GildaNolan0093 at 09:21, 29 March 2026

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{{Short description|Private worldwide accepted education board}}{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=June 2014}}
{{Cleanup|reason=this article contains a lot of possibly unnecessary and unencyclopedic content|date=August 2025}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
| abbreviation = ICSE
| logo =
| logo_size =
| caption =
| formation = 1958
| type = Private Board of Education
| purpose = Secondary education certification in India
| headquarters = [[New Delhi|New Delhi, India]]
| region_served = [[India]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| parent_organization = Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
| website = https://www.cisce.org/
}}
The '''Indian Certificate of Secondary Education''' ('''ICSE''') is an academic qualification awarded by the [[Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations]], a private, non-governmental board of [[education in India]]. The CISCE conducts these examinations to assess students' performance in a course of general education, offered through the medium of English, and aligned with the recommendations of the [[National Education Policy 2020|New Education Policy 2020]]. The board facilitates these examinations for affiliated schools across various states and union territories, ensuring standardized evaluation and representation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cisce.org/|title=CISCE|website=www.cisce.org|access-date=2018-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cisce.org/FAQ.aspx|title=CISCE|website=www.cisce.org|access-date=2018-09-23}}</ref>

==Overview==
===Introduction===
The ICSE is known for its comprehensive syllabus and primary focus on the English language and variety of subjects that it offers, which involve language, arts, commerce and science. The ICSE is taught in English only.

The ICSE Examination is a school examination and the standard of the examination pre-supposes a school course of ten years duration (Classes I-X).

The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Examination will ensure a general education and all candidates are required to enter for six or more subjects and [[SUPW|Socially Useful Productive Work]] (SUPW).<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Regulations: Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Examination |url=https://cisce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/0.4-ICSE-Regulations-26.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324105523/https://cisce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/0.4-ICSE-Regulations-26.pdf |archive-date=2025-03-24 |website=cisce.org}}</ref>

Private candidates are not permitted to appear for the examination.<ref name="auto"/>

===Academic Year===
The beginning of the academic year in Schools affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) shall be from the middle of March and the first week of June each year.<ref name="auto"/>

===Entry Requirements===
#Entry to the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Examination, in the case of candidates who are being entered for the first time, is restricted to candidates with a minimum of 75% attendance. Candidates can be entered only by the School they are attending.<ref name="auto"/>
#Candidates who were entered as School candidates, in accordance with (1) above, and who were not awarded Pass Certificates may be admitted to Class X by 31 August, under intimation to CISCE, provided such a candidate fulfills all other conditions as per the Regulations.<ref name="auto"/>
#Candidates who have been awarded Pass Certificates will be permitted to enter for a Supplementary Pass Certificate in any/all of the subjects offered.<ref name="auto"/>
#Candidates who were not awarded Pass Certificates may appear for the Improvement Examination in subject/s (maximum two subjects) in which they have not secured the Pass Marks (33%)
#There is no age limit for candidates taking the examination.<ref name="auto"/>

==Subjects==
Fixed number of subjects are selected by schools. Candidates appearing for the ICSE must write examinations in at least six or at most eight subjects. Of these, five subjects will be included in their final grade—out of these five, one will compulsorily be English, even if it is the subject in which the student has scored the lowest marks.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/counting-7-subjects-is-discriminatory-says-icse-board/article1-552399.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144040/http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/counting-7-subjects-is-discriminatory-says-icse-board/article1-552399.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=2 April 2015 | title=Counting 7 subjects is discriminatory, says ICSE Board | publisher=Hindustan Times | work=HT Correspondent | date=3 June 2010 | access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/ICSE-pupils-can-again-draw-best-5-score-from-six-subjects/articleshow/17975412.cms | title=ICSE pupils can again draw best-5 score from six subjects | work=The Times of India | date=11 January 2013 | access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref> There are three groups of subjects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICSE - Contents |url=https://cisce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/0.3-ICSE-Contents-26.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324104014/https://cisce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/0.3-ICSE-Contents-26.pdf |archive-date=2025-03-24 |website=cisce.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Syllabus for Vocational Subjects: Group III - Section B |url=https://cisce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/0.2-Contents-26.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324102651/https://cisce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/0.2-Contents-26.pdf |archive-date=2025-03-24 |website=cisce.org}}</ref>

===Group I (compulsory)===
* English
* Second Language (Any 1)
** [[Hindi]]
**; Indian regional languages
*** [[Ao Naga language|Ao-naga]]
*** [[Assamese language|Assamese]]
*** [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
*** [[Dzongkha]]
*** [[Garo language|Garo]]
*** [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
*** [[Kannada]]
*** [[Khasi language|Khasi]]
*** [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]]
*** [[Mizo language|Mizo]]
*** [[Malayalam]]
*** [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
*** [[Nepali language|Nepali]]
*** [[Odia language|Odia]]
*** [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
*** [[Sanskrit]]
*** [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
*** [[Tangkhul language|Tangkhul]]
*** [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
*** [[Urdu]]
**; Modern foreign languages
*** Arabic
*** Chinese
*** French
*** German
*** Russian
*** [[Modern Armenian]]
*** Portuguese
*** Spanish
*** Thai
*** Tibetan
* Geography
* History & Civics
* History & Civics - Thailand <ref group=note>Candidates offering History, Civics and Geography (Thailand) are not eligible to offer History, Civics and Geography.</ref>
* Geography - Thailand
* Environmental Science

===Group II (Any 2)===
* Mathematics
* Science (Includes Physics, Chemistry and Biology)
* Economics
* Commercial Studies
* '''Modern foreign languages (Group II)''':<ref group=note>Candidates opting for a Modern Foreign Language as a Group II subject may not opt for the same language
under Modern Foreign Languages as a Group I and Group III subject.</ref>
** French
** German
** Spanish
* Classical Language <ref group=note>Candidates offering Sanskrit as a Group II subject may not opt for Sanskrit as a Group I subject.</ref>

===Group III (Any 1)===

'''Section A'''<ref group=note>Candidates may select one subject either from Section A or Section B or two subjects, one from Section A and one from Section B</ref>
* Computer Applications
* Economic Applications <ref group=note>Candidates offering Economic Applications in (Group III) are not eligible to offer Economics (Group II).</ref>
* Commercial Applications <ref group=note>Candidates offering Commercial Applications (Group III) are not eligible to offer
Commercial Studies (Group II).</ref>
* Art
* Performing Arts
* Home Science
* Cookery
* Fashion Designing
* Physical Education
* Yoga
* Technical Drawing Applications
* Environmental Applications <ref group=note>Candidates offering Environmental Applications (Group III) are not eligible to offer
Environmental Science (Group II).</ref>
* '''Modern Foreign Languages (Group III):'''<ref group=note>Candidates opting for a Modern Foreign Language as a Group III subject may not opt for the same language
under Modern Foreign Languages as a Group I and Group II subject</ref>
** French
** German
** Spanish
* Mass Media & Communication
* Hospitality Management
'''Section B'''
* Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
* Assistant Beauty Therapist
* Assistant Hair Stylist
* Basic Data Entry Operator
* Dietetic Aide
* Cashier
* Early Years Physical Activity Facilitator
* Auto Service Technician

While ICSE offers each of these subjects to students, the school affiliated to CISCE may or may not be offering all the subjects listed. Depending on the school's resources, only a few subjects may be available to students.

In addition to the subjects listed above ICSE mandates an extra-curricular development to be displayed by students. This is achieved through a scheme called Socially Useful Productive Work & Community Service, commonly referred to as [[SUPW]], introduced in 1978.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/rest-in-pieces/supw-class-do-we-love-it-or-hate-it/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116053149/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/rest-in-pieces/supw-class-do-we-love-it-or-hate-it/ | url-status=live | archive-date=16 Jan 2025 | title= Does SUPW stand for 'Socially Useful Period Wasted?' | publisher=Times of India | date=24 Feb 2019 | access-date=16 Jan 2025}}</ref>

In accordance to SUPW, candidates will be required t select one main craft and one subsidiary service or one main service and one subsidiary craft per year of preparation for the examination. The craft may be aligned with their studies. For example a candidate who has selected Art may submit pottery as their craft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Socially Useful Productive Work and Community Service |url=https://cisce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/36.-ICSE-SUPW-and-Community-Service-26.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324102017/https://cisce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/36.-ICSE-SUPW-and-Community-Service-26.pdf |archive-date=2025-03-24 |website=cisce.org}}</ref>

ICSE added 8 [[vocational]] subjects under Section B of Group III in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-13 |title=Advisory on Actionable Items in the NEP |url=https://ruchikaschool.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Circular_3955_262877.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121103527/https://ruchikaschool.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Circular_3955_262877.pdf |archive-date=2025-01-21 |website=ruchikaschool.ac.in}}</ref>

===Marking Scheme===
Group I and Group II subjects have a separate marking scheme than that of Group III subjects, though all exams are scored out of 100.

In Group I and Group II subjects, candidates write an 80 mark paper on the day of the examination which constitutes the external examination portion of their marks. Another 20 marks constitute the internal assessment, which is awarded based on projects, practical files or oral/aural assessments.

To obtain marks out of 100, both external examination and internal assessment is added and reported as final marks.

Thus the split between external and internal assessments is 80% and 20% respectively.<ref name="auto"/>

For Group III subjects, candidates write a 100 mark paper on the day of the examination, which comprises the external examination portion of their marks. Another 100 marks comprise the internal assessment which is awarded based on projects or practical files.

To obtain marks out of 100, both external examination and internal assessment marks are added and the average is calculated and reported as final marks.

This the split between external and internal assessments is 50%.<ref name="auto"/>

The pass marks for each subject is 33%.<ref name="auto"/>

The maximum attainable marks is a 600 out of 600 or 100% which is an All India Rank of 1.

==Examinations==
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Examination is conducted once a year, and usually spans 1 month. The registrations for supplementary examination and improvement examination are opened within a month after declaration of results of the main exam.<ref name="auto"/>

In 2025, the ICSE examination took place from February 18 to March 27.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |date=November 2024 |title=Examination Timetable |url=https://cisce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ICSE-Timetable-with-Instructions.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125203944/https://cisce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ICSE-Timetable-with-Instructions.pdf |archive-date=2024-11-25 |website=cisce.org}}</ref>

In the one-month interval of the exams, only one examination is conducted per day, often leaving gaps in between each exam, giving candidates a large gap between their exams.

Each exam normally spans 2 hours, with the exception of the following exams which have a duration of 3 hours:<ref name="auto1"/>
* Second language and other language exams
* Mathematics
* Art papers

Each exam usually has only one paper, with the exception of the following papers:<ref name="auto1"/>
* English - 3 papers (English Literature, English Poetry and English Language)
* Science - 4 papers (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Math)
* Art/Humanities - 4 papers (Geography, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, Moral Science, Political Science, History-Civics, Economics, Commerce etc.)

===Improvement Examination===
All candidates who appear for the ICSE Main Examination, are eligible to take the Improvement Examination conducted on the same year of Examination.<ref name="auto"/>

Candidates are allowed to take the improvement examination for any two subjects they have enrolled themselves in.<ref name="auto"/>

==Certification==
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education will be awarded to every candidate that sits for a minimum of 6 subjects and SUPW, attaining an aggregate of their 5 best subjects (including English) of above 33% and a grade of D or above in their SUPW.

==Criticism==
In 2013, a 20-year-old Indian student studying in the US, Debarghya Das, claimed in his personal blog to have downloaded the ICSE scores for over 100,000 students by [[Web scraping|scraping]]. His analysis of the data showed interesting patterns in the marking system, suggesting that the marks were rounded off with no student getting under 33 marks out of a possible 100. The reason for this was reportedly attributed to ''moderation''; a practice also followed by [[Central Board of Secondary Education]] (CBSE), it involved tweaking candidates' marks to account for paper variances.<ref>{{cite news
| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-06/security/39787770_1_cisce-icse-gerry-arathoon
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610013840/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-06/security/39787770_1_cisce-icse-gerry-arathoon
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=2013-06-10
| title=Indian student in Cornell University hacks into ICSE, ISC database
| date=2013-06-06
| work=[[The Times of India]]
| access-date=2013-06-08 }}
</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/news/he-didnt-hack-he-scraped-icse-results-and-look-what-he-found-376256
| title=He didn't hack, he scraped ICSE results and look what he found
| work=NDTV Gadgets
| date=2013-06-06
| access-date=2013-06-08 }}
</ref>

ICSE board claims of getting admission to foreign universities are misleading as additional tests like TOEFL or IELTS score are used for admission in foreign universities.

ICSE/ISC is not suitable for Indian entrance exam as it is not oriented towards Science & problem solving, it's syllabus is more aligned towards humanities and admission into Central universities like [[Delhi University]].<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/to-stop-plus-ii-exodus-cisce-stresses-flexi-timetable-objective-questions/articleshow/124489200.cms</ref><ref>https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/kolkata/icse-board-moves-to-curb-student-exodus-to-other-boards-after-class-10-examination-prnt/cid/2127345</ref><ref>https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/top-schools-take-a-hit-in-isc-exodus/cid/1503146</ref>

In West Bengal, Several toppers claimed to have benefitted by migrating from boards like the ICSE to CBSE for plus II.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/students-fulfil-better-grade-dreams-with-cbse-switch/articleshow/64337699.cms</ref>

In Kerala, close to 47% of Plus II students had migrated to the state board & CBSE from the ICSE. Similar pattern is commonly observed in other states.<ref>https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2024/Aug/24/migration-of-cbse-icse-students-to-state-plus-ii-course-records-huge-dip-in-kerala</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations|Council of Indian School Certificate Examinations]] (The examination board responsible for conducting the ICSE and ISC examinations)
* [[Indian School Certificate]] (The examination conducted at the senior secondary level (Grade 12 equivalent) under the same board)
* [[Central Board of Secondary Education]] (A central government-run board that administers nationwide examinations at the secondary and senior secondary levels)

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.cisce.org}} of CISCE (homepage)

[[Category:School qualifications of India]]
[[Category:Secondary school qualifications]]

Indian Certificate of Secondary Education - Revision history

GildaNolan0093 at 09:21, 29 March 2026