ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus

ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus is important for exam preparation. Glancing through the chapters will not give any results to ICSE Class 10 students, especially when they are studying a language subject. So, it becomes crucial for students to know the ICSE Syllabus for Class 10 English thoroughly before beginning the exam preparation. To help them, we have provided the ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus for the 2024 examination. Students can also download the complete syllabus PDF from the link below.

ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus PDF for the Year 2023-24 – Download the Latest PDF

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The CISCE has latest the English Syllabus for the academic year 2024. On this page, along with the latest Class 10 ICSE English Syllabus, we have also provided the exam pattern of the subject. Knowing the paper pattern will give a comprehensive understanding of the subject and help students in preparing well for the board exam.

ICSE Class 10 English Paper Pattern

ICSE Class 10 students have 2 papers on the English subject.

ICSE Class 10 Syllabus for English Language (Paper 1)

Question Paper Design of English Language (Paper 1) ICSE Class 10: Five questions will be set, all of which will be compulsory. These 5 questions will be based on

Question 1: Candidates will be required to write a composition of about 300– 350 words from a choice of subjects which will test their ability to: organise, describe, narrate, report, explain, persuade or argue, present ideas coherently with accuracy and precision, compare and contrast ideas and arrive at conclusions, present relevant arguments and use correct style and format.

The subjects will be varied and may be suggested by language or by other stimuli such as pictures. The subjects will be so chosen so as to allow the candidates to draw on first-hand experience or to stimulate their imagination.

With one subject, a number of suggestions about the content of the composition will be given, but the use of the suggestions will be optional, and a candidate will be free to treat the subject in any way that he/she chooses.

The organisation of subject matter, syntax, punctuation, correctness of grammatical constructions and spelling will be expected to be appropriate to the mode of treatment required by the subject.

Question 2: Candidates will have to write a letter from a choice of two subjects requiring either a formal or an informal mode of treatment. Suggestions regarding the content of the letter may be given. The layout of the letter with address, introduction, conclusion, etc., will form part of the assessment. Special attention must be paid to the format of the letter with emphasis on vocabulary appropriate to the context.

Question 3: Candidates will be given a specific situation and will be required to:
(a) Write the text for a notice based on given directions.
(b) Write an e-mail on the same content as the notice.

Question 4: An unseen prose passage of about 450 words will be given. Uncommon items of vocabulary, or structure will be avoided. One question will be set to test vocabulary. Candidates will be required to show an understanding of the words/phrases in the context in which they have been used.

A number of questions requiring short answers will also be asked on the passage. These questions will test the candidates’ ability to comprehend the explicit content and organisation of the passage and to infer information, intention and attitude from it.

The last question will consist of a summary that will test the candidates’ ability to distinguish main ideas from supporting details and to extract salient points to re-write them in the form of a summary. Candidates will be given clear indications of what they are to summarise and of the length of the summary.

Question 5: There will be a number of short answer questions to test the candidates’ knowledge of functional grammar, structure and use of the language.

All the items in this question will be compulsory. They will consist of correct use of prepositions, verbs and transformation of sentences.

Question Paper Design of Paper 2 – Literature in English

Candidates will be required to answer five questions from the prescribed textbooks, which include Drama, Prose (Short Stories) and Poetry.

Drama and Prose (Short Stories): Questions set will be central to the text. Candidates will be required to show that they have understood the passage and are able to clearly give their interpretation of the questions set, which should be in their own words and relevant to the text.

Excerpts may be given from the drama and prose texts leading to questions on the specific book.

Poetry: A poem, or passages from poems, will be given, and questions will be set to test the candidates’ response to the poem. The questions will focus on the content, understanding and the personal response of candidates to the poem as a whole.

Syllabus to be Covered in Class 10 for the ICSE Examination – Literature in English (Paper 2)

1) The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s unabridged play by A.W. Verity – Acts 3,4 & 5)

Treasure Trove – A collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories (Evergreen Publications)

2) Poetry:

(i) Daffodils – William Wordsworth

(ii) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou

(iii) The Patriot – Robert Browning

(iv) Abu Ben Adhem – Leigh Hunt

(v) Nine Gold Medals – David Roth

3) Prose (Short Stories):

(i) An Angel in Disguise – T.S. Arthur

(ii) The Little Match Girl – Hans Christian Andersen

(iii) The Blue Bead – Norah Burke

(iv) My Greatest Olympic Prize – Jesse Owens

(v) All Summer in a Day – Ray Douglas Bradbury

Internal Assessment

Paper 1 – English Language

1. Schools will prepare, conduct and record assessments of the Listening and Speaking Skills of candidates as follows:

Two assessments in the course of the year will be given to candidates.

2. Pattern of Assessment

a) Listening Skills: 10 Marks

A passage of about 300 words is read aloud by the examiner twice, the first time at normal reading speed (about 110 words a minute) and the next time at a slower speed. Candidates may make brief notes during the readings. They then answer an objective type test based on the passage, on the paper provided. The recommended number of candidates at a sitting is 30.

b) Speaking Skills: 10 Marks

Each candidate is required to make an oral presentation for about two minutes, which will be followed by a discussion on the subject with the examiners, for about three minutes.

Subjects for presentation may include narrating an experience, providing a description, giving directions how to make or operate something, expressing an opinion, giving a report, relating an anecdote or commenting on a current event.

A candidate may refer to brief notes in the course of the presentation, but reading or excessive dependence on notes will be penalized.

Internal Assessment of Paper 2 – Literature in English

Schools will set, assess and record written assignments by the candidates as given below:

Two or three assignments of reasonable length (not exceeding 1500 words in total).

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