ICSE Class 10 English is not just about knowing the language; it’s about how you apply it. With two papers—Language and Literature—this subject demands clarity of expression, literary understanding, and strong writing skills. While reading the textbook is essential, practicing with past year questions is what takes your preparation to the next level.
At Deeksha Vedantu, we believe that solving previous year questions is one of the most efficient ways to improve performance. In this blog, we’ll explore the most important ICSE Class 10 English questions drawn from past papers and how to use them effectively to boost your scores.
Why Past Year Questions Are Crucial for ICSE English
Understand the Repeating Themes and Concepts
ICSE English papers often follow a trend. Essay prompts may reflect current events or social issues. Literature questions revolve around core themes, character traits, or poetic devices. Practicing past year questions helps students understand what the board typically tests and prepares them to anticipate similar questions.
Improve Language, Tone, and Presentation
Solving past papers teaches you how to use the right language and tone for different sections. Whether it’s the formality required in letter writing or the analytical tone expected in literature answers, regular practice helps students naturally adopt the expected style.
Boost Your Confidence for the Literary Section
Paper II can feel unpredictable with its wide syllabus of drama, prose, and poetry. Working through past paper questions ensures that students are not caught off guard and are better prepared to analyze unfamiliar extracts or poems with confidence.
Breakdown of ICSE English Paper I and II
Paper I: Language (Composition, Grammar, Letter, Comprehension)
This paper tests your writing, comprehension, and grammar skills. Sections include:
- Composition (20 marks)
- Letter writing (10 marks)
- Unseen comprehension and summary (20 marks)
- Grammar (20 marks)
Practicing with actual ICSE papers helps students master the style and tone of these formats.
Paper II: Literature (Poetry, Drama, Prose)
This paper is based on the prescribed textbooks and tests understanding, interpretation, and appreciation. It includes:
- Extract-based questions from The Merchant of Venice
- Analysis-based questions from poetry and prose
- Character-based, theme-based, and tone-based questions
Past year questions often focus on similar literary ideas and themes, even if the wording changes.
Most Important Questions from Past ICSE English Papers
Top Essay Topics (Descriptive, Narrative, Argumentative)
- Describe a day when everything went wrong
- Write about a person who made a lasting impact on your life
- Should mobile phones be allowed in schools? Give your opinion
- Write a story that begins with: “The door creaked open slowly…”
- Discuss the role of social media in shaping today’s youth
These topics train students to write fluently with creativity and coherence.
Frequently Asked Letter Writing Prompts
- Write a formal letter to the Municipal Commissioner about poor sanitation in your locality
- Write an informal letter to a cousin describing your board exam preparation
- Write a letter to the editor about increasing traffic problems in your area
- Requesting leave from your school principal for a family emergency
These prompts help practice both formal and informal styles with proper formatting.
Comprehension and Summary Practice Questions
- Comprehension passages with inference and vocabulary-based questions
- Summary writing tasks that test your ability to condense ideas
- Questions focusing on tone and intent of the passage
Students must practice time-bound comprehension to improve reading speed and precision.
Grammar-Based Transformations and Fill-in-the-Blanks
- Rewrite as directed (active/passive, direct/indirect, comparative/superlative)
- Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions, conjunctions, or verbs
- Join sentences without using and, but, or so
- Correcting errors in sentence structure
These are high-scoring areas if practiced regularly through past papers.
Drama: The Merchant of Venice – Key Extracts and Analysis
- Extracts from Act 3 Scene 1 (Shylock and Tubal), Act 4 Scene 1 (the trial scene)
- Character sketch questions on Shylock, Portia, Antonio, Bassanio
- Questions about themes of justice, mercy, revenge, friendship, and loyalty
Frequent practice of these questions prepares students for both extract-based and analytical responses.
Poetry: Theme-Based Questions from Prescribed Poems
- How does the poet use imagery in ‘The Cold Within’?
- What message is conveyed in ‘Nine Gold Medals’?
- Compare and contrast the central idea of two poems
- Questions based on poetic devices like alliteration, metaphor, personification
These questions test both interpretation and appreciation of poetry.
Prose: Character and Theme Analysis Questions
- Justify the title of ‘Chief Seattle’s Speech’
- Discuss the relationship between the narrator and his grandmother in ‘A Face in the Dark’
- Role of supernatural elements in ICSE short stories
- Moral takeaways from ‘Hearts and Hands’ or ‘An Angel in Disguise’
These commonly asked questions appear in different forms each year but remain rooted in core ideas.
How to Use Past Papers for Maximum Score
Solve with Time Limits
Set a timer when solving past papers. Follow the board exam format and attempt full sections in one sitting. This trains you to write efficiently and finish within the exam duration.
Compare with Model Answers
After completing your practice, compare your answers with model responses. Evaluate how your introduction, flow, and conclusion could be improved. Identify missing points or weak transitions in your writing.
Get Feedback from Teachers or Mentors
Ask your English teacher to review your essay or literature answer. Personalized feedback helps refine writing style, grammar usage, and clarity of ideas. Deeksha Vedantu students also participate in peer evaluation to build confidence.
Revise Mistakes and Reattempt Weak Areas
Use a separate notebook to record common mistakes—whether it’s misuse of tenses, incorrect formats, or weak conclusions. Rewriting these corrected versions helps retain improvements and avoid repeating errors.
FAQs
1. How many past year questions should I solve for ICSE Class 10 English?
Solve at least the last five years of ICSE English Paper I and II. This includes essay prompts, comprehension questions, and literature extracts.
2. Is it necessary to solve both Language and Literature past papers?
Yes. Paper I improves writing and comprehension, while Paper II enhances literary understanding. Both require consistent practice for full preparation.
3. Can I expect repeated questions in ICSE English?
Exact repeats are rare, but similar themes, character analysis, and writing formats do reappear. Practicing PYQs helps you become familiar with these trends.
4. How do I improve my essay writing for ICSE English?
Read model essays, write regularly, get your essays reviewed by teachers, and work on grammar and vocabulary through daily reading and editing exercises.
5. Does Deeksha Vedantu provide ICSE English PYQs and evaluation support?
Yes. Deeksha Vedantu offers ICSE students curated past papers, mock writing sessions, evaluation using board-style rubrics, and feedback from English faculty for improvement.
Conclusion
Scoring well in ICSE Class 10 English is about mastering the format, understanding the expectations, and practicing consistently. Past year questions give you a clear roadmap of what the board prioritizes and how you can align your answers accordingly.
At Deeksha Vedantu, we help students approach ICSE English in a structured way. Through past paper practice, timed evaluations, and expert feedback, we ensure every student walks into the exam hall with confidence and clarity.
Use the questions from past papers not just for practice, but as a learning tool. They’re your window into the mind of the examiner—and the key to unlocking a top score in ICSE English.
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