CISCE Declares ICSE, ISC Results 2026 with Over 99% Pass Rate; Girls Outperform Boys

Key facts

• Results declared on April 30, 2026, at 11 am by CISCE.
• ICSE overall pass percentage: 99.18%; ISC: 99.13%.
• Girls outperformed boys: ICSE 99.46% vs 98.93%; ISC 99.48% vs 98.81%.
• ICSE exams held Feb 17–Mar 30; ISC exams Feb 12–Apr 3.
• 2,58,721 candidates for ICSE; 1,03,316 for ISC.
• Western region topped ICSE (99.85%); Southern region topped ISC (99.87%).
• Foreign region recorded lowest ICSE pass rate at 90.41%.
• Minimum pass marks: 33% for ICSE, 35% for ISC.

Results Released Amidst Regional Conflict Disruptions

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) released the ICSE Class 10 and ISC Class 12 results for 2026 on Thursday, April 30, at 11 am, with overall pass percentages exceeding 99% in both examinations. The announcement came after a tumultuous academic year in which the CISCE cancelled board exams for schools in Gulf states, including the UAE, due to regional conflict. Schools shifted to distance learning, and the board implemented alternative assessment plans for the high-stakes exams. Students in the UAE have begun celebrating impressive scores, while schools are busy tabulating their results. The news of the result release spread quickly, prompting students to rush online to check their scores via the official portal cisce.org or through DigiLocker using their UID and index number.

Provisional Digital Scorecards Issued; Original Marksheets Later

Students will first receive provisional digital scorecards, with original marksheets to be issued later through their schools. In the interim, digital versions from DigiLocker are accepted for admissions and applications. The CISCE advised candidates to download and save their scorecards for future reference. To access results, students visit cisce.org, click on the relevant examination link, enter their UID, Index Number, and Captcha code, then click 'Show Result'. The scorecard is displayed and can be downloaded.

Girls Continue to Outperform Boys; Gender Gap Remains Marginal

Girls outperformed boys in both examinations, continuing a consistent trend. In ICSE, girls achieved a pass percentage of 99.46% compared to boys' 98.93%. In ISC, girls recorded 99.48% against boys' 98.81%. The gender gap remains marginal but stable, indicating steady performance trends rather than any widening disparity. Candidates must obtain a minimum aggregate of 33% to qualify in ICSE Class 10, while ISC Class 12 candidates need at least 35% to pass.

Regional Performance: West and South Lead; Foreign Region Lags

Regional performance data reveals subtle variations. In ICSE Class 10, the Western region topped with 99.85%, closely followed by the Southern region at 99.81%. The Northern and Eastern regions trailed at 98.86% and 98.84% respectively, while the Foreign region recorded a notably lower 90.41%. For ISC Class 12, the Southern region led with 99.87%, followed by the Western region at 99.55%. The Northern and Eastern regions recorded 99.05% and 98.93% respectively, while the Foreign region stood at 99.77%. Interestingly, the Northern region had the highest number of candidates in both examinations, highlighting a contrast between participation volume and performance outcomes.

Steady Participation Across Levels; Over 3.6 Lakh Candidates Appeared

The ICSE Class 10 examination was conducted in 2,957 schools, with a total of 2,58,721 candidates, including 1,37,503 boys and 1,21,218 girls. For ISC Class 12, 1,03,316 students from 1,553 schools appeared, comprising 54,118 boys and 49,198 girls. The figures indicate steady participation across both secondary and higher secondary levels. The ICSE examinations were conducted from February 17 to March 30, while the ISC examinations were held between February 12 and April 3.

Outlook: Digital Access Eases Transition; Original Certificates Pending

With provisional digital scorecards now available, students can proceed with admissions and applications using DigiLocker-accepted documents. The issuance of original marksheets through schools is expected in the coming weeks. The CISCE's decision to cancel exams in conflict-affected regions and adopt alternative assessments has shaped this year's results, with UAE students among those adapting to distance learning and adjusted schedules. The high pass percentages, while reflective of academic achievement, also underscore the board's calibrated assessment methods during an extraordinary academic year.

The bottom line

• CISCE declared ICSE and ISC results on April 30, 2026, with pass rates above 99%.
• Girls outperformed boys in both exams by a marginal but consistent margin.
• Western region led ICSE; Southern region led ISC; Foreign region had lowest ICSE pass rate.
• Over 3.6 lakh candidates appeared across both exams from 4,510 schools.
• Provisional digital scorecards are available; original marksheets will be issued later via schools.
• Exams were cancelled in Gulf states due to regional conflict, with alternative assessments used.