ICSE Class 10 Preboard Papers Physics: PDFs & Guide
ICSE Class 10 preboard papers physics are available here for download. The table below provides four pre-board PDFs covering the years 2023, 2025, and 2026. These papers follow the CISCE-aligned syllabus and help you practise the real exam pattern before the final board assessment.
Each paper is an 80-mark paper with a two-hour writing time, plus an initial 15 minutes for reading the question paper. You can pair these papers with your Class 10 study materials and the CISCE-aligned textbook for focused preparation. The official board details are available at cisce.org.
Download ICSE Class 10 Physics Pre-Board Papers PDF
These are the 4 pre-board 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.
These four pre-board physics PDFs cover the 2023, 2025, and 2026 academic sessions. Each paper carries 80 marks with a two-hour writing time and tests the core ICSE Class 10 Physics syllabus, including force, work, energy, machines, refraction, sound, heat, and radioactivity. The papers follow the standard format of a compulsory Section A and a choice-based Section B.
| Paper | Download |
|---|---|
| Pre Board Physics Science Paper 1 (2026) | Download PDF |
| Pb Physics (2025) | Download PDF |
| Pb Physics (2023) | Download PDF |
| Pb Physics Science Paper 1 (2023) | Download PDF |
What These Physics Pre-Board Papers Cover Inside
The four PDFs in the table span three academic sessions. The 2023 set includes two papers: a standard pre-board paper and a Science Paper-1 version. The 2025 set has one pre-board paper. The 2026 set includes two papers: Pre-Board I and Pre-Board II. All four papers carry 80 marks and allow two hours for writing, with an additional 15 minutes for reading.
Every paper divides questions into Section A and Section B. Section A is compulsory and carries 40 marks. You must attempt all questions in Section A. Section B requires you to choose any four questions from the options provided. The mark tags in brackets, such as [15] for the multiple-choice question, tell you the exact weightage per question.
The papers test the core ICSE Class 10 Physics syllabus. Question topics include force and equilibrium, work, energy, and power, machines, refraction of light, sound waves, heat and specific heat capacity, and radioactive radiations. The multiple-choice section in Question 1 carries 15 marks across all papers, testing conceptual recall.
Topic Frequency Across the 2023, 2025, and 2026 Papers
Certain topics appear repeatedly across the four papers, which tells you where to focus your revision. The excerpts show clear patterns in question themes.
| Topic | Papers Where It Appears | Question Style |
|---|---|---|
| Radioactive radiations (alpha, beta, gamma) | 2023, 2025, 2026 | MCQ on heaviest radiation, magnetic deflection |
| Specific heat capacity | 2023, 2026 | MCQ on water, relation between mass and capacity |
| Refraction of light | 2023, 2025, 2026 | MCQ on glass slab, ray diagrams |
| Work, energy, power | 2023, 2026 | MCQ on SI unit, work done in paths |
| Equilibrium and force | 2023, 2026 | MCQ on types of equilibrium, point of action |
| Sound waves | 2023 | MCQ on wave type classification |
Radioactive radiations appear in three of the four papers. The 2023 paper asks you to name the radioactive radiations. The 2025 paper asks which radiation is the heaviest. The 2026 Pre-Board II paper asks which radiations are deflected by a magnetic field. This tells you to study the properties of alpha, beta, and gamma emissions closely.
Refraction of light also recurs across 2023, 2025, and 2026. The 2025 paper includes a ray diagram question where a ray IM is incident on a glass slab ABCD. You must identify the correct emergent ray. This means you need to practise drawing and labelling refraction diagrams, not just memorising the laws.
How to Use These Pre-Board Papers for Exam Preparation
Using these papers correctly builds your exam readiness. A structured approach gives you the best results.
- Simulate the exam conditions: Sit with the printed paper for two hours. Use the first 15 minutes only for reading. Do not start writing until that time is up.
- Attempt Section A first: This section is compulsory. Question 1 is a 15-mark multiple-choice section. Write only the correct option number if the paper instructs you to do so, as seen in the 2025 and 2026 Pre-Board I papers.
- Choose four questions from Section B: Read all Section B questions before choosing. Pick the four you can answer most confidently. Each question typically carries 10 marks.
- Show all working: The 2025 paper explicitly states that omission of essential working will result in loss of marks. Write every formula, substitution, and calculation step.
- Check your answers against the marking scheme: The intended marks for each question or sub-part are given in brackets. Use these tags to verify you have written enough points for the marks assigned.
Common Mistakes Students Make While Studying from Pre-Board Papers
Students lose marks on pre-board and board papers for avoidable reasons. Here are the specific errors to catch and fix.
| Mistake | Correct Rule | How to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Skipping the reading time | Use the first 15 minutes to read every question. Plan your Section B choices. | Set a timer. Do not write answers for 15 minutes. |
| Writing only the final answer in numericals | Show the formula, substitution, and unit. The 2025 paper warns that omitted working loses marks. | After solving, check if someone reading your sheet can follow every step. |
| Copying the full MCQ question | The 2026 Pre-Board I paper says: Do not copy the question, write the correct answers only. | Read Question 1 instructions carefully before starting. |
| Choosing Section B questions randomly | Read all Section B questions first. Pick the four you know best. | Spend two minutes scanning all Section B options before writing. |
| Forgetting units in the final answer | Every numerical answer needs the correct SI unit. | Underline the final answer and check the unit beside it. |
Worked Example: Refraction Through a Glass Slab
Since refraction of light appears in the 2023, 2025, and 2026 papers, here is a worked example matching that question style. The 2025 paper asks you to identify the emergent ray for a ray incident on a glass slab ABCD.
Given: A light ray strikes the glass slab at an angle of incidence of 45 degrees. The refractive index of glass is 1.5.
Step 1: State Snell’s Law. The relation is sin i / sin r = n, where i is the angle of incidence and r is the angle of refraction.
Step 2: Substitute the values. sin 45 / sin r = 1.5. We know sin 45 = 0.707. So, 0.707 / sin r = 1.5.
Step 3: Solve for sin r. sin r = 0.707 / 1.5 = 0.471.
Step 4: Find the angle of refraction. r = sin⁻¹(0.471) = 28.1 degrees.
Step 5: Identify the emergent ray. When a ray passes through a parallel-sided glass slab, the emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray but laterally displaced. You must draw the ray exiting the opposite face at the same angle as the incident ray.
Marking note: A 2-mark question expects the formula and the final answer with the unit. A 5-mark question expects the diagram, formula, substitution, working, and the final statement identifying the emergent ray.
Marking Guidance from the Paper’s Mark Tags
The mark tags in brackets tell you how much to write. The excerpts show specific tags that guide your answer length.
- [15] for Question 1: This is the multiple-choice section. Each sub-part carries 1 mark. Write only the correct option unless the paper asks for the solution. The 2025 paper says: do not show solution.
- [10] for Section B questions: These require full working. Include diagrams, formulas, substitutions, and a clear final answer. A 10-mark question usually has sub-parts (a), (b), and (c). Answer each part fully.
- [1] for individual MCQs: The 2025 paper marks each MCQ as [1]. Do not over-explain. Select the option and move on.
The 2025 paper adds a specific instruction: All working, including rough work, must be clearly shown and must be done on the same sheet as the rest of the answer. This means you cannot use a separate rough sheet. Practise organising your work on one page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pre-board physics papers are available for download?
There are four pre-board physics PDFs available. They cover the years 2023 (two papers), 2025 (one paper), and 2026 (two papers: Pre-Board I and Pre-Board II).
What is the maximum marks and time allowed for these papers?
Each paper carries a maximum of 80 marks. The writing time is two hours. You also get 15 minutes before the writing time to read the question paper. You cannot write during this reading period.
What is the difference between Section A and Section B?
Section A is compulsory and carries 40 marks. You must attempt all questions in Section A. Section B also carries 40 marks, but you choose any four questions from the options provided. The 2026 Pre-Board II paper states: Section A is compulsory. Attempt any four questions from Section B.
Do I need to show working for the multiple-choice questions?
No. The 2025 paper instructs you to write the correct option number and not show the solution. The 2026 Pre-Board I paper says: Do not copy the question, write the correct answers only. However, for Section B numericals, you must show all working on the same sheet.
Which topics appear most frequently in these pre-board papers?
Radioactive radiations appear in the 2023, 2025, and 2026 papers. Refraction of light appears in the 2023, 2025, and 2026 papers. Specific heat capacity appears in the 2023 and 2026 papers. Focus your revision on these recurring topics.
More ICSE study material on this site
Reference: CISCE-aligned ICSE Class 10 textbook material.