ICSE and ISC Pass Criteria, Marks, and Internal Assessment Explained
The pass criteria for ICSE and ISC are set in the official CISCE Regulations & Syllabuses, published on cisce.org each year. Secondary sources — including many coaching sites and news portals — frequently publish incorrect or outdated figures for the ICSE pass mark. The only authoritative source is the official CISCE document for your exam year.
What is consistently true: ICSE and ISC require candidates to pass each subject individually. Internal assessment (project work, practical examinations, and school-based assignments) contributes to the final marks in many subjects. A strong internal assessment can meaningfully improve a subject total even if the theory paper result is moderate.
General marks structure (subject-specific; verify in official Regulations)
| Component | What it covers | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Theory paper (external) | The board examination paper, set and marked by CISCE examiners | The public exam held in February–April each year |
| Internal assessment | Project work, practical examination, or school-based assessment depending on subject | Marks are submitted by the school and verified by CISCE |
| Practical examination (select subjects) | A separate hands-on exam conducted at the school for science and some other subjects | ISC science practicals are a substantial component in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology |
Weightings differ by subject. Always read the Regulations & Syllabuses for your exact subject and exam year.
Do not guess the pass mark from secondary sources: Multiple education websites publish conflicting figures for the ICSE pass mark (33%, 35%, and 40% all appear in different sources). The only authoritative source is the CISCE Regulations & Syllabuses for your exam year, available on cisce.org. Read it before making any decisions about recheck or improvement.
Official source
- CISCE official website (Regulations & Syllabuses) — Navigate to Examinations to find the current Regulations & Syllabuses PDF