ICSE vs ISC - Which is Better ?

ICSE vs ISC - Which is Better ?

Garima SihagUpdated on 11 Aug 2025, 05:59 PM IST

The terms ICSE and ISC represent two different exams of the same educational board. ICSE stands for the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, which is the board examination for Class 10. ISC, on the other hand, stands for the Indian School Certificate, which is the board examination for Class 12. Both are administered by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).

This Story also Contains

  1. Difference between ICSE and ISC
  2. ICSE Vs ISC: Curriculum and Subjects
  3. ICSE Vs ISC: Examination and Grading System
  4. ICSE vs ISC: Recognition and Higher Studies
ICSE vs ISC - Which is Better ?
ICSE vs ISC

Students who take the ICSE examination in Class 10 will then progress to the ISC program for Class 11 and 12, both under the CISCE board. The ICSE curriculum is designed to establish a broad academic foundation, while the ISC curriculum allows students to specialise in their chosen streams.

Difference between ICSE and ISC

Feature

ICSE

ISC

Class

10th

12th

Focus

Strong foundation across subjects

Depth in chosen stream (Science, Commerce, Arts)

Streams

No streams, fixed subjects with electives

Students choose specific streams/subjects

Compulsory Subjects

English + second language + others

English is compulsory

Marking Scheme

Percentile-based (subject-wise)

Subject-wise, with a focus on core subjects

Use

Mandatory for admission into Class 11

Used for college/university admissions

ICSE Vs ISC: Curriculum and Subjects

  • ICSE (Class 10): The ICSE curriculum focuses on a broad range of subjects. Students are required to study a variety of subjects across different groups, including English, a second language, History, Civics, Geography, Mathematics, and Science. The curriculum also gives importance to English literature, often including classic plays by authors like Shakespeare.

  • ISC (Class 12): At this level, students choose a stream (Science, Commerce, or Humanities) and select a combination of subjects. English is a compulsory subject, and students can choose from a wide array of elective subjects. The ISC curriculum is designed to develop in-depth critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. It is often seen as a good foundation for higher education, both in India and abroad

ICSE Vs ISC: Examination and Grading System

  • Assessment: Both ICSE and ISC focus on internal assessments, which are integrated with the final external board examinations. This often includes practical work, projects, and assignments. For some subjects in ICSE, the internal assessment can make up to 50% of the total marks.

  • Grading: Both examinations use a nine-point grading scale for external exams, where grades 1 and 2 represent "Very Good" and grades 8 and 9 indicate failure. Internal assessments are often graded on a letter scale (A to E). To pass, a student must secure a minimum of 35% in each subject

ICSE vs ISC: Recognition and Higher Studies

  • Both ICSE and ISC are widely recognised and accepted by universities in India and internationally.

  • The ISC certificate is considered equivalent to a Class 12 board certificate from any other Indian board (like CBSE) and is accepted for admission into undergraduate programs at Indian colleges.

  • For students aspiring to study abroad, particularly in the UK, the ICSE certificate (Class 10) is often considered equivalent to the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), and the ISC certificate (Class 12) can be regarded as equivalent to Scottish Highers.

ICSE Specimen Question Paper 2026
Download the ICSE Specimen Question Paper 2026 to understand exam pattern, practice key questions, and enhance your preparation for the upcoming board exams.
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Questions related to ICSE 10th

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to ICSE 10th ?

Hello! If you’re planning for the ICSE Improvement Exams 2025, practicing with previous year or specimen question papers will be very helpful. These papers can give you a clear understanding of the exam pattern and help you prepare more confidently. Please find the links below.
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cisce/icse-10th-question-papers
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cisce/icse-improvement-exam-2025

Hello

Yes, the ICSE 2026 specimen papers have been released by CISCE in July 2025. These cover key subjects like English, Maths, Science, and Social Studies. You can download them from the official CISCE website under the “Specimen Question Papers” section. They’re designed to help students understand the new exam pattern.

The ICSE Class 10 syllabus includes compulsory subjects like English, a second language, History, Civics, and Geography, and students choose two subjects from Group II (e.g., Mathematics, Science, Economics) and one from Group III (e.g., Computer Applications, Art, Home Science). The syllabus emphasizes building strong knowledge and skills, with a focus on areas like digital literacy and environmental awareness.

You can download ICSE CLASS 10TH SYLLABUS here

Wish you the best of luck for your board exams and your future ahead!

Hello

A minor typo like writing "ICSC" instead of "ICSE" in your IB ACIO application form is generally not a serious issue, especially since you've already contacted the helpdesk and taken the right step to correct it. If the rest of your details like your marks, year, and roll number, are accurate and verifiable, such a small error is unlikely to lead to disqualification. However, keep any official documents and your helpdesk communication safe for future reference, especially during document verification.

we are providing a guide for ICSE Class 10 exam preparation. Inculcating these ICSE 10th preparation.
you can referr to this link :
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cisce/icse-10th-preparation-tips