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CISCE ICSE date sheet 2026: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has officially released the timetable for the 2026 Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) Class 10 examinations.
The exams will commence on 17 February, 2026 and conclude on 30 March, 2026, covering a duration of around six weeks.This year, the board examinations are scheduled earlier than in 2025. Approximately 2.6 lakh students are expected to appear for ICSE across India and abroad. The timetable includes a wide range of core subjects, second languages, and elective papers. The Council has also advised students to reach their examination centres at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time and make effective use of the 15-minute reading period allotted before each paper.
ICSE Class 10 date sheet 2026
Here is the detailed ICSE Class 10 timetable for the 2026 board examinations:
| Date | Time | Subject |
| Tuesday, 17 February | 11:00 AM | English Language – Paper 1 |
| Friday, 20 February | 11:00 AM | Literature in English – Paper 2 |
| Saturday, 21 February | 9:00 AM | Art – Paper 1 (Still Life) |
| Monday, 23 February | 11:00 AM | Group III Elective-Section B (Robotics, Data Entry, Dietetic Aide, etc.) |
| Thursday, 26 February | 11:00 AM | Hindi |
| Friday, 27 February | 9:00 AM | Art – Paper 2 (Nature Drawing/Painting) |
| Saturday, 28 February | 9:00 AM | Art – Paper 3 (Original Composition) |
| Monday, 2 March | 11:00 AM | Mathematics |
| Friday, 6 March | 11:00 AM | Languages (Ao-Naga, Assamese, Bengali, Dzongkha, etc.) |
| Saturday, 7 March | 9:00 AM | Art – Paper 4 (Applied Art) |
| Monday, 9 March | 11:00 AM | Physics – Science Paper 1 |
| Wednesday, 11 March | 11:00 AM | Chemistry – Science Paper 2 |
| Friday, 13 March | 11:00 AM | Biology – Science Paper 3 |
| Monday, 16 March | 11:00 AM | History & Civics – Paper 1 |
| Wednesday, 18 March | 11:00 AM | Geography – Paper 2 |
| Monday, 23 March | 11:00 AM | Group III Elective-Section A (Music, Drama, Fashion Designing, etc.) |
| Wednesday, 25 March | 11:00 AM | Commercial Studies, French (Group II Elective) |
| Friday, 27 March | 11:00 AM | Economics (Group II Elective) |
| Monday, 30 March | 11:00 AM | Environmental Science (Group II Elective) |
ICSE Class 10 exam 2026: Subject criteria
Students must select a minimum of six subjects from three defined groups:Group 1 (Compulsory): English, Second Language, and History, Civics and GeographyGroup 2: Two or three subjects from Mathematics, Science, Economics, Commercial Studies, Modern Foreign Language, Classical Language, or Environmental ScienceGroup 3: One subject from options such as Computer Applications, Art, Performing Arts, Home Science, Fashion Designing, Yoga, or Robotics and Artificial IntelligenceSubject combinations not allowed:
- Sanskrit as a Second Language (Group 1) and Sanskrit as a Classical Language (Group 2)
- Economics (Group 2) and Economic Applications (Group 3)
- Commercial Studies (Group 2) and Commercial Applications (Group 3)
- Environmental Science (Group 2) and Environmental Applications (Group 3)
- Modern Foreign Language repeated across multiple groups
ICSE Class 10 exam pattern 2026
The CISCE follows a structured assessment system, dividing subjects into three groups with distinct marking schemes as outlined below:Group 1 (Compulsory Subjects):
| Subject | Question type | Total marks | |
| English | Paper 1: Composition, Letter, Notice/Email, Unseen Passage Paper 2: Drama, Prose, Poetry from prescribed textbooks | 80 marks for each paper + 20 internal assessment | |
| History, Civics, Geography | History & Civics: Part I (short answers), Part II (structured answers) Geography: Map work and five structured questions | 80 marks for each written paper + 20 internal assessment | |
| Second Language | Composition, Letter, Comprehension, Grammar, Translation, Dialogue Writing | 80 marks written + 20 internal assessment |
Group 2:
| Subject | Question type | Total marks | |
| Mathematics | Section I: Compulsory short answers Section II: Four out of seven long questions | 80 written + 20 internal assessment | |
| Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) | Each paper divided into two sections – short answers and structured questions | 80 for each paper + 20 internal assessment | |
| Economics | Section A: Short answers (compulsory) Section B: Four detailed questions | 80 written + 20 internal assessment | |
| Commercial Studies | Section A: Compulsory short answers Section B: Four long-answer questions | 80 written + 20 internal assessment | |
| Modern Foreign / Classical Language | Grammar, Translation, Composition, and Unseen Passage | 80 written + 20 internal assessment | |
| Environmental Science | Section A: Short answers (compulsory) Section B: Any four long-answer questions | 80 written + 20 internal assessment |
Group 3:
| Subject | Question type | Total marks | |
| Computer Applications | Section A: Short answers Section B: Detailed programming questions | 100 written + 100 internal | |
| Economic Applications | Part I: Short answers Part II: Four detailed questions | 100 written + 100 internal | |
| Commercial Applications | Section A: Compulsory short answers Section B: Four long answers | 100 written + 100 internal | |
| Art | Two papers from four options: Still Life, Nature Drawing, Imaginative Composition, Applied Art | 100 written + 100 internal (each paper) | |
| Performing Arts | Vocal, Instrumental or Tabla sections | 100 written + 100 internal | |
| Home Science / Cookery / Fashion Designing | Short answers (Section A) and long answers (Section B) | 100 written + 100 internal | |
| Physical Education / Yoga | Theory sections on skills, games, and training methods | 100 written + 100 internal | |
| Technical Drawing Applications | Section I: Three out of five questions Section II: Two out of three | 100 written + 100 internal | |
| Environmental Applications | Section A: Short answers Section B: Long answers | 100 written + 100 internal | |
| Mass Media & Communication | Section A: Short answers Section B: Long answers | 100 written + 100 internal | |
| Hospitality Management | Section A: Short answers Section B: Long answers | 100 written + 100 internal |
ICSE Class 10 exam 2026: Preparation tips
With the exam schedule now announced, students can strengthen their preparation by following these study tips:
- Organise study materials: Keep textbooks, reference notes, and past papers systematically arranged.
- Avoid procrastination: Begin preparation early to avoid stress near examination dates.
- Complete syllabus early: Aim to finish the syllabus at least two months before the exams.
- Plan weekly targets: Track topics covered to maintain consistent progress.
- Prioritise revision: Solve previous years’ question papers and competency-based questions.
- Consult teachers: Seek clarification and feedback regularly to strengthen weak areas.
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