CBSE Class 9 Exam Pattern 2025 with Marking Scheme

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Physics Wallah Academic Expert

January 02, 2025

CBSE Class 9 Exam Pattern 2025 with Marking Scheme: Understanding the CBSE Class 9 exam pattern 2025 and marking scheme is crucial for students preparing for their annual exams. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has structured the Class 9 curriculum to provide a balanced evaluation of students' conceptual clarity, analytical skills, and knowledge application across all subjects. In this detailed guide, we will break down the class 9 paper pattern, subjectwise marking scheme, topic weightage, and tips to prepare effectively for the upcoming exams.

Additionally, we will address one of the most common questions: "What are the passing marks out of 80 in CBSE Class 9?" Let’s look into the detailed breakdown.

CBSE Class 9 Exam Pattern 2025

The CBSE Class 9 paper pattern for 2025 ensures a comprehensive evaluation of students through a combination of objective questions, short answers, and long answers. The final exams consist of 80 marks, while an additional 20 marks are reserved for internal assessments, which include periodic tests, notebook submissions, and subject enrichment activities.

The CBSE Class 9 exam pattern focuses on testing both knowledge and skills. Students must focus on understanding concepts, practising problem-solving, and improving application-based learning to perform well.

Check out - CBSE Class 9 Books

CBSE Class 9 Question Types

Below is the subject-wise breakdown of Class 9 types of questions, topic-wise marks distribution, and the paper pattern for major subjects. Remember that the basic mark distribution for each subject is the same, i.e. 100 (80 Final Exam + 20 Internal).

Subject	Question Types	Key Focus Areas
Mathematics	Objective: 20% Short Answer: 40% Long Answer: 40%	Focus on logical reasoning, conceptual understanding, and problem-solving across all sections.
Science	Objective (MCQs, AssertionReasoning): 25% Short Answer: 50% Long Answer: 25%	Solve numerical problems, practice diagrams, and apply concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Social Science	MapBased Questions: 10% Short Answer: 60% Long Answer: 30%	Focus on analytical skills and understanding key events, concepts, and data interpretation.
English	Reading Comprehension: 20% Grammar and Writing: 40% Literature: 40%	Improve reading speed, grammar rules, and comprehension of literary texts.

CBSE Class 9 Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern Subject-Wise

Check out the CBSE Class 9 Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern Subject-Wise below:-

CBSE Class 9 Maths Exam Pattern

The question paper is divided into five sections: A, B, C, D, and E.

Section A: Has 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), each question is for 1 mark.
Section B: Has 5 short-answer questions (SA-I), each question is for 2 marks.
Section C: Has 6 short-answer questions (SA-II), each question is for 3 marks.
Section D: Has 4 long-answer questions (LA), each question is for 5 marks.
Section E: Has 3 case-based questions. Each question is for 4 marks and includes sub-parts of 1, 1, and 2 marks.

All questions must be answered. Internal choices are available in:

2 questions of 5 marks,
2 questions of 3 marks, and
2 questions of 2 marks in Section E.

Draw clear diagrams wherever needed.
Use π = 22/7, unless mentioned otherwise.

Check out - CBSE Class 9 Sample Paper

CBSE Class 9 Maths Marking Scheme

Here is the CBSE Class 9 Maths Marking Scheme:-

S. No.	Name of Unit	Marks
1	NUMBER SYSTEMS	10
2	ALGEBRA	20
3	COORDINATE GEOMETRY	4
4	GEOMETRY	27
5	MENSURATION	13
6	STATISTICS & PROBABILITY	6
TOTAL		80

CBSE Class 9 Science Exam Pattern

This question paper has 39 questions, and you need to answer all of them.
The paper is divided into five sections: A, B, C, D, and E.
Here's what each section includes:

Section A: Questions 1 to 20 are multiple-choice questions, each worth 1 mark.
Section B: Questions 21 to 26 are very short answer questions. Each question carries 2 marks, and your answers should be between 30 to 50 words.
Section C: Questions 27 to 33 are short answer questions. Each question is worth 3 marks, and your answers should be 50 to 80 words long.
Section D: Questions 34 to 36 are long answer questions, each carrying 5 marks. These answers should be written in 80 to 120 words.
Section E: Questions 37 to 39 are case-based or source-based questions. Each question carries 4 marks and may have sub-parts.

There’s no overall choice in the paper, but some questions offer internal options. You can choose to answer only one of the alternatives provided in such cases.

Check out - CBSE Class 9 Revision Books

CBSE Class 9 Science Marking Scheme

Here is the CBSE Class 9 Science Marking Scheme:-

S. No.	Unit	Marks
1	Matter - Its Nature and Behaviour	27
2	The Organisation in the Living World	26
3	Motion, Force & Work	27
Total		80
Internal Assessment		20

CBSE Class 9 Social Science Exam Pattern

The question paper has five sections: A, B, C, D, and E.
There are 37 questions, and all of them are compulsory.
Section Details:

Section A: Questions 1 to 20 are multiple-choice questions (MCQs), each carrying 1 mark.
Section B: Questions 21 to 24 are very short answer questions, each carrying 2 marks. Answers should be within 40 words.
Section C: Questions 25 to 29 are short answer questions, each carrying 3 marks. Answers should be within 60 words.
Section D: Questions 30 to 33 are long answer questions, each carrying 5 marks. Answers should not exceed 120 words.
Section E: Questions 34 to 36 are case-based questions with three sub-parts, each carrying 4 marks.
Section F: Question 37 is map-based and carries 5 marks, divided into two parts:

37a: History (2 marks)
37b: Geography (3 marks)

Choices:

There are no overall choices in the paper.
However, internal choices are available for a few questions, but you must attempt only one of the options provided.

CBSE Class 9 Social Science Marking Scheme

There are four subjects in CBSE Class 9 social science i.e., history, geography, political science and economics. Go through the CBSE Class 9 Social Science Marking Scheme below:-

Unit Name	Marks
Unit I India and the Contemporary World – II (History)	20
Unit II Contemporary India – II (Geography)	20
Unit III Democratic Politics – II (Political Science)	20
Unit IV Economics	20
Internal Assessment Periodic Assessment (5) + Portfolio (5) + Inter-Disciplinary Project (5) + Subject Enrichment Activity (Project Work) (5)	20
Total	80 + 20

CBSE Class 9 English Exam Pattern

This question paper has 11 questions, and all of them are compulsory.
The paper is divided into three sections:

Section A: Reading Skills
Section B: Grammar and Creative Writing
Section C: Literature Textbook

Follow the instructions given for each section carefully while attempting the questions.

CBSE Class 9 English Marking Scheme

Check out the CBSE Class 9 English Marking Scheme here:-

Section	Weightage
A. Reading Skills	20
B. Writing Skills & Grammar	20
C. Language through Literature	40
Total	80

What is the Passing Marks Out of 80 in CBSE Class 9?

Final Exam (Out of 80): Students need to score a minimum of 27 marks out of 80 in the final exam to pass.
Internal Assessment (Out of 20): Students must obtain at least 7 marks out of 20 in internal assessments (which include projects, assignments, periodic tests, etc.).
Overall Passing Marks (Out of 100): The combined total of marks from both the final exam and internal assessment should be 33 marks or more to pass the subject.

CBSE Class 9 Preparation Tips

Preparing for CBSE Class 9 exams requires a well-structured approach, as this year forms the foundation for higher studies. Here are some detailed preparation tips to help you succeed:

1. Understand the Syllabus

Start by thoroughly reviewing the CBSE Class 9 syllabus for all subjects. Understand the weightage of chapters to focus on high-priority topics first.
Subjects like Science and Mathematics often have higher weightage in exams, so plan accordingly.

2. Create a Study Schedule

Develop a weekly timetable with specific time slots for each subject. Allocate more time to challenging topics.
Dedicate time for regular revision to reinforce what you have learned.

3. Use Study Resources

Refer to NCERT textbooks as they are the primary source for exams.
Use additional guides, reference books, or online platforms.
.

4. Practice Regularly

Solve previous years’ question papers to understand the exam pattern and types of questions.
Attempt chapter-wise tests to strengthen conceptual clarity in individual topics.

5. Focus on Weak Areas

Identify topics where you face difficulties and allocate extra time to improve on them.
Seek help from teachers or peers if needed.

6. Take Notes and Revise

Make concise notes while studying to summarise important points and formulas.
Use mind maps or flowcharts for Science and Social Science chapters to simplify learning.

7. Stay Consistent with Revision

Revise previously covered chapters periodically. Dedicate a specific day of the week solely for revision.
For subjects like Social Science, focus on memorising important dates and events, and for Mathematics and Science, practise numerical problems regularly.

8. Manage Time During Exams

Practise answering questions within the time limit to enhance speed and accuracy.
Start with easy questions during exams to build confidence and save time for harder ones.