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CBSE or ICSE - Which board is better?

9383 Aug 22, 2016

CBSE and ICSE (ISC) are by far two of the most popular examination boards in the country. With lakhs of students registering with these each year, any change in their structure, syllabus or other aspects can bring in a major impact on the students. For ages now, there has been an ongoing debate about which of these boards is better than the other. While we won't tell you which one is better, what we will tell you is that there are certain differences between the two. While we try to list these differences here, the interpretation and verdict on which board is better lies with you.

The following are certain pros and cons associated with the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) "“

*PROS*	*CONS*
Ã¼ The biggest reason why lakhs of parents prefer CBSE for their kids is that most of the competitive exams in the country, including IIT "“ JEE, AIPMT, AIEEE are based on the syllabus taught by CBSE schools.	Ã˜There is not much focus on the practical aspect of knowledge.
Ã¼CBSE majorly focuses on core subjects are there are fewer subjects on hand for the students, making it easier for the students to concentrate on the subjects meant for entrance examinations.	Ã˜The focus on core English is much lesser than its counterparts. With CBSE majorly focusing on Mathematics and Science subjects, subjects such as English take a backseat.
Ã¼A certificate or degree issued by the CBSE is valid and respected throughout the country and even abroad, making it universally acceptable.	Ã˜Subjects like science aren't attached with real life concepts, thereby weakening the basic understanding of the student.

The ICSE (ISC) board also has its own set of pros and cons. Here is a list of some of them. Read them carefully and make an unbiased decision.

*PROS*	*CONS*
Ã¼ The syllabus followed by ICSE board is said to be much more holistic than CBSE since equal importance is given to all the subjects here. For the students looking to make a career in the fields of humanities or management, ICSE is an ideal board since it doesn't overdo the focus on Mathematics and Science. It is much more comprehensive in nature.	Ã˜The number of subjects and the syllabus can sometimes be too extensive for the student's liking. Even in class 6th, the students are burdened with more than 12 subjects while their counterparts in CBSE schools would have half of these subjects in the same class.
Ã¼Certificates given by ICSE are accepted worldwide, therefore making it more universally acceptable than CBSE.	Ã˜ICSE is also known for a lenient marking pattern. While this boosts the confidence of the students at a young age, it can be a major setback once the student leaves the board and goes on to pursue further education.
Ã¼The ICSE students are found to be more proficient in English than the CBSE students which help them in exams such as TOEFL.