Class 9 ICSE Biology

The notification for the board exams is already out and preparations for the Science subject consume a major portion of your time. But having a strategic study plan makes it easy to prepare for it. The Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) conducts  ICSE for class 10th. A minimum of 33% marks are required to qualify for the exam but preparing beforehand can help you score well. In this blog, we will have a look at the Class 9 ICSE Biology syllabus.

Class 9 ICSE Biology: Exam Pattern

Before beginning your preparations, understanding the paper pattern is essential. Doing so would not only help you make an efficient study plan but also give you an idea of how much time to give on each topic. The 9 ICSE Biology paper will be divided into two sections and each section carrying 40 marks forming a total of 80 marks. The Internal Assessment of Practical work carries 20 marks. Section-I has Short Answer-type Questions and all of them are compulsory, while Section-II contains six questions out of which only four are to be answered. 

Class 9 ICSE Biology Syllabus

Consisting of 7 chapters, the coursework has been designed to solidify the understanding of the subject which forms the base for medical courses to be taken after the 12th class. Given below is the chapter-wise syllabus for Class 9 ICSE Biology.

1. Basic Biology

The cell, a unit of life, protoplasm, basic difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell; differences between an animal and a plant cell

• A basic understanding of cell theory
• Structure of plant and animal cell
• Functions of various cell organelles
• Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell
• Plant cell and animal cell

Tissues: Types of plant and animal tissues

• Location of tissues
• Basic structure and functions
• Their role in different physiological processes in plants and animals

2. Flowering Plants

Flower: Structure of a Bisexual Flower and Functions of Various Parts

• Introduction to complete and incomplete flowers
• Essential and non-essential whorls of a bisexual flower
• Parts and functions
• Inflorescence and placentation

Pollination: Self and Cross-Pollination

• Explanation, advantages and disadvantages of self and cross-pollination
• Agents of pollination and the characteristic features of flowers pollinated by various agents such as insects, wind and water
• How nature favours cross-pollination

Fertilisation

• Process leading to the formation of the zygote in the embryo sac
• Briefly explain double fertilization and triple fusion
• Fruit and Seed – Definition and Significance

3. Plant Physiology

Structure of dicot and monocot seeds, Germination of seeds, types, and conditions for seed germination

• Structure and germination of Bean seed and Maize grain
• Differences between monocot and dicot seeds
• Differences between hypogeal and epigeal germination
• Conditions for seed germination

Respiration in plants: outline of the process, gaseous exchange

• Glycolysis, Krebs cycle and their significance
• Aerobic and anaerobic respiration with chemical equations in each case
• Gaseous exchange and heat production

4. Diversity in Living Organisms

A brief outline of the Five Kingdom classification

• Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Thallophyta, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta
• Animalia – non-chordates from Porifera to Echinodermata and Chordates – all five Classes

Economic importance of Bacteria

• Role of bacteria: Medicine: antibiotics, serums and vaccines; Agriculture: nitrogen cycle (role of nitrogen-fixing, nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria); Industry-curing of tea, tanning of leather
• Harmful role of bacteria-spoilage of food, diseases in plants and animals, bio-weapons

Economic importance of Fungi

• Role of Fungi in breweries, bakeries, cheese processing, and mushroom cultivation

5. Human Anatomy and Physiology

Classes of food; balanced diet. Malnutrition and deficiency diseases

• Functions of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, mineral salts (calcium, iodine, iron and sodium), vitamins and water in the body
• Sources of vitamins, their functions and deficiency diseases
• Balanced Diet – meaning and importance
• Role of cellulose in our diet
• Causes, symptoms and prevention of Kwashiorkor and Marasmus

The structure of a tooth, different types of teeth

• Structure of a tooth to be discussed with the help of a diagram
• Functions of different types of teeth
• The dental formula of an adult

Digestive System: Organs, digestive glands and their functions (including enzymes and their functions in digestion, absorption and assimilation of digested food)

• Organs and glands of the digestive system in digestion, absorption and assimilation
• A brief idea of peristalsis

Skeleton – Movement and Locomotion

• Functions of the Human Skeleton
• Axial and Appendicular Skeleton
• Types of Joints: immovable joints, slightly movable joints, freely movable (hinge joint, ball and socket joint, gliding joint, pivot joint)

Structure and functions of the skin

• Various parts of the skin and their functions
• Special derivatives of the skin with reference to sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair, nails and mammary glands
• Heat regulation – vasodilation and vasoconstriction

Respiratory System: Organs; mechanism of breathing; tissue respiration, heat production

• Structures of the respiratory system
• Differences between anaerobic respiration in plants and in humans
• Role of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles 
• A brief idea of gaseous transport and tissue respiration
• A brief understanding of respiratory volumes
• Effect of altitude on breathing; asphyxiation and hypoxia

Class 9 ICSE Biology Syllabus: Internal Assessment

Now let us take a look at what all is under the syllabus of the Internal Assessment of Biology for class 9-

Plant Life 

• The examination of an onion peel under the microscope to study various parts of the cell. 
• A cross-pollinated flower to be examined and identified and the parts to be studied and labelled e.g. Hibiscus.
• Specimens of germinating seeds with plumule and radicle (the bean seed and maize grain) for examination, identification, drawing and labelling the parts.

Animal Life

• The examination of a human cheek cell under the microscope to study various parts of the cell.
• Identification of sugar, starch, protein, and fat. through the conduct of relevant tests.
• Examination and identification of specimens belonging to the following groups of animals: Non-Chordata – Porifera, Coelenterata, Platyhelminthes, Nemathelminthes Annelida, Arthropoda. Mollusca and Echinodermata. Chordata- Pisces, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, Mammalia. Identification of the structure of the following organs through specimens/models and charts: Lung and skin.
• Experiments to show the mechanism of breathing. Bell jar experiment should be discussed. The comparison should be made with the human lungs and respiratory tract to show the mechanism of breathing.
• Visit a few establishments in the locality such as motor repair workshops, kilns, pottery making units, fish and vegetable markets, restaurants, dyeing units. Find out the types of wastes and methods prevalent for their disposal. On the basis of the information collected, prepare a report, suggest measures to improve the environmental conditions.
• Visit a water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, or garbage dumping or vermicomposting sites in the locality and study their working

Having the syllabus for class 9 ICSE Biology by your side would help you score well in the exams. Having a future plan beforehand would help you land in a successful career. To get complete career guidance, talk to our experts at Leverage Edu who will prepare a career map for you and help you get a better education.