The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is a board examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) for students studying in Class 10. However, ICSE Class 9 lays the conceptual foundation for the higher classes. A strong grasp of the Class 9 syllabus is essential for success in the ICSE Class 10 board examinations, as many topics covered in Class 9 are discussed in greater detail in Class 10.
This comprehensive guide provides the complete syllabus for ICSE Class 9 (2025-26 academic year | ICSE 2026 exams), along with study materials, preparation tips, and information about future competitive exams.
ICSE Class 9 – Subjects Overview
There are a total of 11 subjects in ICSE Class 9. Students are taught these subjects throughout the academic year, and questions in the final examination are based strictly on the prescribed syllabus.
ICSE Class 9 subjects are:
- Paper I – English Language
- Paper II – English Literature
- Mathematics
- Indian Language (as per school)
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- History and Civics
- Geography
- Computer Applications
- Environmental Science
ICSE Class 9 – English Syllabus (2025-26)
Paper I: English Language
| Section |
Topics |
| Composition Writing |
Essay writing of about 300 to 350 words on narrative, descriptive, argumentative, or reflective topics. |
| Letter Writing |
Formal letters – to editors, school authorities, officials; Informal letters – to family and friends. |
| Notice and Email Writing |
Writing notices for school events; drafting formal and informal emails on given topics. |
| Unseen Prose Passage |
Comprehension questions based on an unseen passage – factual, inferential, and vocabulary-based. |
| Functional Grammar |
Parts of speech, tenses, voice, narration, sentence transformation, synthesis, and analysis. |
Paper II: English Literature
DRAMA
- The Merchant of Venice – William Shakespeare (Prescribed Acts/Scenes as per CISCE curriculum)
- Treasure Trove – A collection of poems and short stories (as per CISCE prescription)
POETRY
- The Heart of the Tree – Henry Cuyler Bunner
- The Cold Within – James Patrick Kinney
- The Bangle Sellers – Sarojini Naidu
- After Blenheim – Robert Southey
- Television – Roald Dahl
PROSE (Short Stories)
- Chief Seattle’s Speech
- Old Man at the Bridge – Ernest Miller Hemingway
- A Horse and Two Goats – R.K. Narayan
- Hearts and Hands – O. Henry
- A Face in the Dark – Ruskin Bond
ICSE Class 9 – Mathematics Syllabus (2025-26)
| Chapter |
Topics |
| Pure Arithmetic |
- Rational and Irrational Numbers
|
| Commercial Mathematics |
- Compound Interest (with formula and without formula)
|
| Algebra |
- Expansions
- Factorisation
- Simultaneous Linear Equations in Two Variables
- Indices / Exponents
- Logarithms
|
| Geometry |
- Triangles – congruence, inequalities
- Rectilinear Figures – properties of quadrilaterals
- Circle – properties, theorems, constructions
|
| Statistics |
- Introduction to Statistics
- Collection and Organisation of Data
- Presentation of Data – tabular form
- Graphical Representation – bar graphs, histograms, frequency polygons
- Mean (arithmetic mean)
- Median of Ungrouped Data
|
| Mensuration |
- Area and Perimeter of Triangles and Quadrilaterals
- Circle – circumference and area
- Surface Area and Volume of 3D Figures – cube, cuboid, cylinder
|
| Trigonometry |
- Trigonometric Ratios – sine, cosine, tangent
- Trigonometric Ratios of Standard Angles (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°)
- Simple 2-D Problems
|
| Coordinate Geometry |
- Dependent and Independent Variables
- Ordered Pairs
- Coordinates of a Point and Plotting in Cartesian Plane
- Linear Equations – graphs
- Distance Formula
|
ICSE Class 9 – Physics Syllabus (2025-26)
| Chapter |
Topics |
| Measurements and Experimentation |
- Estimation by orders of magnitude – length, area, volume
- Mass and time – International System of Units (SI)
- Measurements using common instruments – vernier callipers, screw gauge, simple pendulum
- Presentation of data in tabular and graphical form (straight-line graphs only)
|
| Motion in One Dimension |
- Distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration
- Graphs – distance-time and speed-time
- Equations of uniformly accelerated motion (with derivations)
|
| Laws of Motion |
- Newton’s First Law of Motion – inertia
- Newton’s Second Law of Motion – force, momentum, acceleration
- Newton’s Third Law of Motion – action and reaction
- Gravitation – universal law of gravitation, acceleration due to gravity
|
| Fluids |
- Change of pressure with depth
- Transmission of pressure in liquids – Pascal’s law
- Atmospheric pressure
- Buoyancy, Archimedes’ principle
- Floatation – conditions, relationship with density
- Relative density – determination for solids and liquids
|
| Heat and Energy |
- Concepts of heat and temperature
- Anomalous expansion of water
- Energy flow and its importance
- Energy sources – renewable and non-renewable
- Global warming and greenhouse effect
|
| Sound |
- Nature of sound waves – longitudinal waves
- Infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic frequencies and their applications
|
| Electricity and Magnetism |
- Current electricity – electric current, potential difference, resistance
- Properties of a bar magnet
- Induced magnetism
- Lines of magnetic field
|
ICSE Class 9 – Chemistry Syllabus (2025-26)
| Chapter |
Topics |
| The Language of Chemistry |
- Symbol of an element
- Valency – variable valency, radicals
- Formulae of radicals and compounds
- Balancing of simple chemical equations
|
| Physical and Chemical Changes |
- Definitions and distinction between physical and chemical change
- Conditions for chemical change
- Types of chemical change – combination, decomposition, displacement, double displacement
- Energy changes in chemical changes – exothermic and endothermic reactions
- Burning – definition and conditions for burning
|
| Water |
- Water as a compound and as a universal solvent
- Water pollution – causes, effects, and treatment
- Chemical properties of water
|
| Atomic Structure |
- Structure of an atom – protons, neutrons, electrons
- Mass number and atomic number
- Isotopes and their applications
- Octet rule – formation of ions
|
| The Periodic Table |
- Dobereiner’s Triads
- Newland’s Law of Octaves
- Mendeleev’s contributions to the periodic table
- Modern Periodic Law
- The Modern Periodic Table – groups and periods
|
| Study of Gas Laws |
- Behaviour of gases under changes in temperature and pressure
- Boyle’s Law
- Charles’ Law
- Relationship between Kelvin scale and Celsius scale
- Ideal gas equation (conceptual)
|
| Study of the First Element – Hydrogen |
- Hydrogen from water – reaction with metals
- Hydrogen from dilute acids – reaction with metals
- Hydrogen from alkalies – reaction with metals
- Uses of hydrogen
|
| Atmospheric Pollution |
- Acid rain – causes, effects, and prevention
- Global warming – causes, effects, and control measures
- Ozone depletion – causes, effects, and preventive measures
|
ICSE Class 9 – Biology Syllabus (2025-26)
| Chapter |
Topics |
| Basic Biology |
- The cell – a unit of life (structure and function of cell organelles)
- Protoplasm – physical and chemical nature
- Basic difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
- Differences between animal cell and plant cell
- Tissues – types of plant tissues (meristematic, permanent) and animal tissues (epithelial, connective, muscular, nervous)
|
| Flowering Plants |
- Flower – structure of a bisexual flower
- Functions of various parts of a flower
- Pollination – self-pollination and cross-pollination (agents, adaptations)
- Fertilization – process and outcome
|
| Plant Physiology |
- Structure of dicot and monocot seeds
- Germination of seeds – types (epigeal, hypogeal)
- Conditions necessary for seed germination
- Respiration in plants – outline of the process, gaseous exchange
|
| Diversity in Living Organisms |
- Five Kingdom classification – Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia (brief outline)
- Economic importance of bacteria – beneficial and harmful
- Economic importance of fungi – beneficial and harmful
|
| Human Anatomy and Physiology |
- Nutrition – modes of nutrition, balanced diet, deficiency diseases
- Skeleton – movement and locomotion, types of joints
- Structure and functions of the skin
- Respiratory system – organs, mechanism of breathing, tissue respiration
- Heat production and regulation in the body
|
| Health and Hygiene |
- Introduction to maintaining good health
- Communicable diseases – bacterial (typhoid, tuberculosis), viral (common cold, influenza), protozoan (malaria, amoebiasis), helminthic (ascariasis)
- Non-communicable diseases – diabetes, cancer, heart disease (brief introduction)
- Aids to health – active and passive immunity, vaccination
- Health organisations – Red Cross, WHO (objectives and functions)
|
| Waste Generation and Management |
- Sources of waste – domestic, industrial, agricultural, biomedical
- Methods of safe disposal – segregation, recycling, composting, incineration, landfill
|
ICSE Class 9 – History & Civics Syllabus (2025-26)
History
- The Harappan Civilization – features, town planning, society, economy, decline
- Vedic Culture – Early Vedic and Later Vedic periods, society, economy, religion
- Jainism and Buddhism – causes, teachings, spread, impact
- The Mauryan Empire – Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, administration, economy, art and architecture
- The Sangam Age – Sangam literature, society, economy, culture
- The Age of the Guptas – Gupta rulers, administration, society, economy, golden age of art and science
- Medieval India – rise of regional kingdoms (Cholas, Chalukyas, Pallavas)
- The Modern Age in Europe – Renaissance, Reformation, Industrial Revolution
Civics
- Our Constitution – framing of the Constitution, Constituent Assembly
- Salient Features of the Constitution – Preamble, fundamental rights, fundamental duties, directive principles
- Directive Principles of State Policy – classification, implementation
- Elections – Election Commission, electoral process, types of elections
- Political Parties – role, functions, types, party system in India
- Local Self-Government – rural (Panchayati Raj) and urban (municipalities, corporations)
ICSE Class 9 – Geography Syllabus (2025-26)
- The Earth as a Planet – shape, size, motions, and their effects
- Geographic Grid – latitudes and longitudes, time zones, International Date Line
- Motions of the Earth – rotation and revolution, seasons, day and night
- Structure of the Earth – crust, mantle, core; internal processes
- Landforms of the Earth – mountains, plateaus, plains
- Rocks – types (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic), rock cycle
- Volcanoes – types, causes, effects, distribution
- Earthquakes – causes, effects, measurement, distribution
- Earth Movements – folding and faulting, associated landforms
- Weathering – types (physical, chemical, biological), effects
- The Hydrosphere – oceans, seas, distribution of water
- Movement of Ocean Waters – waves, tides, currents
- The Atmosphere – composition, structure, importance
- Insolation – factors affecting, heat budget
- Pressure Belts and Types of Winds – planetary winds, seasonal winds, local winds
- Precipitation – types, distribution, world rainfall patterns
- Natural Regions of the World – equatorial, tropical monsoon, tropical deserts, temperate grasslands, Mediterranean, taiga, tundra
- Pollution – sources, effects, and abatement of air, water, soil, noise pollution
- Our World – continents, oceans, major countries
- Map Work – identification of physical features, cities, and countries
ICSE Class 9 – Computer Applications Syllabus (2025-26)
| Unit |
Topics |
| Introduction to Operating System |
Functions of OS, types of OS, examples (Windows, Linux, macOS). |
| Graphical User Interface (GUI) |
GUI vs CUI, elements of GUI – icons, menus, windows, dialog boxes. |
| The Internet |
Internet basics, services – email, WWW, browsing, searching, social networking. |
| Computing and Ethics |
Cyber ethics, netiquette, plagiarism, copyright, software licenses. |
| Office Application Software |
Word processing, spreadsheets, presentations – features and uses. |
| Database Packages |
Introduction to databases, tables, queries, forms, reports (MS Access). |
| Elementary Concepts of Objects and Classes |
Object-oriented programming concepts – objects, classes, attributes, methods. |
| Values and Types |
Data types – integer, real, character, string; variables and constants. |
| Conditional and Non-nested Loops |
If-else statements, for loops, while loops (in Java/Python). |
ICSE Class 9 – Environmental Science Syllabus (2025-26)
| Unit |
Topics |
| Understanding Our Environment |
Definition, components (abiotic and biotic), scope, importance. |
| Living Things in the Ecosystem |
Producers, consumers, decomposers; trophic levels; food chains and food webs. |
| How Ecosystems Work |
Energy flow, nutrient cycling (carbon, nitrogen, water cycles). |
| Kinds of Ecosystems |
Forest, grassland, desert, aquatic (freshwater, marine) ecosystems. |
| Water |
Water resources, uses, scarcity, conservation, water management. |
| Air |
Composition of air, air pollution – causes, effects, control. |
| Atmosphere and Climate |
Structure of atmosphere, weather and climate, climate change. |
| Soil and Land |
Soil formation, soil profile, soil erosion and conservation, land degradation. |
| People |
Population growth, resource consumption, sustainable development. |
| Urbanisation |
Urban growth, problems of urbanisation, sustainable cities. |
| Agriculture |
Types of agriculture, modern farming, environmental impact, sustainable agriculture. |
ICSE Class 9 – Study Plan to Maximize Score in 2026 Exams
Consider these essential points to obtain good marks in your ICSE Class 9 exams:
- Create a realistic study schedule: Divide your syllabus into manageable portions. Allocate specific time slots for each subject, ensuring adequate coverage of complex topics.
- Follow your study routine daily: Aim to cover at least 95% of your daily study targets. Consistency is key to academic success.
- Plan regular revisions: Set aside time for weekly and monthly revision. Regular revision is essential to retain important information, formulas, and concepts.
- Alternate subjects strategically: Mix subjects you enjoy with those you find challenging. This prevents boredom and maintains interest.
- Practice numerical problems regularly: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry require consistent practice. Solve problems from each chapter regularly.
- Master diagrams and labeling: In Biology and Geography, practice drawing and labeling diagrams. This aids memory and scores marks.
- Solve sample papers: Practice ICSE Class 9 sample papers and previous years’ question papers under timed conditions to understand the exam pattern.
- Ask for help: Do not hesitate to ask your teachers, parents, or friends if you are unsure about a concept.
- Stay healthy: Eat nutritious food, sleep 7-8 hours daily, take short breaks during study sessions, and stay hydrated.
- Stay positive and confident: Believe in yourself. Stress and anxiety are counterproductive – develop an interest in your subjects instead.
Competitive Exams & Olympiads for ICSE Class 9 Students (2026)
Students in Class 9 can enhance their academic skills by participating in various national and international competitive examinations and Olympiads. These exams help identify aptitude, build confidence, and provide exposure beyond the school curriculum.
Olympiad Exams for Class 9 Students
- Indian National Olympiad (INO) – Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, Junior Science
- Indian National Earth Science Olympiad (INESO)
- National Science Olympiad (NSO) – Class 9
- International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) – Class 9
- National Standard Examination in Astronomy (NSEA)
- International Olympiad of English Language (IOEL) – Class 9
- National Biotechnology Olympiad (NBO) – Class 9
- International English Olympiad (IEO) – Class 9
- International Informatics Olympiad (IIO) – Class 9
- Zonal Informatics Olympiad (ZIO)
- National Science Talent Search Exam (NSTSE) – Class 9
- Technothlon – International contest organized by IITs
- National Interactive Maths Olympiad (NIMO) – Class 9
- GeoGenius – Geography-based competition
Other Competitive Examinations
- National Talent Search Examination (NTSE): While NTSE is for Class 10, Class 9 students can begin foundation preparation.
- KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana): For students interested in research careers in basic sciences.
- RMO (Regional Mathematical Olympiad): For mathematically inclined students.
Important Notes and Disclaimers
- This page is updated for ICSE Class 9 – Academic Year 2025-26 | ICSE 2026 Examinations based on the official curriculum prescribed by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).
- The syllabus may vary slightly depending on the affiliated school. Students are advised to refer to the syllabus provided by their respective schools and teachers.
- For the latest updates, circulars, and sample papers, candidates must regularly visit the official CISCE website (https://www.cisce.org).
- For specific queries related to subject combinations, textbooks, or examination dates, students should contact their school authorities.
This page is for informational purposes only. ALLEN Overseas has verified the information from official sources (cisce.org). However, students must refer to official notifications from CISCE and their respective schools for final confirmation.
