Overview
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is the Class 10 examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), a national-level, privately-run examining body headquartered in Delhi. Students in CISCE-affiliated schools sit ICSE at the end of Class 10.
Who can apply
ICSE is open to students enrolled in a CISCE-affiliated school; the school registers students with the council. CISCE does not generally accept private (non-school) candidates for ICSE in the way some other boards do.
Exam pattern
CISCE's ICSE regulations set out how many subjects a candidate needs and the pass requirement:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Subjects to be confirmed for the exam | At least six |
| Pass requirement | Pass standard reached in at least five subjects, one of which must be English |
| Compartment (improvement) exam eligibility | Pass mark already secured in English and three other subjects at the main ICSE exam |
Syllabus
CISCE sets its own syllabus for each subject at ICSE level, published on cisce.org and updated by the council from time to time. Schools follow the current syllabus document for the session a student is appearing in.
Important dates
For the 2026 cycle, CISCE released the ICSE Class 10 date sheet in November 2025, with the board exams held between 17 February and 30 March 2026. Dates change each year, so check the current session's date sheet on cisce.org.
After the exam
ICSE results are published on the official CISCE result portal linked from cisce.org. CISCE also runs a recheck process and, after that, a re-evaluation process for candidates who want their scripts looked at again; both are announced and their results declared separately on cisce.org after the main result.
Preparation tips
Use the current CISCE syllabus and specimen papers for your subjects rather than an older edition, since CISCE revises syllabi periodically.
Confirm your school's internal assessment (practical/project) schedule early, as it runs alongside the written papers and contributes to your final result.
Who conducts the ICSE exam?
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) conducts ICSE, the Class 10 exam, for its affiliated schools.
Can I appear for ICSE as a private candidate?
ICSE registration is through a CISCE-affiliated school; the council does not generally register individual, non-school candidates the way some other boards do.
Where do I find the ICSE date sheet and results?
Both are published on the official CISCE website, cisce.org.