ICSE Class 10 Papers Physics: Pattern & Topics

This page lists all 8 icse class 10 papers physics files we have indexed, covering the 2020 board paper through the 2026 specimen paper. It is built for ICSE Class 10 students preparing for the Physics (Science Paper 1) exam. Below the download table you will find how each paper is structured, which topics repeat, and where students usually lose marks.

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 holds ICSE Class 10 Physics (Science Paper 1) papers, running from the 2020 board paper to a 2026 specimen paper, plus a school comparative exam and a selection test. Every paper opens with a compulsory Section I (or Section A) worth 40 marks, followed by a choice of any four questions from Section II (or Section B). Use them to see exactly how moment of force, energy-power, machines and light questions are phrased at the Class 10 level.

What These ICSE Class 10 Physics Papers Cover

These papers test the Class 10 Physics chapters set out in the syllabus published by CISCE. The question types map directly onto four chapters.

• Force and moments: the definition of moment of force (turning effect / torque), its CGS and SI units, conditions for a body to be in equilibrium, and centre of gravity.
• Work, energy and power: work done W = FS cosθ, energy units such as erg, calorie, kWh and eV, power P = W/t, and horsepower (1 HP = 746 W).
• Machines: mechanical advantage MA = L/E, velocity ratio VR = d_E/d_L, efficiency and how it relates to MA and VR, and lever classes.
• Refraction of light: the laws of refraction, how speed, wavelength and frequency change between media, real versus apparent depth, and total internal reflection.

Every paper’s Question 1 in Section I (or Section A) is a compulsory, multi-part question that draws from these chapters, so they are worth revising together rather than one at a time.

Paper Pattern: Marks, Time and Section Rules Across Years

Every paper in this set follows a compulsory-plus-choice structure, but the exact marks and section names are not identical across years. Here is what each excerpt states directly.

Note the naming change: the 2020 board paper and the 2023 comparative exam use Section I and Section II. Every paper from the T23-521 specimen (2023) onward uses Section A and Section B instead. The rule is the same either way: the first section is compulsory and worth 40 marks, then you attempt any four questions from the second section.

Topics That Repeat Across the Years

Moment of force and equilibrium comes up almost every year. It appears in the 2020, 2023, 2025 and 2026 papers, either as a short-definition question or a multiple-choice item in Question 1.

Work, energy and power is the most consistent topic. Every year on this page — 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 — carries a question on energy conversion, kinetic energy, or work done.

Refraction of light is tested directly in the 2024 selection test, with questions on the laws of refraction and total internal reflection in optical fibres. It sits inside the syllabus scope for this class, so revise it even in years where the excerpt does not show it.

How to Use These Papers for Exam Practice

Treat each paper as a timed test, not a reading exercise.

1. Set a timer for two hours and attempt Section I (or Section A) first, since it is compulsory in every paper here.
2. Pick exactly four questions from Section II (or Section B). Practise choosing quickly, since exam time is limited.
3. After finishing, check your working against the chapter explanations in your Class 10 textbook PDFs for force, energy, machines and light.
4. Work through the papers in year order, 2020 to 2026, so you notice the shift from Section I/II naming to Section A/B naming.
5. If you need the full textbook set for revision alongside these papers, the ICSE books PDF list covers every subject.

Worked Examples in the Same Style

Example 1 — Moment of force. A worker turns a spanner of length 0.25 m to loosen a bolt. The moment of force needed is 5 N m. Find the minimum force applied at the end of the spanner, assuming it acts perpendicular to the spanner.

1. Moment of force, M = F × d, where d is the perpendicular distance from the fulcrum.
2. Rearrange for force: F = M / d.
3. Substitute the values: F = 5 / 0.25 = 20 N.

The worker must apply at least 20 N at the end of the spanner.

Example 2 — Kinetic energy change. A trolley’s speed is increased from v to 3v. Find how many times its kinetic energy increases.

1. Kinetic energy formula: KE = ½mv².
2. Since KE depends on v squared, tripling v means KE changes by 3² = 9.

The trolley’s kinetic energy becomes 9 times its original value.

Example 3 — Energy conversion. State the energy conversion that takes place inside a torch, from the moment its cell is connected to the moment light is produced.

Answer: chemical energy stored in the cell changes to electrical energy, which then changes to light energy (and some heat) in the bulb or LED.

Marking Pattern: What Each Bracket [ ] Expects

Every question carries its mark value in brackets, such as [2] or [15]. Use this to judge how much to write.

• A [2] definition question, such as “define moment of force”, usually needs the definition plus a unit or relation — roughly one mark for each part.
• The [15] block at the start of Section I/A is a set of 15 one-mark multiple-choice questions. Several years state the instruction directly: write the correct answers only, do not copy out the questions.
• Numerical questions award marks for the correct formula, the correct substitution, and the final answer with its unit. Skipping the working line loses method marks even if the final number is right.

Mistakes Students Make With These Papers

• Rewriting MCQ questions instead of writing only the correct option — several papers explicitly warn against this and it wastes exam time.
• Skipping Section I / Section A by mistake. It is compulsory in every paper in this set, not optional.
• Attempting more than four questions from Section II / Section B. The instruction is exactly four; extra answers beyond that are not marked.
• Leaving out units, such as writing “20” instead of “20 N” for a force, or dropping the unit on an energy or power answer.
• Confusing refraction direction rules — mixing up how a ray bends going from a denser medium to a rarer one is a common slip in the light chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many ICSE Class 10 Physics papers are on this page?
This page lists 8 Physics (Science Paper 1) papers, spanning the 2020 board paper through the 2026 specimen paper.

Do these papers come with solutions?
No. This page hosts the paper PDFs and guidance on pattern and topics, not solved answer keys.

Are the comparative exam and selection test the same as the board exam?
No. The 2023 comparative exam and the 2024 selection test are school-set practice papers modelled on the same Science Paper 1 format. The T23-521, T24-521, T25-521, 521I and T26-521 papers follow the specimen pattern directly.

What topics should I revise before attempting these papers?
Focus on force and moments, work-energy-power, simple machines, and refraction of light. These chapters are tested most often in the papers on this page.

Is Section I or Section A optional in any of these papers?
No. Section I (or Section A, depending on the year) is compulsory in every paper here. You then attempt any four questions from Section II or Section B.

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.