ICSE Syllabus 2024–25 | Free PDF Download for Classes 6–10

icse syllabus is the official CISCE curriculum framework — governing all subjects taught from Class 1 through Class 10. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) prescribes this syllabus and conducts the Class 10 board examination, known as the ICSE. Established in 1958, CISCE is one of India’s most respected examination bodies, and the ICSE is recognised by universities worldwide for its rigorous and broad-based curriculum. On this page, you will find subject-wise syllabus breakdowns, exam pattern details, ICSE vs CBSE comparisons, and completely free PDF study materials for ICSE Classes 6 through 10.

What the ICSE Syllabus Covers

The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education syllabus spans a wide range of compulsory and elective subjects, making it one of the most comprehensive school curricula in India. CISCE updates the syllabus periodically — the 2022–23 and 2024 revised versions reduced content in several subjects to ease exam pressure while retaining conceptual depth.

At the Class 10 level, every student must study English Language and English Literature, History and Civics, Geography, Mathematics, and at least one science subject. A second language — which may include Hindi — is compulsory up to Class 10, making the icse syllabus notably broader than single-stream boards.

The subjects available under the ICSE board span three groups. Here is a summary of what each group contains:

• Group I (Compulsory) — English, a second language (e.g., Hindi), History and Civics, Geography
• Group II (Any two) — Mathematics, Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), Environmental Science, Computer Science, Economics, Commercial Studies
• Group III (Any one) — Art, Drama, Home Science, Physical Education, Cookery, Fashion Designing

How the Curriculum Is Structured (Classes 6–10)

CISCE does not prescribe a single textbook but recommends publishers such as Selina Concise, Frank Brothers, S.Chand, and ML Aggarwal. Most affiliated ICSE schools follow Selina Concise for Maths and Science from Class 6 onward. The chapter count increases steadily as students progress toward the board year.

For the icse maths syllabus, Class 6 covers 9 core chapters including number systems, fractions, and basic geometry. By Class 10, students tackle advanced algebra, coordinate geometry, mensuration, probability, and statistics — all of which carry significant weightage in the CISCE board paper.

The icse english syllabus at every class level comprises two papers: English Language (grammar, composition, comprehension) and English Literature (prescribed texts including drama, poetry, and prose). CISCE updates the prescribed literature texts every two to three years, so students should always verify the current booklist for their academic session.

The icse hindi syllabus requires students to demonstrate reading comprehension, essay writing, letter writing, and grammar proficiency in Devanagari script. For the 2022–23 and 2024 sessions, CISCE retained the core grammar units while updating the prose and poetry prescriptions. The Hindi paper at Class 10 carries 80 marks in the written examination.

ICSE vs CBSE — Key Differences

Parents frequently compare the ICSE board with CBSE before choosing a school. The table below highlights the most important structural differences between the two boards to help you make an informed decision.

Students aiming for undergraduate admissions in India will find that most universities accept both boards equally. However, ICSE’s analytical English training is widely regarded as advantageous for students pursuing careers in law, journalism, civil services, or international programmes.

Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern Explained

The icse 10 syllabus examination pattern divides assessment into two components: an 80-mark written paper set and marked by CISCE, and a 20-mark internal assessment conducted by the school. Both components must be passed independently — a student cannot compensate a low internal score with a high external score.

For Science subjects, the internal assessment includes practical work, project files, and lab records. CISCE releases the official marking scheme alongside the question paper after each examination. For Class 10 papers from 2022, 2023, and the upcoming 2024 session, the pattern has remained broadly consistent with minor reductions in compulsory question choices.

The following subjects have distinct paper structures that students should note before planning their revision:

• Mathematics — One 2.5-hour paper, 80 marks; Section A (compulsory short answers) + Section B (choose 4 of 7 questions)
• English Language — One 2-hour paper, 80 marks; composition, letter, and comprehension passages
• Chemistry / Physics / Biology — One 1.5-hour written paper (80 marks) + practical assessment (20 marks)
• History and Civics — One 2-hour paper, 80 marks; Section A Civics + Section B History
• Geography — One 2-hour paper, 80 marks + map work carries mandatory marks

ICSE Nursery, LKG, and UKG Syllabus

The icse nursery syllabus and icse lkg syllabus are not prescribed directly by CISCE — the Council’s formal jurisdiction begins at Class 1. However, ICSE-affiliated schools typically follow a structured pre-primary programme aligned with NEP 2020 guidelines, covering language readiness, number sense, environmental awareness, and motor skills development.

The icse syllabus for ukg at most affiliated schools introduces simple phonics, two-digit number recognition, basic shapes, colours, and rhymes in the child’s mother tongue alongside English. Parents looking for icse syllabus schools near me can use the CISCE school locator at cisce.org to find an affiliated institution in their city or pin code.

It is worth noting that individual ICSE schools retain autonomy over their Nursery–UKG curriculum. Always request the school’s own programme booklet during admission to understand exactly what your child will learn in those foundational years.

Free ICSE Study Materials — PDF Downloads

Every PDF on icseboard.org is sourced from CISCE-aligned textbooks — Selina Concise, Frank Brothers, ML Aggarwal, and S.Chand — and reviewed for accuracy against the 2024–25 icse syllabus. All chapter-wise solutions, sample papers, and question papers are available at no cost and are updated for the current academic session.

Our Class 10 Chemistry PDFs cover all chapters of Selina Concise — from Periodic Table and Chemical Bonding to Organic Chemistry and Electrolysis — topics that appear every year in ICSE board papers. Class 9 Mathematics solutions address the full range of Selina chapters including compound interest, trigonometry, and circle theorems, giving students step-by-step workings they can follow independently.

ICSE Class 10 Mathematics — Free PDF Download

ICSE Class 10 Physics — Free PDF Download

ICSE Class 10 Chemistry — Free PDF Download

ICSE Class 10 Biology — Free PDF Download

Related ICSE Resources

Explore: Class 10 Chemistry, Class 10 Maths, Class 9 Maths, Class 8 Maths, and Class 9 Chemistry — all with free PDF solutions aligned to the latest ICSE syllabus.

Frequently Asked Questions

The icse syllabus is one of the most thorough secondary school curricula in India, preparing students exceptionally well for competitive examinations and international study. Bookmark this page — icseboard.org updates all syllabus guides, solutions, and question papers at the start of every new CISCE academic session.