ICSE Class 10 exams begin, Pune students say English paper easy but ‘time management was tricky’

The ICSE Class 10 examination is conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).

The examination is conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). (Source: File)

Written by: Alister Augustine, Anvika Patil

4 min readPuneFeb 19, 2025 11:23 AM IST First published on: Feb 18, 2025 at 09:31 PM IST

As the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) Class 10 examinations began on Tuesday, students in Pune said that the English paper was easier compared to previous years. While many appreciated the straightforward questions, some struggled with time management.

The examination is conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).

Annette Xavier, a student at Vidyanchal School in Aundh, noted the English paper was much easier than last year’s, particularly in terms of comprehension and grammar. “The essay topics were quite straightforward. I was able to structure my answers well. However, time management was a bit tricky as I wanted to ensure my answers were detailed but also within the word limit. Overall, it was a smooth paper, and I feel confident about my performance,” she said.

Her classmate Sonali Ingale echoed similar thoughts and said it was easy. “I struggled to complete it on time. I found the literature section manageable, as I had revised it thoroughly. But, the writing section took longer than expected. I had to rush toward the end and couldn’t complete one answer properly. Despite that, I feel I’ve done well and expect good marks. Compared to last year’s paper, this one was simpler, but time was the real challenge for me,” Ingale said on Tuesday.

Students from other schools echoed similar sentiments. Timothy Hillis, a student from Bishops School, Camp, remarked, “The questions were very direct and straightforward, so I didn’t have to stress about the answers.”

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Tanay Solanki, also from the same school, said, “Ninety per cent of the paper was easy, and the remaining 10 per cent was a bit tricky. But even the 10 per cent was not so bad.”

Shlok Jain, another student from Bishops, remarked that the paper had to-the-point questions. “The preliminary exams were way tougher than the actual board exam. The paper wasn’t too challenging, and it didn’t require a lot of out-of-context work.”

Anushka Shetty, a student from Caelum High School, highlighted the importance of time management. “Time management is crucial during any exam, and I had to face that challenge today. The language paper is usually lengthy, and today’s English paper was also lengthy. But I had to manage my time and complete my paper on time, which I did. English is my favourite subject, and I practised a lot for this exam.

Today’s exam was the best one, and the paper was easy, especially the grammar questions—I love solving them. I can say that 95% of the paper was easy, and only 5% was tough,” Shetty said.

An English language teacher at an ICSE school told The Indian Express that this year’s paper was easier compared to previous years, especially in terms of comprehension and grammar. “Thankfully, the essay topics for writing skills were student-friendly, which allowed them to express themselves clearly. A well-structured and straightforward paper helps students gain confidence and perform better. It also ensures that they can showcase their true potential without unnecessary stress. I believe this will reflect in their results, and they will be encouraged to approach future exams with geater self-assurance,” the teacher, who wished to remain unnamed, said.