ICSE English (compulsory Group I subject)

ICSE English (compulsory Group I subject) has remained largely stable in recent years, with the key structural shift being the bifurcation of the Literature syllabus (effective from the 2024 exams). There are no major content or pattern changes for the 2025–26 or 2026–27 academic years / 2027 board exams.

Current Structure (ICSE Class 10 / Year 2027)

There are two papers, each of 2 hours and 80 marks (plus 20 marks internal assessment per paper):

🟥 Paper 1: English Language (all questions compulsory)  

  Composition (≈300–350 words; narrative, descriptive, argumentative, etc.).  

  Letter (formal or informal).  

  Notice + email on the same situation.  

  Unseen prose passage (≈500 words) with comprehension, vocabulary, and summary.  

  Functional grammar/structure/usage (prepositions, verbs, sentence transformation, etc.).

🟥 Paper 2: Literature in English  

  Questions on prescribed texts (extract-based and analytical; focus on understanding, interpretation, and personal response).  

  Class X portion only (exam tests solely the Class X syllabus):  

  Drama: Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (Acts III, IV & V; unabridged).  

  Prose (Treasure Chest short stories): “With the Photographer” (Stephen Leacock), “The Elevator” (William Sleator), “The Girl Who Can” (Ama Ata Aidoo), “The Pedestrian” (Ray Bradbury), “The Last Lesson” (Alphonse Daudet).  

  Poetry (Treasure Chest): “Haunted Houses” (H.W. Longfellow), “The Glove and the Lions” (Leigh Hunt), “When Great Trees Fall” (Maya Angelou), “A Considerable Speck” (Robert Frost), “The Power of Music” (Sukumar Ray).

Class IX has its own parallel set (Acts I–II of Julius Caesar + different Treasure Chest stories/poems such as works by Satyajit Ray, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, etc.). Schools conduct Class IX exams only on the Class IX portion.

Internal assessment: Listening and Speaking skills (Paper 1) and written assignments based on the texts (Paper 2). Records are maintained and marks submitted to CISCE.

🟦 Key Historical and Recent Changes

Bifurcation of Literature texts (from exam year 2024 onward): Previously, board exams could draw on the full Class IX–X content. CISCE split the prescribed texts so the Class X exam tests only the Class X portion. This reduced load and aligned English with other subjects. The same principle applies at ISC level.

2025–26 and 2026–27 / 2027 cycle: Multiple independent sources and official regulations confirm **no major changes to the English Language or Literature syllabi, prescribed texts, exam pattern, or marking scheme. Students follow the full published syllabus.

New subject: Modern English (introduced for ICSE from 2027)**: Listed among new options (alongside Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, and Bhutia Language). At the ISC level it functions as a contemporary alternative to traditional English (different literature texts emphasizing modern/universal themes; Language paper remains similar). For ICSE it is offered as a new subject; standard English remains compulsory. Prescribed texts for Modern English were to be notified separately.

Related but non-English changes**: Bifurcation of prescribed texts for selected Indian second languages (Hindi, Bengali, etc.) from exam year 2027 (bringing parity with English). English itself is already bifurcated. Other subjects (History & Civics, Geography, Chemistry, Economics, etc.) received revisions for 2027, but English is not among them.

🟦 Practical Notes

Always download the official “Regulations and Syllabuses ICSE – 2027” (English section and Appendix I – List of Prescribed Books) from cisce.org, as texts can be confirmed or minor updates issued there.  

English is compulsory; a pass is required for the certificate.  

Focus remains on integrated language skills, functional grammar, and literary appreciation rather than rote memorisation.  

Specimen papers and analysis-of-pupil-performance reports (when released) provide further insight into expected question styles.

⬛ For the absolute latest confirmation or Modern English details, check the CISCE website (Library/Publications or Examinations section) directly, as circulars and PDFs are the authoritative source. The core English experience for most students continues with the familiar Julius Caesar + Treasure Chest combination and the established two-paper format.