ICSE vs IGCSE vs CBSE vs State Boards - Assessment Comparison

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

CBSE leans on structured, exam-heavy assessment, useful if your child is eyeing JEE, NEET, or similar competitive exams later.
What is ICSE? A board known for descriptive answers, strong English grounding, and detailed internal assessment across a wide subject range.
What is IGCSE? A Cambridge-developed, internationally benchmarked system that blends coursework, practicals, and external exams.
State Board Exams stay affordable and regionally relevant, though they lean more on memory-based recall than continuous project work.
There’s no single “best” board. The right one depends on how your child learns, not which name sounds the most impressive at a dinner table.

If you’ve sat through a parents’ WhatsApp group debate about CBSE versus ICSE, or wondered why your neighbour swears by IGCSE, you already know how confusing board comparisons can get. This guide cuts through that noise. We’ll walk you through how each board actually tests your child, not just what their prospectus claims, so you can make a decision that fits your child rather than the loudest opinion in the room.

At Vikaasa, we’ve run ICSE classrooms in Madurai since the 1970s, and we were the first school in the city to be affiliated with Cambridge for IGCSE. So, this isn’t a theory for us. It’s what we see in our classrooms every single day.

What Are the Main School Boards in India?

Most Indian parents end up choosing between four systems: CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, and the various State Boards. Each tests your child differently, weighing memory, application, and coursework in its own way. You’ll find plenty of IGCSE vs ICSE vs CBSE articles online that focus purely on subjects or school fees, but here’s the thing: assessment style matters just as much. It decides whether your child will thrive on long, reasoned answers, structured exam papers, or ongoing project work.

Before you pick a board, ask yourself this: does my child do better with steady, term-long effort, or do they perform well under focused exam pressure? That single question narrows things down faster than any comparison chart.

How Does CBSE Assess Students?

CBSE follows a fairly centralised structure. Your child will sit periodic tests throughout the term, and these feed into board examinations at the end of Class 10 and Class 12. Recent years have brought a 9-point relative grading system (A1 down to E) rather than raw percentages, with 80 marks from the theory exam and 20 from internal assessment.

Here’s what this typically looks like in practice:

Unit tests and periodic assessments throughout the year
A heavily weighted final board exam at Class 10 and Class 12
Internal assessment covering notebooks, projects, and subject enrichment activities
A grading scale rather than exact marks on the final report card

This format genuinely suits children preparing for competitive entrance tests, since it trains them to perform well under timed, high-stakes conditions, which is exactly what JEE and NEET demand.

What is ICSE and How Does It Test Knowledge?

What Is ICSE? It’s the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, run by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). If you’ve been researching ICSE Exam Preparation, you’ve probably noticed how much weight it places on English, detailed internal assessment, and a genuinely broad subject spread that includes art, computer applications, and environmental science alongside the usual core subjects.

Unlike a system that relies almost entirely on a single final paper, ICSE combines written exams with practical work and project submissions, especially in science and computer subjects. A few things stand out:

Answers are expected to be descriptive, not just objective or one-line
Internal assessment carries real weight, particularly in practical subjects
The subject list is wider than most other boards, building all-round exposure

This is part of why many ICSE schools, ours included, tend to produce students who write clearly and argue their points well. It’s a board that rewards depth of understanding over speed alone.

What is IGCSE and How is It Different?

What Is IGCSE? It’s the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, developed by Cambridge Assessment International Education. Parents looking into IGCSE Exam Preparation quickly notice that the IGCSE curriculum spreads assessment across coursework, practical assignments, and external exams, instead of placing all the weight on one paper at the end of the year.

A few practical points worth knowing:

Subjects are graded on an A* to G scale, benchmarked internationally
Many subjects offer core and extended paper options, depending on your child’s strength
Coursework and practicals genuinely count, not just the final exam

If you’re thinking about relocating abroad at some point, or you want your child’s qualification to carry weight at international universities, this flexibility and global benchmarking make a real difference.

How Do State Boards Evaluate Students?

State Board exams vary from state to state, but most follow a year-end written exam model, with regional language, history, and social science woven into the syllabus. State Board Exams are usually more affordable and accessible, and the syllabus tends to align closely with state-level entrance tests and government job exams.

The trade-off worth knowing about:

Assessment leans heavily on memory-based recall
Continuous project work is less emphasised compared to ICSE or IGCSE
Grading patterns and difficulty can differ noticeably between states

Which Board Suits Your Child Best?

Honestly, there isn’t a universal winner here. A child who enjoys writing long, reasoned answers and wants a strong English foundation may flourish under ICSE. A child likely to study or work overseas may benefit from Cambridge’s coursework-driven model and its globally recognised grading. A family anchored in India with an eye on engineering or medical entrance exams might lean towards CBSE, while State Boards remain a sensible, cost-effective choice for region-specific careers.

At our schools in Madurai, we’ve watched families weigh all this closely, and the right answer almost always comes down to how your child learns best, not which board has the loudest reputation in your social circle.

Board	Assessment Style	Best Suited For
CBSE	Exam-heavy, structured	Competitive exam preparation
ICSE	Descriptive, language-focused	Conceptual depth and writing skills
IGCSE	Coursework plus global grading	International exposure and flexibility
State Board	Memory-based, regional	Affordable, locally relevant education

Why Choose Vikaasa for Your Child’s Board Exam Journey?

Whichever board you lean towards, the right school makes all the difference. Vikaasa has offered ICSE since the 1970s and was the first school in Madurai affiliated with Cambridge for IGCSE, giving us decades of hands-on experience guiding students through both systems. Our teachers understand the assessment style of each board inside out, from descriptive ICSE answers to coursework-driven IGCSE evaluations. If you’d like personalised guidance on which curriculum suits your child, reach out to us for an admissions enquiry today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ICSE and CBSE assessment?

ICSE favours descriptive, application-based answers across a wider subject range, while CBSE focuses more on structured exams aligned with competitive entrance patterns.

What is ICSE in simple terms?

ICSE is a Class 10 board examination conducted by CISCE, known for detailed internal assessment and a strong emphasis on English and writing skills.

What is IGCSE and is it recognised in India?

IGCSE is an internationally benchmarked Cambridge qualification, and yes, it’s recognised by Indian universities and education boards for further study.

Which board has tougher exams, ICSE or IGCSE?

It really depends on your child. ICSE demands strong written expression, while IGCSE tests application and practical understanding through coursework and exams combined.

Are State Board exams easier than CBSE or ICSE?

Not necessarily easier, but they tend to be more memory-based and regionally focused, with less emphasis on project work compared to CBSE or ICSE.

How do I choose between IGCSE vs ICSE vs CBSE for my child?

Think about your child’s learning style and future academic plans, then match that with how each board actually assesses students, not just its reputation.

Choosing a board is, at the end of the day, about choosing how your child will be tested for the next several years. Take the time to match that process to your child’s strengths, and the rest tends to follow naturally. Enquire for more information!

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Vikaasa SCHOOL GLOBAL SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship ID	VSMDR-GSS-01/AY25-01
Applicable Curricula	ICSE, IGCSE, A LEVEL, ISC
Applicable Grades	7,8,9,10,11,12
Scholarship Tenure	2 year

Categories	Eligibility Criteria	Scholarship Value
Category A	Winner of the International Tournament as official representative of the Country	Other Benefits: upto 5L per year for 2 consecutive years Scholarship Value: 100%
Category B	Participated in the International Tournament as the official representative of the Country	Other Benefits: Upto 4L INR per year for 2 consecutive years Scholarship Value: 100%
Category C	Winner of the National Tournament as a State Player	Other Benefits: upto 2L INR per year for 2 consecutive years Scholarship Value: 100%
Category D	Participated in the National Tournament as a State player	Other Benefits: upto 1L INR per year for 2 consecutive years Scholarship Value: 100%
Category E	Participated in the National Tournament as a State player	Other Benefits: Nil Scholarship Value: 90%
Category F	Participated in the State Tournament as a District player	Other Benefits: Nil Scholarship Value: 90%

Scholarship Disbursal Criteria

Eligibility Criteria:

1) Applicants must have a National / International repute.
2) Applicants must come from a Moderate Income family(with Annual family income less than INR 5 Lacs).
3) Have a good academic performance for the past two years.
4) Must be affiliated with a Sports Coach or a recognized Sports Body/ Federation/ Academy.
5) Pass a skills test and Interview.
6) Be able to demonstrate strong evidence of future outstanding potential.
7) Have consistently played for the last 2 years, i.e. represented their country at national OR international levels in the last 2/3 years.
8) Be members of winner and runners-up teams and first/second or third position holders in individual events at National level OR
9) Have represented / winner of junior / senior National championships/ games for last 2 years OR
10) Have an outstanding achievement in sports at the international level, minimally at the SEA Games and/or at the other Major Games or equivalent competition OR
11) Be talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various International / National Level competitions

Scholarship Process

Step 1 : Application – Eligible candidate to submit the online application form.

Step 1A : Documentation – In the application form upload all prerequisite documents.

– Upload last 2 Years academic records.

– Family income documents/ tax assessment for the past two years.

Step 2 : One to One Interview

Step 3 : Scholarship Approval & Intimation

Step 4 : Notification – Successful applicants will be notified by email within 4 weeks’ time (from the date of scholarship cycle closing)

Note :

Applications submitted without appropriate support documents will not be processed.

Terms and Conditions

1. VALIDITY

The scholarship will be valid for a period as per the tenure specified in the respective scholarship descriptions.

If a student is granted a scholarship in mid-year in any particular academic year, then that academic year will be treated as the first academic year and shall be valid till the end of the validity period.

There is no cash or other alternative to the Scholarship in whole or in part unless provided at the school’s sole and unfettered discretion.

The Scholarship is as stated and is non-exchangeable, cannot be substituted and is non-transferable.

The scholarship is a benefit applicable for studying only at Vikaasa campuses only and is non-transferable.

The continuation of the scholarship into the second year will be subject to the review of student performance. Students must achieve at least a score equivalent to the category based on which the Scholarship was granted to him/ her.

2. SCHOLARSHIP TERMS

During any academic year, if the student is already a recipient of any scholarship/benefit, then the student shall not be deemed eligible for new scholarships or fee-related benefits announced for that particular Academic year. In short, a student cannot apply for newly announced scholarships or added fee-related benefits during the present academic year in case he/she has already received a scholarship for that academic year. At any given time, a student can avail of only one fee-related benefit, either subsidy or scholarship.

The parent of a successful applicant is required to execute a scholarship DEED as acceptance of the scholarship within 7 working days from the date of notification of scholarship results.

All successful applicants (new Admissions) must register within two weeks & join the school within 90 days of offering a scholarship or unless specifically mentioned by the school.

Students who avail of the scholarship must complete the full term.

The scholarship is applicable on tuition fees. It is not applicable on one-time registration fees, transport/bus fees, uniform and miscellaneous fees etc.

Students who avail the Scholarships, are required to pay their term fees in full as per school terms. The scholarship refund will be processed exclusively through an online channel. NACH/ECS will be a prerequisite for scholarship to be disbursed

Scholarship sum refers to the entire amount disbursed by the School under the said Scholarship.

If any scholarship recipient is required to leave the school in the middle of the term, the student shall not be entitled to any scholarship for that term.‍

3. TERMINATION :

If partial, wrong and misleading information is provided, the scholarship will be considered null and void. The scholarship amount which is already credited will have to be refunded back to the school. The school has the right to terminate the scholarship without notice.

The scholarship may be withdrawn at any time if, in the opinion of the school, the scholarship holder’s progress or behaviour is deemed unsatisfactory. The scholarship will be monitored and the applicant will be required to maintain good conduct.‍

4. BRAND PARTICIPATION

Scholarship recipients are required to take on the role of student ambassador or any other similar role representing Vikaasa to give publicity talks and testimonials as and when called upon to do so.

Scholars will be required to take part in community involvement programmes or projects deemed appropriate and/or directed by the school.

5. RIGHTS

The Scholarship Committee’s decision is final for the allocation of scholarships

No legal action can be taken in disputes in which claims are raised against the school as to annulment, revision or the issue of examination results.

The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to change the Terms and Conditions at any time and the current version can be found on the school’s website.

The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to modify, cancel, terminate or suspend the Scholarship programme in whole or in part, at its sole discretion, if it believes the Scholarship programme is not capable of being conducted as specified within these Terms and Conditions.

The Scholarship Committee’s failure to enforce any provision of these Terms and Conditions in a given instance shall not constitute the waiver of such provision

The Scholarship Committee may, at its sole discretion, add further stages to the selection process for the Scholarship programme as it deems reasonably necessary to resolve any problems arising as a result of such actions.

By signing the acceptance form for the scholarships, you explicitly agree to these terms and conditions of the scholarships.

GLOBAL CITIZEN SCHOLARSHIP

Application Timeline : 15th Oct 2026 - 15th Feb 2027

Scholarship ID	INGSG-GCS-AY27-01
Applicable Curricula	IB, CBSE
Applicable Grades	11,12
Scholarship Tenure	2 years
Minimum Eligibility	Minimum 85% in Grade 9 Annual examination and minimum 85% in grade 10 pre board examination

Categories	CAT A	CAT B	CAT C
Academic Benefit	100% fee	100% fee	50% fee
Hostel Benefit	100%	Nil	Nil

Eligibility Criteria

Grade 10 Students above 85% in Pre board & Grade 9 Examinations Can apply, Being a Limited seats Scholarship ,it’s on the Scholarship Committee discretion to offer Scholarships to meritorious Students.

Note

* Fee referred to here is Gross fees excluding Exam Bus Fees, Overseas trips etc & If permitted by local education authority

**The applicant should have scored:

a. CBSE/ ICSE/ State Board Applicants :

85% in Grade 9 Annual examination and 85% in pre board examination

b. IGCSE Applicants : 7A* or above in 9th Standard and 7A* or above in class 10 pre board examination

c. American /Other Boards / Public Board Applicants : Equivalent of 85+ percent or Grades in class 10 pre board examination

***Medium of instruction is English

Scholarship will be awarded basis the applicant’s academic performance in Grade 10 board exams, scholarship online exam and interviews

Scholarship Process

Step 1 : Application – Submit the Application form

Step 1A : Documentation – In the Application form Upload all prerequisite Documents

– Upload academic records for past two years

Step 2 : Notification – Successful applicants will be notified via email within 10 working days

Step 3 : Scholarship Assessment

Step 4 : One to One Interview

Step 5 : Scholarship Selection + Disbursal

Note :

Applications submitted without appropriate support documents will not be processed.

Terms and Conditions

1. VALIDITY

The scholarship will be valid for a period as per the tenure specified in the respective scholarship descriptions.

If a student is granted a scholarship in mid-year in any particular academic year, then that academic year will be treated as the first academic year and shall be valid till the end of the validity period.

There is no cash or other alternative to the Scholarship in whole or in part unless otherwise provided at the school’s sole and unfettered discretion.

The Scholarship is as stated and is non-exchangeable, cannot be substituted and is non-transferable.

The scholarship is a benefit applicable for studying only at Vikaasa campuses and is non-transferable.

The continuation of the scholarship into the second year will be subject to the review of student performance. Students must achieve at least a score equivalent to the category based on which the Scholarship was granted to him/ her.

2. SCHOLARSHIP TERMS

During any academic year, if the student is already a recipient of any scholarship/benefit, then the student shall not be deemed eligible for new scholarships or fee-related benefits announced for that particular Academic year. In short, a student cannot apply for newly announced scholarships or added fee-related benefits during the present academic year in case he/she has already received a scholarship for that academic year. At any given time, a student can avail of only one fee-related benefit, either subsidy or scholarship

The parent of a successful applicant is required to execute a scholarship DEED as acceptance of the scholarship within 7 working days from the date of notification of scholarship results.

All successful applicants (new Admissions) must register within two weeks & join the school within 90 days of offering a scholarship or unless otherwise specifically mentioned by the school.

Students who avail of the scholarship are required to complete the full term.

The scholarship is applicable on tuition fees. It is not applicable on one-time registration fees, transport/bus fees, uniform and miscellaneous fees etc.

Students who avail of the Scholarships are required to pay their term fees in full as per school terms. The scholarship refund will be processed exclusively through GIRO. GIRO will be a prerequisite for the scholarship to be disbursed.

Scholarship sum refers to the entire amount disbursed by the School under the said Scholarship.

In the event any scholarship recipient is required to leave the school in the middle of the term, the student shall not be entitled to any scholarship for that term.‍

3. TERMINATION :

If partial, wrong and misleading information is provided, the scholarship will be considered null and void. The scholarship amount which is already credited will have to be refunded back to the school. The school has the right to terminate the scholarship without notice.

The scholarship may be withdrawn at any time if, in the opinion of the school, the scholarship holder’s progress or behaviour is deemed unsatisfactory. The scholarship will be monitored and the applicant will be required to maintain good conduct.‍

4. BRAND PARTICIPATION

Scholarship recipients are required to take on the role of student ambassador or any other similar role representing Vikaasa to give publicity talks and testimonials as and when called upon to do so.

Scholars will be required to take part in community involvement programmes or projects deemed appropriate and/or directed by the school.

5. RIGHTS

The Scholarship Committee’s decision is final for the allocation of scholarships

No legal action can be taken in disputes in which claims are raised against the school as to annulment, revision or the issue of examination results.

The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to change the Terms and Conditions at any time and the current version can be found on the school’s website.

The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to modify, cancel, terminate or suspend the Scholarship programme in whole or in part, at its sole discretion, if it believes the Scholarship programme is not capable of being conducted as specified within these Terms and Conditions.

The Scholarship Committee’s failure to enforce any provision of these Terms and Conditions in a given instance shall not constitute the waiver of such provision

The Scholarship Committee may, at its sole discretion, add further stages to the selection process for the Scholarship programme as it deems reasonably necessary to resolve any problems arising as a result of such actions.

By signing the acceptance form for the scholarships, you explicitly agree to these terms and conditions of the scholarships.

DR APJ ABDUL KALAM GLOBAL SKILLS SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship ID	VSMDR-DRAPJAKGSS-01/AY25-01
Applicable Curricula	ICSE, IGCSE, A LEVEL, ISC
Applicable Grades	6,7,8,9,10,11,12
Scholarship Tenure	1 year

Categories	CAT A	CAT B	CAT C	CAT D
Scholarship Benefits	20%	15%	10%	6%
Minimum Eligibility	International Level	National Level	Regional	Inter-School
Academic Eligibility	70%	70%	70%	70%

Eligibility Criteria

Categories	Eligibility Criteria	Scholarship Value
Category A	- 1st and 2nd rank in the Raman Young Science Innovator Award - 1st, 2nd and 3rd ranks in CSIR Innovation awards for school children - 1st and 2nd ranks for National Space Society Competitions - Top 10 rankers for National Science Talent Search Examination - 1st Ranking in teams at the Space Quiz - National 1st and 2nd Prize Winner at the annual competition of National Children’s Science Congress - 1st position in National Robotics Competition - 1st position in Science and Engineering Fair	20% off tuition fee
Category B	- 3rd Raman Young Science Innovator Award - 4th and 5th Rankers in CSIR Innovation awards for school Children - 3rd position in National Space Society Competitions - 11 to 20th rankers for National Science Talent Search Examination - 2nd and 3rd positions in National Robotics Competition - 2nd and 3rd position in Science and Engineering Fair	15% off tuition fee
Category C	- Top 10 Rankers at any national/international competitions run by IT giants like Microsoft / Google / Adobe / Intel etc especially Google Science Fair - Top 10 Rankers at International Level Robot Olympiad - 21 to 30 rankers for the National Science Talent Search Examinations	10% off tuition fee
Category D	-Top 10 International Rank in SOF/STEM Olympiad / Robotics / GK Olympiad	6% off tuition fee

Scholarship Process

Eligibility Criteria:

1) Applicant must be Indian Residents (Passport / Special Study Permit / Valid Visa / Alien Certificate of Registration / Resident Visa)

2) Have represented at national OR international OR Regional forums

– Have written a paper, thesis or published documents OR have invented or innovated a tool/gadget related to digital space like Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Robotics, Coding, App-making, Block Chain etc.

3) Academic performance (at least 70% marks and above or equivalent grades) of past two years

4) One to One Online Interview

Scholarship Disbursal Criteria

Step 1 : Application – Eligible candidate to submit the online application form
Step 1 A : Documentation – In the application form upload all prerequisite documents

– Upload relevant proof/s of the paper, thesis, publication, tool, instrument, application etc.

Step 2 : One to One Interview

Step 3 : Scholarship Approval & Intimation

Step 4 : Notification – Successful applicants will be notified by email within 4 weeks’ time (from the date of scholarship cycle closing)

Note:

Applications submitted without appropriate support documents will not be processed.

Terms and Conditions

1. VALIDITY

The scholarship will be valid for a period as per the tenure specified in the respective scholarship descriptions.

If a student is granted a scholarship in mid-year in any particular academic year, then that academic year will be treated as the first academic year and shall be valid till the end of the validity period.

There is no cash or other alternative to the Scholarship in whole or in part unless otherwise provided at the school’s sole and unfettered discretion.

The Scholarship is as stated and is non-exchangeable, cannot be substituted and is non-transferable.

The scholarship is a benefit applicable for studying only at Vikaasa campuses and is non-transferable.

The continuation of the scholarship into the second year will be subject to the review of student performance. Students must achieve at least a score equivalent to the category based on which the Scholarship was granted to him/ her.

2. SCHOLARSHIP TERMS

During any academic year, if the student is already a recipient of any scholarship/benefit, then the student shall not be deemed eligible for new scholarships or fee-related benefits announced for that particular Academic year. In short, a student cannot apply for newly announced scholarships or added fee-related benefits during the present academic year in case he/she has already received a scholarship for that academic year. At any given time, a student can avail of only one fee-related benefit, either subsidy or scholarship

The parent of a successful applicant is required to execute a scholarship DEED as acceptance of the scholarship within 7 working days from the date of notification of scholarship results.

All successful applicants (new Admissions) must register within two weeks & join the school within 90 days of offering a scholarship or unless otherwise specifically mentioned by the school.

Students who avail of the scholarship are required to complete the full term.

The scholarship is applicable on tuition fees. It is not applicable on one-time registration fees, transport/bus fees, uniform and miscellaneous fees etc.

Students who avail the Scholarships, are required to pay their term fees in full as per school terms. The scholarship refund will be processed exclusively through an online channel. NACH/ECS will be a prerequisite for scholarship to be disbursed.

Scholarship sum refers to the entire amount disbursed by the School under the said Scholarship.

In the event any scholarship recipient is required to leave the school in the middle of the term, the student shall not be entitled to any scholarship for that term.‍

3. TERMINATION :

If partial, wrong and misleading information is provided, the scholarship will be considered null and void. The scholarship amount which is already credited will have to be refunded back to the school. The school has the right to terminate the scholarship without notice.

The scholarship may be withdrawn at any time if, in the opinion of the school, the scholarship holder’s progress or behaviour is deemed unsatisfactory. The scholarship will be monitored and the applicant will be required to maintain good conduct.‍

4. BRAND PARTICIPATION

Scholarship recipients are required to take on the role of student ambassador or any other similar role representing Vikaasa to give publicity talks and testimonials as and when called upon to do so.

Scholars will be required to take part in community involvement programmes or projects deemed appropriate and/or directed by the school.

5. RIGHTS

The Scholarship Committee’s decision is final for the allocation of scholarships

No legal action can be taken in disputes in which claims are raised against the school as to annulment, revision or the issue of examination results.

The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to change the Terms and Conditions at any time and the current version can be found on the school’s website.

The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to modify, cancel, terminate or suspend the Scholarship programme in whole or in part, at its sole discretion, if it believes the Scholarship programme is not capable of being conducted as specified within these Terms and Conditions.

The Scholarship Committee’s failure to enforce any provision of these Terms and Conditions in a given instance shall not constitute the waiver of such provision

The Scholarship Committee may, at its sole discretion, add further stages to the selection process for the Scholarship programme as it deems reasonably necessary to resolve any problems arising as a result of such actions.

By signing the acceptance form for the scholarships, you explicitly agree to these terms and conditions of the scholarships.

9GEMS™ HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship ID	VSMDR-9GEMSHDS-01/AY25-01
Applicable Curricula	ICSE, IGCSE, A LEVEL,ISC
Applicable Grades	6,7,8,9,10,11,12
Scholarship Tenure	1 year

Categories	CAT A	CAT B	CAT C
Scholarship Benefits	60%	40%	10%
Minimum Eligibility	International Level	National Level	Regional
Academic Eligibility	70%	70%	70%

Eligibility Criteria

Categories	Eligibility Criteria	Scholarship Value
Category A (*1) Winners of the International Level Competition such as:	- World Shooting Championship - Great Edinburgh International Cross Country - World Archery Champions - Wimbledon (Jr) - IBSF World U17 & U21 Snooker Champions - International Badminton Champions - Commonwealth Games - Asian Champions	60% off Tuition Fee
Category B (*2) Winners of the National Level Competition such as:	- National Level Quizzes organised by government agencies - National Level Vocal, Dance & Drama Competitions - National Level Instrumental Competitions	40% off Tuition Fee
Category C (*3) Winners of the District Level Competition such as:	- Games organised by Federations / registered bodies - High distinction Diploma by Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Trinity College of London, Torrins Academy.	10% off tuition fee

Scholarship Disbursal Criteria

Eligibility Criteria:

1) Applicant must be Indian Residents (Passport / Special Study Permit / Valid Visa / Alien Certificate of Registration / Resident Visa)

2) Students who have received National or International or Regional recognition, in the fields of sport, co-curricular activities including visual and performing arts, community service, innovation and entrepreneurship, showed extraordinary leadership skills are eligible to apply.

3) Applicant’s academic performance (at least 70% marks and above or equivalent grades) of past two years

4) One to One Interview (If applicable)

Scholarship Process

Step 1 : Application – Submit the online application form

Step 1A : Documentation – In the application form upload all prerequisite documents

– Upload academic records for past two years

– Certificates, Awards, Supporting documents in any of the Sports, Co-Curricular Activity, Performing Arts etc.

Step 2 : One to One Interview (If applicable)

Step 3 : Scholarship Approval & Intimation

Step 4 : Notification – Successful applicants will be notified by email within 4 weeks’ time (from the date of scholarship cycle closing)

Note :

Applications submitted without appropriate support documents will not be processed.

Terms and Conditions

1. VALIDITY

The scholarship will be valid for a period as per the tenure specified in the respective scholarship descriptions.

If a student is granted a scholarship in mid-year in any particular academic year, then that academic year will be treated as the first academic year and shall be valid till the end of the validity period.

There is no cash or other alternative to the Scholarship in whole or in part unless provided at the school’s sole and unfettered discretion.

The Scholarship is as stated and is non-exchangeable, cannot be substituted and is non-transferable.

The scholarship is a benefit applicable for studying only at Vikaasa campuses only and is non-transferable.

The continuation of the scholarship into the second year will be subject to the review of student performance. Students must achieve at least a score equivalent to the category based on which the Scholarship was granted to him/ her.

2. SCHOLARSHIP TERMS

During any academic year, if the student is already a recipient of any scholarship/benefit, then the student shall not be deemed eligible for new scholarships or fee-related benefits announced for that particular Academic year. In short, a student cannot apply for newly announced scholarships or added fee-related benefits during the present academic year in case he/she has already received a scholarship for that academic year. At any given time, a student can avail of only one fee-related benefit, either subsidy or scholarship.

The parent of a successful applicant is required to execute a scholarship DEED as acceptance of the scholarship within 7 working days from the date of notification of scholarship results.

All successful applicants (new Admissions) must register within two weeks & join the school within 90 days of offering a scholarship or unless specifically mentioned by the school.

Students who avail of the scholarship must complete the full term.

The scholarship is applicable on tuition fees. It is not applicable on one-time registration fees, transport/bus fees, uniform and miscellaneous fees etc.

Students who avail the Scholarships, are required to pay their term fees in full as per school terms. The scholarship refund will be processed exclusively through an online channel. NACH/ECS will be a prerequisite for scholarship to be disbursed.

Scholarship sum refers to the entire amount disbursed by the School under the said Scholarship.

In the event any scholarship recipient is required to leave the school in the middle of the term, the student shall not be entitled to any scholarship for that term.‍‍

3. TERMINATION :

If partial, wrong and misleading information is provided, the scholarship will be considered null and void. The scholarship amount which is already credited will have to be refunded back to the school. The school has the right to terminate the scholarship without notice.

The scholarship may be withdrawn at any time if, in the opinion of the school, the scholarship holder’s progress or behaviour is deemed unsatisfactory. The scholarship will be monitored and the applicant will be required to maintain good conduct.‍

4. BRAND PARTICIPATION

Scholarship recipients are required to take on the role of student ambassador or any other similar role representing Vikaasa to give publicity talks and testimonials as and when called upon to do so.

Scholars will be required to take part in community involvement programmes or projects deemed appropriate and/or directed by the school.

5. RIGHTS

The Scholarship Committee’s decision is final for the allocation of scholarships

No legal action can be taken in disputes in which claims are raised against the school as to annulment, revision or the issue of examination results.

The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to change the Terms and Conditions at any time and the current version can be found on the school’s website.

The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to modify, cancel, terminate or suspend the Scholarship programme in whole or in part, at its sole discretion, if it believes the Scholarship programme is not capable of being conducted as specified within these Terms and Conditions.

The Scholarship Committee’s failure to enforce any provision of these Terms and Conditions in a given instance shall not constitute the waiver of such provision

The Scholarship Committee may, at its sole discretion, add further stages to the selection process for the Scholarship programme as it deems reasonably necessary to resolve any problems arising as a result of such actions.

By signing the acceptance form for the scholarships, you explicitly agree to these terms and conditions of the scholarships.

Scholarship Disbursal Criteria

Eligibility Criteria:

1) Applicants must be Indian Residents (Passport / Aadhar Card / Voter ID)

2) Previous Years’ Academic Performance

3) Scholarship Test (mandatory)

4) One to One Interview (If applicable)

Scholarship Process

Step 1 : Application – Eligible candidate to submit the online application form
Step 1 A : Documentation – In the application form upload all prerequisite Documents
– Upload last Grade Annual Examination Mark Sheet (IGCSE, IBMYP, ICSE, CBSE ,American curriculum or equivalent)

Step 2 : Online Scholarship Assessment Test
Step 3 : One to One Interview ( If applicable)
Step 4 : Scholarship Approval & Intimation

Step 5 : Notification – Successful applicants will be notified by email within 4 weeks’ time (from the date of scholarship cycle closing)

Note :

Applications submitted without appropriate support documents will not be processed.

GLOBAL FUTURE-READY MERIT SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship ID	VSMDR-GFRMS-01/AY25-02
Applicable Curricula	IGCSE, A LEVEL, ISC
Applicable Grades	6,7,8
Scholarship Tenure	1 year

Categories	CAT A	CAT B	CAT C	CAT D
Scholarship Benefits	30%	20%	10%	5%
Minimum Eligibility	CBSE / ICSE / State Boards / Other Boards Students: 97.1% and above	CBSE / ICSE / State Boards / Other Boards Students: 95.1% -97%	CBSE / ICSE / State Boards / Other Boards Students: 93.1% - 95%	CBSE / ICSE / State Boards / Other Boards Students : 90.1% - 93%

Scholarship Disbursal Criteria

Eligibility Criteria:

1) Applicants must be Indian Residents (Passport / Aadhar Card / Voter ID)

2) Previous Years’ Academic Performance

3) Scholarship Test (mandatory)

4) One to One Interview (If applicable)

Scholarship Process

Step 2 : Online Scholarship Assessment Test
Step 3 : One to One Interview ( If applicable)
Step 4 : Scholarship Approval & Intimation

Step 5 : Notification – Successful applicants will be notified by email within 4 weeks’ time (from the date of scholarship cycle closing)

Note :

Applications submitted without appropriate support documents will not be processed.

Grades 9 and 10, 11 and 12

Scholarship ID	VSMDR-GFRMS-01/AY25-01
Applicable Curricula	IGCSE, A LEVEL,ISC, ICSE
Applicable Grades	9 and 10, 11 and 12
Scholarship Tenure	2 year

Categories	CAT A	CAT B	CAT C	CAT D
Scholarship Benefits	35% off on Tuition fees	25% off on Tuition fees	10% off on Tuition fees	5% off on Tuition fees
Minimum Eligibility	CBSE / ICSE / State Boards / Other Boards Students: 96.01% and above	CBSE / ICSE / State Boards / Other Boards Students: 94.01% - 96%	CBSE / ICSE / State Boards / Other Boards Students : 93.01% - 94%	CBSE / ICSE / State Boards / Other Boards Students : 91.01% - 93%

Scholarship Disbursal Criteria

Eligibility Criteria:

1) Indian Residents (Passport / Special Study Permit / Valid Visa / Alien Certificate of Registration / Resident Visa)

2) Academic Board/Public Examination Results

3) One to One Interview (If applicable)

Scholarship Process

Step 1 : Application – Eligible candidate to submit the online application form
Step 1 A : Documentation – In the application form upload all prerequisite documents (IGCSE, IBMYP, ICSE,CBSE, American curriculum or equivalent)

Step 2 : One to One Interview (If applicable)

Step 3 : Scholarship Approval & Intimation

Step 4 : Notification – Successful applicants will be notified by email within 4 weeks’ time (from the date of scholarship cycle closing)

Note :

Applications submitted without appropriate support documents will not be processed.

Terms and Conditions

1. VALIDITY

The scholarship will be valid for a period as per the tenure specified in the respective scholarship descriptions.

If a student is granted a scholarship in mid-year in any particular academic year, then that academic year will be treated as the first academic year and shall be valid till the end of the validity period.

There is no cash or other alternative to the Scholarship in whole or in part unless provided at the school’s sole and unfettered discretion.

The Scholarship is as stated and is non-exchangeable, cannot be substituted and is non-transferable.

The scholarship is a benefit applicable for studying only at Vikaasa campuses only and is non-transferable.

The continuation of the scholarship into the second year will be subject to the review of student performance. Students must achieve at least a score equivalent to the category based on which the Scholarship was granted to him/ her.

2. SCHOLARSHIP TERMS

During any academic year, if the student is already a recipient of any scholarship/benefit, then the student shall not be deemed eligible for new scholarships or fee-related benefits announced for that particular Academic year. In short, a student cannot apply for newly announced scholarships or added fee-related benefits during the present academic year in case he/she has already received a scholarship for that academic year. At any given time, a student can avail of only one fee-related benefit, either subsidy or scholarship.

The parent of a successful applicant is required to execute a scholarship DEED as acceptance of the scholarship within 7 working days from the date of notification of scholarship results.

All successful applicants (new Admissions) must register within two weeks & join the school within 90 days of offering a scholarship or unless specifically mentioned by the school.

Students who avail of the scholarship must complete the full term.

The scholarship is applicable on tuition fees. It is not applicable on one-time registration fees, transport/bus fees, uniform and miscellaneous fees etc.

Students who avail the Scholarships, are required to pay their term fees in full as per school terms. The scholarship refund will be processed exclusively through an online channel. NACH/ECS will be a prerequisite for scholarship to be disbursed

Scholarship sum refers to the entire amount disbursed by the School under the said Scholarship.

If any scholarship recipient is required to leave the school in the middle of the term, the student shall not be entitled to any scholarship for that term.‍

3. TERMINATION :

If partial, wrong and misleading information is provided, the scholarship will be considered null and void. The scholarship amount which is already credited will have to be refunded back to the school. The school has the right to terminate the scholarship without notice.

The scholarship may be withdrawn at any time if, in the opinion of the school, the scholarship holder’s progress or behaviour is deemed unsatisfactory. The scholarship will be monitored and the applicant will be required to maintain good conduct.‍

4. BRAND PARTICIPATION

Scholarship recipients are required to take on the role of student ambassador or any other similar role representing Vikaasa to give publicity talks and testimonials as and when called upon to do so.

Scholars will be required to take part in community involvement programmes or projects deemed appropriate and/or directed by the school.

5. RIGHTS

The Scholarship Committee’s decision is final for the allocation of scholarships

No legal action can be taken in disputes in which claims are raised against the school as to annulment, revision or the issue of examination results.

The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to change the Terms and Conditions at any time and the current version can be found on the school’s website.

The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to modify, cancel, terminate or suspend the Scholarship programme in whole or in part, at its sole discretion, if it believes the Scholarship programme is not capable of being conducted as specified within these Terms and Conditions.

The Scholarship Committee’s failure to enforce any provision of these Terms and Conditions in a given instance shall not constitute the waiver of such provision

The Scholarship Committee may, at its sole discretion, add further stages to the selection process for the Scholarship programme as it deems reasonably necessary to resolve any problems arising as a result of such actions.

By signing the acceptance form for the scholarships, you explicitly agree to these terms and conditions of the scholarships.

MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSAL VALUES MERIT-CUM-MEANS SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship ID	VSMDR-MGUVMCMS-01/AY25-01
Applicable Curricula	ICSE, IGCSE, A LEVEL,ISC
Applicable Grades	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12
Scholarship Tenure	1 year

Categories	CAT A	CAT B	CAT C	CAT D
Scholarship Benefits	35%	25%	15%	10%
Gross Family Income	Below 8L INR	8.01-12L INR	12.01-15L INR	15.01-18L INR
Academic Eligibility	70%	70%	70%	70%

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be Indian Residents (Passport / Aadhar Card/ Voter ID)

Applicants must be from a Moderate-Income family as per the above category table

Provide family income documents (Parents)/tax assessment (ITR Income Tax Return) for the past two years.

Gross Family Income declaration.

Appointment letter and/or latest salary slips / or Certificate of Employment and Compensation, where the parent relocated to India less than a year ago.

Applicant’s academic performance (at least 70% marks and above or equivalent grades) over the past two years.

Scholarship Assessment (if applicable).

One-to-One Interview (if applicable)

Scholarship Process

Step 1 : Application – Submit the online application form.

Step 1A : Documentation – In the application form, upload all prerequisite documents.

– Upload academic records for the past two years.

– Family income documents/tax assessment (ITR duly acknowledged by IT dept.)for the past two years including that of Father & Mother (If self employed or working professional).

– In case of local guardians, the gross family income of local guardians in India will be considered as a base for processing the application.

– Self-Declaration for Gross Family Income

Step 2 : Scholarship Assessment (if applicable).

Step 3 : One to One Interview (if applicable).

Step 4 : Scholarship Approval & Intimation .

Step 5 : Notification – Successful applicants will be notified by email within 4 weeks’ time (from the date of scholarship cycle closing).

Note :

Applications submitted without appropriate support documents will not be processed.

Terms and Conditions

1. VALIDITY

The scholarship will be valid for a period as per the tenure specified in the respective scholarship descriptions.

If a student is granted a scholarship in mid-year in any particular academic year, then that academic year will be treated as the first academic year and shall be valid till the end of the validity period.

There is no cash or other alternative to the Scholarship in whole or in part, unless otherwise provided at school’s sole and unfettered discretion

The Scholarship is as stated and is non-exchangeable, cannot be substituted and is non-transferable.

The scholarship is a benefit applicable for studying only at Vikaasa Schools,Madurai campus only and is non- transferrable.

The continuation of scholarship into the second year will be subject to the review of student performance. Student must achieve at least a score equivalent to the category based on which Scholarship was granted to him/ her

2. SCHOLARSHIP TERMS

During any academic year, if the student is already a recipient of any scholarship/benefit, then the student shall not be deemed eligible for new scholarships or fee related benefits announced for that particular Academic year. In short a student cannot apply for newly announced scholarships or added fee related benefits during the present academic year in case he/she has already received a scholarship for that academic year. At any given time, a student can avail only one fee related benefit, either subsidy or scholarship

The parent of a successful applicant is required to execute a scholarship DEED as acceptance of the scholarship within 7 working days from the date of notification of scholarship results.

All successful applicants (new Admissions) are required to register within two weeks & join the school within 90 days of offering a scholarship or unless otherwise specifically mentioned by the school.

Students who avail the scholarship are required to complete the full term.

The scholarship is applicable on tuition fees and is not applicable on one time registration fees, transport/bus fees, uniform and miscellaneous fees etc.

Students who avail the Scholarships, are required to pay their term fees in full as per school terms. The scholarship refund will be processed exclusively through an online channel. NACH/ECS will be a prerequisite for scholarship to be disbursed.

Scholarship sum refers to the entire amount disbursed by the School under the said Scholarship.

In the event any scholarship recipient is required to leave the school in the middle of the term, the student shall not be entitled to any scholarship for that term.‍

3. TERMINATION :

In case if partial, wrong and misleading information is provided, scholarship will be considered null and void. The scholarship amount which is already credited will have to be refunded back to the school. The school has the right to terminate the scholarship without notice.

The scholarship may be withdrawn at any time if, in the opinion of the school, the scholarship holder’s progress or behavior is deemed unsatisfactory. The scholarship will be monitored and the applicant will be required to maintain good conduct.‍

4. BRAND PARTICIPATION

Scholarship recipients are required to take on the role of student ambassador or any other similar role representing Vikaasa to give publicity talks and testimonials as and when called upon to do so.

Scholars will be required to take part in community involvement programmes or projects deemed appropriate and/or directed by the school.

5. RIGHTS

Scholarship Committee’s decision is final for allocation of scholarships

No legal action can be taken in disputes in which claims are raised against school as to annulment, revision or the issue of examination results.

Scholarship Committee reserves the right to change the Terms and Conditions at any time and the current version can be found on the school’s website.

Scholarship Committee reserves the right to modify, cancel, terminate or suspend the Scholarship programme in whole or in part, at its sole discretion, if it believes the Scholarship programme is not capable of being conducted as specified within these Terms and Conditions.

Scholarship Committee failure to enforce any provision of these Terms and Conditions in a given instance shall not constitute the waiver of such provision‍

Scholarship Committee may, at its sole discretion, add further stages to the selection process for the Scholarship programme as it deems reasonably necessary in order to resolve any problems arising as a result of such actions.

By signing the acceptance form for the scholarships, you explicitly agree to these terms and conditions of the scholarships.

Assessment Methods Comparison – ICSE vs IGCSE vs CBSE vs State Boards

Key Takeaways

What Are the Main School Boards in India?

How Does CBSE Assess Students?

What is ICSE and How Does It Test Knowledge?

What is IGCSE and How is It Different?

How Do State Boards Evaluate Students?

Which Board Suits Your Child Best?

Why Choose Vikaasa for Your Child’s Board Exam Journey?

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