Growth Hub for Opportunities, Skills, Learning & AchievementGrow•Learn•AchieveCBSE follows the NCERT syllabus and suits families who may move cities or target national entrance exams; ICSE/ISC has a wider syllabus with more emphasis on English and projects; state boards follow a state syllabus, are often lower in fees and can help with state quotas.
- CBSE: NCERT-based, common across India
- ICSE/ISC: wider syllabus, strong English and projects
- State boards: state syllabus, often lower fees
- The specific school matters more than the board
CBSE
CBSE follows the NCERT syllabus in most subjects and is common across India, which helps families who move between cities. Many national entrance exams draw heavily on NCERT topics.
ICSE / ISC
The CISCE board (ICSE in Class 10, ISC in Class 12) has a wider syllabus with strong emphasis on English, projects and internal assessment.
State boards
Each state has its own board and syllabus, usually taught in English and the state language. Fees at state-board schools are often lower, and some state exams and quotas favour state-board students.
How to decide
No board is “best” for every child. Think about whether you may move cities, your child’s strengths, the language they are most comfortable in, and the quality of the specific school — which usually matters more than the board.
Frequently asked questions
Which board is best for JEE and NEET?
Is ICSE harder than CBSE?
Can a child switch boards?
Have a question? Talk to the Ghosla team or ask Ghosla AI.