CISCE is considering an earlier examination schedule for Class 10 students to improve coordination between morning ICSE papers and afternoon ISC examinations.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) is exploring a change in the schedule of the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) Class 10 board examinations from 2027. Under the proposed plan, examinations that generally begin at 11 AM could start at 10 AM instead.

Information circulated to examination conveners indicates that question paper packets may need to be collected from designated banks before 9:15 AM. Students would be expected to occupy their seats by 9:45 AM, when the packets would be delivered to the examination rooms.

If implemented, the revised schedule would provide 15 minutes for reading the question paper from 10 AM. Answer writing would begin at 10:15 AM. Two-hour examinations would end at 12:15 PM, while papers lasting three hours would finish at 1:15 PM.

Why Is CISCE Considering a Change?

The council is reportedly discussing the proposed arrangement with banks responsible for storing confidential examination materials. One of the key considerations is the scheduling gap between ICSE and Indian School Certificate (ISC) examinations.

Under the existing arrangement, ICSE examinations start at 11 AM. Question paper packets are usually collected between 9:30 AM and 10 AM, while students must be seated by 10:30 AM. Answer booklets are distributed at 10:40 AM, followed by a reading period beginning at 10:45 AM. Writing starts at 11 AM.

The current timetable can put pressure on examination centres that also need to prepare for ISC papers scheduled in the afternoon. An earlier ICSE session could provide additional time to complete the morning examinations and organise the venues for subsequent papers.

How Could the New Timings Affect Students?

School administrators have indicated that an earlier start may not substantially change the examination experience for students. However, it could make venue management easier, especially for schools hosting ISC examinations later in the day.

The proposed schedule remains under consideration. Students and schools should follow official CISCE notifications for confirmation of the 2027 examination timetable and timings.