ICSE Class 10 Papers: History, Civics, Geography

Searching for ICSE Class 10 papers history civics geography? This page gives you all 8 History & Civics Paper 1 PDFs we have indexed for Class 10, including the standard H.C.G. paper code and the Thailand-centre H.G.T. variant. Below the download table you will find the real paper pattern, the topics that repeat year after year, and how to practise with these papers before your board exam.

These are the original question papers only — not solved sets — so use them for timed practice, not as an answer key. If you also need concept revision before attempting a paper, the ICSE Class 10 books page lists the chapter material these papers are based on.

Download ICSE Class 10 History Civics Question Papers PDF

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

This set collects ICSE Class 10 History & Civics Paper 1 question papers, including the standard H.C.G. paper code and the Thailand-centre H.G.T. variant. Every paper opens with the same instruction block: a two-hour paper, 15 minutes of reading time before writing, all of Part I compulsory, and five questions chosen from Part II's Section A and Section B. Use these eight papers to see exactly how the compulsory and optional sections are structured before you attempt timed practice.

Paper Pattern in ICSE History & Civics Papers 1 and 2

Every History & Civics Paper 1 we checked, from 2017 through 2023, is a two-hour paper. Students get 15 minutes of reading time before writing starts, and that reading time is separate from the two hours given for writing.

Part I is compulsory and worth 30 marks in every year we reviewed. For Part II, you attempt five questions in total: two out of three from Section A, and three out of five from Section B. This exact rule appears unchanged in the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023 papers, including the Thailand H.G.T. version.

The 2023 papers state a Maximum Marks: 80 for Paper 1. Earlier years in our excerpts don’t show that overall total on the cover, though the 30-mark Part I is the same.

Paper 2 (Geography) is also a two-hour paper. Its instructions ask students to attempt seven questions in all: the compulsory Part I questions plus five chosen from Part II. This paper also supplies a Survey of India map sheet and 20 cm of twine for map work — but the exact sheet number changes: 45D/10 in 2017, 2019 and 2020, and 45D/7 in 2018. Don’t assume the same sheet every year.

Topics That Repeat Across HCG Papers, 2017-2023

Looking across the years we reviewed, a few themes come back repeatedly in Part I:

• Parliament structure — Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha composition, the Speaker’s election, and session rules appear in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
• Powers of the President and the appointment of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers appear in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
• The Ordinance — what it is and how it is approved — is asked in both 2018 and 2023.
• Cabinet responsibility and functions show up across almost every year in our set, from 2017 to 2023.

One real change: from 2023, Question 1 in Part I became a single 16-mark multiple-choice question with four options each, replacing the one-mark, one-line factual sub-questions ((a), (b), (c)…) used from 2017 to 2020. If you’re practising with older papers, don’t expect the same MCQ format — check the year of the paper you’re using.

How to Use These History & Civics Papers for Exam Practice

Treat every paper the same way the actual exam does. Follow this sequence:

1. Set a timer for two hours, and give yourself 15 minutes beforehand to just read the paper without writing.
2. Answer all of Part I first — it’s compulsory and worth 30 marks, so don’t skip any part of it.
3. In Part II, choose two questions from Section A and three from Section B before you start writing, so you don’t waste time mid-paper deciding.
4. Write your answers on separate sheets, as the paper itself instructs.

For the marking style: 1-mark sub-questions in Part I want a single fact — a name, a term, or a short definition — not an explanation. The 2023 papers say this outright: “Do not copy the questions, write the correct answer only.” The same principle applies to the older one-line questions. Part II questions carry more weight and expect you to explain, with reasons, in full sentences.

You can cross-check the official ICSE syllabus and specimen question papers on the CISCE website before you start a timed practice run.

Common Mistakes in Civics MCQs and Geography Map Work

• Over-explaining 1-mark questions. Writing a paragraph for a question worth one mark eats time you need for Part II.
• Not planning Part II choices in advance. Deciding which questions to attempt while the clock is running wastes minutes you can’t get back.
• Skipping the 15-minute reading time. Students who start writing immediately often misread a question and lose marks on an easy answer.
• Overcrowding the Geography map. The paper itself warns students to use arrows sensibly so the map doesn’t get cluttered.
• Forgetting to detach and attach the map sheet. The map extract must be handed in or fastened to the answer booklet exactly as instructed — missing this step can cost marks even with correct map work.

A Worked Example: Structuring a Part I Civics Answer

Here is an original example in the same style as the recurring one-mark Part I questions on Parliament:

Question: State one power of the Rajya Sabha that the Lok Sabha does not share. [1]
Model answer: The Rajya Sabha alone can pass a resolution authorising Parliament to create a new All-India Service, under Article 312.

Notice the answer is one sentence, states the specific power, and names the article — nothing more is needed for a 1-mark question.

Now a longer, Part II-style example modelled on the recurring Cabinet/Parliament theme:

Question: Explain any three functions of the Lok Sabha in India’s law-making process.

1. It initiates and passes ordinary bills, which then go to the Rajya Sabha for consideration.
2. It has sole power over Money Bills — the Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes, not reject them.
3. It controls the executive through tools like the No-Confidence Motion, which can remove the Council of Ministers from office.

For a question like this, give one clear point per mark asked, each in its own sentence. Three points, three short paragraphs of explanation — not one long paragraph mixing all three together.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many History & Civics papers are on this page?
There are 8 Paper 1 PDFs in this collection, covering the standard H.C.G. paper code and the Thailand-centre H.G.T. variant.

Are these papers solved?
No. These are the original question papers only, not answer keys or solved sets.

How long is the History & Civics Paper 1 exam?
Two hours, with an additional 15 minutes to read the paper before writing — this is stated on every paper we reviewed from 2017 to 2023.

Is Part I compulsory?
Yes. Part I is compulsory and worth 30 marks in every year we checked. Part II lets you choose five questions: two from Section A and three from Section B.

Does the Geography paper (Paper 2) need a map?
Yes. Paper 2 supplies a Survey of India map sheet and 20 cm of twine for map work, and the exact sheet number changes each year, so check the paper you download.

For other Class 10 subjects and their papers, start from the ICSE Class 10 page.

More ICSE study material on this site

• Class 10
• Class 10 Books
• ICSE Books PDF Free
• ICSE Books

Reference: CISCE-aligned ICSE Class 10 textbook material.