Does ICSE Follow NCERT Books?

Whether you are a parent or a student, these questions have crossed your mind like which educational board is the best, whether educational boards follow each other, which board is easier and many more. Among all these, one of the most common questions the parents and students ask is, “Does ICSE follow NCERT books?”

One should clear confusion about NCERT-based and ICSE books, along with their specific syllabus and curriculum designed for their students. ICSE board books are tailored for students to tackle their board exams and are followed in every ICSE board institution, whereas NCERT books are tailored for students in CBSE board or state board institutions. 

And, students from the ICSE board should know that the content and the style of education and teaching are very much different in the CBSE board schools. Even when there might be some specific topics that might be the same in ICSE and NCERT books, ICSE books are specific about topics.

Understanding ICSE and NCERT

ICSE Overview

The ICSE or CISCE ( Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination), is a well-known private board of education in the country that aspires to deliver exceptional and excellent education. This educational board focuses on language proficiency which concludes in exclusive and strong communication skills to the students. 

There are total of 6-8 mandatory subjects like English, Art, Drama, Environmental Education, Physical Education and others for students to study in the ICSE board. The education and the syllabus they offer prepare the students to understand the educational system of other countries like Australia, the USA and others. 

NCERT Overview

NCERT ( National Council of Educational Research and Training) is an established and independent organisation that falls under the Government of India and is known to provide assistance and suggestions to the state and the central government regarding the improvement programmes for the standardisation of education in the country. 

The books of NCERT are designed with the National Curriculum Framework that makes sure that the teaching in the schools is to the point, the latest and comprehensive. The books and the syllabus designed by NCERT are used by all the CBSE board schools and state board schools across the country. 

NCERT emphasises the concepts and presents them in a straightforward, uncomplicated, logical and organised way for the students to learn.

The Relationship Between ICSE and NCERT

Use of NCERT in ICSE Schools

The NCERT books are mainly designed for the CBSE board schools but some ICSE board schools apply NCERT books for the students as the NCERT books are very clear, understandable, logical and concise clarifications and descriptions. The ICSE board schools apply these books to strengthen the basic knowledge to students before they get into some sturdy topics in the ICSE syllabus. 

The ICSE students who dream of clearing the prestigious entrance tests such as UPSC, ICAR, JEE, NEET and others need to read NCERT-based books in their preparations. Also, the syllabus and books in ICSE are sometimes a bit tough for the students to get but NCERT books are generally easy to understand and offer clear concepts on specific topics. 

Differences in Curriculum Approach

The National Council of Educational Research and Training and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education have goals to offer quality and standard education to all but both have certain differences in their curriculum approach. 

The approach of ICSE is highly detailed and broad while the NCERT approach is very much focused and conceptual also, ICSE emphasises in-depth education in Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities while NCERT focuses on the foundation of Math, Social Studies and Science. 

Also, the ICSE board highly concentrates on the internal assessments ( practical projects, experiments and assignments) whereas the NCERT curriculum focuses less on the overall assessments.

The examinations of the ICSE board are very descriptive and analytical where students need to answer in a very detailed and well-structured manner, the NCERT-based examinations are highly objective sort of questions where students need to answer short-answer questions. 

Pros and Cons of Using NCERT Books for ICSE Students

Let’s get to know some of the pros and cons related to the use of NCERT books by ICSE students –

Pros

• The National Council of Educational Research and Training books principally focus on making up comprehensible and understandable theories in Science and Mathematics. This will ultimately aid students from ICSE backgrounds while studying the tough topics. 
• The ICSE books are based on the latest syllabus of national-level competitive exams such as ICAR, NEET, UPSC, and JEE. It provides ICSE students with a head start in their preparation.
• If a student comes from an ICSE background and wishes to get transferred to a CBSE board, their familiarity with the NCERT books is going to make their transition way too uncomplicated.  

Cons

• When it comes to the ICSE syllabus, it is way too limited and way too comprehensive in comparison to the NCERT books. 
• The layout of the questions in NCERT books is solely made to suit the exam structure of the CBSE board whereas the ICSE exam structure emphasises exclusively the more descriptive answers. 
• Applied learning and practical applications are welcomed in the ICSE board books while theories are more focused when it comes to the NCERT books. 
• NCERT-based books and syllabi are not going to assist the ICSE students in any way with their board examinations and they need to stick with good reference materials that are specially designed for the ICSE board examinations. 

Recommendations for ICSE Students

Best Practices for Studying

• The syllabus of ICSE is all about deep knowledge of the concepts and topics.  Hence, preparing the best ICSE board books for reference is essential. Check out ICSE Class 10 Question Banks and ICSE Class 10 Sample Papers that are exam-designed and give you detailed coverage for every topic. 
• For ICSE board exams like class 10th board, students should never try to follow and read the NCERT-based books as they are strictly designed for the students of CBSE board examinations.
• Just reading and cramming is not going to help as it is said that practice is the only way to maximise the success rate and it applies even in the ICSE board examination for the students. 

Importance of Reference Materials

• When students reach their 10th in the ICSE boards, parents and students look for the right ICSE books for the preparations as, students must get used to the question pattern set up by the ICSE board plus, the way answers they expect from students to write and only the right reference material can assist in this. 

Our ICSE question banks, solved PYQs and mock tests can be the best guide on your preparation journey and help you to be exam ready. Not only do the materials cover the topics as per the latest syllabus but strictly follow the trends to help you analyse the usual question patterns and commonly asked questions. 

• Every ICSE student wishes to succeed in their examinations but only sticking to their textbooks is not going to help them and they need to look for some good reference materials that will hold their hands in the preparations for board exams. 

Wrapping Up

The answer to the question, “ Does ICSE follow NCERT books?” is no! ICSE board does not follow the NCERT books, syllabus or curriculum. Students from the ICSE board have to follow the syllabus and the curriculum set up by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations. 

The books designed for the students by the ICSE board explain the concepts and theories with deep knowledge and the applications of those in their real lives. There are so many solved and even unsolved examples in the ICSE books for the students to understand certain topics and enhance the critical thinking skills of students.

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