How do I balance ICSE Class 9 with starting early foundation prep for competitive exams?

In Class 9, your school board work and foundation prep overlap more than you think, so use that overlap instead of treating them as two separate burdens. Master your ICSE concepts deeply rather than memorising for tests, because strong fundamentals in Maths and Science are exactly what competitive exams build on. Add a small, steady foundation layer: a few extra conceptual or application-based problems per week, not full coaching-level intensity, so you do not burn out two years early. Prioritise understanding chapters like algebra, trigonometry basics, and physics numericals well, since these recur in JEE/NEET foundations. Keep school marks healthy because they build discipline and confidence. The goal in Class 9 is consistency and conceptual clarity, not racing ahead; depth now saves you enormous time in Class 11 and 12.