CBSE Class 9 Exam Pattern

The CBSE Class 9 exams are extremely crucial as they form the gateway to K12 Science and Math. Hence, understanding this pattern becomes important to ensure effective preparation. This exam is conducted internally by the school authorities. Here’s a brief outline of the CBSE Class 9 exam pattern. 

Class 9 exam is divided into two assessments namely Internal Assessment and Annual Examination for the term. To be promoted to the next class, a student needs to score at least 33 marks out of 100 or D grade in every subject. 

1. Internal Assessment (20 marks) 

• Periodic Assessment
• Multiple Assessment 
• Portfolio
• Subject Enrichment Activities

2. Annual Examination (80 marks)

1.0Internal Assessment (20 marks):

The main objective of Internal Assessments is to assess year long progress of students at regular intervals. The results give both teachers and students an insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the students. These insights further help the teachers in formulating remedial curriculum and setting targets for a student or a group of students. The students, thus, are enabled for better learning and setting up realistic goals. There are four different types of assessment-

Periodic Assessments (05 marks):

These would be restricted to 3 in each subject in a year and the average of best 2 would be taken for final submission of marks. These tests tend to follow a pattern, which is quite similar to the final end of course examination, and have a gradually increasing portion of content. This assessment follows a pen and paper format.

Multiple Assessment (05 marks): 

Schools/teachers would be able to use multiple and diverse assessment techniques to assess learners, i.e., observation, oral tests, individual or group work, class discussion, concept maps, visual representation etc. Hence, the schools are given autonomy to use alternate modes of assessment as per the demand of the subject and the context towards addressing the goal of assessment for learning such as quizzes, project-work, collaborative projects, experiments, classroom demonstrations, etc.

Portfolio (05 marks):

This would include class work done (activities/assignments) reflections, narrations, journals etc. Achievements of the student in the subject throughout the year and will carry a weightage of 5 marks towards the final results. Suggested below are certain elements to judge student’s portfolio- 

• Organization - Neatness, creativity and visual appeal
• Completion of guided work focused on specific circular objectives
• Evidence of student’s growth 
• Inclusion of all relevant work

Subject Enrichment Activities (05 marks):

They provide an in-depth understanding of the subject matter that motivates students to dig deeper into the subject. They ought to provide opportunities to students to explore their own interests as well as an understanding of the nature of a particular discipline. Some suggestions for conducting these activities are as follows-

• Language teachers can motivate students to develop relevant listening and reading skills by enhancing their vocabulary and heightening their awareness.
• Science and Mathematics may have lab experiments to explore the development of science processes. Students need to be encouraged to raise questions, generate hypotheses, experiment, innovate and find solutions to questions/ problems encountered.
• Social science provides the base for project work on topics related to society, socio-economic and environmental problems, political theory and art and culture.

2.0Annual Examination (80 marks)

This exam is conducted at the end of the session. Net duration of the exam is 3 hours and is conducted in a pen paper format. Syllabus consists of all the chapters asked in internal assessments and term examinations. 

The questions are categorized as per the Bloom’s taxonomy framework. Bloom’s taxonomy framework  is a hierarchical classification of cognitive skills that teachers use to structure learning objectives, assessments, and activities that promotes higher order thinking and deeper learning.

3.0Grading and Evaluation