Difference between CBSE and ICSE Syllabus

               The choice of board makes a significant difference in the early development of the child and his/her exposure to the kind of education system that we have in the Indian education system. Two of the most recognized boards of education that one gets to opt for are CBSE and ICSE. The education system is split into primary, secondary and senior secondary levels. These levels play a significant role in building up one’s career goals and achievements.

            CBSE is responsible for preparing the syllabus for the secondary and senior secondary levels. It is one of the most preferred boards in India. It follows the national curriculum along with additional subject matter. The board conducts two examinations — the All India Secondary School Examination, AISSE and the All India Senior School Certificate Examination, AISSCE. CBSE is recognized by the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) with the aim to operate a chain of central schools that could cater to the government employees who are in transferable jobs. Several private schools have started to offer CBSE since a lot of private sector employees are also moving from place to place. The CBSE syllabus is very structured, highly predictable and controlled. All national entrance examinations are conducted as per this syllabus.

            ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) on the other hand is conducted by yet another board, CISCE or the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination. It is like AISSE conducted by CBSE. An offshoot of the Cambridge IGCSE that existed during the British regime was taken over by the Anglo-Indian Board and is now governed by the ‘Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations’. ICSE has taken in a lot of structures from the NCERT Textbooks. At Grade 10, it is as of now is the toughest board examination. ISC (Class XII) is equally difficult to crack owing to its extremely detailed syllabus.

            CBSE approves both English and Hindi language as the medium of instructions whereas ICSE does not recommend Hindi. CBSE is affiliated to many schools all over India. The board allows both regular candidates, who study in CBSE schools, as well as private candidates from non-affiliated schools to appear in the exams. Contrary to this, ICSE does not allow a candidate who has not been studying in an ICSE affiliated school to appear for the exams. CBSE is recognized by Indian government and ICSE is not. Although the certificates provided by both are globally valid, yet CBSE has a better footing in the subcontinent than ICSE. CISCE is now recognized by many foreign education systems as equivalent to senior examination or high school. The syllabus prepared by CBSE is more suitable for qualifying in various entrance examinations, including the medical and engineering professional exams. The syllabus of ICSE is more detailed and requires the student to remember a lot. CBSE is comparatively easier than ICSE.

            Both CBSE and ICSE have a slightly different focus in terms of course content. CBSE is extremely focused on science and math with a lot of attention paid to the application of knowledge. ICSE on the other hand is more balanced with equal focus on language, arts and science. One more point of distinction between the two boards is the evaluation and assessment of students. In ICSE, internal assessments are vital and practical tests are aggregated with the overall scores. ICSE lays more emphasis on lab work. Also, a career in English Literature or Language is best suited for ICSE students. With the changing times both the boards are aiming for active learning.

            CBSE and ICSE prescribe a certain teaching approach, and both have undergone significant change over the past 10 years. The focus has majorly increased on learning through experience and experimentation rather than through one-way teaching. In India, most parents are unsatisfied with the standards of education provided by CBSE. They feel that the learning and grooming process needs to be more thorough in CBSE when compared to what ICSE offers. ICSE includes the detailed study of subjects and an edge over English literature and language and is more flexible in nature. Both the boards are recognized by colleges/universities in India. However, the CBSE curriculum doesn’t provide students with academic luxuries. ICSE board has a lot of combinations to offer to students - such as computer science, environmental science and even interior design in a lot of schools. In various states of India ICSE is given the first preference whereas CBSE is recognized in most of the schools. To conclude, both have their pros and cons and form an extremely vital part of the Indian Education System.