The 9th standard is the stepping stone towards one of the most crucial phases of student life – the 10th standard, where typically the students would face their state-level or national-level board examination. Recently, CBSE has published a term-by-term syllabus for Grades 9-12. The academic period of the academic year will be divided into two terms, with tests administered by boards at the end of each term, according to the new plan. Parents and students need to be aware of the updated CBSE Class 9 Syllabus.
The first term exam is scheduled to happen during November-December, with the question paper comprising Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) covering just the first half of the recently launched contextualised syllabus. For this examination, the time limit would be 90 minutes. The CBSE would provide the question papers and marking scheme to the schools, who will organize the examinations under the monitoring of external examiners Following that, the results would be sent to the board.
Marking scheme – As per the official information provided regarding the Class 9 term exams, each subject will have a 40-mark multiple-choice end-term question paper to be solved in 90 minutes. 10 marks are provided for internal assessment done throughout the term.
With the unprecedented incidence of this novel Coronavirus impacting academics, The CBSE has decided to hold the board examination in two terms this academic year. The syllabus has been divided evenly for the two examinations, and the scores earned in both will be weighted equally in the final mark sheet of the student.
Internal Assessment Evaluation
Keeping in mind the current scenario of the possibility of offline classes, the CBSE has released guidelines for conducting an internal assessment of the student. The total weightage of the internal assessment would be 20 marks (10 for each term). Internal assessment could be done in multiple formats – Periodic tests must be conducted by the schools, within a term 3 tests could be conducted and a best of two among the three would be considered. The schools are also advised to include in their pedagogy diverse assessment methods which will help assess the student’s communication skills, subject knowledge, and other functional skills. Parents and students must note that in the 9th standard not only the theory part but also the practicals is highly significant. The evaluation also includes checking laboratory records and worksheets maintained by the student. CBSE insists that all the mentioned practicals enlisted in the curriculum must be completed and done in a continuous manner throughout the year.
Main subjects and selection of electives
In Class 9, there are 5 compulsory subjects offered – Hindi, English, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. Apart from these, a 6th skill subject and a 7th would be a third language as per the preference of the pupil. The remaining 2 subjects can be selected among Physical Education, Art, Health education or Work experience. These are grouped as main, language, and optional subjects. CBSE has strategically planned the integration of the 9th and 10th syllabus to ensure academic continuity. Students should only pick topics in the 9th standard that they want to continue in the following year for board exams. The subjects can be chosen based on the pattern of study in the 9th standard.
Criteria for passing and academic promotion
In the event of a student not able to clear any one of the three compulsory subject areas but has secured passing marks in the skilled subject (6th elective offered), the failing academic subject will be supplemented by this skill subject, and the 10th Standard Board examination result will be recalculated accordingly. If a student fails any one of the 5 language subjects, it will be supplemented by the language taken as 6th subject or 7th subject (optional), given the student has passed this language subject and either Hindi or English would remain as a passed language among the first 5 subjects.
Preparation strategy and tips for 9th Standard Term 1
The students must focus on all the subjects. The main subjects are fundamentally important for next year board exams. In mathematics, the core topics like Number Systems, Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration are foundational for upcoming topics in the 10th standard. One must practice the exemplar problems mentioned in the textbooks. Statistics is also a very important chapter; students can take support from relevant solution books.
Science has been broadly divided into 3 Units, Matter – which would include chemistry and biology, Organisation in the living world – Biology based and Work, Force and Motion would be fundamentals of Physics. Social studies in the 9th standard cover the History of the Contemporary world and India in two chapters, Followed by Politics and Economics. The study of history later would be based on understanding the continuity of events.
Apart from these subjects, Languages will play a key role in the scoring, The students must focus on learning both the writing and reading skills of English and other optional languages. Students must focus on understanding the subject rather than blindly memorizing the topics and formulae.
· A timetable must be prepared accounting sufficient time daily for all the subjects and for solving the problems or writing the answers.
· The study plan prior to exams must ensure sufficient time for revision which will help in better retaining of answers during the examination.
· Notes and study materials would be critical alongside the textbooks for the preparation.
· NCERT is the prescribed books as the questions would be directly picked from the same.
· Students can solve past year question papers in a time-bound environment to be able to do well and also in advance practice for the next year’s board examination.
Conclusion
The students must look at the examination as a test of their ability to understand and not the test of their memory. They should not stress themselves out and be confident during their preparation to do well in the exam. Parents should be supportive in the child’s endeavours to score high marks according to his or her capability. Students should also try to learn from their mistakes made during class tests, internal assessments and while practising questions to avoid the same in the amine exam. All the best!