ICSE Class 10 English Language (Paper 1) Question Paper 2025 with Solutions

About this paper

This is the ICSE Class 10 English Language (English Paper 1) question paper from the 2025 examination, paper code T25 011. It carries 80 marks, gives two hours of writing time after 15 minutes of reading time, and has five compulsory questions. Question 1 is a 300–350 word composition from five topics, including a story about a poor tailor who wins an award, a debate on 'More collaboration, less competition' and a picture. Question 2 is a choice of two letters, and Question 3 asks for a notice and an e-mail about an Inter School Story Writing Competition. Question 4 is a passage from Anita Desai's Village by the Sea about Hari and the watch mender Mr. Panwallah, and Question 5 tests grammar, partly in multiple-choice form. Questions only.

Exam

ICSE Class 10

Subject

English Language

Year

2025

Paper code

T25 011

Maximum marks

80

Time allowed

2 hours + 15 min reading

Questions

5

Pages

8

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Question 1

  20 marks

  Composition of 300–350 words on one of five topics: a story, a personal account, a description, a debate or a picture

• Question 2

  10 marks

  One letter out of two: thanking your grandmother for teaching you a special skill, or to the Municipal Commissioner about the lack of a bus stop

• Question 3

  10 marks

  A notice for an Inter School Story Writing Competition (5 marks) and an e-mail inviting a famous person to judge it (5 marks)

• Question 4

  20 marks

  Comprehension passage: multiple-choice word meanings and opposite, five short answers and a 50-word summary

• Question 5

  20 marks

  Grammar: verb forms in a passage, prepositions, multiple-choice sentence joining and multiple-choice transformations

Topics covered

• Composition writing
• Picture composition
• Informal letter writing
• Formal letter writing
• Notice writing
• E-mail writing
• Reading comprehension
• Summary writing
• Verb forms and tenses
• Prepositions
• Joining sentences
• Reported speech

Questions from this paper

1. Write an original short story in which a poor tailor wins an award which changes his or her life.
2. Describe what you see and hear as you move about the corridors and compound during your school break time. How does the scene change after the bell rings?
3. There is no bus stop in your locality. Write a letter to the Municipal Commissioner of your town or city complaining about the problem, and offer possible solutions.
4. Write an e-mail to a famous person inviting him or her to be the judge at your school's Inter School Story Writing Competition.
5. How were the school children dressed?
6. In not more than 50 words, describe how Mr. Panwallah introduced Hari to watch mending.