8 October 20268 min read
CBSE Class 9 Syllabus 2026-27: Subjects, Marks, Levels
Units, chapters and marks for each main Class 9 subject in 2026-27, plus internal assessment and the new Advanced papers.
This guide explains what CBSE Class 9 students study in 2026-27 and how each main subject is marked: the units and chapters, the marks for each part of the paper, and what your internal assessment is made of. Everything comes from CBSE's 2026-27 curriculum and its Class 9 subject syllabi, so you can plan the year with the right picture.
If you want to know more about the new books themselves, read our guide to the new Class 9 NCERT books. This post is about the syllabus and assessment.
The big picture for 2026-27
- Classes 9 and 10 are one two-year course, so choose subjects in Class 9 that you plan to continue in Class 10.
- Each main subject has an 80-mark annual exam (3 hours) set by your school and 20 marks of internal assessment (IA). You must appear in both, and the pass mark is 33 percent.
- IA has four equal parts: periodic tests, multiple assessment (quizzes, presentations, projects), a portfolio of your work, and subject enrichment activities. For periodic tests, three are held and the average of your best two counts.
- A third language (R3) is compulsory from Class 9 this session.
Class 9 uses absolute grades: 91-100 is A1, 81-90 A2, 71-80 B1, 61-70 B2, 51-60 C1, 41-50 C2 and 33-40 D.
Maths and Science Advanced: what it means
Maths and Science are now offered at two levels. Standard is the common syllabus that everyone studies. Advanced is optional and covers extra topics. You can pick no Advanced paper, one, or both.
The curriculum describes each Advanced paper as 25 marks, 1 hour, with all questions testing higher-order thinking (HOTS). Advanced marks are not added to your total; scoring 50 percent or more gets a note on the marksheet. CBSE's documents differ on timing: one part says the two levels start in Class 9 from 2026-27, while the assessment table lists the Advanced paper as a Board exam in Class 10 from 2027-28. None of the documents says who conducts an Advanced paper in Class 9, so check with your school.
CBSE has published Grade 9 Advanced material for both subjects. The chapters are listed in the Maths and Science sections below.
Mathematics
Prescribed book: the new NCERT Maths book, Ganita Manjari (the syllabus lists it as "Mathematics - Textbook for class IX"; see our guide to the new books). Free notes and mind maps are on our Class 9 Maths page.
| Unit | Chapters | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I Number System | Number System | 7 |
| II Algebra | Introduction to Polynomials; Sequences and Progressions; Exploring Algebraic Identities; Linear Equations in Two Variables | 20 |
| III Coordinate Geometry | Coordinate Geometry | 4 |
| IV Geometry | Introduction to Euclid's Geometry: Axioms and Postulates; Lines and Angles; Triangles - Congruence Theorems; 4-gons (Quadrilaterals); Circles | 25 |
| V Mensuration | Area and Perimeter; Surface Area and Volume | 14 |
| VI Statistics and Probability | Statistics; Introduction to Probability | 10 |
| Total | 80 |
About 43 of the 80 marks test remembering and understanding, 19 test applying, and 18 test analysing, evaluating and creating.
Internal assessment (20): pen-paper test and multiple assessment 10 (5 + 5), portfolio 5, and lab practicals 5, using activities from the prescribed lab books.
Maths Advanced (optional) chapters: Sets, Logarithms, Relations and Functions, Coordinate Geometry, Combinatorics, and Exploring some more Progressions. The old Basic and Standard Maths split ends from 2026-27. For a gentle start, read our Maths chapter 1 guide.
Science
Prescribed book: the new NCERT Science book, Exploration (the syllabus lists it as "Science-Textbook for class IX"). Notes and mind maps are on our Class 9 Science page.
| Unit | Chapters | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I World of Living | Cell; Tissues; Reproduction; Diversity | 27 |
| II Matter - Its Nature and Behaviour | Exploring Mixtures and their Separation; Structure of an Atom; Atoms and Molecules | 25 |
| III Motion, Force, Work and Sound | Motion; Force and Laws of Motion; Work, Energy and Simple Machines; Sound | 23 |
| IV Earth as a system | Earth as a System: Energy, Matter & Life | 5 |
| Total | 80 |
The theory paper is 50 percent knowledge and understanding, 30 percent application, and 20 percent analysing, evaluating and creating, with about 33 percent internal choice. The syllabus lists 13 practicals done alongside theory, such as separating mixtures by chromatography and verifying Newton's second law with a trolley.
Internal assessment (20): periodic assessment 5, multiple assessment 5, portfolio 5, and subject enrichment (practical work) 5.
Science Advanced (optional) chapters: Measurement - Foundation of Science; Understanding Motion through Experience; Newton's Laws of Motion; The Geometry of Power - Advanced Simple Machines; Work and Energy; Structure of Atom; Chemical Bonding; Mixtures and Separation of Mixtures; Microscope and Microscopy; Engineering Life: Miracles in Biotechnology. Our Science chapter 1 guide is a good first read.
Social Science
Prescribed books: the new NCERT Social Science book, Understanding Society: India and Beyond (the syllabus lists it as "Social Science-Part 1" and "Part 2"). Notes and mind maps are on our Class 9 Social Science page. The paper is 80 marks plus 20 IA. The syllabus says the course structure "will be provided shortly", so marks per theme are not given yet. Here are the themes:
| Book | Themes |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | Understanding Social Science; Shaping of the Earth's Surface; Atmosphere and Climate; Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation; State and Society (upto 1000 CE); Democracy; Elections; Building Blocks in Economics; The Price Puzzle: What Drives the Market |
| Part 2 | Oceans and Life; Life on Earth; Resistance and Resilience (1000 CE - 1700 CE); India and the World-I (1900 BCE - 1200 CE); Authority; From Ideas to Startups; Smart Ways to Manage Your Finances |
Internal assessment (20): pen-paper periodic test 5; multiple assessment 5 (quizzes, debates, role play, site-map making and more); an interdisciplinary project 5; and a portfolio 5.
English
Prescribed book: Kaveri: Textbook of English for Grade 9, used for both R1 and R2. Notes are on our Class 9 English page.
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| A Reading Skills (two unseen passages) | 20 |
| B Writing Skills and Grammar | 30 |
| C Language through Literature | 30 |
| D Internal Assessment | 20 |
R1 and R2 have the same section marks but different question types. For example, the R1 essay is 7 marks and the R2 narrative essay is 6.
Internal assessment (20): pen-and-paper tests 5, multiple assessment 5, portfolio 5, and subject enrichment projects 5.
Hindi
For Hindi at R1 or R2, the syllabus does not name a textbook. It asks for literature study from the NCERT textbook based on the National Curriculum Framework 2023, and says the same books can be used flexibly at both levels.
| खंड (Section) | Marks |
|---|---|
| क अपठित बोध (unseen passages) | 14 |
| ख व्यावहारिक व्याकरण (grammar) | 16 |
| ग पाठ्यपुस्तक (textbook) | 30 |
| घ रचनात्मक लेखन (writing) | 20 |
That makes 80 marks for the annual exam plus 20 internal, at both R1 and R2. The Hindi syllabus does not break down the 20 internal marks.
If Hindi is your R3: you study the Class 6 level R3 textbook plus one local literary text, for 2 to 3 periods a week. The focus is on speaking and reading fluency, and assessment is school-based only. The marksheet shows "Qualified" or "Not Qualified", and you must pass R3 to get the Class 10 certificate. At least two of your three languages must be native to India.
Other subjects on your timetable
Your school also assesses Individuals in Society (a new interdisciplinary subject), Art Education, and Physical Education and Well-being. Vocational Education has IA and an annual exam at school.
How to start the year
- See the shape first. Look over each subject's units before chapters begin.
- Start a portfolio folder now. Maths, Science, Social Science and English each give it 5 IA marks.
- Practise little and often. Ten focused minutes on Learnijoy Practice beats one long session a week.
- Decide on Advanced calmly. It is optional, so settle into the Standard chapters first and talk to your teacher.
- Rest well. Study in short blocks with real breaks and keep a steady bedtime. Good sleep helps you remember what you learned.
Ready to begin? Open the Learnijoy Library and study your first chapter with Joy.
Last updated: 9 October 2026. Source: CBSE Secondary Curriculum 2026-27 and subject syllabi (Maths, Maths Advanced, Science, Science Advanced, Social Science, English, Hindi).