Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are India's two most sought-after boards for children's education. When choosing a school for your child, you will first want to list schools affiliated with the board of your preference. A guide distinguishing CBSE vs ICSE will help you make an informed decision. So, let us understand how these boards function, how they are similar, and what differentiates them.
The CBSE Board originated in 1929, while ICSE originated in 1952. CBSE was formed primarily to educate children of parents who served for the British government. ICSE was introduced by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate for post-colonial education aligned with British standards.
Interestingly, ICSE continues to focus on improving the English language and follows an extensive syllabus. The CBSE board is better aligned to prepare students for government examinations.
Both ICSE and CBSE focus on board examinations that students have to sit for during their 10th and 12th annual examinations. Over the years, they have adopted each other's best practices to meet the growing demand for education today. However, key differences can help you detect and choose what would be more suitable for your child.
ICSE is a non-governmental board that is conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). Students prepare from middle school to sit for the board exams conducted at the end of the 10th standard.
In classes 11 and 12, ICSE becomes ISC (Indian School Certificate) under the same private board. Students prepare for these two years to pass their term and get a significant percentage for college eligibility.
ICSE is at par with international learning and prioritizes subjects like arts, literature, and communication. It is perfect for students who take an interest in learning multiple subjects and have a strong grasp of English language and literature.
CBSE is a government board supported by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). CBSE is affiliated with both private and government schools across India.
After the colonial era had ended, it was reconstituted in 1962 as the Board of High School and Intermediate Education. They conduct two major examinations, the All India Secondary School Examination (AISSE) for class 10 and the All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) for class 12.
CBSE paves the way to have a structured educational approach to help students appear for entrance exams like IIT, JEE, and more. The board prioritizes students who are interested in science and mathematics.
When comparing the ICSE board vs the CBSE board, several factors must be considered. These include what these boards aim to provide, teaching practices, types of subjects, syllabi, and, most importantly, the eligibility for a degree after school.
The following points reveal the characteristics of both these boards to help you make an informed decision:
For a long time, CBSE has been known to create a traditional route for education in India. It used to be more theory-based, where students had to understand complex concepts to prepare for entrance exams like IIT, JEE, and more. While the fundamental aim remains constant, it now relies more on practical skills to let students grasp subjects through activities and not just from books.
Since CBSE is affiliated with over 27,000 institutions across India, most students follow the same structure across their curriculum. The board focuses more on subjects like science and mathematics, giving students all over India an equal opportunity to prepare for competitive examinations. Students who pass out from this board are well-equipped for national-level engineering and medical entrance exams.
ICSE Board is affiliated with over 2,300 institutions and caters primarily to metro cities and urban areas. Parents living in these places often prioritize helping their children become more proficient in English.
English is taught at par with British learning practices, with language and literature being separate subjects and papers. ICSE Board is extensive as it requires giving balanced attention to art and science subjects till students choose a stream. Many schools incorporate commerce subjects after middle school and let students select their stream from 9th to prepare for ICSE.
The ICSE vs CBSE debate is slowly getting blurred when examining the syllabus these institutions follow. While ICSE has always adopted practical teaching principles aligned with theory, CBSE is gradually moving towards the same trajectory.
By 2027, all CBSE schools will have to incorporate a composite skill lab to give students practical experiences of scientific teaching. While ICSE has been following such practices, they have always had various subjects in the curriculum making the syllabus more extensive.
ICSE is often considered harder for students as they have to keep up with multiple subjects throughout their academic. History, geography, and environmental sciences are as important as first language, second language, science, and mathematics. However, CBSE boards focus on first language, second language, science, mathematics, and environmental science.
CBSE offers arts, commerce, and science opportunities for students going into high school. After passing class 10, students are allowed to choose the stream that they prefer. However, the overall focus till class 10 is to prepare students to sit for government examinations.
According to a recent update, the CBSE board will now incorporate one more subject as a skill subject. In the skill lab, students will practically apply concepts like Artificial Intelligence, Design Thinking & Innovation, Coding, Data Science, Rockets, Satellites, and the Application of Satellites. They will go through multiple subjects to explore their interests and choose one that will benefit their career aspirations.
As parents, it can be hard to select a board for your child, keeping future goals in mind. You never know what subject they are interested in and how their career shapes up. While shifting your child from one board to another at a young standard is possible, it often becomes hard to cope.
CBSE students go through a curriculum that prepares them for competitive exams like IIT JEE and NEET. However, the ICSE board prepares students for TOEFL and IELTS exams. It is not uncommon for students from CBSE to sit for TOEFL, and vice versa. However, the examination standards are often more challenging to crack.
Parents who want their students to focus on science and mathematics would prefer choosing the CBSE board. At the same time, parents who prioritize literature, arts, commerce, and management studies would choose ICSE as a board to help students cope.
Scholarship can play a huge role when considering CBSE vs ICSE. All government schools that are free of cost or have a nominal fee structure follow the CBSE board. It makes this an inclusive opportunity that also facilitates scholarship for worthy talents.
ICSE board is affiliated with private schools only, and no scholarship facilities are offered to students. However, there are quota systems that one might be eligible for depending on the school and community. For example, many convent schools in India offer special discounts for Christians and waive certain costs. These can be school uniforms, books, fee discounts, and more.
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a separate board that parents choose when they want their children to study abroad after school. But that doesn't mean students studying with the ICSE board will not have opportunities from abroad for both work and education. CBSE, however, follows an India-centric education system. Students are more likely to get jobs and placements within the country than their chances of moving abroad.
Total marks in both ICSE and CBSE boards are calculated out of 100. The CBSE board is divided into two terms of 50 marks each. 40 for theory and 10 for examinations are given during internal assessments. The passing percentage is 33%, so a student must score 33 in one subject across all exams.
ICSE divides 80% and 20% of marks for external and internal assessments, respectively. The aggregate is considered as the total after annual examinations. The passing mark is 40% for each subject. The half-yearly and yearly examinations are worth 100 marks each, while unit tests are conducted for 50 marks each before two main terms.
CBSE and ICSE are both divided in two terms. In CBSE, the first term includes MCQs, while the second includes short and long answers. In ICSE, the first term contains MCQs, while the second consists of objective and subjective questions. ICSE also includes projects as a part of the curriculum, which are added to main subjects as a practical test.
CBSE follows a grading system with alphabets denoting a range of numbers. ICSE sets remarks for papers based on the percentage of student scores.
| Grade | Grade Point | Marks Range |
| A1 | 10 | 91-100 |
| A2 | 9 | 81-90 |
| B1 | 8 | 71-80 |
| B2 | 7 | 61-70 |
| C1 | 6 | 51-60 |
| C2 | 5 | 41-50 |
| D | 4 | 33-40 |
| E1 and E2 | 0 | 21-32 |
| Grade | Standard |
| 1/ 2 | Very Good |
| 3/ 4/ 5 | Pass with Credit |
| 6/ 7 | Pass |
| 8/ 9 | Fail |
ICSE and CBSE compete to offer the best of what both boards provide. However, it is best to summarize and analyze what is needed to make an informed decision. Check out the table below to have a complete idea.
| Factor | CBSE | ICSE |
| Origin | Began during colonial era but later became the regulatory supported by central government. | ICSE was introduced post-colonial era to replace Cambridge School Certificate Examination. |
| Purpose | It prepares students to sit for entrance examinations conducted by the Central Board. | It prepares students for both national and international examinations where English must be fluent. |
| Curriculum | Focuses on science and mathematics. Students can choose commerce and arts subjects in high school. | Focuses on art subjects like English, history, geography, and creates an extensive learning opportunity. |
| Widespread | CBSE is more widespread all across India with over 27,000 school affiliations. | ICSE caters to urban cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, where fluency in English is a mandatory skill. |
| Syllabus | It is streamlined and focused towards fewer subjects giving children opportunity to learn their best. | It offers comprehensive learning opportunities but is complex with multiple subjects that require equal attention. |
| Pedagogy | It has had a traditional rote-based learning method which is currently changing towards practical learning and skill development. CBSE focuses on conceptual understanding to master few but important subjects needed for future. | It promotes critical thinking and takes students through both theory and practical examinations for holistic growth. |
| Scope | It prepares you for entrance examinations like IIT JEE and NEET. | It prepares for examinations like TOEFL and IELTS. |
| Cost | Available across affordable to expensive options as education from this board is provided by both government and non-governmental schools. | As a part of a private board, it is expensive to invest in ICSE board. The schools have a high fee structure as it caters to fewer population living in areas with high living standards. |
CBSE vs ICSE boards, both allow students to prepare for any examination they want and this is where they are similar. It is essential to consider if they can grasp the extensive learning of the ICSE board or a focused process as followed by CBSE. Both boards allow students to flourish in science, humanities, and commerce. However, the structure is different, as is the importance given to the respective curriculums.
DWPS Barasat is affiliated with the CBSE board and promotes holistic learning. Students go through both practical and theory-based learning to clear complex concepts with assistance and ease.
ICSE follows a holistic learning method and emphasizes humanities as much as science. Parents can choose if they want their children to go through extensive learning. However, CBSE focuses on science and mathematics, giving students fewer subjects to cope with until they choose a course.
The ICSE board is expensive, available in fewer cities across India, and puts much pressure on students due to the extensive learning requirements.
CBSE is better for cracking the entrance examination to IIT. However, ICSE also helps prepare students for examinations like these.
CBSE is conducted to help students prepare for NEET. The curriculum is designed to help students prepare for examinations supported by the central board.
