ISC Class 12 Syllabus 2027 Art

ISC YEAR 2027

INDIAN SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATION

ART
(871)

February 2025
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Examinations.

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Council for the Indian School Certificate
Examinations is committed to serving the nation's
children, through high quality educational
endeavours, empowering them to contribute towards
a humane, just and pluralistic society, promoting
introspective living, by creating exciting learning
opportunities, with a commitment to excellence.

ETHOS OF CISCE

Trust and fair play.
Minimum monitoring.
Allowing schools to evolve their own niche.
Catering to the needs of the children.
Giving freedom to experiment with new ideas
and practices.
Diversity and plurality - the basic strength for
evolution of ideas.
Schools to motivate pupils towards the
cultivation of:
Excellence - The Indian and Global
experience.
Values - Spiritual and cultural - to be the bedrock
of the educational experience.
Schools to have an 'Indian Ethos', strong roots in
the national psyche and be sensitive to national
aspirations.

ART (871)

Aims
1. To encourage creative expression in and through 3. To develop an artistic attitude and values
Art. through the study of art.
2. To develop the powers of aesthetic appreciation. 4. To develop an interest in the world of art.

CLASSES XI & XII
Candidates will be required to take three papers, of natural growth or structure by means of drawing
100 Marks each, including at least one paper from or painting.
Section A and at least one paper from Section B.
B. A subject will be set for drawing or painting
Papers 1-3 form Section A. Papers 4-6 form outdoors. There should be evidence of direct
Section B. study from nature.
Papers 1-5 shall be of three hours duration each.
Paper 3: (3 hours), Drawing or Painting of a
Paper 6 (Craftwork) will be assessed by a Visiting Living Person
Examiner appointed locally. No question paper shall
be set by CISCE for Paper 6. Two alternatives will be given. In alternative (A) the
model (who may be a boy, girl, man or woman) is to
Success or failure will depend on a candidate's
be placed in an attitude which will be described. The
performance in the subject as a whole.
whole figure must be drawn, together with any
necessary artificial or natural objects. If the subject
SECTION A
is painted, the model must be seen against a suitable
Paper 1: (3 hours), Drawing or Painting from Still background. Clothing should be simple and the
Life limbs exposed as much as possible.
A group of objects which will be artificial and natural Alternative (B) will be mainly a study of the head but
and may include such things as cut flowers, fruits, may include the arms and hands. Instructions for
vegetables, a growing plant, as well as domestic or each examination will be given. Candidates should
other artificial objects; the group may be drawn or be placed closer to the model than for Alternative
painted. The work can be carried out, if the (A).
candidate wishes, in relation to the surroundings of
the part of the room in which the group is placed. If If candidates consider that they have completed their
the group is painted, the background must be drawings before the end of the examination period,
included. they may make a separate study. Candidates taking
Alternative (A) may choose head, hands or other
Paper 2: (3 hours), Drawing or Painting from details. Those taking Alternative (B) may draw the
Nature portrait from another position or make a study of a
This paper is divided into two separate sections. part of the head or the hands.
Candidates may offer either A or B. In both sections,
In either (A) or (B) the second drawing may be made
the subject may be interpreted freely, either in a
on the same sheet or paper or on another sheet, which
decorative or in a realistic manner.
must be attached. Candidates are to be told that the
A. Study of the structure of natural forms such as a two drawings will be considered together and that
spray or branch, which may include flowers; marks will not be lost if a second drawing is not
foliage or fruit; fossils, bones, etc. Candidates attempted.
are expected to reveal their appreciation of

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SECTION B study in the form of working drawings, small
notebook or photographs may also be submitted.
Paper 4: (3 hours), Original Imaginative
Composition in Colour (a) Earthenware or stoneware pottery such as a jug,
bowl, dish, vase or hollowed pottery form which
A paper containing a list of alternative subjects will the candidate has either moulded, hand built or
be given to candidates one week before the thrown on the wheel and decorated if he or she so
examination. The actual composition will be wishes.
executed in the examination room after a period of
not less than seven days from the distribution of the (b) Abstract or figurative sculpture including reliefs.
paper to the candidates; sketches, or other notes must These can be carved, constructed, assembled, cast
not be taken into the examination room. Since this is or modelled in any suitable material.
a test of original work, it would be inappropriate for Candidates must be warned not to submit work in
any form of guidance to be given to candidates other material that is likely to break in transit; clay
than that printed on the question paper. A variety of must always be fired and modelling in plaster
themes will be set; these may be given in the form of must be supported by strong armatures. Sculpture
titles indicating the subjects, or of specified objects over 60 cm in any dimension is not acceptable
for inclusion in a composition, or in any other form because of difficulties in handling.
that will stimulate the imagination. Candidates should
base their work if possible on scenes that they have (c) Cloth or rug designed and woven by the
themselves observed. Any style, or technique, candidate on the loom for any specified purpose.
including that which is traditional in the candidates' When possible this should show experience of
own area, may be used. spinning and dyeing.
Paper 5: (3 hours), Crafts ‘A’ (d) Cotton, wool, silk, bark cloth or other material
dyed in a pattern as in block-printing, screen-
Candidates will be required to answer any one printing, batik, tie-and dye, etc. The piece should
question. The object of this paper is to test the be at least a square metre in area. Blocks should
ability of candidates in craftwork where the material not be sent.
is restricted to flat paper, ink and/or colour. Question
will be set requiring the design and execution of the (e) Embroidery, mosaic, collage or decorative
following: panels, unframed, but simply and suitably
mounted, showing evidence of ability to relate
 the page of a book, book cover, or end papers; design to media.
 a notice or pictorial poster; (f) Puppet or marionette (including the type used in
 a card such as a Christmas card or invitation card shadow plays) representing a specified character
or emblem; or person. It is desirable that the puppets should
be made in relation to a play, and notes on their
 a patterned paper for a specific purpose. particular dramatic use should be included.
Several but not all of these alternative subjects will (g) Prints in colour or black and white, from an
be set and candidates will be required to select any original wood or lino block or a monotype. The
one of them. There will be an opportunity to make main work must be clearly labelled and suitably
full use of the calligrapher's art with drawn and
mounted. Blocks need not be sent.
painted, pen-made or brush-written lettering.
(h) Example of a local craft made by the candidate.
Paper 6: Crafts ‘B’ This should be supported by a second entry
This Paper is restricted to school candidates. showing a personal development of this craft.
The candidates must submit at least one and not more Each candidate must confine his entry to ONE
than two examples of Craftwork, which they have craft.
executed during the school year in any one craft from The work submitted must be the unaided work of the
the following eight categories. Further evidence of candidate. It must be accompanied by a statement
from the Principal of the school to this effect.

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GENERAL be at liberty to provide their own. Work which is
carried out on stiff boards or which is mounted
1. Any medium may be used provided that it is cannot be accepted. The paper used by candidates
suitable for the subject. Painted work must be must not be less than 35 cm x 25 cm and the
carried out in a quick-drying medium and must work submitted must fill or approximately fill the
be completely dry before it is dispatched. When
page.
acrylic paint is used for examination work, it
must be mixed with water. All paints used must 7. All drawings must be packed flat and not
be of adequate quality: if coloured crayons or rolled: Half-Imperial and Royal sheets should be
chalk are used, they must have a range and folded across the middle. When drawings are too
quality comparable with that of paints and must large to enclose in the envelopes provided, it is
be carefully fixed at the examination centre essential that the information required on the
before the work is sent to CISCE. Monochrome front of the envelope be given and that the
may be used where permitted by the regulations envelope itself be packed in the same parcel with
for each Paper but will not be accepted as the drawings.
satisfying the requirement in respect of colour for 8. Examiners are caused great inconvenience by
Paper 4. candidates failing to write their examination
2. Candidates must use their judgment with regard numbers either clearly or correctly, thus making
to (i) the size of a drawing or painting, (ii) the identification difficult. Schools are asked to co-
proportion of height to width within the space operate by directing the candidates to clearly
available. In all cases credit will be given for write their Unique Identification Number (UID
good composition. Number) and Index Number both, clearly and
correctly on their examination work and that on
3. In each of Papers 1 to 4, the test is one of free drawings and paintings this must be written on
drawing or painting, therefore, any mechanical the front (top right hand corner) and also on the
means of execution of the drawing or painting, back. They must not write anything else on the
(such as measuring or ruling) are not allowed. front of the picture. Failure to observe this
Instruments and tracing paper are allowed for
instruction may result in loss of marks.
Paper 5, but candidates are advised to restrict
their use as far as possible.
STANDING INSTRUCTIONS FOR
4. Where question or printed instructions are SUPERVISING EXAMINERS
provided for alternative groups, etc., the
Supervising Examiner in consultation with an Art Papers 1-3
Teacher will decide which of these alternatives is The printed 'Instructions' for these papers which are
to form the subject of the examination, after sent to schools well in advance of the examination
taking account of local convenience, etc. At will be limited as far as possible to the subjects of the
centres for candidates from more than one tests. They are for the use of the Supervising
school, both the alternative subjects in Paper 2 Examiner only, in consultation with the Art Teacher.
(Plant Drawing) must be provided if they are
It is important that early attention should be given to
required by schools or candidates.
the provision of the objects and / or models required.
5. Suitable alternative subjects will be provided for In papers 1 to 3, both alternatives must be set if
the different areas, so far as this may appear required by candidates.
desirable; account will be taken of different
The group or subject should be so arranged that each
climatic conditions in the selection of flower
candidate obtains an uninterrupted view: for Paper 1
specimens, etc.
candidates should not be more than 3.60 meters from
6. The paper supplied for use in the examination the group. Candidates may form a semicircle but not
room will be about 35 cm x 25 cm. Schools or a complete circle round the group; more than one
candidates wishing to work on a larger scale, not session may be arranged if there is a large number of
larger than Half Imperial or Royal (64 cm x 51 candidates. The examination must be held in good
cm) or on a different type or tone of paper, will light but care must be taken that sunlight does not fall

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upon the group or subject while work is in progress. characteristic and growing habit of the subject as it
If the group or subject is painted, the background grows in its natural environment.
must be included.
Drawing or Painting of a Living Person
The surface on which the group of objects for Paper 1
The Supervising Examiner should avail himself of
and the group for painting only in Paper 2 is arranged
the services of the Art Teacher for posing the model
must be below the eye level of the candidates.
and for re-posing after the model has been resting.
Drawing or Painting from Still Life
Five minutes will be allowed for the model to relax
This is a test of direct observation and free drawing. after each twenty minutes' posing. During these
Both themes as given in the question paper should be intervals candidates may continue to work on their
set by the art teacher and the candidates should select drawings. The Supervising Examiners may vary the
the theme they want to attempt. Proper space and length of the posing periods and of the intervals at
seating arrangements must be provided to enable the their discretion. The period of 2 or 3 hours includes
candidates to draw and colour their desired option. the time during which the model is resting.
In the setting of the objects of the theme, care must Two models must be provided if Alternatives A and
be taken to ensure that each item is visible either B are required by different candidates at the same
fully or partially to all candidates. session. If more than one model is employed for
either A or B, this should be stated on the answer
Care must be taken by the art teacher in selection of
envelope.
the objects. They should not be unnecessarily
complicated in shape or have complex patterns or The model is to be posed in good light and shade.
labels over and above the basic requirements. Candidates must be so placed that each has a good
view of the pose.
Drawing or Painting from Nature
Original Imaginative Composition in Colour
Alternative A: Study of the structure of natural
forms Copies of the Paper are to be given to the candidates
at least a week before the paper is taken in the
It is desirable that each candidate be given a separate
examination room and candidates should be
specimen and be permitted to handle and arrange it.
instructed to bring their copies of the question paper
If the specimens named in the Instructions are not with them at the time fixed for this paper.
available, Supervising Examiners may, with the
‘Crafts A’
assistance of the Art Teacher, substitute other
specimens as similar as possible to those, which have At centres where the necessary arrangements can be
been set. The name of the specimen used must be made, candidates may cut and print from a block in
stated on the back of the drawing in small block the examination room. Folded and cut-out paper may
capitals. be used in making designs. Collage may be used.
Sprays, when these are set, must be reasonably large Paper 6 (Craftwork)
and full and in good condition; they should be
The specimens of Craftwork should not be dispatched
displayed in a vase or bottle and be clearly visible
to CISCE. Pieces of pottery, sculpture or carving
against a plain background. The container must not
must not exceed 1m in any dimension nor weigh
be drawn.
more than 18 kg. Craftwork submitted for one
Alternative B: Drawing or painting outdoors examination must not be submitted for a subsequent
one. This paper is to be assessed by a Visiting
One subject will be set for painting or drawing
Examiner appointed locally.
outdoors. It can include a study of plants, creepers or
climbers growing against walls, pergolas, rockeries
and other such features. Plants grown in pots and
containers which can be kept indoors can be set.
There should be evidence to understand the general

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