ICSE Syllabus Class 10 Biology
ICSE Class 10 Biology syllabus
The ICSE syllabus of Class 10 gives equal importance to all chapters. It focuses on developing practical knowledge of students to make them ready for the competitive world. ICSE board has good accessibility and features a compact structure and detailed knowledge of all subjects.
The Science subject of class 10 is divided into three disciplines, namely, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. All three subjects are crucial and should be studied thoroughly. Students who want to pursue their careers in medical fields must focus on understanding all core concepts of Biology. Extramarks, an online learning platform, is focused on providing high-quality study materials, including the ICSE Class 10 Biology syllabus.
The Extramarks Biology class 10 syllabus includes exam paper pattern, marking scheme, weightage and important concepts from all chapters. All details and information mentioned here are based on the updated rules and regulations of the board. In this article, find all relevant information about the ICSE Class 10 Biology syllabus for 2023-2024.
ICSE Class 10 Biology syllabus 2023-24
All chapters included in the Biology Class 10 Syllabus are mentioned in the table below:
| Sr. No. | Chapters |
| 1. | Cell – The Structural and Functional Unit of Life |
| 2. | Structure of Chromosomes, Cell Cycle and Cell Division |
| 3. | Genetics – Some Basic Fundamentals |
| 4. | Absorption by Roots – The Process Involved |
| 5. | Transpiration |
| 6. | Photosynthesis |
| 7. | Chemical Coordination in Plants |
| 8. | The Circulatory System |
| 9. | The Excretory System |
| 10. | The Nervous System |
| 11. | Sense Organs |
| 12. | The Endocrine System |
| 13. | The Reproductive System |
| 14. | Human Evolution |
Students may click on the respective chapter under the ICSE class 10 Biology syllabus to access the study material.
The Biology portion has three units. Here is a unit-wise detailed breakup of all chapters:
ICSE class 10 Biology syllabus Unit 1: Basic Biology
This section includes chapters 1, 2 and 3 of the ICSE Class 10 Biology syllabus. This unit is based on the study of cells and Genetics. Chapter 1 includes concepts such as the structure of the cell, its organelles and the nucleus. Topics such as the structure of chromosomes, genes, and the process of meiosis and mitosis are explained in chapter 2. The genetics chapter includes the study of the three Mendel’s laws, sex determination genes, genotype and phenotype.
ICSE class 10 Biology syllabus Unit 2: Plant Physiology
Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 are included in this unit. In chapter 4, topics like characteristics of roots, absorption and conduction, root pressure and more are explained. Chapter 5 revolves around transpiration, factors affecting transpiration, guttation and bleeding. The process of photosynthesis, carbon cycles and topics related to it are explained in detail in Chapter 6. Chapter 7- Chemical Coordination in Plants includes topics related to hormones and their functions.
ICSE class 10 Biology syllabus Unit 3: Human Anatomy and Physiology
The remaining chapters, from 8 to 14, come under unit 3. Chapter 8 covers concepts such as properties and functions of blood, circulatory system, blood transfusion and blood groups, whereas Chapter 9 gives a brief introduction to the different excretory organs and includes topics related to the kidneys and the functions of the nephron. In chapter 10, topics such as brain and spinal cord, reflex action and neurons are well explained. Chapter 11 gives in-depth knowledge about our sense organs, especially the eyes and ears. Topics based on adrenal, pancreas, thyroid, pituitary, endocrine and exocrine glands are covered in Chapter 12 of the ICSE Class 10 Biology syllabus.
Chapter 13 covers wide information about reproduction in humans, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, etc. Topics related to theories of evolution given by various scientists, human evolution, and human ancestors have been explained in Chapter 14 of the ICSE books.
ICSE 10 Biology paper pattern
The paper pattern of the Biology paper for Class 10 is similar to that of chemistry and physics. It is important for students to know the ICSE Class 10 Biology syllabus, examination paper pattern, and the marking scheme before the examination. This will help them to know the crucial concepts and repetitive questions.
The total marks for the Biology paper are 100 marks. Students are evaluated and marked on the basis of their performance in the theory and practical examinations.
- Theory Paper:
Conducted by: ICSE board
Total marks: 80
Time duration: 2 hours
- Section 1:
Total marks: 40
Type of questions: Objectives and Short answer question
Optional questions: No
Chapters: All chapters in ICSE class 10 Biology syllabus
- Section 2:
Total marks: 40
Type of questions: Briefs, long answer questions
Optional questions: Yes. (Out of six, four questions are to be attempted).
Chapters: All chapters in ICSE class 10 Biology syllabus
- Internal Assessment:
Conducted by: ICSE affiliated schools
Total marks: 20
Marks based on: Practical performance, observations and conclusions inferred.
Syllabus: Practicals based on the chapters included in ICSE class 10 Biology syllabus.
ICSE Class 10 Biology Syllabus – Weightage
The marks are distributed on the basis of the units. The average unit-wise weightage for the Class 10 Board examinations is given below:
| Unit 1: (20 marks) | Unit 2: (20 marks) | Unit 3: (40 marks) |
| Cell – The Structural and Functional Unit of Life | Absorption by Roots – The Process Involved | The Circulatory System |
| Structure of Chromosomes, Cell Cycle and Cell Division | Transpiration | The Excretory System |
| Genetics – Some Basic Fundamentals | Photosynthesis | The Nervous System |
| Chemical Coordination in Plants | Sense Organs | |
| The Endocrine System | ||
| The Reproductive System | ||
| Human Evolution |
ICSE 10 Biology: Study material
Extramarks provides revised ICSE Class 10 Biology study material. With the help of this, students can understand every concept thoroughly. Students are advised to use the ICSE revision notes to glance through all the key points and important concepts of all chapters. The study material provided by Extramarks is prepared by subject matter elites on the basis of the ISC & ICSE syllabus.
Students may visit the links mentioned below to get free access to academic notes from Extramarks:
ICSE Solution
ICSE Revision Notes
ICSE Biology Class 10 Syllabus
There is one paper of two hours duration of 80 marks and Internal Assessment of practical work carrying 20 marks. The paper is divided into two sections: Section I (40 marks) and Section II (40 marks).
Section I (compulsory) contains short answer questions on the entire syllabus. Section II contains six questions. You are required to answer any four of these six questions.
1. Basic Biology
(i) Cell Cycle and Cell Division.
(ii) Structure of chromosome.
(iii) Genetics: Mendel’s laws of inheritance and sex linked inheritance of diseases.
2. Plant Physiology
(i) Absorption by roots, imbibition; diffusion and osmosis; osmotic pressure, root pressure; turgidity and flaccidity; plasmolysis and deplasmolysis,; the absorption of water and minerals, active and passive transport (in brief); The rise of water up to the xylem; Forces responsible for ascent of sap.
(ii) Transpiration – process and significance. Ganong’s potometer and its limitations. The factors affecting rate of transpiration. Experiments on transpiration. A brief idea of guttation and bleeding.
(iii) Photosynthesis: the process and its importance to life in general; experiments to show the necessity of light, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, formation of starch and release of oxygen; carbon cycle.
(iv) Chemical coordination in Plants: A general study of plant growth regulators; Tropic movements in plants.
3. Human Anatomy and Physiology
(i) Circulatory System: Blood and lymph, the structure and working of the heart, blood vessels, circulation of blood (only names of the main blood vessels entering and leaving the heart, liver and kidney will be required). Lymphatic system.
(ii) Excretory System: A brief introduction to the excretory organs; parts of the urinary system; structure and function of the kidneys; blood vessels associated with kidneys; structure and function of nephron.
(iii) Nervous system: Structure of Neuron; central, autonomous and peripheral nervous system (in brief); brain and spinal cord; reflex action and how it differs from voluntary action.
Sense organs – Eye: Structure, functions, defects and corrective measures: Ear: Parts and functions of the ear.
(iv) Endocrine System: General study of the following glands: Adrenal, Pancreas, Thyroid and Pituitary. Endocrine and Exocrine glands.
(v) The Reproductive System: Organs, fertilisation functions of placenta in the growth of the embryo Menstrual cycle.
4. Population
Population explosion in India; need for adopting control measures – population control.
5. Human Evolution
Basic introduction to Human evolution and Theories of evolution: Lamarck’s theory of inheritance; Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.
6. Pollution
(i) Types and sources of pollution; major pollutants.
(ii) Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable wastes.
(iii) Effects of pollution on climate, environment, human health and other organisms; control measures.
