The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) Class 10 board examinations 2026 started today, February 17. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) is administering the exams.
Approximately 2.6 lakh students are appearing for the Class 10 board exams this year. The examination schedule runs from February 17 to March 30.
English Language Exam Begins
The first paper for the ICSE Class 10 board exams is English Language. The exam commenced at 11 am. Students have a total of 2 hours to complete the paper, concluding at 1 pm.
An additional 15 minutes are allocated for reading the question paper. This reading time is from 10:45 am to 11:00 am.
The English Language paper is worth 80 marks. The remaining 20 marks are based on internal assessment.
Exam Day Guidelines
Students must arrive at their assigned examination hall by 10:30 am for exams starting at 11 am. For exams commencing at 9 am, students should be present by 8:45 am. The question paper reading time precedes the exam start.
Most exams are scheduled for 2 hours. However, Hindi and Arts papers will be conducted over 3 hours.
Students must use a black or blue ink pen for writing answers. Allowed items in the examination room include stationery such as a pen, pencil, scale, and eraser.
Prohibited items include smartwatches, mobile phones, earphones, wireless devices, and cameras. Any electronic device used for communication or internet access is forbidden.
Eligibility for the ICSE Class 10 board exam requires students to have at least 75% attendance. Admit cards are available on the CISCE website.