Science

ICSE Class 9 Science Exam Overview: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology

In ICSE Class 9, Science is a single subject for marking purposes (Group II) but is taught and assessed as three separate papers, each with its own extensive syllabus. The final internal exam for each paper closely mimics the structure of the Class 10 Board exam pattern.

Examination Structure Summary

Particulars	Physics Paper	Chemistry Paper	Biology Paper
Full Marks (Theory + Internal)	80 + 20 = 100	80 + 20 = 100	80 + 20 = 100
Exam Duration (Theory)	2 hours	2 hours	2 hours
Theory Exam Pattern	Section A (40 Marks - Compulsory) & Section B (40 Marks - Attempt 4 out of 6 questions)
Internal Assessment	20 Marks (Practical work, Experiments, Viva, Project)
Passing Criteria	Minimum 35% in each paper (Theory + Internal) is usually required by the school.

1.0ICSE Class 9 Science Syllabus: Key Topics

The syllabus is vast and requires strong conceptual clarity, numerical problem-solving skills (Physics/Chemistry), and detailed diagram drawing/theory recall (Biology).

Physics (80 Marks Theory)

The syllabus focuses on core mechanical and electrical concepts, forming the backbone of the subject.

Unit	Key Topics Covered	Focus Areas
Measurements & Experimentation	International System of Units (SI), Measurements using common instruments (Vernier Callipers, Screw Gauge).	Accuracy, least count, and practical application.
Motion in One Dimension	Distance, Displacement, Speed, Velocity, Acceleration, Graphs (Distance-Time and Speed-Time), Equations of uniformly accelerated motion.	Numerical problems, graph interpretation, and understanding vector vs. scalar quantities.
Laws of Motion	Newton's Laws of Motion, Momentum, Force, Inertia, Gravitation, Buoyancy, Archimedes' Principle, Floatation.	Derivations, applications (e.g., in fluids), and numerical problem-solving.
Heat & Energy	Concepts of Heat and Temperature, Energy sources, and conservation of energy.	Definitions and conceptual clarity.
Light & Sound	Reflection of Light (Laws, Plane and Spherical Mirrors), Nature of Sound waves, Range of Hearing.	Ray diagrams, mirror formula (simple application without derivation), and wave properties.
Electricity & Magnetism	Static Electricity, Current Electricity (Ohm's Law, Resistance), Properties of a magnet.	Understanding circuits, concepts of current/voltage, and practical applications.

Chemistry (80 Marks Theory)

This section introduces fundamental chemical concepts, balancing equations, and the Periodic Table.

Unit	Key Topics Covered	Focus Areas
Language of Chemistry	Symbol, Valency, Radicals, Chemical Formulae, Balancing Simple Chemical Equations.	Mastery of valencies and writing correct formulae/equations.
Chemical Changes & Reactions	Types of chemical changes (Combination, Decomposition, Displacement, Double Decomposition), Energy changes (Exothermic and Endothermic reactions).	Examples and identifying reaction types.
Water	Water as a universal solvent, Hard and Soft water (causes and removal), Hydrated and anhydrous substances, Hygroscopy.	Definitions, differences, and practical applications.
Atomic Structure & Chemical Bonding	Structure of an Atom (Protons, Neutrons, Electrons), Atomic Number, Mass Number, Electrovalent and Covalent Bonding.	Orbit structure diagrams (e.g., for NaCl, MgCl_2, H_2O, and Octet/Duplet rule.
The Periodic Table	Dobereiner's Triads, Newland's Law of Octaves, Mendeleev's and Modern Periodic Law.	Understanding the evolution and structure of the Modern Periodic Table (Groups and Periods).
Study of Gas Laws	Behaviour of gases under changes of temperature and pressure, Relationship between Kelvin and Celsius scales.	Simple Gas Law concepts (Boyle's Law, Charles' Law).

Biology (80 Marks Theory)

Biology delves into the fundamental units of life, plant physiology, and human systems.

Unit	Key Topics Covered	Focus Areas
Basic Biology	The Cell (Structure and Organelles), Tissues (Plant and Animal, functions, and types).	Detailed diagrams, functions of organelles, and differences between cell/tissue types.
Flowering Plants	Vegetative Propagation, Structure of Flower, Pollination (types), Fertilization.	Diagram of a flower, cross-sections, and understanding life cycles.
Plant Physiology	Structure and Germination of seeds, Respiration in Plants.	Experiment setups and types of germination.
Diversity in Living Organisms	Outline of Five Kingdom Classification, Economic Importance of Bacteria and Fungi.	Classification hierarchy and practical benefits/drawbacks of microbes.
Human Anatomy & Physiology	Nutrition (Structure of a tooth, Digestive System), Movement & Locomotion (Axial and Appendicular Skeleton), Respiratory System.	Detailed, labelled diagrams of systems and organs, and their specific functions.
Health and Hygiene	Causes of diseases (Bacteria, Virus, Parasites), Waste Generation and Management.	Identifying disease causes and methods of waste disposal.

2.0Exam Pattern Deep Dive (Theory - 80 Marks per Paper)

The question paper for all three science papers follows a unified format:

Section A (40 Marks) - Compulsory

Type of Questions: Short answer, objective-type, MCQs, one-word answers, definition, fill-in-the-blanks, matching.
Coverage: Covers all chapters of the respective subject.
Purpose: To test factual knowledge, definitions, laws, formulas, and quick recall.

Section B (40 Marks) - Attempt any 4 out of 6 questions

Type of Questions: Long-answer, descriptive, application-based, numerical problems (Physics/Chemistry), labelled diagrams (Biology), distinction between terms, and reasoning questions ("Give Reasons").
Purpose: To test in-depth understanding, problem-solving ability, and presentation skills.

3.0Internal Assessment (20 Marks per Paper)

The 20 marks in each subject are crucial and awarded based on hands-on activities:

Component	Focus Area	Assessment Value (Approx.)
Experiments/Practical Test	Performing prescribed experiments (e.g., density in Physics, pH testing in Chemistry, onion peel in Biology).	10 - 15 Marks
Record/Lab Manual	Maintaining a complete, accurate, and neat record of experiments performed throughout the year.	5 Marks
Viva-Voce/Project	Oral questions related to the experiments/syllabus or submitting a subject-related project.	5 Marks

4.0Preparation Strategy: Sample Papers & Resources

Textbooks are Key: Use the prescribed concise textbooks (e.g., Selina Concise for all three) rigorously.
Focus on Numericals: For Physics and Chemistry (Gas Laws, Chemical Calculations), practice solving numerical problems from the textbook and question banks repeatedly.
Master Diagrams: For Biology, practice drawing large, neat, and correctly labelled diagrams of systems, cycles, and cell structures.
Use Sample Papers: Though not officially released by CISCE, solving ICSE Class 9 Science Sample Papers from publishers is vital. They help in:

Getting familiar with the Section A vs. Section B mark distribution.
Learning how to manage the 2-hour time limit across descriptive and numerical sections.

Maintain a Science Journal: Keep separate notes for definitions, formulas, S.I. units (Physics), chemical equations (Chemistry), and diagrams (Biology).

ICSE Subject Wise Overview

ICSE Class 9 Science

ICSE Class 9 Maths

ICSE Class 9 English

ICSE Class 9 Social Science

ICSE Class 9 Science Exam Resources

ICSE Class 9 Science Syllabus & Exam Pattern

ICSE Class 9 Science Sample Papers

Preparation Tips for ICSE Class 9 Science

ICSE Exam Classes 6-10

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