ICSE & ISC Board Exams 2026: Complete Overview Released by CISCE
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has officially released the date sheet for the ICSE Class X and ISC Class XII Board Exams 2026. As per the council, around 2.6 lakh students will appear for ICSE and nearly 1.5 lakh candidates will take the ISC examinations. The board has retained the 15-minute reading time before writing, ensuring that students begin each exam with clarity and confidence. Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary of CISCE, described the date sheet announcement as a moment filled with “focus, anticipation and aspiration” for every learner.
The ICSE Class X exams will begin on February 17, 2026, and conclude on March 30, 2026, starting with English Language (Paper 1). The schedule includes major subjects such as Mathematics on March 2, Physics on March 9, Chemistry on March 11, and Biology on March 13. Group II and Group III electives like Computer Applications, Economic Applications, Home Science, Physical Education, and Environmental Science are slotted across the later part of March. This balanced timetable provides students sufficient preparation gaps to revise effectively for each subject.
For ISC Class XII students, exams will start earlier—February 12, 2026, and continue until April 6, 2026. Key papers include English Language on February 13, Chemistry on February 23, Mathematics on March 9, and Physics on March 16. Humanities, Commerce, and Vocational subjects such as Sociology, Political Science, Legal Studies, Mass Media, Hospitality Management, and various Art papers also feature throughout the schedule. CISCE has advised all students to frequently check the official website for any updates or changes in the timetable.
According to the council, about 2.6 lakh candidates will appear for ICSE and nearly 1.5 lakh students will take ISC in 2026.
Exam dates
The ICSE Class X exams will begin on February 17, 2026 and conclude on March 30, 2026, while the ISC Class XII exams will begin on February 12, 2026 and continue till April 6, 2026.
CISCE has retained the practice of giving students 15 minutes of reading time before writing the paper.
Announcing the schedule, Dr Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary, CISCE, said the release of the date sheet is “a moment of focus, anticipation and aspiration for every learner.”
He added that the timetable has been prepared to ensure a balance between academic load and adequate preparation gaps, allowing students to “approach each paper with clarity rather than pressure.”
Key ICSE (Class X) 2026 Dates
February 17: English Language (Paper 1)
February 20: Literature in English (Paper 2)
February 21: Art Paper 1 (Still Life)
February 23: Group III Elective (Robotics & AI, Basic Data Entry Operator, Dietetic Aide, Cashier, Early Years Physical Activity Facilitator, Auto Service Technician)
February 26: Hindi
February 27: Art Paper 2 (Nature Drawing/Painting)
February 28: Art Paper 3 (Original Composition)
March 2: Mathematics
March 6: Languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Khasi, Lepcha, Mizo, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Tangkhul, Telugu, Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Persian, Modern Armenian, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Tibetan)
March 7: Art Paper 4 (Applied Art)
March 9: Physics – Science Paper 1
March 11: Chemistry – Science Paper 2
March 13: Biology – Science Paper 3
March 16: History & Civics – HCG Paper 1
March 18: Geography – HCG Paper 2
March 23: Group III Elective (Commercial Applications, Computer Applications, Cookery, Drama, Economic Applications, Environmental Applications, Fashion Designing, French, German, Hindustani Music, Home Science, Hospitality Management, Indian Dance, Mass Media & Communication, Physical Education, Spanish, Western Music, Yoga) and Technical Drawing Applications
March 25: Commercial Studies / French (Group II Elective)
March 27: Economics (Group II Elective)
March 30: Environmental Science (Group II Elective)
Key ISC (Class XII) 2026 Dates
February 12: Psychology
February 13: English – Paper 1 (English Language)
February 14: Art Paper 3 (Drawing or Painting of a Living Person)
February 14 (2 p.m.): Legal Studies
February 16: English – Paper 2 (Literature in English)
February 17: Home Science – Paper 1 (Theory), Electricity and Electronics, Geometrical & Mechanical Drawing
February 20: Accounts
February 21: Mass Media & Communication
February 23: Chemistry – Paper 1 (Theory)
February 25: History
February 27: Commerce
February 28 (9 a.m.): Art Paper 1 (Drawing or Painting from Still Life)
March 2: Environmental Science – Paper 1
March 6: Biology – Paper 1
March 7: Fashion Designing – Paper 1; Indian Music (Hindustani) – Paper 1
March 9: Mathematics
March 11: Business Studies
March 13: Language papers (Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Khasi, Mizo, Malayalam, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Armenian, Tibetan, Arabic, Sanskrit)
March 14 (9 a.m.): Art Paper 2 (Drawing or Painting from Nature)
March 16: Physics – Paper 1
March 18: Physical Education
March 23: Economics; Biotechnology – Paper 1
March 25: Sociology
March 27: Computer Science – Paper 1
March 28 (9 a.m.): Art Paper 4 (Original Imaginative Composition in Colour)
March 30: Political Science
April 1: Elective English; Hospitality Management
April 4 (9 a.m.): Art Paper 5 (Crafts ‘A’)
April 6: Geography
Note: Students have been advised to refer to the official CISCE website for any updates or changes.
