Education plays an essential role in shaping children’s future. Every child has unique needs and learning paces. Depending on them, various boards are available. Many parents are curious and perplexed about which educational board will provide children with an excellent education. The international school in Dubai mainly offers two curricula, CBSE and ICSE. It is challenging for them to choose between the two as their educational philosophy is built on experiential learning. Let’s examine the difference between the ICSE and CBSE curricula.
Difference between CBSE and ICSE board
The Syllabus
The significant difference is that the ICSE curriculum is comprehensive, detailed, and complex for students to follow, whereas the CBSE curriculum is clear and straightforward.
The teaching strategies used by the ICSE board place more emphasis on the practical application of theoretical principles and ideas from everyday life. In contrast, the CBSE curriculum is condensed and has fewer subjects to study.
The CBSE boards place the most significant emphasis on science and mathematics. However, the ICSE boards focus equally on other disciplines, including art, math, humanity, etc.
The Medium of Teaching
ICSE focuses more on the English language, which can help students pass TOEFL, IELTS, and other standardised exams. Furthermore, The ICSE Board also emphasises literature and language skills to improve a student’s personality. On the contrary, CBSE has no preference for language.
The Acceptance
For students applying to universities abroad, ICSE is more popular. Although the CBSE board is more widely accepted, students with an ICSE credential typically receive more credit abroad.
Scholarship Offering
The ICSE education board does not offer any scholarships to its students. On the contrary, the CBSE education board sponsors many talent search exams and awards scholarships to students in different ways.
The Marking System
For the CBSE Board, the total marks will be given out of 100, with each term receiving 40 theoretical points and 10 points for internal assessment. It results in 100 points, with each of the two periods accounting for 50 points. To pass, students must receive a grade of at least 33% in each subject.
For ICSE, 80% of the marks will come from external evaluations and 20% from internal assessments. The final score is determined by adding the two total scores.
The Exam Pattern
In 2022, the class 10th ICSE Board test is broken into two sections: Tier 1 will have multiple-choice questions, while Tier 2 will include both subjective and objective questions.
The CBSE board syllabus is broken up into two terms; term 1 consists of case-based and assertion-reasoning type multiple-choice questions. Term 2 includes short and extended responses, open-ended questions, and questions based on cases and situations.
The Grading System
CBSE has an alphabetical grading system, while ICSE evaluates by obtaining exam scores.
CBSE grading system
| Grade | Grade point | Marks Range |
| A1 | 10 | 91-100 |
| A2 | 9 | 81-90 |
| B1 | 8 | 71-80 |
| B2 | 7 | 61-70 |
| C1 | 6 | 51-60 |
| C2 | 5 | 41-50 |
| D | 4 | 33-40 |
| E1 and E2 | 0 | 21-32 |
The decision to choose between the two education boards is difficult. The two boards’ certificates are recognized internationally, and their education is of the highest quality. However, both boards have pros and cons, as you now know. The above differences between CBSE and ICSE education boards can help parents choose the best school education board for their kids. In addition to boards, however, you should remember that individual studies and efforts matter more. A sustained and diligent effort can help your child shine in their career, regardless of which board they attend.
