Choosing the right education board for your child can be daunting for parents, as the dynamics of the two of India’s most excellent and popular educational boards can have stark contrasts and close similarities with little to no difference! In this article, we understand which board is the best: CBSE or ICSE, the many differences the boards have, and the many similarities that make choosing between the two boards difficult for parents.
Also, in this article, we understand why it is important for parents to choose the education board that feels right for them and how choosing the right board helps the children in the long run!
Overview Of ICSE Board
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, also known as ICSE, is one of India’s most popular education boards, and it is chosen by parents nationwide.
The ICSE board conducts board examinations for students of class 10. The branch of ICSE is the ISC, which conducts board examinations for grade 12 students every year. The examination is usually held in March and April every year.
The private board is known for its comprehensive curriculum that helps students gain and test knowledge beyond textbooks.
The board emphasises providing students with application-based education and fine-tuning their English speaking, comprehension and writing skills!
Overview Of CBSE Board
The Central Board of Secondary Education falls directly under the purview of the Government Of India’s Education Ministry and is one of the most widespread education boards in India.
The flexible board follows the curriculum set by NCERT ( National Council of Educational Research and Training). It is known for providing the student with a course structure that helps in their holistic development.
CBSE conducts the board exams for classes 10, 11 and 12 between March and April every year. The board also ensures that students gain sufficient exposure to sports, art, humanities, and other cultural activities, making the question ‘ Which is best: CBSE or ICSE?’ tricky to answer!
Difference Between ICSE & CBSE
Now that we have understood the overview of ICSE and CBSE, let us know a few of the most noticeable differences while answering the question,’ Which board is best, ICSE or CBSE?’.
To make this article simple and easy to understand, let us first look at a few factors based on which we know the difference between the two comprehensive education boards! A few factors we need to consider before we understand more about ICSE vs CBSE are –
- Network & Affiliation
- Pedagogy & Syllabus
- Examination & Grading
- Medium of Instruction
- Difficulty Levels &
- Competitive Exam Preparations!
Network & Affiliation
As mentioned above, CBSE and ICSE boards are widespread nationwide and are two of the most popular education boards in the world.
CBSE, as a national education board falling under the purview of the GOI, the Ministry of Education has vast networks used to conduct various cultural and sports meetups across the country. As per the latest reports, there are around 24,000 affiliate CBSE schools in India, making it the largest group of schools in the country!
ICSE, on the other hand, is a private education board. However, the many affiliate ICSE schools across the country also have periodical meetups via exchange programs, inter-school sports, and science and cultural competitions.
There are around 2750 ICSE schools in India, which makes this community of schools popular among parents who are looking to guide their children towards the path of holistic development.
Pedagogy & Syllabus
CBSE and ICSE boards offer excellent syllabi for their students. However, a few key differences make the two education boards different from one another.
The ICSE board offers a more in-depth and comprehensive mathematics, science and English syllabus. The core science subject is divided into Physics, Chemistry and Biology, each with its examination, projects and assignments.
Other subjects like Social Studies are also divided into two parts, namely –
- Geography &
- History and Civics!
The board demands that students understand the concepts and are usually tested on practical and application-based questions.
CBSE offers fewer subjects than ICSE as it consolidates branching subjects of the core subjects into one. The CBSE board offers a concise set of subjects that include science, mathematics, social studies, English and preferred second languages.
The fixed curriculum, subjects and standard textbooks make CBSE a more uniform education board.
Grading & Examination
The ICSE board has a more stringent grading and examination style.
The board tests students on their ability to tackle questions by applying their knowledge of the concepts rather than asking straightforward questions. The questions expect detailed yet concise answers, which test students’ ability to articulate their understanding of the concepts and apply their knowledge while answering the complex questions!
The ability of the students to apply knowledge and think out of the box often is helpful in the later stages of their academic lives!
The CBSE education board, unlike ICSE, has a standardised examination pattern and rarely ventures outside the framework. The examination is usually split between objective and descriptive questions and tests the students’ ability to understand and comprehend the questions.
The education board is helpful for students wishing to appear for competitive exams like the JEE as it prepares students from a young age on question types, ways to tackle and question patterns!
We think it is safe to assume that both boards have unique challenges, and it is incumbent upon students to decide when thinking about ICSE vs CBSE education boards!
International Schools in Madurai, like the Vikaasa, ensure that the students get the maximum benefit of the ICSE curriculum, giving this private education board an edge over CBSE schools that are often not affiliated with international schools!
Medium Of Education
While English is a standard medium of education for both CBSE and ICSE boards, the latter is seen to have more success in ensuring that the students are more fluent in the international language.
Both CBSE and ICSE schools prioritise teaching English to students. However, the ICSE board dissects the core subject into parts, namely –
- English Grammar &
- English Literature.
This bifurcation of the language ensures that the students have a steady grip on the language and the ability to leverage their knowledge to get an edge over the rest of their peers!
The ICSE board’s ability to leverage the international language tips the scale in favour of ICSE and answers the question: Which is the best ICSE or CBSE?
Difficulty
ICSE is more demanding and challenging. The complex examination patterns, various subjects, and stringent grading systems make the ICSE board difficult.
However, the fruits of this grind are often seen in the later stages of the student’s academic and professional lives, making the board popular among students and parents.
Competitive Exams Preparation
CBSE board inclines more towards providing a more guided approach towards competitive examinations.
The ICSE education board, however, helps students understand the vast range of concepts which might prove beneficial in the long run!
Which Board is Better – CBSE or ICSE?
While both education boards offer quality education to the students, the ICSE education board takes the cake as the better board. The ICSE board ensures that students understand and apply concepts of various subjects in great detail, as opposed to the CBSE board, which does not offer as comprehensive knowledge as the ICSE board.
The emphasis on the English language further gives the ICSE board an edge over CBSE, making this education board the number one option for parents nationwide!
Schools like the Vikaasa introduce English from a very young age, helping students grasp the international language early. For more information, explore the nursery school admission page.
We hope this article has helped you understand the differences between the two popular education boards and why the ICSE board is more desirable to parents across the country!
