Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) examination is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations for class 10, i.e., grade 10. It has been designed to provide an examination in a course of general education, in accordance with the recommendations of the New Education Policy 1986 (India), through the medium of English. The examination allows secure suitable representation of Governments responsible for schools (which are affiliated to it) in their States/Territories. Private candidates are not permitted to appear for this examination.
In all subjects other than Science and Computers, students must submit compulsory coursework assignments. In groups I and II they count for 20% of the student's performance in the subject; in group III the assignments count for 50%. In Science and Computers, students are tested on their labwork.
In subjects where there is more than one paper, the mark in the subject is calculated by taking the average of all papers in the subject.
Subjects:
Candidates appearing for the examination have to study seven subjects, with anywhere from 1 to 3 papers in each subject. The subjects allowed are:
Group I: All subjects in this group are compulsory.
§ English - 1 Literature paper + 1 Language paper.
§ History, Civics and Geography - 1 combined History and Civics paper + 1 Geography paper.
§ A second language - 1 combined Literature and Language paper.
Group II: Though the students have a choice, it is generally assumed that they will take Mathematics and Science. Students wishing to take up other subjects must be apprised of the implications. They must study two subjects from this list:
§ Mathematics - 1 paper
§ Science - 1 Physics paper + 1 Chemistry paper + 1 Biology paper (with lab classes in all three)
§ Economics - 1 paper
§ Commercial Studies - 1 paper
§ Technical Drawing - 1 paper
§ A Modern Foreign Language - 1 paper
§ A Classical Language - 1 paper
§ Computer Science - 1 paper (with work on a computer)
§ Environmental Science - 1 paper
§ Agricultural Science - 1 paper (with relevant field work)
Group III: Any one of the following:
§ Computer Applications - 1 paper (with work on a computer)
§ Economic Applications - 1 paper
§ Commercial Applications - 1 paper
§ Art - 2 papers out of a total of 4 (with sculpting etc. to be taught in school)
§ Performing Arts - 1 paper (with practical work in school)
§ Home Science - 1 paper
§ Cookery - 1 paper
§ Fashion Designing - 1 paper (with relevant practical work)
§ Physical Education - 1 paper (with practical work)
§ Yoga - 1 paper (with practical work)
§ Technical Drawing Applications - 1 paper
§ Environmental Applications - 1 paper
§ A Modern Foreign Language - 1 paper
The choice of subjects offered in Groups II and III depends on the school.
The certificate has international equivalence and is accepted by most international Universities.
Indian School Certificate (ISC)
The Indian School Certificate (ISC) is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations for Grade 12, i.e. year 12. A student attempts this examination after first completing the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education in Grade 10, although the completion of a recognized equivalent level ofeducation is normally sufficient. The Examination has been designed to provide an examination in a course of general education, in accordance with the recommendations of the New Education Policy 1986 (India), through the medium of English.
Candidates therefore have to attempt the subjects of English and Environmental Education, and must also attempt three, four or five other subjects that may be chosen by the candidate from a wide range of subjects ranging from Fashion Designing to Biology to Political Science. Schools generally offer a limited number of these subjects depending upon their logistical requirements. Socially Useful and Productive Work is also considered important, with students getting a grade for this along with their marksheets.
Indian School Certificate (Class XII) is treated as equivalent to Senior Examination of the University of Scotland. This implies that pupils will no longer be required to obtain ‘A’ level qualifications or complete bridging courses, while seeking entry to Universities in the UK and other overseas Universities in the Commonwealth. Indian School Certificate qualification is the only qualification from India that has been granted this special recognition.
Although the majority of schools affiliated to the CISCE Board are in India, a number of schools in other countries with large Non-Resident Indian populations do offer the ICSE and ISC examinations including the Dubai Modern High School and DPS International Singapore.
Subjects:
Schools generally do not offer all the subjects listed. A candidate's choice is further limited by certain combinations of subjects offered, depending on the school.
Compulsory Subjects:
§ English : 2 marked papers (1. English Language, 2. English Literature)
§ Environmental Education : 1 marked paper examination accompanied by some project work.
§ SUPW ('Socially Useful and Productive Work') : 1 Graded examination, generally graded on assignment or project
Electives:
Students take four elective subjects.
§ Indian Language
§ Modern Foreign Language
§ Classical Language
§ Extra English Literature
§ History
§ Political Science
§ Geography
§ Sociology
§ Psychology
§ Economics
§ Commerce
§ Accounts
§ Business Studies
§ Mathematics
§ Physics
§ Chemistry
§ Biology
§ Home Science
§ Fashion Designing
§ Electricity and Electronics
§ Engineering Science
§ Computer Science
§ Geometrical and Mechanical drawing
§ Geometrical and Building drawing
§ Music
§ Physical Education
§ Environmental Science
§ Biotechnology
Schools following ISC
A number of prestigious schools in India like follow the ISC prescribed curriculum. Some of these are;
Uttar Pradesh
§ City Montessori School, Lucknow
§ Hartmann College, Izzatnagar, Bareilly
§ Seth M.R.Jaipuria School, Lucknow
§ La Martiniere College, Lucknow
§ St. Maria Goretti, Bareilly
§ Huddard High School, Kanpur
§ St. Peter's College, Agra
§ St. John's School, Varanasi
§ G.P.M., Bareilly
§ St.Francis's College, Lucknow
§ Lucknow public collegiate, Lucknow
Andhra Pradesh
§ Abhyasa Residential Public School, Toopran, Medak Dist., Andhra Pardesh
§ Hyderabad Public School
§ St. Ann's,Secunderabad
Pondicherry (Puducherry)
§ Primrose School, Pondicherry
West Bengal
§ Sunrise English Medium School, Belurmath
§ Don Bosco, Park Circus, Kolkata
§ La Martiniere College, Kolkata
§ The Calcutta Boys' School, Calcutta
§ St. Xavier's Collegiate School
§ St. James School
§ Don Bosco High & Technical School, Liluah
§ Mount Hermon School, Darjeeling
§ Vivekananda Mission School, Kolkata
§ Orient Day School,Behala,Kolkata
Maharashtra
§ The Bishop's School, Pune
§ Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School
§ Campion School, Mumbai
§ The Cathedral and John Connon School
§ St. Mary's School
§ Cambridge School, Mumbai
§ Lilavatibai Podar Senior Secondary School
§ Jamnabai Narsee School Mumbai
Karnataka
§ Bishop Cotton Boys School
§ Bishop Cotton Girls' School
§ St. Joseph's Boys' High School
§ Little Flower Public School
Uttranchal
§ St. George's College
§ The Doon School Dehradun
§ Welham Boys' School
§ Doon Cambridge
§ Wynberg Allen School
§ St. Joseph's Academy
Kerala
§ Loyola School, Thiruvananthapuram
§ Christ Nagar School,Thiruvananthapuram
§ Trinity Lyceum School Kollam
§ Bethany Academy,Vennikkulam
§ St Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram
Orissa
§ Stewart School,Bhubaneswar
§ St. Paul's School, Rourkela
§ St. Joseph's Covent, Rourkela
Himachal Pradesh
§ Himalayan International School, Chharabara, Shimla
§ Bishop Cotton School, Shimla