ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus

ICSE Class 10 English Syllabus For Academic Session 2025-2026

The ICSE Class 10 English syllabus is designed to develop students' reading, writing, comprehension, and language skills. The syllabus is divided into two main papers: English Language (Paper 1) and Literature in English (Paper 2). Each paper focuses on different aspects of the English language and literature, aiming to enhance students' proficiency and appreciation of the language.

Here's a detailed breakdown of the ICSE Class 10 English syllabus:

Paper 1: English Language

1. Composition

• Types of Composition:
  • Descriptive: Describing a person, place, object, or event in detail.
  • Narrative: Writing a story based on a given outline or scenario.
  • Argumentative: Presenting arguments for or against a particular topic.
  • Reflective: Writing that explores personal thoughts and feelings on a subject.
  • Short Story: Writing a creative short story based on a prompt or idea.
• Word Limit: Students are required to write a composition of about 300-350 words.

2. Letter Writing

• Types of Letters:
  • Formal Letters: Letters to the editor, application letters, letters of complaint, inquiry, etc.
  • Informal Letters: Letters to friends, relatives, and acquaintances.
• Format and Language: Emphasis on proper format, tone, and appropriate language.

3. Notice and Email Writing

• Notice Writing:
  • Writing a notice for school events, public announcements, etc.
  • Format: Heading, date, content, signature.
• Email Writing:
  • Writing formal emails for various purposes like requests, complaints, invitations, etc.
  • Format: Subject, salutation, body, closing, signature.

4. Comprehension

• Unseen Passage:
  • Reading a passage and answering questions based on it.
  • Questions may include multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and vocabulary-based questions.
  • Testing comprehension skills, inference, and understanding of the passage.
• Summary Writing:
  • Writing a summary of a given passage.
  • Focus on identifying main points and presenting them concisely.

5. Grammar

• Grammar Topics:
  • Tenses: Correct usage of different tenses.
  • Active and Passive Voice: Converting sentences from active to passive voice and vice versa.
  • Direct and Indirect Speech: Converting sentences from direct to indirect speech and vice versa.
  • Prepositions: Correct usage of prepositions.
  • Conjunctions: Correct usage of conjunctions.
  • Articles: Correct usage of articles (a, an, the).
  • Transformation of Sentences: Conversion of sentences from one form to another (e.g., affirmative to negative, exclamatory to assertive).
  • Phrasal Verbs: Understanding and using phrasal verbs correctly.
• Error Correction: Identifying and correcting grammatical errors in sentences.

Paper 2: Literature in English

1. Drama

• William Shakespeare’s Play:
  • The Merchant of Venice:
    • Acts and Scenes: Detailed study of the prescribed acts and scenes.
    • Plot, Characters, and Themes: Understanding the plot, character analysis, and exploration of themes such as mercy, justice, revenge, love, and prejudice.
    • Important Passages: Explanation and analysis of important passages and soliloquies.

2. Poetry

• Prescribed Poems:
  • "The Heart of the Tree" by Henry Cuyler Bunner:
    • Themes, poetic devices, and analysis.
  • "The Cold Within" by James Patrick Kinney:
    • Themes, symbolism, and message.
  • "After Blenheim" by Robert Southey:
    • Historical context, themes, and critical appreciation.
  • "Television" by Roald Dahl:
    • Satire, themes, and the poet’s perspective on television.
  • "Daffodils" by William Wordsworth:
    • Romanticism, imagery, and analysis.
  • "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou:
    • Themes of freedom, oppression, and hope.
  • "Abou Ben Adhem" by Leigh Hunt:
    • Themes of spirituality, love, and morality.
• Poetic Devices:
  • Understanding and identifying poetic devices such as simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification, etc.

3. Prose (Short Stories)

• Prescribed Short Stories:
  • "Chief Seattle’s Speech":
    • Themes, rhetorical devices, and analysis of Chief Seattle’s message.
  • "Old Man at the Bridge" by Ernest Hemingway:
    • Themes of war, displacement, and human suffering.
  • "A Horse and Two Goats" by R.K. Narayan:
    • Cultural conflict, irony, and character analysis.
  • "Hearts and Hands" by O. Henry:
    • Plot twists, irony, and characterization.
  • "A Face in the Dark" by Ruskin Bond:
    • Elements of suspense, fear, and narrative style.
  • "An Angel in Disguise" by T.S. Arthur:
    • Themes of compassion, kindness, and redemption.
• Narrative Techniques:
  • Understanding the narrative style, point of view, and structure of short stories.

4. Novel

• Prescribed Novel (Optional – Based on School Curriculum):
  • "Animal Farm" by George Orwell:
    • Allegory, satire, themes of power, corruption, and revolution.
  • "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens:
    • Themes of redemption, social criticism, and character analysis of Ebenezer Scrooge.
  • "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee:
    • Themes of racial injustice, moral growth, and social inequality.
• Character Analysis:
  • Detailed study of the main and supporting characters.
• Plot and Theme:
  • Understanding the central plot, subplots, and themes of the novel.
• Critical Appreciation:
  • Analyzing the author’s style, use of literary devices, and overall message of the novel.