• Written By Prince
  • Last Modified 07-11-2024

ISC Class 12: Check Reduced Syllabus, Exam Date and Exam Pattern

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ISC Class 12 Exam: The Indian School Certificate or ISC exam is the annual examination conducted for Class 12 students enrolled in CISCE-affiliated schools. The ISC Class 12 Term 2 exam began on April 26 and will culminate on June 13, 2025. CISCE board has reduced the ISC Class 12 syllabus for 2025. This step has been taken to reduce the load for students as a result of Covid-19 related disruptions.

In this article, students can download the term-wise ISC Class 12 Syllabus for subjects such as Mathematics, Science, English, and other subjects in PDF form. The ISC Class 12 results will be out soon in the month of July, 2025.We have covered all the aspects of ISC Class 12 such as syllabus, exam pattern, sample papers, marking scheme, ISC books, as well as other study materials which can be accessed for. Scroll down to find them all.

ISC Class 12 Board: Overview

The ISC 12th curriculum is designed in a way that aims to improve oral and writing skills, along with in-depth learning of various concepts, which focuses on the overall development of students. All students who have cleared Class 11th from schools affiliated to CISCE can apply for the ISC 12th exams. Before moving to details of the ISC exam, let’s have an overview of the exam and ISC contact details:

Name of ExamIndian School Certificate (ISC)
Name of BoardCouncil for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
Established1958
Medium of InstructionEnglish
Grading SystemPercentage/Marks
Address (Head Office)Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) P 35-36, Sector VI Pushp Vihar, Saket New Delhi – 110017
Telephone Number(011) 29564831/33/37
E-Mail[email protected]
Official Websitecisce.org
Fax Number(011) 29564735

ISC Board Exam Dates

ISC Board conducts all school-level board exams for subjects including English as a compulsory subject and a list of elective subjects. The list of electives contains subjects like Geography, Sociology, History, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Home Science, etc. CISCE conducts Indian School Certificate (ISC) examinations every year in February or March. The Semester 1 exams were conducted from November 15, however, the board has postponed the exam until further notice. The Semester 2 exams will be held in March/April 2025 (tentative).

Moreover, the overall syllabus for ISC 2025 exam is reduced. You can check the latest ISC semester-wise syllabus 2025 here on this page. In the table below, we have provided tentative dates for ISC Semester 1 and Semester 2 exam 2025-26:

ISC Semester 1 Exam EventsExam Dates
Release of ISC 2025-26 Timetable for Semester 1September 2025
Release of ISC 12th Admit CardOctober 2025
ISC Class 12 Semester 1 Exam BeginNovember 2, 2025
ISC Class 12 Semester 1 Exam EndDecember 30, 2025
Declaration of ISC 12th Semester 1 ResultFebruary 07, 2025

Below is the exam overview of ISC Class 12 Term 2 2025 exam:

ISC Semester 2 Exam EventsExam Dates
Release of ISC 2025-26 Timetable for Semester 2March 15, 2025
ISC Class 12 Semester 2 Exam BeginApril 26, 2025
ISC Class 12 Semester 2 Exam EndJune 13, 2025
Declaration of ISC 12th Semester 2 ResultJuly 2025
Conduct of ISC Compartment/Improvement Exams 2025To be announced

ISC Class 12 Practice Tests

In the table below we have provided Mock Tests and Practice Questions for all ISC Class 12 students. Make the best use of these learning resources and take your preparation to the next level. To take a mock test or practice questions on the Embibe platform, you just need to sign up and select your goal as “ISC Class 12“.

Students can take chapter-wise tests or full subject tests as many times as you want. Moreover, we have provided accurate practice questions for a wide variety of topics for different subjects. If you are an engineering or medical aspirant, Embibe offers mock tests and practice questions to boost your score. Make the best use of these resources:

Engineering (JEE Main) Mock TestEngineering (JEE Main) Practice Questions
Medical (NEET) Mock TestMedical (NEET) Practice Questions
ISC Class 12 Mock TestISC Class 12 Practice Questions

List of Subjects in ISC Class 12

For ISC Class 11 and 12 students, English is a compulsory subject. Students from all the three preferred streams: Science, Commerce and Arts must study English as a compulsory subject. Apart from English, there are some elective subjects of all the streams from which students need to choose their subject of interest.

Compulsory Subject

  1. English
  2. Science Stream – Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
  3. Commerce Stream – Accounts, Economics, Commerce
  4. Humanities Stream- Psychology, Economics, History, Hindi*, Elective English, Art, Mathematics, Computer Science*, Sociology, Political Science*, Geography (any four)

Elective Subjects

1. Indian Languages
2. Modern Foreign Languages: Chinese, French, German, Tibetan, Spanish
3. Classical Languages: Arabic, Sanskrit, Persian
4. Elective English
5. History
6. Political Science
7. Geography
8. Sociology
9. Psychology
10. Economics
11. Commerce
12. Accounts
13. Business Studies
14. Mathematics
15. Physics

16. Chemistry
17. Biology
18. Home Science
19. Fashion Designing
20. Electricity and Electronics
21. Engineering Science
22. Computer Science
23. Geometrical and Mechanical Drawing
24. Geometrical and Building Drawing
25. Art
26. Music: (a) Indian Music – Hindustani, (b) Indian Music – Carnatic, (c) Western Music
27. Physical Education
28. Environmental Science
29. Biotechnology

ISC Class 12 Reduced Syllabus

CISCE has reduced the syllabus of main subjects for class 12 for the academic year 2025-2026. In the official notification, the board has said that the syllabus has been reduced in view of the continuous pandemic situation and the difficulties being faced by the schools in transacting the syllabus. The ISC subjects for which the syllabus has been reduced namely are History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Commerce, Accounts, Business Studies, Computer Science, Environmental Science, and Biotechnology.

Project Work for ISC Class 12 2025

Project work has been introduced in the selected subjects at the ISC level from the examination year 2024 onwards. The following subjects will have Project work from 2025 for 20 Marks:

  1. English
  2. Indian Languages
  3. Classical Languages
  4. Modern Foreign Languages
  5. Elective English
  6. Mathematics
  7. Electricity and Electronics
  8. Engineering Science
  9. Geometrical and Mechanical Drawing
  10. Geometrical and Building Drawing

ISC Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025

The ISC 2025 exam pattern will help students understand the paper pattern, marking scheme, and types of questions asked in the exam. If you want to score maximum marks in the exam, you have to be prepared to solve questions effectively in less time. That’s where the exam pattern for ISC Class 12 will help you. We have provided the detailed exam pattern of ISC 12th 2025 for different subjects in the table below:

Subject Types of Questions AskedTotal Marks
English Paper 1Composition, directed writing, short answer questions based on grammar and comprehension100
English Paper 2One textual question (compulsory) on the Shakespeare play/alternative prescribed play together with four other questions on at least three texts, which may include the Shakespeare play/alternative play.100
Indian LanguagesComposition, comprehension, grammar and questions from prescribed textbooks100
Modern Foreign LanguagesShort composition, passage, unseen passage and questions and prescribed textbooks100
Classical LanguagesQuestions on grammar, unseen translation and translation from the prescribed textbooks100
Elective EnglishQuestions are based on prose, drama and poetry100
MathematicsQuestions are asked from algebra, calculus, vectors, probability, and linear programming among others100
Fashion DesigningQuestions are based on definitions of fashion, design details, wardrobe planning, and designers70
Electricity and ElectronicsCompulsory short answer questions and long questions. The topics are based on the distribution of electric power, D.C. generator and motor, A.C. motor, wires, cables, and electrical wires.100 
Engineering ScienceShort answer questions and long questions are based on friction, limiting friction, machines, power, and momentum.100 
Computer ScienceCompulsory short answer questions and there are more sections, where questions are asked from Boolean Algebra, Computer Hardware, Implementation of algorithms to solve problems, etc.70 
Geometrical and Mechanical DrawingCandidates are required to answer all questions. The preparation of working drawings and assemblies from dimensioned sketches based on the following- fastening (nuts, bolts, studs, keys, cotters, pins, locking devices), rigid and flexible joints, screw threads wheels and transmission of motion and power100 
Geometrical and Building DrawingThe questions are based on building drawing should be based on the form and construction of simple buildings and parts of buildings; small dwelling houses (single and two stories), garages, sheds and greenhouses.100 
ArtDrawing or painting from still life, drawing and painting from nature, drawing and painting of a living person100
MusicThe syllabus is divided into three parts Vocal, Instrumental and Tabla. Candidates need to choose one of them70 
Physical EducationThe theory paper is divided into two sections A and B. Candidates are required to answer five questions out of seven from Section A, each carrying 8 marks. Section B is based on questions on major games in the syllabus.70 
Environmental ScienceCompulsory short questions answer and other questions are based on human beings and nature, Population and Conservation Ecology and monitoring population70 

ISC Class 12 Board Study Materials

Students who want to score excellent marks in ISC board exams must refer to the study materials provided here. You have to study hard and with utmost dedication and planning to get the pass certificate from one of the toughest education boards in India, ISC. To help you in your studies, we at Embibe have provided you with different study materials including textbooks, sample papers, and previous year papers.

Books for ISC Class 12

Textbooks are an essential part of ISC preparation. CISCE provides a list of standard books from which the schools can choose for teaching students. There is no textbook published or provided by the council. ISC board books will help students to prepare effectively for the upcoming board exam. The list of subject-wise ISC books for Class 12 are listed in the table below:

Physics(i) ISC Physics Book II for Class XII by P. Vivekanandan, D.K. Banerjee and Anand V. Karthik
(ii) Nootan ISC Physics Class XII by Kumar.Mittal
(iii) New Simplified Physics, For Class 12th by S. L. Arora
Chemistry(i) Nootan ISC Chemistry for Class 12 by HC Srivastava
(ii) S Chand ISC Chemistry for Class 12 by RD Madan and BS Bisht
(iii) Physical and Inorganic Chemistry by KL Chugh
Biology(i) S. Chand A Textbook of ISC Biology Class 12 by Sarita Aggarwal
(ii) Nootan ISC Biology Class 12 by VK Singh and DK Jain
Mathematics(i) S. Chand’s ISC Mathematics Class – XII by O.P. Malhotra, S.K. Gupta, Anubhuti Gangal
(ii) ISC Mathematics Class 12 – R D Sharma ( Vol 1 & Vol 2) by R D Sharma
(iii) Understanding I.S.C. Mathematics Class XII by M.L. Aggarwal

ISC Class 12 Result 2025

ISC result 2025-26 for Semester 2 will be declared tentatively in July 2025 on the official website of CISCE. The Semester 1 ISC 12th Result 2025-2026 was declared on February 7, 2025. Students can check their ISC Result 2025 using their course code, candidate UID, and index number at the CISCE official website.

Let’s see the result statistics for the last year:

  1. Total boys: 50,459
  2. Total girls: 43,552
  3. Pass percentage of boys: 99.66 per cent
  4. Pass percentage of girls: 99.86 per cent

We will update the result statistics for ISC 2025 once the results are declared.

ISC 12th Board Preparation Tips

Here are some expert tips on how to prepare for ISC Class 12 exam:

  1. Know your syllabus: You must be well aware of the complete syllabus of ISC Class 12 before you commence your board exam preparation. Go through the entire syllabus and understand all the topics and chapters which are important. Then focus on those topics which carry more weightage.
  2. Study material: ISC Class 12 study materials play a very important role when it comes to board exam preparation. Collect all the important resources such as sample papers, textbooks, and previous year papers. All the important study materials are provided here. You can download them and start practicing.
  3. Take mock tests: No matter the amount of studying, your ISC Class 12 board exam preparation is never complete without solving practice questions or taking mock tests. At Embibe, you can practice as well as take mock tests on any subject and chapter.
  4. Time management: Do not ever attempt to finish one subject at a time and then to move on another subject, always work on every subject with divided time. Give equal time to every subject daily in your ISC Class 12 board exam preparation. It reduces the boredom as well as enables you to finish the portion in a planned way.

FAQs on ISC Class 12 Board Exam

Q.1: Is ISC Class 12 syllabus reduced for 2025-26?
Ans:
Yes, CISCE has reduced the syllabus of main subjects for the ISC Class 12 Exam. This is done to compensate for the loss caused due to COVID-19.
Q.2: How does CISCE calculate the percentage of the ISC exam if there are six subjects?
Ans:
ISC Board selects the best four subjects out of the six subjects. There are 5 groups in which the marks of Literature and English are combined and calculated out of 100. Out of the rest 4 subjects, 3 subjects are selected in accordance with the highest mark obtained, basically the best 3 out of 4.
Q.3: Are there subject choices in ISC Class 12? How many subjects I can choose from?
Ans:
For ISC Board Class 12 students, English is a compulsory subject. Moreover, there are 29 elective subjects out of which students need to choose 3, 4 and 5 of them depending on their choice of stream and the options the college will provide.
Q.4: Are ISC Class 12 board exams tough?
Ans:
ISC Board English is considered tougher as compared to other boards, and other core subjects are more or less similar. As far as the syllabus is concerned, there is not much difference in the ISC syllabus compared to other boards such as CBSE. In fact, scoring marks is easier in ISC Class 12 because of lenient checking.
Q.5: Does the ISC board pass every student? What are the passing marks in each subject in ISC?
Ans:
No, CISCE does not pass every student. However, the passing percentage is comparatively high compared to other boards. This is because of certain factors such as easy papers, internal marking, and lenient checking of answer sheets.

Master 12th ISC Concepts with 3D Videos