ICSE STD X ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE PAPER PATTERN

 A. The ICSE Class 10 English Language (Paper 1) comprises an 80-mark written paper (2 hours) + 20 marks for Internal Assessment. It tests functional language skills, including essay (20 marks), letter (10 marks), notice/email (10 marks), comprehension (20 marks), and grammar (20 marks), focusing on application over memorization. 

ICSE Class 10 English Language (Paper 1) 2026 Marking Scheme

Total Marks: 80 (Written) + 20 (Internal) = 100

Duration: 2 Hours (+ 15 minutes reading time)

Structure: Five compulsory questions. 

Unit/Question Topic/Component Marks

Question 1 Composition (Essay/Article/Story/Narrative) 20 Marks

Question 2 Letter Writing (Formal/Informal) 10 Marks

Question 3 Notice Writing (5 marks) + Email Writing (5 marks) 10 Marks

Question 4 Comprehension (Unseen Prose Passage) 20 Marks

Question 5 Applied Grammar (Transformation/Fill in blanks) 20 Marks

Total 80 Marks

Internal Assessment (20 Marks) Breakdown 

Listening Skills (10 Marks): Listening to passages and answering questions.

Oral Skills (10 Marks): Recitation, speech, or presentation. 

B. The ICSE Class 10 Literature in English (Paper 2) consists of an 80-mark theory paper and a 20-mark internal assessment, totaling 100 marks. The 2-hour paper is divided into compulsory MCQs (16 marks) and four subjective sections (Drama, Prose, Poetry, and an optional 5th question). 

ICSE Class 10 Literature Paper Mark Distribution (80 Marks Theory)

Section A (16 Marks): Compulsory Objective Section. Contains 16 MCQs (1 mark each) covering all prescribed texts: Drama (Julius Caesar), Prose (Treasure Chest), and Poetry (Treasure Chest). 

Section B, C, D (64 Marks - 4 Questions of 16 Marks each): Subjective Section. Candidates must choose four questions from these sections (Drama, Prose, Poetry, or an additional choice). 

Question Structure: Each of the 4 chosen questions usually breaks down into 5 sub-questions (e.g., 3+3+3+3+4 = 16 marks) based on extracts. 

Textbook Coverage

Drama: Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (Focus on Acts III, IV, and V).

Prose: Treasure Chest: A Collection of ICSE Short Stories.

Poetry: Treasure Chest: A Collection of ICSE Poems. 

Internal Assessment (20 Marks)

Listening Skills (10 Marks): Listening to passages and answering questions.

Speaking Skills (10 Marks): Recitation, speech, or presentation