The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has officially unveiled the examination schedule for the upcoming 2026 board exams. In a significant shift, the tests for both ICSE (Class 10) and ISC (Class 12) are set to commence earlier than the previous year, marking a crucial timeline for lakhs of students across India and abroad.
Key Exam Dates and Student Participation
The ISC (Class 12) examinations will kick off the board exam season on February 12, 2026, while the ICSE (Class 10) exams will begin shortly after on February 17, 2026. This early start provides students and schools with a clear roadmap for the academic year ahead. The council expects a massive turnout, with approximately 2.6 lakh students appearing for the ICSE examination and about 1.5 lakh students for the ISC examination.
The vast syllabus is covered through an extensive range of subjects. The ICSE curriculum offers over 75 subjects, and the ISC curriculum includes more than 50 subjects, catering to diverse academic interests from core sciences to creative arts and vocational electives.
Detailed ICSE Class 10 Date Sheet
The ICSE Class 10 board exams will run from February 17 to March 30, 2026, giving students a six-week examination period. The schedule is meticulously planned to space out major subjects.
The exams begin with English Language on Tuesday, February 17. Other major dates include Mathematics on Monday, March 2, and the core science subjects of Physics (March 9), Chemistry (March 11), and Biology (March 13). Subjects like History & Civics and Geography are scheduled for mid-March, while Group II and III electives conclude the session by March 30.
Complete ISC Class 12 Exam Schedule
For ISC Class 12 students, the examination period is longer, stretching from February 12 to April 6, 2026. The theory and practical-based assessment pattern is designed to evaluate both conceptual understanding and applied skills.
Psychology is the first subject on Thursday, February 12, followed by English papers. Core subjects like Accounts (February 20), Chemistry (February 23), and Mathematics (March 9) are spaced out. Key science subjects include Biology on March 6 and Physics on March 16. The exam session concludes with Geography on Monday, April 6.
Important Guidelines and Result Declaration
The CISCE has issued specific instructions for a smooth examination process. All candidates are strongly advised to reach their respective exam centres 30 minutes before the start of the paper. Students should also make optimal use of the 15-minute reading time provided before writing their answers to carefully read and plan their responses.
Following the conclusion of the exams, the CISCE is expected to declare the results in the period of April-May 2026. With the timetable now in the public domain, students, parents, and schools have ample time to strategize preparation, schedule revision cycles, and conduct mock tests to ensure students are well-prepared to excel in their board examinations.
