ICSE Class 10 board exams 2025 start today; guidelines, how to attempt English paper

NEW DELHI: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) will commence the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ICSE) board exams 2025 today for Class 10 students. The board will conduct the ICSE Class 10 English exam today from 11 am.

Only students who have a minimum of 75% attendance will be allowed to sit for the exam. The ICSE English exam will be held from 11 am to 1 pm. Students will be given additional 15 minutes for reading the ICSE Class 10 question paper.

According to the ICSE Class 10 board exam guidelines, students have been instructed to reach the exam hall and be seated in the assigned room by 10.30 am for the exam starting at 11 am. The reading time for today will be from 10.45 am to 11 am. For exams scheduled to begin from 9 am, the reading time will start at 8.45 am.

ICSE Class 10 exam day guidelines

The CISCE Board has announced important instructions for students appearing in the ICSE Class 10 board exam 2025.

• Students have been asked to reach the exam venue 30 minutes before the fixed exam timing. They will not be allowed to leave the exam hall before the conclusion of the exam paper.
• If the ICSE question paper for which you have not registered is handed to you, or if the questions indicate that a map or any other stationery should also have been given to you, bring it to the attention of the supervising examiner immediately.
• Students have been instructed to read the general instructions given on the first page of the question paper, which includes the number of questions to be attempted in a paper.
• Students will have to attempt only the number of questions asked to attempt.
• Unique ID, index number, subject name should be written on the top-sheet of the ICSE Class 10 main answer booklet. “If you are using loose maps, graph papers, etc. write this information on these also,” it said.
• Students will have to write the ICSE board exam 2025 in black or blue ink pen only.

Also read Feedback on CBSE question papers 2025 'vague, unclear'; board has 3 requests for schools

How to answer ICSE Class 10 English questions

The ICSE Class 10 English theory paper will carry 80 marks and the remaining 20 marks have been allotted for internal assessment.

• Students writing the exam have been advised to write on both sides of the ICSE answer booklet, “unless the rubric of the question paper prohibits this”.
• Leave a margin at both, the right-hand and the left-hand edges. Begin the answer to each separate part of a question on a separate line.
• Write the number of the question clearly in the left-hand margin at the beginning of each answer. Do not copy the question. Be careful to use the same system of numbering as that used in the question paper.
• Leave a line after answering each question.
• The board considers good handwriting and spelling. Students will have to use black or blue ink pen for writing answers and pencil for diagrams. Bring mathematical and drawing instruments and colour pencils for subjects for which they will be needed.
• The use of any electronic devices, hand, desk, or other types of calculating machines are not permitted.