 A Highly Simplified Model of Population Growth
• 12.6 Population in India

and 6 more

One Progress Check sets 35 questions.

Chapter 13: Aids to Health (Selina Concise)

Staying healthy depends on the body’s defences and on medicines that support them. The chapter opens with the need to keep healthy and the idea of immunity, then moves through vaccination and immunisation, antitoxins, and antiseptics and disinfectants. It covers antibiotics including penicillin, the sulphonamide group of medicines, and first aid.

• 13.1 Need to Keep Healthy
• 13.2 Immunity
• 13.3 Vaccination and Immunisation
• 13.4 Antitoxins (More appropriately called Antibodies)
• 13.5 Antiseptics and Disinfectants Prevent Catching Diseases
• 13.6 Antibiotics – Penicillin and Others

and 2 more

Most of the practice sits in the Review Questions, 23 items.

Chapter 14: Health Organisations (Selina Concise)

Health care in India is delivered through a chain of organisations. The chapter begins with common health problems in India and the categories of health organisations, then moves from local bodies to national bodies and international bodies.

• 14.1 Common Health Problems in India
• 14.2 Categories of Health Organisations
• 14.3 Local Bodies
• 14.4 National Bodies
• 14.5 International Bodies

Its Progress Check sets the 15 questions.

Chapter 15: Pollution (Selina Concise)

Pollution harms the air, water and land that living things depend on. The chapter defines pollution, then works through air, water, soil, radiation and noise pollution. It gives the effects of the various types of pollution and the abatement of pollution.

• 15.1 Pollution
• 15.2 Air Pollution
• 15.3 Water Pollution
• 15.4 Soil Pollution
• 15.5 Radiation
• 15.6 Noise Pollution

and 2 more

Practice here is one Progress Check of 23 questions.

How to revise Class 10 Biology chapter by chapter

1. Start with Chapter 2, Structure of Chromosomes Cell Cycle and Cell Division. It is the base of the subject.
2. Follow with Chapter 3, Genetics Some Basic Fundamentals — it builds on chromosomes and cell division, so it comes second, not first.
3. Then finish the plant block in book order: Chapter 4, Absorption by Roots; Chapter 5, Transpiration; Chapter 6, Photosynthesis. Water intake, water loss and food production share vocabulary — root hairs, stomata. Each of the three carries an experiment section: 4.7 on absorption and conduction, 5.2 on the demonstration of transpiration, and 6.10 on photosynthesis.
4. Move through the human body block: Chapter 7, The Circulatory System; Chapter 8, The Excretory System; Chapter 9, The Nervous System; Chapter 10, Endocrine Glands; Chapter 11, The Reproductive System.
5. Finish with the health and environment block: Chapter 12, Population; Chapter 13, Aids to Health; Chapter 14, Health Organisations; Chapter 15, Pollution.

The Nervous System sets the most practice questions on this page — 75. The Circulatory System is next with 67. Health Organisations sets the fewest, 15 questions over just 4 pages. One caution: students short on time often skip the Nervous System’s Review Questions, even though that single set carries 61 questions. When time is tight, do those first.

Sources and data verification

The book the counts describe. Every count on this page — sections, practice questions, pages — describes the Selina Concise book for ICSE Class 10 Biology, the name used in the directory table.

How the counts were made. Each count was read from the book’s chapters, and you can check it against the chapter PDFs linked in the directory. Open a PDF, count the main headings, then the numbered items under each exercise heading, then the pages.

Coverage on this page. This page covers 14 chapters — chapters 2 to 15, exactly the table’s count. The chapters below are not here yet:

• Selina Concise: chapter 1, Cell the Structural and Functional Unit of Life, is not on this page yet.

Who sets the syllabus. CISCE sets the ICSE syllabus and conducts the examinations. Open cisce.org to verify the current Class 10 Biology syllabus, exam structure and official notices. Schools choose their textbooks; CISCE prescribes none of them.

Class 10 Biology books: frequently asked questions