ICSE Class 9 English Syllabus 2025-26: Every educational board includes English as one of the core disciplines in its curriculum. This subject is important, and mastering it is crucial from a growth standpoint. The universal language of business communication is English. Therefore, understanding the kanguagew is essential. English has been added to the list of required subjects by CISCE. Paper 1 and Paper 2 comprise the English curriculum for ICSE Class 9. English language proficiency is covered in Paper 1, and English literature is covered in Paper 2. Both papers are two hours long and carry 80 marks. This is the ICSE Class 9 English syllabus for 2025-26. CISCE has published this syllabus on its official website as well.
CISCE is a world-famous educational board that ensures the delivery of quality education to students in India and outside India. The board offers a wide range of subjects that trigger holistic growth in students. To learn more about the ICSE Board, check out the table below:
| Aspect | Description |
| Examination Name | Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) |
| Board Name | Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations |
| Reach | Followed by schools in India and abroad. |
| Curriculum | Focuses on a holistic education with core academics, creative expression, life skills, and values. |
| Subjects Offered | Wide range of subjects including English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), Social Science (History, Geography, Civics, Economics), Computer Science, Art, Music, Physical Education, etc. |
| Board Exams | Conducted in February-March for Class 10. |
| Recognition | Certificates are recognised by most universities and institutions for higher education in India and abroad. |
| Website | cisce.org |
ICSE Class 9 English Syllabus 2025-26: Aims
- To develop and integrate the use of the four language skills i.e. listening, speaking, reading and writing for the purpose of effective communication.
- To develop a functional understanding of the grammar, structure and idiom of the language.
- To develop the capacity to read efficiently and access information effectively.
- To develop an appreciation of good literature. 5. To experience, through literature, the thoughts and feelings of the peoples of the world.
ICSE Class 9 English Syllabus 2024-25
As students transition from middle to sub-senior standards, ICSE class 9th marks their new beginning. They get to know about new courses and learning methods. To make sure they grasp the required knowledge, it's important to have a PDF of the syllabus. The ICSE Class 9 English syllabus 2025-26 for Papers 1 and 2 can be seen here. Get to know about internal evaluation criteria as well.
PAPER 1 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Two hours) - 80 Marks
| PAPER 1 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Two hours) - 80 Marks All questions will be compulsory. |
| Question 1: Candidates will be required to write a composition of about 300– 350 words from a choice of subjects which will test their ability to: organise, describe, narrate, report, explain, persuade or argue, present ideas coherently with accuracy and precision, compare and contrast ideas and arrive at conclusions, present relevant arguments and use correct style and format. The topics will be varied and may be suggested by language or by other stimuli such as pictures. The topics will be so chosen so as to allow the candidates to draw on first-hand experience or to stimulate their imagination. The organisation of subject matter, syntax, punctuation, correctness of grammatical constructions and spelling will be expected to be appropriate to the mode of treatment required by the subject. |
| Question 2: Candidates will have to write a letter from a choice of two subjects requiring either a formal or a friendly mode of treatment. Suggestions regarding the content of the letter may be given. The format of the letter with address, introduction, conclusion, etc., will form part of the assessment. Special attention must be paid to the format of the letter with emphasis on tone and vocabulary appropriate to the context. |
| Question 3: Candidates will be given a specific situation and will be required to follow directions. (a) Write the text for a notice based on the given directions. (b)Write an email with the same content as the notice. |
| Question 4: An unseen prose passage of about 500 words will be given. Uncommon items of vocabulary or structure will be avoided. A question will be set to test vocabulary. Candidates will be required to show an understanding of the words/phrases in the context in which they have been used. A number of questions requiring short answers will also be asked on the passage. These questions will test the candidates’ ability to comprehend the explicit content and organisation of the passage and to infer information, intention and attitude from it. The last question will consist of a summary that will test the candidates’ ability to distinguish main ideas from supporting details and to extract salient points to re-write them in the form of a summary. Candidates will be given a clear indication of what they are to summarise and of the length of the summary. |
| Question 5: There will be a number of short answer questions to test the candidates' knowledge of functional grammar, structure and usage. All the items in this question will be compulsory. They will consist of correct use of prepositions, conjunctions, verbs and structure of sentences. |
PAPER 2 - LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (Two hours) - 80 Marks
| PAPER 2 - LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (Two hours) - 80 Marks |
| Candidates will be required to answer questions based on the prescribed textbooks, which include Drama, Prose (Short Stories) and Poetry. Drama and Prose (Short Stories) The questions set will be central to the text. Candidates will be required to show that they have understood the passage and can respond in their own words. Excerpts may be given from the drama and prose texts, leading to questions. Poetry A poem, or lines from poems, will be given, and questions will be set to test the candidates’ response. The questions will focus on the content, understanding and the personal response of candidates to the entire poem as a whole. |
| SYLLABUS TO BE COVERED |
| I. DRAMA: Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare(Acts I & II) II. TREASURE CHEST: A Collection of ICSE Short Stories & Poems (Evergreen Publications (India) Ltd., New Delhi) PROSE (Short Stories): 1. Bonku Babu's Friend – Satyajit Ray 2. Oliver Asks for More – Charles Dickens 3. The Model Millionaire – Oscar Wilde 4. Home-coming – Rabindranath Tagore 5. The Boy Who Broke the Bank – Ruskin Bond POETRY: 1. The Night Mail – W.H. Auden 2. Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat – T.S. Eliot 3. I Remember, I Remember – Thomas Hood 4. A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 – Vikram Seth 5. A Work of Artifice – Marge Piercy |
| INTERNAL ASSESSMENT |
| Paper 1 - English Language |
| 1. Schools will prepare, conduct and record assessments of the Listening and Speaking Skills of candidates as follows: Class IX: Three assessments in the year. |
| 2. Pattern of Assessment a) Listening Skills A passage of about 300 words is read aloud by the examiner twice, the first time at normal reading speed (about 110 words a minute) and the next time at a slower speed. Candidates may make brief notes during the readings. They then answer an objective type test based on the passage, on the paper provided. The recommended number of candidates at a sitting is 30. b) Speaking Skills Each candidate is required to make an oral presentation for about two minutes, which will be followed by a discussion on the subject with the examiners, for about three minutes. Subjects for presentation may include narrating an experience, providing a description, giving directions on how to make or operate something, expressing an opinion, giving a report, relating an anecdote or commenting on a current event. A candidate may refer to brief notes in the course of the presentation but reading or excessive dependence on notes will be penalized. It is recommended that candidates be given an hour for preparation of their presentation subject and that they be given a choice of subject on a common paper. EVALUATION The assessment will be conducted jointly by the subject teacher and the external examiner, who will each assess the candidate. (The External Examiner may be a teacher nominated by the Head of the School, who could be from the faculty but not teaching English of Class VIII, may be deputed to be an External Examiner for Class X). Award of Marks (20 Marks) Listening Skills: 10 marks Speaking Skills: 10 marks The total marks obtained out of 20 are to be sent to the CISCE by the Head of the School. The Head of the School will be responsible for the online entry of marks on the CISCE’s CAREERS portal by the due date. Schools are required to maintain a record of all assessments conducted in Listening and Speaking Skills for candidates of Classes IX and X. These include copies of the assessment tests, topics for presentation and marks awarded. The record will be maintained for 2 months after the ICSE(10) examinations of the candidates concerned. Paper 2 - Literature in English Schools will set, assess and record written assignments by the candidates as given below: Class IX: Two or three assignments of approximately 300 to 400 words each. NOTE: Students should be encouraged to work in pairs/small groups to develop skills of collaboration and cooperation. |
Get the direct link to download the full syllabus here:
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ICSE Class 9th English Syllabus 2025-26: Download Syllabus PDF For FREE |
Now that the students have the syllabus with them, they can easily download the PDF and start preparing to score well. For any updates or queries, students can leave their comments here.
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