The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has announced the examination timetables for the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) Class 10 and the Indian School Certificate (ISC) Class 12 board exams for the year 2026.
The schedule confirms an earlier start for the 2026 examination session compared to the previous year. The council has designed a comprehensive schedule spanning 75 subjects for ICSE and 50 for ISC.
ISC Class 10 Exams Date Sheet 2026
| Date | Time | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 17 February | 11:00 AM | English Language – Paper 1 |
| Friday, 20 February | 11:00 AM | Literature in English – Paper 2 |
| Saturday, 21 February | 9:00 AM | Art – Paper 1 (Still Life) |
| Monday, 23 February | 11:00 AM | Group III Elective – Section B (Robotics, Data Entry, Dietetic Aide, etc.) |
| Thursday, 26 February | 11:00 AM | Hindi |
| Friday, 27 February | 9:00 AM | Art – Paper 2 (Nature Drawing/Painting) |
| Saturday, 28 February | 9:00 AM | Art – Paper 3 (Original Composition) |
| Monday, 2 March | 11:00 AM | Mathematics |
| Friday, 6 March | 11:00 AM | Languages (Ao-Naga, Assamese, Bengali, Dzongkha, etc.) |
| Saturday, 7 March | 9:00 AM | Art – Paper 4 (Applied Art) |
| Monday, 9 March | 11:00 AM | Physics – Science Paper 1 |
| Wednesday, 11 March | 11:00 AM | Chemistry – Science Paper 2 |
| Friday, 13 March | 11:00 AM | Biology – Science Paper 3 |
| Monday, 16 March | 11:00 AM | History & Civics – Paper 1 |
| Wednesday, 18 March | 11:00 AM | Geography – Paper 2 |
| Monday, 23 March | 11:00 AM | Group III Elective – Section A (Music, Drama, Fashion Designing, etc.) |
| Wednesday, 25 March | 11:00 AM | Commercial Studies, French (Group II Elective) |
| Friday, 27 March | 11:00 AM | Economics (Group II Elective) |
| Monday, 30 March | 11:00 AM | Environmental Science (Group II Elective) |
| Date | Time | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 12 February | 2:00 PM | Psychology |
| Friday, 13 February | 2:00 PM | English – Paper 1 (English Language) |
| Saturday, 14 February | 9:00 AM | Art – Paper 3 (Drawing/Painting of a Living Person) |
| Saturday, 14 February | 2:00 PM | Legal Studies |
| Monday, 16 February | 2:00 PM | English – Paper 2 (Literature in English) |
| Tuesday, 17 February | 2:00 PM | Home Science – Paper 1, Electricity & Electronics, Geometrical & Mechanical Drawing |
| Friday, 20 February | 2:00 PM | Accounts |
| Saturday, 21 February | 2:00 PM | Mass Media & Communication |
| Monday, 23 February | 2:00 PM | Chemistry – Paper 1 (Theory) |
| Wednesday, 25 February | 2:00 PM | History |
| Friday, 27 February | 2:00 PM | Commerce |
| Saturday, 28 February | 9:00 AM | Art – Paper 1 (Drawing/Painting from Still Life) |
| Monday, 2 March | 2:00 PM | Further subjects continue as per CISCE official schedule |
The 2026 timetable marks a shift from the 2025 schedule. Last year, the ISC Class 12 exams began on February 13, and the ICSE Class 10 exams started on February 18. The earlier start in 2026 provides a slightly condensed window for final preparations, urging students to plan their studies strategically.
The results for both ICSE and ISC 2026 are expected to be declared in the April-May window. Following the council's recent policy changes, students unsatisfied with their results can opt for a re-evaluation of their answer scripts or appear for improvement exams in a maximum of two subjects within the same year.
Commenting on the release of the timetable, Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary of CISCE, emphasized the council's student-centric approach. He stated, "The release of the examination schedule is more than a calendar event - it is a moment of focus, anticipation, and aspiration for every learner. At CISCE, we have designed the timetable to balance academic rigour with student wellbeing, ensuring that preparation time translates into performance, not pressure."
The CISCE has maintained a consistent pattern of conducting exams in the first quarter of the year. For context, the 2025 board exams saw impressive pass percentages of 99.09% for ICSE and 99.02% for ISC, with results declared on April 30.
With the timetable now public, students appearing for the CISCE 2026 board exams can begin the final leg of their preparation with a clear and structured plan, aiming for academic success.
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