ICSE, ISC 2027 specimen papers out: 50% marks for higher-order thinking

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) today, 17 October 2026, released specimen question papers and answer keys for the 2027 examination cycle. These resources are available for students of ICSE Classes 9 and 10, and ISC Classes 11 and 12 on the official CISCE website, cisce.org, and the CAREERS Portal.

The release aims to familiarise students with the expected examination structure and assessment approach, helping them evaluate their understanding of subjects and become accustomed to the expected standards of responses. The 2027 examinations are designed with a focus on higher-order thinking skills, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommendations.

Emphasis on Higher-Order Thinking and Application-Based Learning

The specimen question papers have been developed to place a greater emphasis on higher-order thinking and application-based learning. For the 2027 board examinations, approximately 50% of the marks have been allocated to assessing higher-order competencies, including application, analysis, evaluation, and creation. This marks an increase from the 2026 examination cycle, where 40% of questions assessed similar competencies.

The subject-wise distribution of marks, as prescribed in the official regulations and syllabuses for the relevant examination year, will be followed without deviation. Where specific topic-wise weightage has been provided for individual subjects, this prescribed allocation will be maintained in the 2027 examinations. The actual question papers for the 2027 board examinations may differ from the specimen papers in both content and format, as these papers are primarily intended as preparation resources demonstrating the assessment approach and indicating possible question formats.

Available Subjects and Assessment Structure

Specimen papers have been released for a range of subjects across both ICSE Class 10 and ISC Class 12. For ICSE Class 10, subjects include English Language, Literature in English, History and Civics, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Assistant Beauty Therapist, and Assistant Hair Stylist. ISC Class 12 subjects with released papers include Modern English – Literature in English, Elective English, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics Paper 1 (Theory), Chemistry Paper 1 (Theory), Biology Paper 1 (Theory), Artificial Intelligence Paper 1 (Theory), and Robotics Paper 1 (Theory).

For subjects not included in these lists, the assessment structure and rubrics from the 2026 examination cycle will continue to apply. Teachers and school authorities are advised to familiarise themselves with the evaluation parameters. A 15-minute reading time is provided before the writing period begins for theory papers.

ICSE Class 10 Examination Details for 2027

The ICSE Class 10 board exam for the academic session 2026–27 is scheduled to be held in February–March 2027, with results expected approximately in May–June 2027. The examination is conducted by CISCE for students completing their secondary education and is known for its analytical and application-based approach. The exam pattern includes an 80% written examination and 20% internal assessment for most subjects. The minimum passing marks for ICSE Class 10 is 33% in aggregate.

The mode of examination is written (offline / pen-paper), and question types include short answer, long answer, and Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for some subjects. The answer sheet language is English, or in the Second Language for that specific paper. The Research Development and Consultancy Division (RDCD) of CISCE is responsible for curriculum development, design of specimen question papers, and development of resource material.

Further reading

• ICSE Class 10 Mathematics question paper 2026 released for download
• ICSE Class 10 History and Civics specimen paper 2026-27 released: download PDF for board exam

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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