ICSE Marking Scheme – Subjects, Weightage & Evaluation Process

Parents often choose the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education or ICSE board in India for kids due to its in-depth curriculum , a balanced learning and effective evaluation process. 

Students appear in the ICSE board examination but many remain unsure about various questions like:

• How Marks are Distributed? 
• How Do Internal Assessments Matter? 
• How Practicals or Projects are Evaluated? 

To get all the answers one must understand the ICSE Marking Scheme. It helps learners to ensure fairness, consistency, and transparency in results. 

In this blog we will understand ICSE marking scheme subject-wise, grading system, evaluation method, and effective ways to get good marks in exams . 

What is the ICSE Marking Scheme?

The ICSE marking scheme is a method of distributing marks based on subjects, components, and exams. 

ICSE uses a 9-point scale (1-9) for external exams where Grade 1 is highest and Grades 8-9 indicate failure 

It helps students to calculate based on rote learning , application, creativity, problem-solving , and analytical thinking. Some key points in ICSE marking scheme includes:

1. Internal Assessment Weightage

The weightage of internal assessment in most of the ICSE subjects carry 20% of overall. It includes project work, assignments, periodic tests, and class participation.

2. External Examination Weightage

The weightage of external examination is conducted by Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations which includes 80% weight based on written examination. 

3. Practical Examination Marks

Practical examination marks are included by teachers on various subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Applications, etc. 

These examinations are mainly between 20 and 30 marks where teachers observe students’ hands-on experience. 

4. Project Work Evaluation

Project work evaluation is one of the most important parts in which learners get marks and appreciation. 

Subjects for example, History, Geography, Environmental Education , and English Literature are evaluated by the teacher. 

Content accuracy, originality, research quality, and presentation are primarily observed.

ICSE Grading System Explained

The ICSE Grading System considers both raw marks and grades to guide parents, teachers and students. 

1. Grade to Percentage Conversion

Below is a table representation of Grade to Percentage Conversion and vice versa:

S No.	Grade	Percentage	Remarks
1.	A1	91-100%	Outstanding
2.	A2	81-90%	Excellent
3.	B1	71-80%	Very good
4.	B2	61-70%	Good
5.	C1	51-60%	Satisfactory
6.	C2	41-50%	Acceptable
7.	D	33-40%	Below average
8.	E	Below 33%	Fail

2. How Grades are Calculated?

To calculate first raw marks both from internal assessment and external examination is added to generate the percentage Out of 100.

Later, the percentage is matched with the above-mentioned table to map the grade. 

Remember, students must pass a minimum of five subjects including English to pass the year. 

Subject-Wise ICSE Marking Scheme

The ICSE curriculum is divided into groups and each one has its own unique marking scheme. 

Group 1 Subjects (Compulsory)

1. English (Language & Literature)

• Paper pattern: 

Two papers English Language & English Literature. 

• Marks distribution:
  • Internal assessment (20 marks)
  • External exam (80 marks)

2. Second Language

• Marking breakdown:
  • Internal assessment (20 marks)
  • External exam (80 marks)
• Assessment criteria:

Internal assessment includes oral tests, projects, and presentations. 

3. Mathematics/History-Civics-Geography

• Detailed marking scheme

External Exam: 80 marks. 

Internal: 20 marks (assignments & projects).

Group 2 Subjects (Science/Arts/Commerce)

• Physics marking scheme

Theory paper is of 80 marks and practical/project work is 20 marks of experiments, record-keeping, viva. 

• Chemistry evaluation pattern

Theory paper is of 80 marks and practical/project work is 20 marks of observation, lab report. 

• Biology assessment structure

Theory paper is of 80 marks and practical/project work is 20 marks of slide preparation, diagrams and practical file. 

• Computer Applications marking

Theory paper is of 80 marks and practical/project work is 20 marks of coding projects, program execution, documentation. 

Internal Assessment in ICSE Marking Scheme

1. Internal Assessment Weightage

Subject-wise internal marks are given by the ICSE board. The weightage is 20% in most of the subjects like Science, language, and humanities all include projects, activities, orals, or practicals. 

2. How Internal Marks are Awarded?

• Subject Enrichment Activities:

Some common subject enrichment activities include role-plays, experiments, debates.

• Portfolio Evaluation:

Assignments, creative writing, records help learners in portfolio evaluation.

• Periodic Tests:

Class tests, unit tests, and pre-boards taken by subject teachers are important exams.

• Notebook Assessment:

Regularity, neatness, complete notebook showcase accuracy and dedication towards learning.

• Subject-specific Activities:

Science labs, history research projects, literature essays are subject-specific activities that help learners to gain good marks.

External Examination Marking Pattern

Question Paper Pattern

• Types of Questions
  • MCQ is generally 1 mark. 
  • Short answer questions 2 to 4 marks. 
  • Long answer questions 6 to 10 marks. 

Answer Writing Strategy Based on Marking Scheme

• How answers are evaluated

The ICSE board evaluates the answers by giving step-wise marking, logical explanation, and diagram accuracy.

• Step-wise marking

Step-wise marking students who have partial knowledge gets some marks. For example, knowledge of the correct formula, substitution of values, and the final answer. 

• Partial credit guidelines

Partial credit guidelines include if the final answer is inaccurate and the steps are correct students will get partial marks. 

• Common mistakes to avoid

Students need to avoid some common mistakes, for example, incomplete diagrams, skipping units in numericals, ignoring map labels, and grammatical errors.

ICSE Practical Examination Marking Scheme

1. Science Practicals

• Physics practical marking
  • Experiment (10 marks)
  • Accuracy & Observation (5 marks)
  • Viva/Record Book (5 marks)
• Chemistry practical evaluation
  • Experiment (10 marks)
  • Observations and Calculations (5 marks)
  • Viva + Practical File (5 marks)
• Biology practical assessment
  • Lab Work/Slide/Specimen (10 marks)
  • Diagrams & Lab Records (5 marks)
  • Viva (5 marks)

2. Other Practical Subjects

• Computer practical marking
  • Coding Project Execution (10 marks)
  • Documentation (5 marks)
  • Viva (5 marks)
• Language oral examination
  • Listening & Speaking Skills (20 marks)
• Art/Music practical evaluation
  • Art: Drawing, painting, creativity (20 marks)
  • Music: Performance, rhythm, theory (20 marks)

Tips to Score Well in ICSE Exams Based on Marking Scheme

To get good marks, here are some useful tips to score well in ICSE exams based on the marking scheme. 

1. Focus on High-Weightage Sections

One must focus on high-weightage sections especially which are compulsory to attempt. This helps students to avoid last minute urgency. 

2. Practice Writing Answers as per Marking Scheme

Students can visit previous years question papers to practice writing answers as per the marking scheme. Understand how to write in steps, addition of main words and diagrams. 

3. Balance Between Theory and Practical/Project Marks

Practical or project marks and theory are equally important to help learners to increase their percentage.  

ICSE Marking Scheme vs CBSE Marking Scheme 2025-26 

Given below is a comparison table between ICSE Marking Scheme and CBSE Marking Scheme 2025-26.

S No.	Aspects	ICSE	CBSE
1.	Evaluation Style	Balanced between theory & practicals	More theory-oriented
2.	Internal Assessment	20% (projects, practicals, assignments)	10 to 20% (mostly periodic tests)
3.	External Exam Weightage	80%	80 to 90%
4.	Practical Subjects	Emphasis on experiments and projects	Limited to science stream
5.	Language Evaluation	Strong focus on English and second language	Focused more on communication
6.	Difficulty Level	Concept-heavy, analytical	Application-based, moderately easier

Conclusion

The ICSE marking scheme is an ideal way to evaluate students’ overall development and knowledge. It showcases the importance of both internal and external exams. 

By understanding how step marking works and which is correct alignment of writing guides learners to score accordingly. 
Parents and students who are aware about the ICSE marking scheme can reduce exam stress and focus on holistic preparation. Also, explore the benefits of ICSE board and stay tuned to know more!

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