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NCERT SolutionsCBSE NotesCBSE Exam
ICSE
Class 10
English

ICSE Class 10 English Board Exam Overview: Exam Date, Syllabus, and Previous Year Papers (2026)

Both creative thinking and accurate performance will be rewarded on the ICSE Class 10 English Exam 2026. Due to the fact that both the English Language (Paper 1) and Literature in English (Paper 2) carry equal marks, English plays a significant role in improving your overall percentage.

You can improve your chances of getting excellent grades by developing a strong command of grammar, a clear writing style, and a profound understanding of literature.

This article by ALLEN provides a comprehensive overview of the ICSE Class 10 English examination, which includes the exam date, the structure of the syllabus, the marking scheme, and previous year's papers for better preparation. The purpose of this article is to assist students in effectively preparing for the examination.

1.0ICSE Class 10 English Board Exam 2026: Overview & Exam Date

ICSE Class 10 examinations are conducted on an annual basis by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). When it comes to the board schedule, the English papers are typically offered as the first major subject.

Particulars

Details (2026)

Exam Name

ICSE Class 10 Board Examination 2026

Conducting Body

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

Subject

English (Language & Literature)

Paper Code

Paper 1 (Language), Paper 2 (Literature)

Total Marks

200 (100 per paper including internal assessment)

Exam Date (Expected)

February–March 2026

Mode of Exam

Offline (Pen and Paper)

Duration

2 hours each paper

2.0ICSE Class 10 English Paper Structure

The subject is divided into two major papers, each with specific focus areas.

Paper 1: English Language

A student's command of grammar, writing, and comprehension will be evaluated through the performance of this paper.

Section

Question Type

Marks

Composition

Essay Writing (Descriptive, Narrative, Argumentative, or Picture-based)

20

Letter Writing

Formal/Informal letters

7

Notice/Email

Based on the given situation

8

Comprehension

Unseen passage with questions

20

Grammar

Transformation, Prepositions, Tenses, etc.

25

Total


80 Marks

Paper 2: Literature in English

This paper tests analytical and interpretative skills through prose, poetry, and drama.

Section

Content

Marks

Prose

Short stories or extracts from prescribed textbook

20

Poetry

Poems from ICSE syllabus

20

Drama

Play (usually The Merchant of Venice)

40

Total


80 Marks

3.0ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus 2026 (Updated)

The CISCE English curriculum places an emphasis on encouraging students to develop their comprehension, creative writing, grammar, and appreciation of literature.

Paper 1 – English Language

Main Components:

  • Essay writing (narrative, descriptive, argumentative, reflective)
  • Letter writing (formal & informal)
  • Notice and email writing
  • Comprehension passages
  • Grammar: prepositions, transformation, voice, tense, joining of sentences, etc.

Paper 2 – Literature in English

Prescribed Books (2026):

  • Drama: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
  • Poetry: Selected poems from Treasure Trove – A Collection of ICSE Poems
  • Prose: Selected stories from Treasure Trove – A Collection of ICSE Short Stories

4.0ICSE Class 10 English Marking Scheme 2026

Both papers are evaluated based on clarity, creativity, and accuracy.

Criteria

Weightage

Content Relevance

25%

Grammar and Vocabulary

25%

Structure and Organization

20%

Creativity and Expression

20%

Presentation and Neatness

10%

5.0ICSE Class 10 English Previous Year Papers: Free Download

Students are better able to understand question trends and improve their answer presentation when they practise with papers from the previous year.

Year

Paper Type

Download Link

2025

English Language & Literature

Download PDF

2024

English Language

Download PDF

2023

Literature in English

Download PDF

2022

English Paper 1 & 2

Download PDF

6.0Preparation Tips for ICSE Class 10 English Exam 2026

  • By reading newspapers and novels on a daily basis, one can improve their vocabulary and comprehension.
  • On a regular basis, you should practise writing essays, letters, and reports.
  • Concentrate on common error areas such as tenses, prepositions, and conjunctions when you are revising your grammar.
  • For the purpose of the Literature paper, you should learn and memorise some short literary quotes.
  • Write complete papers under timed conditions and see how well you do.
  • When it comes to presentation, it is important to write neatly and organise your responses using clear paragraphs.

ICSE Subject Wise Overview

ICSE Class 10 Science

ICSE Class 10 Maths

ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 Social Science


ICSE Class 10 Maths Exam Resources

ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus & Exam Pattern

ICSE Class 10 English Sample Papers

ICSE Class 10 English Previous Year Question Papers

Preparation Tips for ICSE Class 10 English


ICSE Exam Classes 6-10

ICSE Class 10

ICSE Class 9

ICSE Class 8

ICSE Class 7

ICSE Class 6

Frequently Asked Questions

It is anticipated that the examinations will start sometime between February and March of 2026, as is customary for the ICSE.

Two papers are available: the first one is on the English language, and the second one is on literature written in English.

Make it a habit to regularly practise a variety of letter formats and essay types. Put your attention on being creative, using correct grammar, and sticking to the word limit.

You should consult the ICSE-recommended textbooks (Treasure Trove) in addition to the ALLEN English Notes and Practice Papers resources.

Solving papers from the previous year does, in fact, improve time management, idea organisation, and the ability to recognise types of questions that are asked repeatedly.

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