English

This is a complete, free study companion for English — built around what the exam actually asks. The topics examiners repeat most are Grammar: verb forms, tenses, prepositions, sentence transformation, Unseen comprehension: literal answers, inference, vocabulary, summary, and Composition writing: narrative, descriptive, argumentative, reflective, picture composition. The syllabus runs to 21 chapters. Below you'll find the full topic-frequency ranking, the exam paper pattern, every chapter, a step-by-step study plan, and the official downloads — everything in one place.

Everything here is free. We're an independent student resource, not the official ICSE & ISC body, so always confirm the current syllabus and exam dates on the official ICSE & ISC website before you rely on them.

Key information

Level: Class 10
Exam: Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
Conducted by: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

Most important topics (by past-paper frequency)

#	Topic	Times asked	Likelihood
1	Grammar: verb forms, tenses, prepositions, sentence transformation	24	100%
2	Unseen comprehension: literal answers, inference, vocabulary, summary	19	100%
3	Composition writing: narrative, descriptive, argumentative, reflective, picture composition	24	100%
4	Notice and e-mail writing with school-event format	14	100%
5	Formal and informal letter writing format and register	17	100%
6	Antony's funeral speech and rhetoric in Julius Caesar Act III	4	66.7%
7	Brutus' honour, reason, and patriotism in Act III	3	50%
8	Brutus and Cassius quarrel in Act IV	3	50%
9	Ghost of Caesar and foreshadowing in Act IV	3	50%
10	Deaths of Cassius and Brutus in Act V	3	50%
11	Antony's final tribute to Brutus	3	50%
12	Listening comprehension: main idea, detail, inference	7	50%

Based on how often each topic appeared in official previous-year question papers.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Composition Writing
Chapter 2: Formal and Informal Letter Writing
Chapter 3: Notice and E-mail Writing
Chapter 4: Unseen Prose Comprehension and Summary Writing
Chapter 5: Functional Grammar, Structure and Usage
Chapter 6: Julius Caesar: Act III
Chapter 7: Julius Caesar: Act IV
Chapter 8: Julius Caesar: Act V
Chapter 9: With the Photographer
Chapter 10: The Elevator
Chapter 11: The Girl Who Can
Chapter 12: The Pedestrian
Chapter 13: The Last Lesson
Chapter 14: Haunted Houses
Chapter 15: The Glove and the Lions
Chapter 16: When Great Trees fall
Chapter 17: A Considerable Speck
Chapter 18: The Power of Music
Chapter 19: Listening Skills
Chapter 20: Speaking Skills
Chapter 21: Literature Assignments

How to study English and score well

Start with the highest-frequency topics — In English, Grammar: verb forms, tenses, prepositions, sentence transformation, Unseen comprehension: literal answers, inference, vocabulary, summary, Composition writing: narrative, descriptive, argumentative, reflective, picture composition, and Notice and e-mail writing with school-event format appear again and again in past papers. Master these first — they return the most marks for the time you put in.
Practise with previous-year papers — Solve the last 5–10 years of ICSE & ISC English papers under timed, exam-like conditions. Past papers show exactly which topics repeat and how questions are worded.
Revise actively, not passively — Write a one-page summary for each of the 21 chapters — key definitions, formulas and the points examiners reward — then re-test yourself instead of re-reading.
Mark your answers with the official scheme — After each practice paper, score yourself against the official marking scheme. It shows how marks are awarded step-by-step, so you learn to present answers the way examiners expect.

Exam tips: how to score higher in English

Where students lose marks: rushing the high-weightage questions, skipping the steps the marking scheme rewards, and saving easy sections for last. Read the whole paper first, attempt your strongest section early to bank marks, and always show your working.

Manage your time: split your time in proportion to the marks each section carries, keep a few minutes at the end to check, and never leave a question blank — a partial, structured answer still earns partial marks.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most important topics in English?

Based on past papers, the most frequently asked topics include Grammar: verb forms, tenses, prepositions, sentence transformation, Unseen comprehension: literal answers, inference, vocabulary, summary, Composition writing: narrative, descriptive, argumentative, reflective, picture composition. The full ranked list with how often each appears is in the "Most important topics" section above.

Where can I download English previous-year question papers?

Official ICSE & ISC previous-year question papers are available on the official ICSE & ISC website. Open the Question Papers section for the direct link, plus the exam pattern and the topics that repeat most.

How can I prepare for English faster?

Start with the highest-frequency topics, learn the exam pattern so you know how each section is marked, and practise with past papers. A subject-aware study tutor can quiz you on exactly these topics.

A Gyani AI tutor trained on the English syllabus and past papers can quiz you on the most-asked topics and show you exactly what to revise.