Understanding the CBSE Class 9 English Syllabus (2024-25) – A Detailed Overview - 1.2
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
The CBSE Class 9 English Language and Literature syllabus for the 2024-25 academic session is structured to assess a student's comprehensive language abilities. The 80-mark annual examination is split into three sections: Reading Skills (20 marks) with two unseen passages (discursive and case-based factual); Writing Skills and Grammar (20 marks) covering descriptive paragraphs, story/diary entries, and grammar topics like tenses, modals, determiners, subject-verb concord, and reported speech; and Language through Literature (40 marks) testing understanding of prescribed NCERT textbooks, 'Beehive' and 'Moments', through extracts and various question types (short and long answers). An additional 20 marks are allocated for Internal Assessment, focusing on listening and speaking skills. Several chapters and poems have been deleted from the previous syllabus for the 2024-25 session.
Detailed
Understanding the CBSE Class 9 English Syllabus (2024-25) – A Detailed Overview
The CBSE Class 9 English Language and Literature syllabus for the academic year 2024-25 is designed to foster comprehensive language proficiency, including reading, writing, grammar, and literary analysis. The total marks for the annual examination are 80 marks for the theory paper, with an additional 20 marks for internal assessment, making the total score 100.
The 80-mark theory paper is divided into three main sections:
Section A: Reading Skills (20 Marks)
This section assesses a student's comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, and vocabulary through unseen passages.
* Types of Passages:
* Discursive Passage: One passage of 400-450 words, designed to assess comprehension, interpretation, and inference. (10 marks)
* Case-based Factual Passage: One passage of 200-250 words, often accompanied by visual input such as statistical data, charts, or diagrams. This assesses analysis, inference, and evaluation based on factual information. (10 marks)
* Question Types: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Objective Type Questions, and Very Short Answer (VSA) Questions will be asked.
Section B: Writing Skills and Grammar (20 Marks)
This section evaluates creative expression, reasoning, appropriate style and tone, correct format, and grammatical accuracy and fluency.
- Grammar (10 Marks): Accuracy in grammar will be assessed through various exercises like gap-filling, editing, or transformation, based on the following topics:
- Determiners: Articles (a, an, the), demonstratives (this, that, these, those), possessives (my, your, his), quantifiers (some, any, much, many, few, little), numbers.
- Tenses: All forms of tenses (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous) and their appropriate usage.
- Modals: Usage of modals like can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would (permission, possibility, obligation, necessity, advice, etc.).
- Subject-Verb Concord: Agreement of the verb with its subject in number and person.
- Reported Speech: Transformation of direct speech into indirect speech, covering:
- Commands and requests
- Statements
- Questions
- Writing Skills (10 Marks):
- Descriptive Paragraph (5 marks): One out of two questions to be answered (100-120 words). Describing a person, event, or situation based on visual or verbal cues.
- Story Writing / Diary Entry (5 marks): One out of two questions to be answered (100-120 words). Composing a story on a given cue/title or writing a diary entry.
Section C: Language through Literature (40 Marks)
This section assesses recalling, reasoning, appreciating, applying literary conventions, illustrating and justifying, extracting relevant information, identifying central themes, understanding the writer's message, and writing fluently based on the prescribed textbooks.
- Reference to the Context (10 Marks):
- One extract out of two from Drama/Prose (from 'Beehive'). (5 marks)
- One extract out of two from Poetry (from 'Beehive'). (5 marks)
- Question types will include MCQs/Objective Type Questions to assess interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, appreciation, and vocabulary.
- Short Answer Type Questions (18 Marks):
- Beehive: Four out of five questions to be answered in 40-50 words each. (4 x 3 = 12 marks) These assess interpretation, analysis, inference, and evaluation.
- Moments: Two out of three questions to be answered in 40-50 words each. (2 x 3 = 6 marks) These assess interpretation, analysis, inference, and evaluation.
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Long Answer Type Questions (12 Marks):
- Beehive: One out of two questions to be answered in 100-120 words. (6 marks) This assesses creativity, imagination, extrapolation beyond the text, and across the text. Can also be a passage-based question from a situation/plot.
- Moments: One out of two questions to be answered in 100-120 words. (6 marks) This assesses theme or plot involving interpretation, extrapolation beyond the text, inference, or character sketch.
-
Prescribed Books:
- Beehive (Main Course Book - NCERT)
- Prose Chapters:
- The Fun They Had
- The Sound of Music
- The Little Girl
- A Truly Beautiful Mind
- The Snake and the Mirror
- My Childhood
- Reach for the Top
- Kathmandu
- If I Were You
- Poems:
- The Road Not Taken
- Wind
- Rain on the Roof
- The Lake Isle of Innisfree
- A Legend of the Northland
- No Men Are Foreign
- On Killing a Tree
- A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal
- Prose Chapters:
- Moments (Supplementary Reader - NCERT)
- The Lost Child
- The Adventures of Toto
- Iswaran the Storyteller
- In the Kingdom of Fools
- The Happy Prince
- The Last Leaf
- A House is Not a Home
- The Beggar
- Beehive (Main Course Book - NCERT)
-
Note on Deleted Chapters/Poems (2024-25):
- From Beehive:
- Chapter 7: Packing (Prose)
- Poem: The Duck and the Kangaroo
- Chapter 9: The Bond of Love (Prose)
- Poem: The Snake Trying
- From Moments:
- Chapter: Weathering the Storm in Ersama
- Chapter: The Accidental Tourist
- From Beehive:
Internal Assessment (20 Marks)
This component includes various school-based assessments. For English, it typically covers:
* Periodic Tests/Assessments: Usually, 3 periodic tests are conducted throughout the year, and the best two are considered.
* Multiple Assessment Strategies: Quizzes, oral tests, concept maps, exit cards, presentations, etc.
* Notebook Submission: Regularity, completeness, and neatness of assignments.
* Subject Enrichment Activities:
* Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills (ASL): This is for 5 marks and assesses interactive competence, fluency, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary through activities like role-play, group discussions, presentations, and individual speaking tasks.
Understanding this detailed syllabus is the first step towards formulating an effective study plan and achieving success in CBSE Class 9 English.
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Overall Syllabus Structure & Marks Distribution - **Chunk Text:** The CBSE Class 9 English syllabus for 2024-25 is designed for an 80-mark theory paper and 20 marks for internal assessment, totaling 100. The theory paper divides into Reading Skills (20 marks), Writing Skills and Grammar (20 marks), and Language through Literature (40 marks). - **Detailed Explanation:** This chunk explains the fundamental breakdown of the English paper. It clarifies that while the board exam is 80 marks, your total score will include 20 marks from your school's internal assessments. It's crucial to understand these weightages to allocate your study time effectively across the different sections. - **Real-Life Example or Analogy:** Think of it like a game with three main levels (Reading, Writing/Grammar, Literature) and a side quest (Internal Assessment). Each level has its own points, and you need to score well on all of them to get a high overall score.
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The CBSE Class 9 English syllabus for 2024-25 is designed for an 80-mark theory paper and 20 marks for internal assessment, totaling 100. The theory paper divides into Reading Skills (20 marks), Writing Skills and Grammar (20 marks), and Language through Literature (40 marks).
- Detailed Explanation: This chunk explains the fundamental breakdown of the English paper. It clarifies that while the board exam is 80 marks, your total score will include 20 marks from your school's internal assessments. It's crucial to understand these weightages to allocate your study time effectively across the different sections.
- Real-Life Example or Analogy: Think of it like a game with three main levels (Reading, Writing/Grammar, Literature) and a side quest (Internal Assessment). Each level has its own points, and you need to score well on all of them to get a high overall score.
Detailed Explanation
This chunk explains the fundamental breakdown of the English paper. It clarifies that while the board exam is 80 marks, your total score will include 20 marks from your school's internal assessments. It's crucial to understand these weightages to allocate your study time effectively across the different sections.
- Real-Life Example or Analogy: Think of it like a game with three main levels (Reading, Writing/Grammar, Literature) and a side quest (Internal Assessment). Each level has its own points, and you need to score well on all of them to get a high overall score.
Examples & Analogies
Think of it like a game with three main levels (Reading, Writing/Grammar, Literature) and a side quest (Internal Assessment). Each level has its own points, and you need to score well on all of them to get a high overall score.
Section A: Reading Skills - **Chunk Text:** Section A, worth 20 marks, focuses on reading comprehension. You'll encounter two unseen passages: one discursive (400-450 words) and one case-based factual (200-250 words), often with visual data. Questions will be MCQs, objective, or very short answer types, assessing your understanding, inference, and vocabulary. - **Detailed Explanation:** This segment elaborates on the Reading section. It highlights that you'll get two different types of passages to test your ability to understand various texts. The first tests your overall comprehension of a general topic, while the second requires you to interpret specific facts, sometimes from charts or graphs. The question formats are designed to check not just what you read, but how well you analyze and infer from the text. - **Real-Life Example or Analogy:** It's like being a detective reading two different types of reports. One is a general narrative of events, and the other is a factual report with statistics, and you need to pull out specific information or draw conclusions from both.
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Section A, worth 20 marks, focuses on reading comprehension. You'll encounter two unseen passages: one discursive (400-450 words) and one case-based factual (200-250 words), often with visual data. Questions will be MCQs, objective, or very short answer types, assessing your understanding, inference, and vocabulary.
- Detailed Explanation: This segment elaborates on the Reading section. It highlights that you'll get two different types of passages to test your ability to understand various texts. The first tests your overall comprehension of a general topic, while the second requires you to interpret specific facts, sometimes from charts or graphs. The question formats are designed to check not just what you read, but how well you analyze and infer from the text.
- Real-Life Example or Analogy: It's like being a detective reading two different types of reports. One is a general narrative of events, and the other is a factual report with statistics, and you need to pull out specific information or draw conclusions from both.
Detailed Explanation
This segment elaborates on the Reading section. It highlights that you'll get two different types of passages to test your ability to understand various texts. The first tests your overall comprehension of a general topic, while the second requires you to interpret specific facts, sometimes from charts or graphs. The question formats are designed to check not just what you read, but how well you analyze and infer from the text.
- Real-Life Example or Analogy: It's like being a detective reading two different types of reports. One is a general narrative of events, and the other is a factual report with statistics, and you need to pull out specific information or draw conclusions from both.
Examples & Analogies
It's like being a detective reading two different types of reports. One is a general narrative of events, and the other is a factual report with statistics, and you need to pull out specific information or draw conclusions from both.
Section B: Writing Skills & Grammar - **Chunk Text:** Section B carries 20 marks, divided equally between Grammar and Writing Skills. Grammar topics include Determiners, Tenses, Modals, Subject-Verb Concord, and Reported Speech (commands, statements, questions), tested via gap-filling or editing. Writing tasks involve a Descriptive Paragraph (100-120 words) and either a Story or Diary Entry (100-120 words). - **Detailed Explanation:** This chunk breaks down the second major section. For Grammar, it lists the specific topics and emphasizes that application-based questions will be used, not just direct rule recall. For Writing, it details the two mandatory creative tasks, stressing the word limit and the need to follow specific formats for each. Mastering both grammatical accuracy and creative expression is key here. - **Real-Life Example or Analogy:** This section is like a construction project. Grammar provides the tools (rules) and materials (words), and Writing is where you actually build something (a paragraph or story) following specific blueprints (formats).
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Section B carries 20 marks, divided equally between Grammar and Writing Skills. Grammar topics include Determiners, Tenses, Modals, Subject-Verb Concord, and Reported Speech (commands, statements, questions), tested via gap-filling or editing. Writing tasks involve a Descriptive Paragraph (100-120 words) and either a Story or Diary Entry (100-120 words).
- Detailed Explanation: This chunk breaks down the second major section. For Grammar, it lists the specific topics and emphasizes that application-based questions will be used, not just direct rule recall. For Writing, it details the two mandatory creative tasks, stressing the word limit and the need to follow specific formats for each. Mastering both grammatical accuracy and creative expression is key here.
- Real-Life Example or Analogy: This section is like a construction project. Grammar provides the tools (rules) and materials (words), and Writing is where you actually build something (a paragraph or story) following specific blueprints (formats).
Detailed Explanation
This chunk breaks down the second major section. For Grammar, it lists the specific topics and emphasizes that application-based questions will be used, not just direct rule recall. For Writing, it details the two mandatory creative tasks, stressing the word limit and the need to follow specific formats for each. Mastering both grammatical accuracy and creative expression is key here.
- Real-Life Example or Analogy: This section is like a construction project. Grammar provides the tools (rules) and materials (words), and Writing is where you actually build something (a paragraph or story) following specific blueprints (formats).
Examples & Analogies
This section is like a construction project. Grammar provides the tools (rules) and materials (words), and Writing is where you actually build something (a paragraph or story) following specific blueprints (formats).
Section C: Language through Literature & Prescribed Books - **Chunk Text:** Section C is the largest, with 40 marks, focusing on your prescribed NCERT textbooks: 'Beehive' and 'Moments'. Questions include reference-to-context extracts (10 marks) from prose/drama and poetry, short answer questions (18 marks) from both books, and long answer questions (12 marks) assessing deeper understanding, creativity, and character analysis. - **Detailed Explanation:** This segment covers the core literature part. It explains that your understanding of the 'Beehive' (main reader) and 'Moments' (supplementary reader) will be tested. Extract-based questions check immediate comprehension, while short and long answers require more in-depth analysis of themes, characters, and plots, including your ability to go beyond the text and infer. - **Real-Life Example or Analogy:** This is like watching movies and then discussing them deeply. Extract questions are like instant reactions to a specific scene. Short answers are discussing key plot points or characters. Long answers are like writing an essay on the movie's themes or comparing characters.
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Section C is the largest, with 40 marks, focusing on your prescribed NCERT textbooks: 'Beehive' and 'Moments'. Questions include reference-to-context extracts (10 marks) from prose/drama and poetry, short answer questions (18 marks) from both books, and long answer questions (12 marks) assessing deeper understanding, creativity, and character analysis.
- Detailed Explanation: This segment covers the core literature part. It explains that your understanding of the 'Beehive' (main reader) and 'Moments' (supplementary reader) will be tested. Extract-based questions check immediate comprehension, while short and long answers require more in-depth analysis of themes, characters, and plots, including your ability to go beyond the text and infer.
- Real-Life Example or Analogy: This is like watching movies and then discussing them deeply. Extract questions are like instant reactions to a specific scene. Short answers are discussing key plot points or characters. Long answers are like writing an essay on the movie's themes or comparing characters.
Detailed Explanation
This segment covers the core literature part. It explains that your understanding of the 'Beehive' (main reader) and 'Moments' (supplementary reader) will be tested. Extract-based questions check immediate comprehension, while short and long answers require more in-depth analysis of themes, characters, and plots, including your ability to go beyond the text and infer.
- Real-Life Example or Analogy: This is like watching movies and then discussing them deeply. Extract questions are like instant reactions to a specific scene. Short answers are discussing key plot points or characters. Long answers are like writing an essay on the movie's themes or comparing characters.
Examples & Analogies
This is like watching movies and then discussing them deeply. Extract questions are like instant reactions to a specific scene. Short answers are discussing key plot points or characters. Long answers are like writing an essay on the movie's themes or comparing characters.
Deleted Chapters and Internal Assessment - **Chunk Text:** For 2024-25, certain chapters from 'Beehive' ("Packing," "The Bond of Love" and their associated poems "The Duck and the Kangaroo," "The Snake Trying") and 'Moments' ("Weathering the Storm in Ersama," "The Accidental Tourist") have been deleted. The 20-mark Internal Assessment typically includes periodic tests, multiple assessment strategies, notebook submission, and a crucial Listening and Speaking Skills (ASL) component. - **Detailed Explanation:** This final chunk provides vital updates regarding the syllabus, specifically mentioning the chapters and poems that are *not* part of the curriculum for this academic year, which helps students focus their efforts. It also clarifies what the 20 internal assessment marks comprise, highlighting that school-based activities and your spoken English skills play a significant role. - **Real-Life Example or Analogy:** The deleted chapters are like bonus levels removed from a video game, making the game slightly shorter. Internal assessment is like your coach's evaluation of your overall performance in practice, not just the final match.
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For 2024-25, certain chapters from 'Beehive' ("Packing," "The Bond of Love" and their associated poems "The Duck and the Kangaroo," "The Snake Trying") and 'Moments' ("Weathering the Storm in Ersama," "The Accidental Tourist") have been deleted. The 20-mark Internal Assessment typically includes periodic tests, multiple assessment strategies, notebook submission, and a crucial Listening and Speaking Skills (ASL) component.
- Detailed Explanation: This final chunk provides vital updates regarding the syllabus, specifically mentioning the chapters and poems that are not part of the curriculum for this academic year, which helps students focus their efforts. It also clarifies what the 20 internal assessment marks comprise, highlighting that school-based activities and your spoken English skills play a significant role.
- Real-Life Example or Analogy: The deleted chapters are like bonus levels removed from a video game, making the game slightly shorter. Internal assessment is like your coach's evaluation of your overall performance in practice, not just the final match.
Detailed Explanation
This final chunk provides vital updates regarding the syllabus, specifically mentioning the chapters and poems that are not part of the curriculum for this academic year, which helps students focus their efforts. It also clarifies what the 20 internal assessment marks comprise, highlighting that school-based activities and your spoken English skills play a significant role.
- Real-Life Example or Analogy: The deleted chapters are like bonus levels removed from a video game, making the game slightly shorter. Internal assessment is like your coach's evaluation of your overall performance in practice, not just the final match.
Examples & Analogies
The deleted chapters are like bonus levels removed from a video game, making the game slightly shorter. Internal assessment is like your coach's evaluation of your overall performance in practice, not just the final match.
Key Concepts
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Comprehensive Assessment: The syllabus aims for a holistic evaluation of language skills across reading, writing, grammar, and literature.
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Skill-Based Sections: The division into sections (Reading, Writing & Grammar, Literature) highlights specific competencies being tested.
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Application of Grammar: Emphasis on applying grammar rules in context rather than just rote memorization.
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Creative Expression: Importance of developing structured and imaginative writing skills.
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Literary Analysis: Understanding themes, characters, and literary devices in prescribed texts, along with the ability to interpret and infer.
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Time Management: Awareness of marks distribution for effective time allocation during the exam.
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Internal Assessment Significance: Recognition that school-based evaluations contribute significantly to the final score, especially for spoken and communication skills.
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Dynamic Syllabus: Awareness that the syllabus can have yearly changes (like deleted chapters) requiring students to stay updated.
Examples & Applications
Reading Skills (Discursive Passage): A passage discussing the pros and cons of online learning, followed by MCQs about the author's viewpoint and supporting arguments.
Reading Skills (Case-based Factual Passage): A passage presenting statistics on plastic pollution with an infographic, followed by questions asking to interpret data points or identify trends.
Grammar (Determiners): "_ sun rises in _ east." (Answers: The, the)
Grammar (Reported Speech): Direct: "He said, 'I am going to the market.'" Indirect: "He said that he was going to the market."
Writing (Descriptive Paragraph): "Describe your favorite festival." (Word limit 100-120 words, focusing on sensory details and emotions).
Writing (Story Writing): "Write a story beginning with 'The old house stood silent...' " (Word limit 100-120 words, focusing on plot, characters, and setting).
Literature (Reference to Context - Poetry): Extract from "The Road Not Taken": "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood..." Questions on the meaning of "yellow wood" or the poet's dilemma.
Literature (Short Answer - Beehive): "How did Margie feel about the mechanical teacher in 'The Fun They Had'?" (40-50 words answer analyzing her perspective).
Literature (Long Answer - Moments): "Discuss the theme of selflessness as portrayed in 'The Happy Prince'." (100-120 words analyzing the prince's and swallow's actions).
Internal Assessment (ASL): A student giving a 2-minute presentation on their favorite book or participating in a group discussion on "Technology's impact on education."
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Memory Tools
Really Wise Girls Love Literature (Reading, Writing, Grammar, Language through Literature).
Memory Tools
Don't Tell Me Silly Reports (Determiners, Tenses, Modals, Subject-Verb Concord, Reported Speech).
Memory Tools
Do Some Dedicated Reading (Descriptive Paragraph, Story/Diary Entry).
Memory Tools
Beehive has the Main poems, Moments has the Mysteries (Moments often contains more diverse short stories).
Memory Tools
Think of Packing Bags is Difficult for a Snake (Packing, Bond of Love, Duck and the Kangaroo, Snake Trying).
Memory Tools
It's Weathered for the Accidental Tourist (Weathering the Storm in Ersama, Accidental Tourist).
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Syllabus
A summary of the subjects or topics covered in a course of study.
- Internal Assessment
Marks awarded by the school, based on periodic tests, assignments, and activities throughout the academic year, not solely on the final board exam.
- Discursive Passage
A passage that presents a topic for discussion, argument, or reflection, often expressing opinions or viewpoints.
- Casebased Factual Passage
A passage that presents factual information, often accompanied by visual data (like charts or graphs), requiring analysis of specific details.
- MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
Questions where you select the correct answer from a given set of options.
- Objective Type Questions
Questions with a single, definite correct answer (e.g., fill-in-the-blanks, true/false, matching).
- Very Short Answer (VSA) Questions
Questions requiring a brief, precise answer, often a single word, phrase, or sentence.
- Determiners
Words that introduce a noun and indicate whether it is specific or general (e.g.,
a,the,my,some).
- Modals
Auxiliary verbs that express necessity, possibility, permission, or obligation (e.g.,
can,may,must,should).
- SubjectVerb Concord
The agreement between the subject of a sentence and its verb in number and person (e.g., "He
walks," not "Hewalk").
- Reported Speech
Indirect speech; how to report what someone else has said without quoting them directly.
- Descriptive Paragraph
A piece of writing that vividly describes a person, place, event, or object using sensory details.
- Diary Entry
A personal record of events, thoughts, and feelings, typically written in a casual, informal style.
- Reference to the Context
Questions that require you to explain lines or extracts from a literary text by relating them to the overall plot, characters, or themes of the chapter/poem.
- Extrapolation
Extending what is known or observed to predict or infer something about an unknown situation.
- Character Sketch
A brief description of a character's personality, appearance, and actions.
- Beehive
The main English Language and Literature textbook for Class 9 prescribed by CBSE.
- Moments
The supplementary English Reader for Class 9 prescribed by CBSE.
- ASL (Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills)
A component of the internal assessment that evaluates a student's ability to listen and speak effectively.