ICSE Class 10 Art Syllabus 2026-27
ICSE Class 10 Syllabus |
ICSE Class 10 Art is built around a 100 plus 100 marking scheme, but with a twist that catches many students off guard, the external examination is actually four separate papers, and each candidate offers only any two of them. Add a fully practical internal assessment, and the subject rewards steady studio practice through the year just as much as exam day skill. This guide lays out all four papers, the strict rules that govern them, the internal assessment structure and the marking criteria for the current session.
The page is reviewed regularly against the official CISCE curriculum, so it can be used as a dependable single reference while planning practice and portfolio work.
Quick Overview: Exam Structure
Art carries a total of 200 marks, split between the external examination and internal assessment.
Component | Marks |
External Examination (2 papers chosen from 4) | 100 marks each |
Internal Assessment (practical work in art) | 100 |
Total | 200 |
Each external paper is 100 marks and 3 hours long, but candidates sit only two of the four papers on offer, so choosing the right pair early is one of the most important decisions in this subject. CISCE's own documentation lists the external component this way and totals the exam at 200 marks overall, so for the exact method used to combine the two paper scores into the final external mark, always check the latest circular at cisce.org.
Part 1: The Four External Papers (Choose Any Two)
Paper 1: Drawing and/or Painting from Still Life
A group of objects, artificial or natural, such as cut flowers, fruit, vegetables, a growing plant, or domestic items, arranged for drawing or painting. If the group is painted rather than drawn, the background must be included, and the group is placed below the candidate's eye level so every student gets an uninterrupted view.
Paper 2: Drawing and/or Painting from Nature
This paper offers two alternatives, and the candidate chooses one.
● Alternative A, Structure of Natural Forms: a spray or branch, flowers, foliage, fruit, fossils or bones, drawn to show an understanding of natural growth and structure. The specimen's name is written on the back of the drawing, and the container itself must never be drawn.
● Alternative B, Direct Study from Nature: a subject set for drawing or painting out of doors, with clear evidence of direct observation.
Paper 3: Original Imaginative Composition in Colour
Candidates receive a list of alternative subjects one week, or not less than seven days, before the examination, then execute the actual composition inside the exam room. Sketches, notes or preparatory work cannot be brought into the exam room, since this paper specifically tests original, unaided work. Monochrome is not accepted as satisfying the colour requirement for this paper.
Paper 4: Applied Art
Candidates answer any one question from a set testing craftwork restricted to flat paper, ink and colour, such as a book cover, a poster, a greeting or invitation card, or a patterned paper for a specific purpose. Unlike the first three papers, instruments and tracing paper are permitted here, though used sparingly.
Rules That Apply Across All Papers
● No mechanical means: measuring or ruling instruments are not allowed in Papers 1 to 3, since these test free drawing and painting. Only Paper 4 permits instruments.
● Materials: any medium is acceptable if suitable for the subject, but painted work must be in a quick drying medium and completely dry before dispatch. Acrylic paint must be mixed with water.
● Paper size: the examination centre supplies paper of about 35 cm by 25 cm, though candidates may work up to Half-Imperial or Royal size (65 cm by 50 cm) if they provide their own. Work on stiff board or mounted work cannot be accepted.
● Packing: all drawings must be packed flat, never rolled, with larger sheets folded across the middle.
● Candidate identification: names go on the front, top right corner, and on the back of the work. Writing anything else on the front can cost marks.
● Distance from the subject: for Papers 1 and 2, candidates sit no more than 4 metres from the group, arranged in a semicircle rather than a full circle, and the room must have good light without direct sunlight falling on the subject.
Part 2: Internal Assessment (100 Marks)
The internal assessment blends ongoing course work with a set of finished pieces submitted specifically for the external examiner.
Course work
Candidates practise sketching, painting and drawing through the year, with suggested activities including pottery, sculpture, carving, relief work in clay or plaster, block printing, batik, tie and dye, printmaking, creative photography, cartoon and portrait drawing, and animation.
Finished work
In addition to course work, candidates submit four pieces of finished artwork, which may be based on the syllabus, the suggested practical topics, or any other aspect of art, for assessment by the external examiner.
How the work is assessed
Both the teacher and the external examiner assess artwork on impression, grouping pieces together and weighing imaginative expression, quality of pattern, line and materials, skill in the use of tools and materials, and use of colour.
Evaluator | Marks |
Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner) | 50 |
External Examiner | 50 |
Total | 100 |
How to Prepare for ICSE Class 10 Art
● Choose your two external papers early and commit to them, since preparation for Still Life, Nature Drawing, Imaginative Composition and Applied Art each demands a different kind of practice.
● For Paper 3, practise turning a title or theme into a full composition within a fixed time, since no sketches or preparatory notes can be brought into the exam room.
● For Papers 1 and 2, practise working without rulers or measuring aids, since freehand accuracy is exactly what is being tested.
● For Paper 4, build a small portfolio of lettering styles and layout ideas for book covers, posters and cards, since instruments are allowed here but only sparingly recommended.
● Keep every practice piece packed flat, never rolled, to build the habit the exam itself demands.
● Spread your four finished pieces for internal assessment across different techniques, painting, printmaking, sculpture or photography, to show range rather than repeating one style four times.
Why Trust This Syllabus Guide
This page is compiled and maintained by the Future Topper editorial team and reviewed by Nimish Chhabra, co-founder of Future Topper, an ICSE and ISC study material platform built specifically around board-aligned, syllabus-mapped content for Indian students. The structure and topics listed here are mapped against the official CISCE curriculum for Art, and the page is checked periodically to reflect any changes the council issues.
For the legally binding version of the syllabus, always cross check the latest circular published directly by CISCE at cisce.org. This page is intended as a study companion, not a replacement for the official document.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many external papers are there in ICSE Class 10 Art, and how many must be attempted?
There are four papers in total, Still Life, Nature Drawing, Imaginative Composition and Applied Art, and candidates attempt any two of them.
How long is each external paper and how many marks does it carry?
Each paper is 3 hours long and carries 100 marks.
Can rulers or measuring instruments be used in the drawing papers?
No. Papers 1, 2 and 3 do not allow mechanical means such as rulers or measuring instruments. Only Paper 4, Applied Art, permits instruments and tracing paper, and even then only sparingly.
Are sketches or preparatory notes allowed into the exam room for Paper 3?
No. For Paper 3, Original Imaginative Composition, candidates receive the subject list at least seven days in advance, but sketches or notes made beforehand cannot be taken into the examination room.
Does monochrome work satisfy the colour requirement in Paper 3?
No. The syllabus specifically states that monochrome is not accepted as satisfying the colour requirement for Paper 3.
How many finished artwork pieces are required for internal assessment?
Four pieces of finished artwork, submitted in addition to ongoing course work, specifically for assessment by the external examiner.
What paper size is used in the examination, and can students bring their own?
The centre supplies paper of about 35 cm by 25 cm. Students may work on a larger scale, up to Half-Imperial or Royal size (65 cm by 50 cm), if they provide it themselves, but stiff board or mounted work is not accepted.
How is internal assessment artwork actually marked?
It is marked on impression, with work grouped together and judged on imaginative expression, quality of pattern and line, skill with tools and materials, and use of colour.