ICSE Datesheet 2026 — Class 10 & ISC Class 12 Exam Schedule
ICSE and ISC exam datesheet 2026 for Class 10 and Class 12. Subject-wise exam dates, timing, exam centre rules, and last-minute preparation tips.
ICSE and ISC board exams 2026 are expected to begin in February and continue through March/April. Exams start at 11:00 AM with 15 minutes reading time. The official datesheet is released on cisce.org — check from January 2026 onwards.
ICSE Class 10 Datesheet 2026 (Expected)
| Subject | Expected Period | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| English Language (Paper 1) | February 2026 | 2 hours |
| English Literature (Paper 2) | February 2026 | 2 hours |
| Hindi | February–March 2026 | 2 hours |
| Mathematics | March 2026 | 2.5 hours |
| Physics (Science Paper 1) | March 2026 | 2 hours |
| Chemistry (Science Paper 2) | March 2026 | 2 hours |
| Biology (Science Paper 3) | March 2026 | 2 hours |
| History & Civics | March 2026 | 2 hours |
| Geography | March 2026 | 2 hours |
| Computer Applications | March 2026 | 2 hours |
Exact dates will be updated once CISCE releases the official datesheet. ICSE has separate papers for each science subject (unlike CBSE's combined Science paper).
ISC Class 12 Datesheet 2026 (Expected)
| Subject | Expected Period | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| English (Paper 1 & Paper 2) | February 2026 | 3 hours each |
| Physics | March 2026 | 3 hours |
| Chemistry | March 2026 | 3 hours |
| Mathematics | March 2026 | 3 hours |
| Biology | March 2026 | 3 hours |
| Accounts | March 2026 | 3 hours |
| Commerce | March 2026 | 3 hours |
| Economics | March 2026 | 3 hours |
| Computer Science | March 2026 | 3 hours |
| Hindi / Second Language | February–March 2026 | 3 hours |
Exam Day Details
| Detail | ICSE (Class 10) | ISC (Class 12) |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting Time | 10:30 AM | 10:30 AM |
| Reading Time | 10:45–11:00 AM (15 min) | 10:45–11:00 AM (15 min) |
| Writing Starts | 11:00 AM | 11:00 AM |
| Typical Duration | 2–2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Items Allowed | Blue/black pen, pencil, geometry box, admit card | Blue/black pen, pencil, geometry box, admit card |
| NOT Allowed | Calculator, mobile, smart watch, correction fluid | Calculator, mobile, smart watch, correction fluid |
Make every revision day count
Super Tutor has chapter-wise ICSE revision notes, practice questions, and mock tests to help you maximise your remaining preparation time.
Start Revising — FreeHow to Plan Your Study Using the Datesheet
- Calculate days between exams. Write the exact gap next to each subject. Subjects with shorter gaps need advance preparation.
- ICSE has more subjects than CBSE — you will have tighter scheduling. Do not rely on cramming between exams.
- English has 2 papers (Language + Literature). These are often scheduled close together — prepare both simultaneously.
- Science has 3 separate papers (Physics, Chemistry, Biology). Unlike CBSE, you need to prepare for each independently.
- Geography requires map practice. Practise physical and political maps of India and the world — ICSE Geography has dedicated map-based questions.
ICSE vs CBSE Exam Schedule Comparison
| Feature | ICSE/ISC | CBSE |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Start Time | 11:00 AM | 10:30 AM |
| Reading Time | 15 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Number of Subjects (Class 10) | 6–7 (separate Science papers) | 5 (combined Science) |
| Exam Period | 3–4 weeks | 3–4 weeks |
| Datesheet Release | January–February | December–January |
| Results | May | May–June |
Last-Week Preparation Tips for ICSE Students
- English Literature: Re-read key extracts from prescribed texts. ICSE Literature questions require exact quotes and character analysis.
- Mathematics: Practise 2 full papers under timed conditions. Focus on geometry proofs and statistics — these are high-scoring.
- Science (all 3 papers): Revise diagrams, equations, and numerical problems. Draw and label diagrams daily.
- History: Revise timelines, key events, and cause-effect chains. ICSE History questions expect specific dates and facts.
- Geography: Practise maps every day — mark locations, rivers, mountains, soil types. Map questions are guaranteed marks.
Where to Check the Official Datesheet
- CISCE Official: cisce.org → Examinations → Time Table
- CAREERS Portal: careers.cisce.org
- Your School: Schools receive the datesheet directly from CISCE
This page will be updated with exact dates once CISCE releases the official datesheet for 2026. Expected dates are based on CISCE's scheduling patterns from 2022–2025. Always verify with cisce.org. Last updated: February 2026.
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Try Super Tutor — It's FreeFrequently Asked Questions
When does CISCE release the ICSE/ISC datesheet?
CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations) typically releases the datesheet in January–February for exams starting in February–March. The official datesheet is published on cisce.org. Schools also receive it directly. Check cisce.org from January onwards.
What time do ICSE/ISC exams start?
ICSE (Class 10) exams start at 11:00 AM. ISC (Class 12) exams also start at 11:00 AM. Students must report by 10:30 AM. Reading time of 15 minutes is given before writing begins. Most papers are 2 hours long, though some subjects have 2.5 or 3-hour papers.
How is ICSE different from CBSE board exams?
Key differences: (1) ICSE has more subjects (typically 6–7 vs CBSE's 5), (2) ICSE English paper is more literature-heavy, (3) ICSE has separate papers for History & Geography (CBSE combines as Social Science), (4) ICSE internal assessment weightage is different, (5) ICSE exam timing is 11 AM (CBSE is 10:30 AM), (6) ICSE results use a percentage system with grades.
Can I carry a calculator to ICSE exams?
No. Calculators are NOT allowed in any ICSE or ISC exam. This includes scientific calculators. Mathematical tables are provided by CISCE where needed. Practise all calculations manually.
How many days gap between ICSE exams?
CISCE typically provides 2–4 days gap between most exams. Major subjects (Maths, Science, English) usually have longer gaps. The total exam period is 3–4 weeks for ICSE and 4–5 weeks for ISC. The exact schedule depends on the number of subjects and available exam dates.
Where to download the official ICSE datesheet?
Official source: cisce.org → Examinations → Time Table. The datesheet is also available through the CAREERS portal (careers.cisce.org). Your school will share it once released. Do NOT rely on unofficial sources — only trust cisce.org.