CISCE discontinued the Compartment Exam from 2024 and replaced it with two separate tracks — the Supplementary Examination for students who failed subjects and the Improvement Examination for students who passed but want better marks.
If you appeared for ICSE Class 10 in 2026 and are deciding between the Supplementary or Improvement route, the post-2024 shift changes everything you need to know. Both exams run from June 15 to July 1, 2026 but differ sharply in eligibility, purpose, subject limits, and how scores are counted on your final marksheet.
- Supplementary Exam (formerly Compartment Exam): for students who failed 1-2 subjects; clearing them earns you the ICSE pass certificate.
- Improvement Exam: for students who passed and want higher marks in up to 3 subjects; the best-of-two score is retained.
- The subject limit for the Improvement Exam was raised to 3 subjects in 2026, up from 2 in previous years.
- Registration for both exams was processed through schools from May 30 to June 5, 2026.
- Results for both tracks are expected in the last week of July 2026.
| Direct Link to CISCE Official Website (ONGOING) |
What Changed After the 2024 Policy Shift
Before 2024, ICSE students who failed one or two subjects could appear for a Compartment Examination to clear those subjects. CISCE formally discontinued this structure in 2024 and removed the term from all official communications. Two separate tracks now exist in its place:
- The Supplementary Examination — for students who did not qualify the main exam (failed one or two subjects)
- The Improvement Examination — for students who qualified (passed) and want to improve marks in specific subjects
The most student-friendly addition under the new system is the best-of-two policy for the Improvement Examination: your original score is only replaced if the new score is higher. This removed the risk of inadvertently lowering your percentage, which was a major concern under earlier improvement rules. The 2026 session also expanded the Improvement Exam subject limit from 2 to 3, making it more useful for students targeting percentage-sensitive college admissions.
ICSE Supplementary Exam 2026 (Former Compartment)
The Supplementary Examination is the functional replacement for the old Compartment Exam. It allows students who did not qualify ICSE 2026 to clear outstanding failed subjects and receive their pass certificate.
Eligibility for ICSE Supplementary Exam 2026:
- You must have failed in 1 or 2 subjects in the ICSE 2026 main exam.
- You must have passed English Language and at least 3 other subjects.
- If you failed English Language you must appear for it compulsorily — English is the only subject whose pass is mandatory for the ICSE certificate.
| Detail | ICSE Supplementary Exam 2026 |
|---|---|
| Who can appear | Students who failed 1-2 subjects in ICSE 2026 |
| Maximum subjects | 2 |
| Score policy | New score replaces original failed-subject score |
| Exam dates | June 15 to June 30, 2026 |
| Exam timing | 11:00 AM |
| Registration | May 30 to June 5, 2026 (via school) |
| Fee | Rs 500 per paper |
| Result (expected) | Last week of July 2026 |
ICSE Improvement Exam 2026
The Improvement Examination is for students who have already passed ICSE 2026 and want to boost their marks. The key update for 2026 is that CISCE raised the subject limit from 2 to 3 subjects, giving students more opportunity to strengthen their percentage for college admissions.
Eligibility for ICSE Improvement Exam 2026:
- You must have passed the ICSE 2026 main exam.
- You can appear in a maximum of 3 subjects (increased from 2 in 2025 and earlier).
- The best-of-two policy applies: the higher of your original score or your improvement score is recorded in your final marksheet — your original score cannot go down.
| Detail | ICSE Improvement Exam 2026 |
|---|---|
| Who can appear | Students who passed ICSE 2026 |
| Maximum subjects | 3 (raised from 2 in 2026) |
| Score policy | Best-of-two — higher score is retained |
| Exam dates | June 15 to July 1, 2026 |
| Exam timing | 11:00 AM |
| Registration | May 30 to June 5, 2026 (via school) |
| Fee | Rs 500 per paper |
| Result (expected) | Last week of July 2026 |
Key Differences: Supplementary vs Improvement Exam 2026
Use this side-by-side comparison to determine which track applies to your situation after the ICSE 2026 result.
| Feature | Supplementary Exam (Former Compartment) | Improvement Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Clear failed subjects to receive ICSE certificate | Improve marks in already-passed subjects |
| Who is eligible | Students who failed 1-2 subjects | Students who passed all required subjects |
| Maximum subjects | 2 | 3 (from 2026 onwards) |
| Score policy | New score replaces original score | Best-of-two — higher score is retained |
| Risk factor | Must pass to qualify for ICSE certificate | No risk — original score is protected |
| English Language | Compulsory if failed in main exam | Optional |
| Post-2024 change | Renamed from Compartment to Supplementary | Subject limit raised to 3; best-of-two policy introduced |
| Exam period 2026 | June 15 to June 30, 2026 | June 15 to July 1, 2026 |
ICSE 2026 Supplementary and Improvement Exam Schedule
Both the Supplementary and Improvement exams follow the same registration window and run concurrently. Registration was conducted through schools from May 30 to June 5, 2026. Exams are ongoing from June 15, 2026, starting at 11:00 AM each day. Results are expected in the last week of July 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration window (via school) | May 30 to June 5, 2026 |
| Supplementary Exam period | June 15 to June 30, 2026 |
| Improvement Exam period | June 15 to July 1, 2026 |
| Exam timing | 11:00 AM |
| Fee per paper | Rs 500 |
| Result (expected) | Last week of July 2026 |
Registration for both exams is processed by your school through the CISCE Career Portal. Individual students cannot register directly — coordinate with your school’s examination in-charge with your subject choices well before the deadline. The fee of Rs 500 per paper is paid by the school on your behalf.
ICSE Compartment vs Improvement Exam 2026 FAQs
Ques. Is the ICSE Compartment Exam still conducted in 2026?
Ans. No. CISCE discontinued the Compartment Exam from 2024. Students who failed one or two subjects now appear for the Supplementary Examination. The term compartment exam no longer appears in official CISCE communications for Class 10.
Ques. Can a student appear for both the Supplementary and Improvement Exam in 2026?
Ans. No. These are two separate tracks with distinct eligibility criteria. If you did not qualify ICSE 2026 you appear for the Supplementary Exam. If you qualified and want better marks you appear for the Improvement Exam. A student cannot apply for both simultaneously.
Ques. Will a lower score in the Improvement Exam replace my original ICSE marks?
Ans. No. CISCE applies a best-of-two policy for the Improvement Examination. Only the higher of your original main exam score or your improvement exam score is recorded in your final marksheet. Your original score is fully protected.
Ques. How many subjects can you appear for in the ICSE Improvement Exam 2026?
Ans. You can appear for a maximum of 3 subjects in the ICSE Improvement Exam 2026. This is an increase from the earlier cap of 2 subjects that applied in 2025 and before.
Ques. What happens if a student fails the ICSE Supplementary Exam 2026?
Ans. If you do not clear the failed subject in the Supplementary Exam you will not receive the ICSE pass certificate for the 2026 session. You will need to appear for those subjects again in a future examination cycle.
Ques. How is registration done for the ICSE Supplementary or Improvement Exam 2026?
Ans. Registration is done through your school and not by individual students. The school submits your details and subject choices on the CISCE Career Portal and pays the fee of Rs 500 per paper on your behalf. The registration window was open from May 30 to June 5, 2026.
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