ICSE Class 8 Half-Yearly Tests Chemistry: PDF Downloads

This page gives you icse class 8 half yearly tests chemistry papers as PDF downloads. There are 5 papers, covering the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024, and 2026. Each paper tests the first-term syllabus — atomic structure, chemical bonding, hydrogen, and carbon — so you can practise the exact question types your school asks.

Use these papers alongside your Class 8 subject notes and the Class 8 textbook list. For official board updates, check the CISCE website.

Download ICSE Class 8 Chemistry Half-Yearly Tests PDF

These are the 5 half-yearly tests PDFs hosted on icseboard.org for ICSE Class 8 Chemistry, organised by subject. Each section below explains what those papers cover before the download table.

These 5 half-yearly Chemistry papers span 2017 to 2026 and cover the first-term Class 8 syllabus: atomic structure, chemical bonding, hydrogen, and carbon. Each paper tests formula writing, equation balancing, electronic configuration, and fill-in-the-blank questions. The marks range from 50 (2024) to 80 (2017–2019, 2026), and the time ranges from 2 hours + 15 minutes to 2.30 hours, so check each paper's instruction block before practising.

What each half-yearly paper covers

The 5 papers span different formats and marks. Each one tests the first half of the Class 8 Chemistry syllabus, but the paper structure changed over the years.

• 2017 paper: 80 marks, 2 hours + 15 minutes reading time. Covers chemical bonds, isotopes, atomic theory, ozone, formulae, and balancing equations.
• 2018 paper: 80 marks, 2 hours + 15 minutes. Section A (40 marks) is compulsory; covers carbon, coal, formulae, and equation balancing.
• 2019 paper: 80 marks, 2 hours + 15 minutes. Tests electronic configuration, valency, isotopes, and chemical names.
• 2024 paper: 50 marks. A shorter format with balancing, fill-in-the-blanks, true/false, and give-reasons questions.
• 2026 paper: 80 marks, 2.30 hours. Two sections; Section A is compulsory, Section B has choice. Includes MCQs on mixtures, isotopes, and valency.

The marks and time differ by year. The 2017, 2018, and 2019 papers give 2 hours + 15 minutes for 80 marks. The 2024 paper is 50 marks. The 2026 paper allows 2.30 hours for 80 marks. Check each paper’s instruction block before you practise.

Topics that repeat across the 5 papers

Some question types appear year after year. If you master these, you cover most of the paper.

Balancing equations and writing formulae appear in 4 of the 5 papers. These are high-yield topics — practise them first.

Worked example: balancing an equation

Here is a worked example modelled on the balancing questions from the 2017, 2018, and 2019 papers.

Question: Balance the equation: Fe₂O₃ + CO → Fe + CO₂

1. Count atoms on each side. Left: Fe = 2, O = 4, C = 1. Right: Fe = 1, O = 2, C = 1.
2. Balance Fe first. Put a 2 before Fe on the right: Fe₂O₃ + CO → 2Fe + CO₂.
3. Balance C. Put a 2 before CO on the left: Fe₂O₃ + 2CO → 2Fe + CO₂.
4. Count O on the left: 3 + 2 = 5. Count O on the right: 2. Not balanced.
5. Put a 3 before CO₂ on the right: Fe₂O₃ + 2CO → 2Fe + 3CO₂.
6. Recount C: left = 2, right = 3. Adjust CO to 3: Fe₂O₃ + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO₂.
7. Final check — Left: Fe = 2, O = 6, C = 3. Right: Fe = 2, O = 6, C = 3. Balanced.

The balanced equation is Fe₂O₃ + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO₂.

Worked example: electronic configuration and valency

The 2019 and 2026 papers ask you to complete a table with electronic configuration, valence electrons, and valency. Here is a worked example using sodium (Na, atomic number 11).

1. Atomic number 11 means 11 protons and 11 electrons.
2. Distribute electrons in shells: K = 2, L = 8, M = 1.
3. Electronic configuration: 2, 8, 1.
4. Valence electrons = electrons in the outermost shell = 1.
5. Valency = number of electrons lost or gained to complete the octet. Sodium loses 1 electron, so valency = 1.

For chlorine (atomic number 17), the configuration is 2, 8, 7. Valence electrons = 7. Chlorine gains 1 electron, so valency = 1.

How to use these papers for preparation

These papers work best when you treat them as real exams, not just reading material.

• Start with the oldest paper (2017) to learn the question pattern. Do not time yourself on the first attempt.
• Check each paper’s marks and time before you start. The 2017–2019 papers are 80 marks in 2 hours + 15 minutes. The 2024 paper is 50 marks. The 2026 paper is 80 marks in 2.30 hours.
• Practise formulae and equation balancing daily. These appear in 4 of the 5 papers and carry 5 marks each time.
• Use the 2026 paper last. It is the most recent format with MCQs and a two-section structure.
• Mark your answers against the marking scheme. A 5-mark question needs 5 distinct points, not one long answer.

Common mistakes students make in these papers

• Unbalanced equations: Students balance metals but forget oxygen. Always recount every atom on both sides.
• Wrong valency in formulae: Writing CuCl instead of CuCl₂ for copper (II) chloride. The Roman numeral tells you the valency — II means 2.
• Confusing atomic number and mass number: Atomic number = protons. Mass number = protons + neutrons. Isotopes have the same atomic number but different mass numbers.
• Skipping the reading time: The 2017–2019 papers give 15 minutes to read. Use it to plan your answers before writing.
• Not checking the paper format: The 2024 paper is 50 marks, not 80. If you practise it as an 80-mark paper, you misjudge your time.

Marking guidance from the mark tags

The papers use mark tags like [5], [2], and [3] to show how many marks each question carries. Your answer length should match.

• A 5-mark question needs 5 clear, distinct points. In formulae questions, write all 5 formulae. In fill-in-the-blanks, answer all 5 blanks.
• A 2-mark question needs one direct answer and one supporting point. For example, “What happens when sodium hydroxide reacts with ferrous sulphate?” — name the products and the reaction type.
• A 3-mark table question (like the 2019 electronic configuration table) needs all 6 cells filled correctly at ½ mark each.

Frequently asked questions

How many half-yearly Chemistry papers are available for download?

There are 5 papers — from 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024, and 2026. Each is a separate PDF in the download table.

Do all the papers have the same marks and duration?

No. The 2017, 2018, and 2019 papers are 80 marks with 2 hours + 15 minutes. The 2024 paper is 50 marks. The 2026 paper is 80 marks with 2.30 hours. Each paper states its own marks and time on the first page.

Which topics should I study first for the half-yearly exam?

Focus on chemical formulae, equation balancing, atomic structure, and electronic configuration. These appear in most of the 5 papers. Hydrogen and carbon also appear in the 2018 and 2019 papers.

Are these papers solved or do they include answer keys?

The downloads are the question papers. This page gives you worked examples and marking guidance, but the PDFs themselves are the exam papers, not solution sets.

Can I use these papers for the current academic session?

Yes. The syllabus topics — atomic structure, bonding, hydrogen, and carbon — stay consistent across years. The 2026 paper is the most recent format and reflects the current question style.

More ICSE study material on this site

• Class 8
• Class 8 Books
• ICSE Books PDF Free
• ICSE Books

Reference: CISCE-aligned ICSE Class 8 textbook material.