ICSE Exam 2025: Important Guidelines

• The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Examination, Year 2025 results are scheduled to be declared in May 2025.
• Results will be accessible on the official CISCE website, and not available directly from the CISCE office.
• Heads of Schools are responsible for ensuring students understand the examination guidelines.
• Chief and Supervising Examiners must inform all candidates of the examination guidelines.
• CCTV camera surveillance will be present in all examination halls/rooms, monitoring both candidates and supervisory staff.

Directions to Candidates

• Candidates must be seated 30 minutes before the exam starts to ensure punctuality.
• Candidates are not allowed to leave the examination hall/room before the paper concludes.
• If you receive the wrong exam paper or notice missing items (like maps), inform the Supervising Examiner immediately.
• Carefully read any general instructions on the question paper's first page, such as the number of questions to attempt.
• Answer only the specified number of questions.
• Write your Unique ID, Index Number, and Subject on the top-sheet of the Main Answer Booklet and any continuation booklets, loose maps, or graph papers.
• Use only Black or Blue ink for all entries in the Answer Booklet.
• Sign your name in the provided space on the top-sheet of the Main Answer Booklet and avoid writing elsewhere.
• Write on both sides of each Answer Booklet sheet, unless restricted by the question paper's rubric, leaving a margin on both the left and right edges.
• Start each question part on a separate line, marking the question number clearly in the left-hand margin.
• Number questions using the same system as the question paper and avoid copying the question.
• Leave a line after answering each question.
• Use neat handwriting and correct spelling.
• Use a pen with Black/Blue ink, pencils for diagrams only.
• Bring needed math, drawing instruments, and color pencils.
• Electronic devices and calculators are prohibited.
• An extra 15 minutes is given to read the exam questions.
• Avoid wasting time on information not asked of you, as you will not receive marks for it.
• Manage your time effectively between questions.
• Continuation booklets are issued only after completing all pages of the existing booklet.
• Attach all used/unused booklets to the Main Answer Booklet.
• Do all working, including rough work, on the same sheet as the answer.
• Arrange your answer scripts in order, with the first page on top, and fasten them at the left-hand top corner.

Unfair Means

• If a candidate arranges to get unauthorized assistance related to the question papers results in cancellation of their exam results.
• Giving, obtaining, or attempting to obtain unfair assistance results in expulsion, refusal of further exams, and reporting to the Chief Executive and Secretary of the CISCE.
• Suspected answer scripts will be confiscated by the Supervising Examiner.
• The supervising examiner must send the confiscated answer scripts with a report to the Chief Executive and Secretary of the CISCE.
• Candidates who refuse to provide an explanation for using unfair means should not be forced, but the refusal should be noted.
• The Supervising Examiner can allow candidates suspected of using unfair means to continue the exam on separate answer sheets.
• Bringing in answer sheets, removing answer sheets, or substituting answer scripts results in cancellation of the results.
• Copying or enabling others to copy during the exam can lead to cancellation of results.
• Contacting an examiner or staff member of the CISCE results in the cancellation of the examination.
• Violating orderly conduct or causing disturbance near the examination hall/room results in expulsion and refused further exams.
• Possessing unauthorized materials like books, notes, calculators, or mobile devices are not permitted but must return any incorrect question paper to the Supervising Examiner.
• Possessing any object or instrument which may be used as a weapon is forbidden.
• Consequences for disobedience will lead to cancellation of the examinations.
• Obtaining admission to the examination by false representation leads to expulsion and being reported to the Police.
• Involvement in impersonation results in reporting.
• Results for candidates suspected of using unfair means may be delayed.
• Candidates with cancelled results may be debarred from future examinations.
• The Chief Executive and Secretary of the CISCE can hand over non-candidates who commit an offence to the police.
• Misconduct by a teacher or institution employee will be reported to the institution's Governing Body.
• Schools where staff members have committed offences may have entries for subsequent examinations rejected.
• The Awarding Committee has the right to cancel results if dishonest means are widespread.
• Penalties can be imposed for cases of unfair means not covered by regulations at the discretion of the Awarding Committee.
• CISCE will destroy answer scripts 60 days after the result declaration.

Recheck Request

• Candidates unsatisfied with their results can apply for a recheck of answer scripts online within 4 days of the ICSE Year 2025 results declaration.
• Individual candidates apply through the CISCE website.
• Heads of Schools can apply for their candidates via the CAREERS Portal.
• Rechecking includes making sure that all answers have been marked, the marks are totaled correctly, and all continuation sheets are attached.
• Recheck request results are declared on the CISCE website.

Re-evaluation Request

• Candidates unsatisfied with recheck results will be permitted to apply online for a re-evaluation of their answer scripts only.
• Individual/School Candidates can apply for a recheck.
• The accuracy of a subject grade will be checked if Candidates/Head of School submits application online.
• Marks awarded after subject expert examination, increasing/ decreasing will be considered final.
• A re-evaluation is a paid, non-refundable service.
• Results will be notified through the CISCE website.

Improvement Examination

• Candidates can improve their marks/grade by taking an Improvement Exam in the same year.
• Candidates who appear for the main ICSE Examination are eligible to take Improvement Exam.
• This includes candidates with Pass Certificate Awarded; Pass Certificate Not Awarded; Supplementary Pass Certificate Awarded; Suppplementary Pass Certificate Not Awarded.
• Candidates that have an absent result will not be permitted from this exam.
• Candidates can only appear in a maximum of two subjects.
• Candidates must appear for the Theory Paper of that subject for Improvement Examination.
• For the ICSE Examination, marks are forwarded from Project mark, of the subject.
• If the Candidate was Absent during main exam of project, their marks need to be assessed and submitted.
• Schools will be able to register the Improvement Examination during June/July.
• Candidates who unsuccessfully secure certificates will be allowed to take examinations in year 2026.
• Candidates with Certificates may appear for a Supplementary Pass Certificate in the year 2026.
• Online entries for the ICSE Exam in Year 2026 must be submitted during August and September 2025.

Examination Timetable

• February 18, 11:00 AM: English Language - ENGLISH Paper 1 (2 hours)
• February 21, 11:00 AM: Literature in English - ENGLISH Paper 2 (2 hours)
• February 22, 9:00 AM: Art Paper 1 (Still Life) (3 hours)
• February 24, 9:00 AM: Art Paper 2 (Nature Drawing/Painting) (3 hours)
• February 25, 11:00 AM: Various Languages (3 hours)
• February 28, 11:00 AM: Economics (Group II Elective) (2 hours)
• March 01, 9:00 AM: Art Paper 3 (Original Composition) (3 hours)
• March 04, 11:00 AM: Mathematics (3 hours)
• March 06, 11:00 AM: Hindi (3 hours)
• March 08, 11:00 AM: Robotics & Artificial Intelligence and related subjects (Group III-Elective-Section B) (2 hours)
• March 10, 11:00 AM: History & Civics - H.C.G. Paper 1 (2 hours)
• March 12, 11:00 AM: Geography - H.C.G. Paper 2 (2 hours)
• March 17, 11:00 AM: Physics - SCIENCE Paper 1 (2 hours)
• March 18, 9:00 AM: Art Paper 4 (Applied Art) (3 hours)
• March 19, 11:00 AM: Carnatic Music, Commercial Applications, plus associated subjects. (Group III-Elective-Section A) (3 hours)
• March 21, 11:00 AM: Chemistry - SCIENCE Paper 2 (2 hours)
• March 24, 11:00 AM: Biology - SCIENCE Paper 3 (2 hours)
• March 26, 11:00 AM: Commercial Studies and French (Group II Elective) (2 hours)
• March 27, 11:00 AM: Environmental Science (Group II Elective) (2 hours)
• 15 minutes are provided to read the paper.
• Reading time for the examinations begins at 10:45 AM
• Reading time for the examinations begins at 8:45 AM
• Candidates must be seated for 11:00 AM before, seated by 10:30 AM or 9:00 AM starts by 8:30 AM