ICSE Class 10 Syllabus 2026–27 | Complete Subject-Wise Guide

The ICSE Class 10 Syllabus 2026–27 is prescribed by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) for students appearing in the 2027 board examinations. Understanding the full syllabus is the first step to building a strong exam strategy. This guide covers all compulsory and optional subjects, recommended ICSE Class 10 books, and how to use an ICSE question bank effectively.

What Is the ICSE Board?

The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is conducted by CISCE, New Delhi. The Class 10 examination is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive school-leaving examinations in India. The curriculum emphasises conceptual understanding, language proficiency, and application-based learning.

ICSE Class 10 Subject Structure 2026–27

Students must study subjects across three compulsory groups:

Subject-Wise ICSE Class 10 Syllabus 2026–27

English Language (Paper 1)

• Composition: Formal letters, informal letters, notices, reports, articles

• Reading Comprehension (seen and unseen passages)

• Grammar: Tenses, voice, narration, determiners, prepositions, conjunctions

• Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrasal verbs

English Literature (Paper 2)

• Prescribed Prose and Poetry (as per CISCE-prescribed texts for 2027 exams)

• Drama: Shakespeare or modern drama (check the latest CISCE book list)

• Short Stories

Mathematics

• Commercial Mathematics: GST, banking, shares and dividends

• Algebra: Linear inequations, quadratic equations, ratio and proportion, matrices, AP/GP, factorization, coordinate geometry

• Geometry: Circles, constructions, similarity

• Mensuration: Cylinder, cone, sphere, surface area and volume

• Trigonometry: Heights and distances, identities

• Statistics: Mean, median, mode, ogive, histogram

• Probability

Physics

• Force, Work, Power, Energy

• Machines: Levers, pulleys

• Light: Refraction, lenses, spectrum

• Sound: Resonance, ultrasonics, sonar

• Electricity and Magnetism: Ohm's law, circuits, electromagnetism

• Heat: Specific heat capacity, latent heat

• Modern Physics: Radioactivity, nuclear energy

Chemistry

• Periodic Table: Periodicity, trends

• Chemical Bonding: Ionic, covalent, coordinate bonds

• Acids, Bases and Salts

• Analytical Chemistry: Identification of ions

• Mole Concept and Stoichiometry

• Electrolysis

• Metallurgy: Extraction of metals

• Organic Chemistry: Homologous series, functional groups

Biology

• Cell Biology: Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis

• Genetics: Mendel's laws, inheritance

• Plant Physiology: Transpiration, photosynthesis, respiration

• Human Anatomy & Physiology: Nervous system, excretory system, reproductive system, circulatory system, endocrine system

• Population: Growth, control

• Environmental Science: Ecosystem, pollution, biodiversity

History & Civics

• History: Nationalist movements, World Wars, Cold War, Indian independence, post-independence developments

• Civics: Indian Constitution, organs of government, democracy

Geography

• Map work, soil types, water resources, climate, natural vegetation, minerals and industries

Computer Applications

• Object-Oriented Programming with Java (BlueJ)

• Variables, data types, operators

• Control structures: if-else, switch, loops

• Arrays, strings, user-defined methods

ICSE Question Bank Class 10 — Why It Matters

An ICSE question bank for Class 10 is a curated collection of previous years' questions, model questions, and topic-wise practice sets. Using a good question bank:

• Familiarizes students with the exact exam format and question types

• Helps identify high-weightage topics from past trends

• Supports time-based practice under realistic conditions

• Bridges the gap between textbook reading and exam readiness

Popular question bank series include Oswaal ICSE Question Bank and 10 Years Solved Papers.

Syllabus Overview: Internal Assessment Components

Key Changes for 2027 Exams

• The CISCE continues with the competency-based question format, with increased weightage on application, analysis, and evaluation questions.

• Map work in Geography carries dedicated marks and must be practiced with physical atlas maps.

• Java programming in Computer Applications remains the core language with BlueJ as the IDE.

• Students are strongly advised to download the official CISCE syllabus document from cisce.org for the most current chapter-level specifications before beginning preparation.

Preparation Tips for ICSE Class 10 2027

• Start with Selina Concise textbooks for Science — they align perfectly with CISCE requirements.

• Use the ICSE Class 10 Math book for comprehensive problem practice, especially for coordinate geometry and algebra.

• Solve at least 5 years of past papers using your Oswaal Books ICSE question bank before mocks.

• For English, practice letter and composition writing regularly — timed writing (within 40–50 minutes per essay) is essential.

• Maintain a formula sheet for Mathematics and Physics for last-minute revision.

The ICSE Class 10 syllabus for the 2027 exams is broad but highly structured. Students who follow the prescribed ICSE books, supplement with a reliable ICSE question bank, and practice consistently will find the board exam thoroughly manageable. Begin your preparation early, refer to official CISCE resources, and use this guide as your roadmap.