Update, 13 November 2026: new ICSE exam timings
CISCE has moved ICSE Class 10 papers 45 minutes earlier for 2027. As per CISCE’s announcement, reading time now starts at 10:00 a.m. and writing at 10:15 a.m. (in 2026 these were 10:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.). Candidates must be seated in the exam hall by 9:45 a.m. CISCE also says admission cards will be distributed from mid-December 2026. Please confirm the timing of each paper on the official timetable at cisce.org and on the admit card.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) released the ICSE (Class 10) and ISC (Class 12) timetables for the 2027 board exams on 10 November 2026. As per the timetable, ICSE Class 10 exams will run from Monday, 15 February to Wednesday, 31 March 2027, and ISC Class 12 exams from 9 February to 8 April 2027.
With roughly three months to go, the date sheet is the most useful planning tool your child has. Below are the key ICSE dates, what the gaps between papers mean, and a simple plan to use the time well.
ICSE 2027 Class 10 exam dates at a glance
| Date (2027) | Day | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| 15 February | Monday | English Language (English Paper 1) |
| 18 February | Thursday | Literature in English (English Paper 2) |
| 22 February | Monday | Mathematics |
| 24 February | Wednesday | Group III Elective (Section B) |
| 26 February | Friday | History & Civics (HCG Paper 1) |
| 1 March | Monday | Geography (HCG Paper 2) |
| 4 March | Thursday | Hindi |
| 8 March | Monday | Physics (Science Paper 1) |
| 12 March | Friday | Chemistry (Science Paper 2) |
| 15 March | Monday | Biology (Science Paper 3) |
| 17 March | Wednesday | Group III Elective (Section A) |
| 19 March | Friday | Indian and Foreign Languages |
| 25 March | Thursday | Environmental Science (Group II Elective) |
| 29 March | Monday | Commercial Studies (Group II Elective) |
| 31 March | Wednesday | Economics, French, Sanskrit (Group II Electives) |
Art papers (Applied Art, Still Life, Nature Drawing/Painting and Original Composition) are scheduled on 16 February, 23 February, 2 March and 16 March. For 2027, ICSE reading time starts at 10:00 a.m. and writing at 10:15 a.m. (see the update above). Students with less common electives should check their own paper dates and timings in the official timetable on cisce.org, and follow the reporting time given by their school and on the admit card. If anything in this article differs from the official timetable, the CISCE timetable is final.
What the 2027 date sheet means for students
- English comes first, twice. English Language opens the exams on 15 February and Literature follows on 18 February. English is compulsory in the ICSE best-of-five, so English revision cannot be left for the end.
- Maths has a three-day window. After Literature on 18 February, the next main paper is Mathematics on 22 February. That is enough time for one full revision of formulas and one or two timed papers, not for learning new chapters.
- History & Civics and Geography are close together. With only a weekend between 26 February and 1 March, map work and Civics should be revised well before February.
- The three Science papers come in March. Physics (8 March), Chemistry (12 March) and Biology (15 March) have three free days before Chemistry and only two free days (a weekend) before Biology. Biology has the shortest gap, so diagrams and terms should be strong before the exams begin.
- A long season. The ICSE exams run for about six weeks. Students who take Group II electives at the end of March need to stay in exam mode until the last paper.
A revision plan from now to 15 February
November: close the syllabus
Finish any pending chapters, especially in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Read through the ICSE 2027 specimen papers to understand the new, more application-based style of questions.
December: first full revision and mock papers
Revise every subject once and start full-length papers under exam conditions: the full paper time, no phone, no book. After each paper, note the questions that felt unfamiliar, not only the ones that were wrong.
January: weak chapters and timed practice
Use the mock results to pick weak chapters. Most school pre-boards also fall in this period, so treat them like the real exam and study the corrections carefully.
February to March: follow the date sheet
Plan each gap day in advance. For example, use 19 to 21 February only for Mathematics, and the days before each Science paper only for that subject. Keep sleep and meal times regular, as the exam season is long.
For a detailed month-by-month plan, see our ICSE Class 10 preparation timetable and the 100-day board exam plan. For Maths specifically, read how to score 95%+ in Class 10 Maths.
Tips for parents
- Print the date sheet and mark your child’s own subjects, including the Group II and Group III electives.
- Avoid travel or family events close to paper dates, especially in the first two weeks.
- Ask for regular mock test results rather than hours studied. Marks in timed papers are the best sign of readiness.
- Plan for the earlier start: with seating by 9:45 a.m., your child should leave home in good time. Practise a few mock papers at 10:15 a.m. so the body clock is ready.
- Keep the admit card (distribution begins mid-December), stationery and route to the exam centre sorted well before 15 February.
How Universal Tutorials helps ICSE students prepare
Since 1998, Universal Tutorials has prepared ICSE students in Navi Mumbai for the board exam. In ICSE 2025, our student Arsh Chaudhari secured All India Rank 1 with a perfect 500/500. Between now and the board exams, our students get:
- Classroom teaching at our centres in Kharghar, Vashi, Nerul, Sanpada and Koparkhairane.
- Chapter-wise tests and full-length mock board exams set to the latest ICSE pattern.
- Answer sheets corrected by experienced teachers as per the board marking pattern, with model answers after every test.
- Doubt solving and performance reports, so parents know where their child stands before the first paper.
See our ICSE Class 9 & 10 coaching programs, or if your child only needs exam practice, the ICSE test series at your nearest UT centre. Students outside Navi Mumbai can take the UTudaan online test series from home. Hear from our students and parents on our video testimonials page, and find more board exam guides on the UT blog.
Frequently asked questions
When do the ICSE 2027 Class 10 exams start and end?
As per the CISCE timetable released on 10 November 2026, ICSE Class 10 exams start on 15 February 2027 with English Language and end on 31 March 2027.
When is the ICSE 2027 Maths exam?
Mathematics is on Monday, 22 February 2027, after Literature in English on 18 February.
When are the ICSE 2027 Science papers?
Physics is on 8 March, Chemistry on 12 March and Biology on 15 March 2027.
What time do ICSE 2027 papers start?
As per CISCE’s announcement, reading time begins at 10:00 a.m. and writing at 10:15 a.m., 45 minutes earlier than in 2026. Students must be seated by 9:45 a.m. Check each paper’s timing on the official timetable and admit card.
Where can I download the official ICSE 2027 timetable?
The official timetable is published on the CISCE website, cisce.org. Always confirm dates, session timings and instructions there and with your school, as the official timetable is final.
Want help preparing your child for the ICSE 2027 board exam? Call +91 77188 98822 or visit your nearest Universal Tutorials centre for a free counselling session.
