ICSE Vs CBSE – Which is better?

Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are two of the top educational boards of India conducting Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. Whenever the decision to select the most suitable board for a student’s education arises, it is a tough decision. Well, both the Boards do have their advantages and disadvantages to serve.

In this writeup, we have shed some light upon some major aspects which differentiate ICSE from CBSE.

CBSE and ICSE both differ in their pattern of educational practices, syllabus and learning goals. Therefore, it is preferable that parents/guardians research well before sending their children to any Board.

Here are some facts regarding CBSE and ICSE Board that will guide the parents to choose the right Board for their kids.

• Syllabus:  While CBSE Board syllabus is more useful to the ones writing competitive exams like JEE, NEET etc., ICSE syllabus has nothing to learn there. Syllabus in CBSE Board is far superior to ICSE syllabus regarding theoretical knowledge also. But as far as practical knowledge is concerned, ICSE syllabus scores over CBSE syllabus.
• Level of Ease: CBSE Syllabus is more easy, well organized, and concise in comparison to the ICSE Syllabus. Though ICSE is at a higher level of English language compared to the remaining Boards, CBSE does not focus on the English language in preference to other languages. Due to its higher English language level, ICSE helps students score better in exams such as TOEFL.
• Acceptability: CBSE Board marks are well accepted in almost all universities of India. ICSE Certification is preferred in the case of foreign schools and universities.
• Difficulty Level: ICSE syllabus is a bit tougher compared to CBSE. The ICSE syllabus consists of higher internal assessments and concepts which are applicable at the practical level. For effective preparation, aspirants can take mock tests for each subject and get ready for the exams. Mock tests are available for free on Embibe.
• Transferability: individuals whose parents receive transfers very often, it is advisable to opt for CBSE because in nearly all the districts of India, there’s a CBSE school. However, the number of ICSE schools are much fewer in the nation compared to CBSE.
• Range of Subjects: ICSE provides a wide range of subjects. The board has a range of languages such as English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and more. ICSE even has Fashion Design, Agriculture, Home Science and Cookery for artistic minds. ICSE syllabus can be an improved choice for the ones who want to be an athlete, visual artist or scientist.
• Evaluation System: CBSE assesses the students on the basis of marks. In the case of ICSE, marks are displayed as numbers, thereby giving students an explicit idea about how much they have obtained.
• Regular and Private Candidates: Home schooled and non-regular candidates are allowed to write CBSE exams. However, students need to be from schools affiliated with ICSE to sit for ICSE exams.
• Medium of Instructions: As far as the medium of instruction and practices are concerned, CBSE board adopts English and Hindi but ICSE only English.

CBSE Board: A Glimpse

• CBSE board adopts the national curriculum and is endorsed by the NCERT(National Council of Research and Education Training).
  
• CBSE conducts Board examinations for Classes 10 and 12, primarily every March.
• CBSE offers books and other English, Hindi, and Urdu study material on the website.
• CBSE is responsible for most prestigious competitive exams such as JEE, AIPMT, NEET, etc.
  
• There are 24000 schools affiliated to CBSE in India.
• CBSE confirms student-centricity through offering interactive study material.

ICSE Board: A Glimpse

• The ICSE board is governed by CISCE (Council of Indian school Certificate Examination). The council is non-governmental and administers ICSE examination at the end of grade 10, after which ICSE becomes ISC(Indian School Certificate) and administers examination at the end of grade 12.
  
• There are approximately 2300 ICSE-affiliated schools in India.
• ICSE forces students to undergo examination in six subjects and socially useful, practical work.
• ICSE curriculum is long, and application-based method is followed to teach.
• All subjects are placed under three categories with the first one having the required subjects and second and third one giving space for the student to choose your subjects.
  

Difference Between CBSE and ICSE

Despite their varied approach towards teaching, both CBSE and ICSE emphasize the development of professionally successful individuals. In the last few years, both the Boards have transformed their method of teaching. Rather than adhering to rote learning, both the boards are attempting to adopt a method of teaching whereby students learn through practice and experimentation. Both Boards are accepted by the majority of the colleges and universities in India.

Pros and Cons of CBSE

Pros

• Competitive tests such as JEE Main and NEET are patterned on the syllabus of the CBSE Board.
• CBSE Board syllabus is simpler compared to ICSE. CBSE syllabus is more concise in structure and has fewer branches. Secondary classes are not necessary. Papers such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology fall under Science while History, Geography, and Civics fall under Social Science.
  
• There Are even more CBSE schools in the nation. So if your parents need to shift from one city to another, CBSE is the correct option.
  
• CBSE syllabus gives greater emphasis on subjects such as science and mathematics.

Cons

• Although there are practical subjects, the emphasis is not only on practical knowledge. Core English Language has not been the main priority of the CBSE Board as opposed to other Boards.
  
• In CBSE, all subjects are dealt with in a purely theoretical way only, and less stress is given on real-life ideas. Although application of ideas plays an important part in the syllabus of CBSE, less stress is given to deep knowledge.
  

Pros and Cons of ICSE

Pros

• A better and fuller syllabus is followed by ICSE Board, including all subjects equally.
• Students who want to have a career in management and humanities will enjoy ICSE more and find it more worthwhile.
  
• ICSE certificates are accepted and adhered to all over the world, particularly by international schools and universities, as compared to CBSE certificates.
• As more emphasis is placed on English, students who studied under the ICSE board will be one step ahead in exams such as TOEFL.
  
• Students have greater freedom when choosing specific subjects.

Cons

• The students may feel that the subjects are greater and heavier.
• Even though the syllabus is greater, proving beneficial for further studies, when it is the Indian School Certificate Exam, checking is stricter, impacting the marks.
  

Puran Murti Global is a K-12 co-educational school offering CBSE curriculum. With a vision to bring about unparalleled learning outcomes with a 21st-century skill development-based pedagogy, the school fosters a cohesive educational ecosystem which is driven by a team of highly qualified and motivated teachers from across India.