Table of Contents
Introduction
The rate of literacy in India is increasing rapidly. The literacy rate in India in 2019 was 70% while it rose to 77.7% in 2020. With the rise in awareness about education in India, different education boards have emerged in the country which is further adding to the quality of education in the country. India has various educational boards that have existed for many years while some have got popularity only in recent years. Every Board has its own methods of teaching, learning, curriculum, and conducting examinations that help in the student’s overall development. There are mainly three types of education boards in India which are State Boards, National Board, and International Boards. Parents are always confused about selecting the most suitable Board for their children.
The boards that are widely followed by parents for their child’s education are the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE). Both the boards teach almost the same subjects, the difference in approach lies in the way the syllabus is covered, the level of knowledge delivered, and the learning goals to be achieved. Choosing the right board is a determinant for your child’s future and overall development. Parents and children often come across the confusion surrounding education boards when they are selecting a school for their child. They find themselves investigating which board is best for their child. In between the rift of ICSE vs CBSE, which board is best for the overall development of their child? The battle around this topic can be brought to a sound conclusion by looking at the differences of the education boards. It will also help you choose from the best schools in India concerning the learning objectives for your child.
CBSE (Central Board Of Secondary Education)
CBSE is the primary board of education in India for students in school. It conducts national-level exams for students that serve as standard minimum eligibility to pursue their higher education. The most popular feature of CBSE is that it conducts national-level entrance examinations for admission to different engineering and medical courses at the UG level.
ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education)
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education was established by the Local Examinations Syndicate of the University of Cambridge in India. It conducts the ICSE Examination after 10th grade and the Indian School Certificate (ISC) Examination after 12th class.
These are the difference between CBSE and ICSE Boards :
Difference in Syllabus:
1) The difference between CBSE and ICSE board comes from the vast difference in the syllabus. CBSE focuses on Science and Mathematics while ICSE Board gives equal importance to other streams also, including Art, Language, Science, Mathematics, and Humanities.
2) Another difference is in the structure of the syllabus, which is detailed & comprehensive in ICSE. In contrast, the CBSE board has a precise and easy syllabus that delivers subject knowledge in a very light way.
3) The difference between CBSE and ICSE board syllabus can be clearly seen in its teaching methodology as well. ICSE board teaching methodology is based on the application of theoretical concepts and is more inclined towards real-life applications by an understanding of the subject matter.
4) CBSE offers a compact syllabus with fewer subjects to be studied. ICSE offers many languages to study, including Hindi, English, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and others. Some ICSE schools also offer creative subjects like agriculture, home science, humanities, arts, cooking, and music. ICSE is a clear winner when it comes to talking about the scope of the syllabus in the ICSE vs. CBSE debate.
Competitive preparation
The syllabus of CBSE is fruitful for students aspiring to appear for national-level entrance examinations such as IIT-JEE and NEET. The abundance of theoretical information provided in CBSE helps students gain knowledge from an exam point of view. However, ICSE Boards help cultivate better analytical abilities and in-depth understanding owing to the complex syllabus. Choosing an education board for your child by understanding the competitive advantage offered by the board can help your child achieve his/her career goals in the long run. It is only possible if you know the difference between CBSE and ICSE board.
Medium of Instruction
ICSE boards give more preference to the English language as the medium of instruction. It gives them benefits while appearing for TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS(International English Language Testing System), and other standard exams that serve as a standard score for entry to universities in foreign. In contrast, the CBSE board doesn’t prefer any specific language.
ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) Board also lays particular focus on teaching literature and language skills that help build their personality.
Acceptance of boards
ICSE Board has better acceptability than any other board, particularly on foreign lands. While CBSE Boards are also widely accepted, students with an ICSE certification get the upper hand in schools and universities in foreign countries.
Ease of transfer
For those parents who work in professions that involve a lot of travelling, it is preferred that you choose the CBSE Board for your child. CBSE is the most preferred certification across India. CBSE Schools are more in number and can help your child get admissions on a similar board without any hustle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Que 1: Which board is preferred more by foreign schools and universities: ICSE or CBSE?
Ans: Indian Certificate for Secondary Education ( ICSE) is preferred more by schools and universities of foreign as the curriculum of the ICSE board is designed to focus on global parameters, not just Indian.
Que 2: Which board is widely accepted by other boards in India?
Ans: CBSE (Central Board Of Secondary Education) is accepted more as compared to other boards in India.
Que 3: How are CBSE and ICSE boards different?
Ans: Both the boards teach almost the same subjects, the difference in approach lies in the way the syllabus is covered, the level of knowledge delivered and the learning goals to be achieved.
