Geometry Weightage: 3–4 Marks 9 Questions Active (2026 + 2026 Imp + 2025 + 2024 + 2023 + 2020 + 2019 + 2018 + 2017)

18. Constructions (Circles & Tangents) Previous Year Questions

Core Formula: Ruler & Compasses only; preserve all construction arcs

CISCE Examiner Observation & Common Deduction Pitfall

Do not use protractor for constructing 60°, 90°, 120°, 45°. Construct angles using compass only.

ICSE 2026 Board Q1 Geometric Construction
3 Marks
Using ruler and compasses only, construct a triangle ABC with AB = 6 cm, BC = 7 cm and ∠ABC = 60°. Construct its incircle and measure its radius.
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Step 1: Triangle ABC Draw base BC = 7 cm. At B, construct ∠B = 60° using compass. Cut off AB = 6 cm. Join AC to complete ΔABC. [1 Mark]

Step 2: Incentre I Bisect ∠B and ∠C using compass arcs. The point of intersection of the angle bisectors is the incentre I. [1 Mark]

Step 3: Incircle From I, draw a perpendicular to BC meeting at D. With centre I and radius ID, draw the incircle touching all three sides. Measured inradius r = 1.8 cm (± 0.1 cm). [1 Mark]
ICSE 2025 Board Q2 Geometric Construction
4 Marks
Construct ΔABC with AB = 6 cm, AC = 4.5 cm and ∠BAC = 120°. Construct circle circumscribing ΔABC. Measure and write down length of radius.
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1. Draw line AB = 6 cm. Construct angle 120° at A using compass. Cut off AC = 4.5 cm. Join BC. [2 Marks]
2. Draw perpendicular bisectors of AB and AC intersecting at circumcentre O. [1 Mark]
3. With centre O, draw circle passing through A, B, C. Measured radius = 5.3 cm (±0.1 cm). [1 Mark]
ICSE 2024 Board Q3 Geometry • Geometric Constructions
4 Marks
Use ruler and compass to answer this question. Construct ∠ABC = 90°, where AB = 6 cm, BC = 8 cm.
(a) Construct the locus of points equidistant from B and C.
(b) Construct the locus of points equidistant from A and B.
(c) Mark intersection as O. Construct locus of points at distance OA from O.
(d) Construct locus of points equidistant from BA and BC.
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1. Draw BC = 8 cm, ∠B = 90°, BA = 6 cm, join AC (10 cm). [1 Mark]
2. Perpendicular bisector of BC. [1 Mark]
3. Perpendicular bisector of AB meeting at O (midpoint of AC). Draw circumcircle radius 5 cm. [1 Mark]
4. Angle bisector of ∠ABC. [1 Mark]
ICSE 2023 Board Q4 Geometric Construction: Triangle & Circumscribed Circle
4 Marks
Using ruler and compass, construct a triangle $ABC$ in which $AB = 6\text{ cm}, \angle BAC = 120^\circ$ and $AC = 5\text{ cm}$. Construct a circle passing through $A, B$ and $C$. Measure and write down the radius of the circle.
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120° A B C O 6 cm 5 cm R ≈ 5.5 cm
Figure: Obtuse $\triangle ABC$ with circumcentre $O$ outside the triangle and circumcircle
Steps of Construction
1. Draw line segment $AB = 6\text{ cm}$.
2. At point $A$, construct an angle $\angle BAX = 120^\circ$ using a pair of compasses.
3. Cut off an arc of length $5\text{ cm}$ along the ray $AX$ to locate vertex $C$. Join $BC$ to complete $\triangle ABC$.2 Marks
4. Draw the perpendicular bisectors of sides $AB$ and $AC$. Produce them to intersect at point $O$ (circumcentre lies outside because $\angle A$ is obtuse).
5. With $O$ as centre and radius $OA = OB = OC$, draw the circumscribing circle.1 Mark

Radius Measurement
Measuring with ruler: $\mathbf{\text{Radius } R \approx 5.5\text{ cm}}$ (acceptable examination tolerance: $5.3\text{ to } 5.7\text{ cm}$).1 Mark
ICSE 2020 Board Q5 Construction of Right Triangle & Circumcircle
4 Marks
Using ruler and compass construct a triangle $ABC$ where $AB = 3\text{ cm}, BC = 4\text{ cm}$ and $\angle ABC = 90^\circ$. Hence construct a circle circumscribing the triangle $ABC$. Measure and write down the radius of the circle.
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O A B C AB = 3 cm BC = 4 cm AC = 5 cm (Hypotenuse)
Figure: Right $\triangle ABC$ and circumcircle with centre $O$ at midpoint of hypotenuse $AC$
Step 1 Draw base segment $BC = 4\text{ cm}$. At $B$, construct $\angle ABC = 90^\circ$ using compass. Cut off $AB = 3\text{ cm}$. Join $AC$ to form $\triangle ABC$. [1.5 Marks]
Step 2 Draw the perpendicular bisectors of $AB$ and $BC$. Their point of intersection is $O$, which lies exactly on the midpoint of hypotenuse $AC$. [1.5 Marks]
Step 3 With $O$ as centre and radius $OA = OB = OC$, draw the circumcircle.
Theoretical calculation: In right $\triangle ABC$, $AC = \sqrt{3^2 + 4^2} = 5\text{ cm}$.
Radius $R = \frac{AC}{2} = \frac{5}{2} = \mathbf{2.5\text{ cm}}$.
Measured radius: $2.5\text{ cm}$. [1 Mark]
ICSE 2019 Board Q6 Construction: Tangents from External Point to Circle
4 Marks
Use ruler and compass only for answering this question.
Draw a circle of radius $4\text{ cm}$. Mark the centre as $O$. Mark a point $P$ outside the circle at a distance of $7\text{ cm}$ from the centre. Construct two tangents to the circle from the external point $P$.
Measure and write down the length of any one tangent.
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O M P T₁ T₂ OP = 7 cm r = 4 cm Tangent ≈ 5.7 cm
Vector Diagram: Compass and straightedge construction of tangents PT₁ and PT₂ to a circle from external point P
Step 1 Draw circle of radius $r = 4\text{ cm}$ with centre $O$. [1 Mark]
Step 2 Mark point $P$ such that $OP = 7\text{ cm}$. Draw the perpendicular bisector of $OP$ to locate its midpoint $M$. [1 Mark]
Step 3 With $M$ as centre and radius $MO = MP$, draw an auxiliary circle (or semi-circles) intersecting the given circle at points $T_1$ and $T_2$. [1 Mark]
Step 4 Join $PT_1$ and $PT_2$. These are the required two tangents from $P$.
Theoretical verification:
In right $\Delta OT_1 P$: $PT_1 = \sqrt{OP^2 - OT_1^2} = \sqrt{7^2 - 4^2} = \sqrt{49 - 16} = \sqrt{33} \approx 5.74\text{ cm}$.
$\mathbf{\text{Measured length of tangent: } 5.7\text{ cm}}$ (acceptable range: $5.6\text{ cm}$ to $5.8\text{ cm}$). [1 Mark]
ICSE 2026 Imp Q7 Geometric Construction: Triangle, Circumcircle & Locus
4 Marks
Using a ruler and compass only, construct:
  1. $\Delta ABC$ such that $AB = 5\text{ cm}$, $AC = 6.3\text{ cm}$ and $\angle ABC = 60^\circ$.
  2. the circumcircle of $\Delta ABC$.
  3. the locus of points which are equidistant from $AB$ and $BC$.
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O B A C 60° Angle Bisector Locus AB = 5 cm AC = 6.3 cm
Vector Diagram: Circumcircle of ΔABC with angle bisector locus equidistant from AB and BC
Step 1 (a) Construct $\Delta ABC$:
Draw base $AB = 5\text{ cm}$. At $B$, construct $\angle ABX = 60^\circ$ using compass arcs.
With $A$ as centre and radius $6.3\text{ cm}$, draw an arc cutting ray $BX$ at point $C$. Join $AC$ to complete $\Delta ABC$. [1.5 Marks]
Step 2 (b) Construct Circumcircle of $\Delta ABC$:
Draw the perpendicular bisectors of sides $AB$ and $AC$ (or $BC$).
Their point of intersection is the circumcentre $O$.
With $O$ as centre and radius $OA = OB = OC$, draw the circumcircle passing through all three vertices. [1.5 Marks]
Step 3 (c) Construct Locus of points equidistant from $AB$ and $BC$:
The locus of points equidistant from two intersecting lines $AB$ and $BC$ is the **internal angle bisector of $\angle ABC$**.
Construct the bisector of $\angle ABC = 60^\circ$. [1 Mark]
ICSE 2018 Board Q8 Geometric Construction of Triangle and Circumcircle
4 Marks
Using ruler and compass only, construct a $\triangle ABC$ such that $BC = 5\text{ cm}$ and $AB = 6.5\text{ cm}$ and $\angle ABC = 120^\circ$.
(i) Construct a circum-circle of $\triangle ABC$
(ii) Construct a cyclic quadrilateral $ABCD$, such that $D$ is equidistant from $AB$ and $BC$.
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O B C (5 cm) A (6.5 cm) D 120°
Step 1 Construct $\triangle ABC$:
• Draw base $BC = 5\text{ cm}$.
• At $B$, construct $\angle CBX = 120^\circ$ using compass.
• Cut an arc of radius $6.5\text{ cm}$ along ray $BX$ to mark $A$. Join $AC$. [1.5 Marks]
Step 2: Circumcircle
• Draw the perpendicular bisectors of sides $AB$ and $BC$.
• Their point of intersection is the circumcentre $O$ (lying outside $\triangle ABC$ because $\angle B > 90^\circ$).
• With centre $O$ and radius $OA = OB = OC$, draw the circumcircle. [1.5 Marks]
Step 3: Point D and Quad ABCD
• The locus of points equidistant from $AB$ and $BC$ is the internal angle bisector of $\angle ABC$.
• Construct the bisector of $\angle ABC$ ($60^\circ$) and produce it to intersect the circumcircle at point $D$.
• Join $AD$ and $CD$ to complete the required cyclic quadrilateral $ABCD$. [1 Mark]
Result: $\triangle ABC$ constructed with circumcircle and cyclic quadrilateral $ABCD$.
ICSE 2017 Board Q9 Triangle Construction and Incircle
4 Marks
Using a ruler and a compass construct a triangle $ABC$ in which $AB = 7\text{ cm}$, $\angle CAB = 60^\circ$ and $AC = 5\text{ cm}$. Construct the locus of:
(i) points equidistant from $AB$ and $AC$.
(ii) points equidistant from $BA$ and $BC$.
Hence construct a circle touching the three sides of the triangle internally.
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I A B (7 cm) C 5 cm 60°
Step 1: Triangle ABC Draw base $AB = 7\text{ cm}$. At $A$, construct $\angle CAB = 60^\circ$. Cut arc $AC = 5\text{ cm}$ on the ray. Join $BC$. [1 Mark]
Step 2: Locus (i) Locus of points equidistant from $AB$ and $AC$ is the angle bisector of $\angle CAB$ ($30^\circ$). Construct this ray. [1 Mark]
Step 3: Locus (ii) Locus of points equidistant from $BA$ and $BC$ is the angle bisector of $\angle ABC$. Construct this ray. [1 Mark]
Step 4: Incircle Their intersection is the incentre $I$. Drop a perpendicular from $I$ to $AB$ to obtain the inradius $r$. Draw the incircle touching all three sides. [1 Mark]
Result: $\triangle ABC$ and its incircle successfully constructed.

Archive Expansion Slot • 2014–2025 PYQs

Questions from 2025 Specimen, 2024, 2023, 2022 Sem-1/2, and 2020–2014 board exams for Chapter 18 are being indexed into this collection.