ICSE Class 9 English Syllabus

English isn’t an easy subject to score high marks on. But, with the help of the syllabus, students can get a better understanding of the exam pattern, types of questions asked in the exam, important topics, the question paper pattern, etc. So here, we have provided the ICSE Class 9 English Syllabus for the 2023-24 examination. Students can download the ICSE Syllabus for Class 9 English PDF from the link below.

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ICSE Class 9 English Paper Pattern

ICSE Class 9 students have 2 papers on the English language.

Question Paper Design of English Language (Paper 1) ICSE Class 9

Five questions will be set, all of which will be compulsory. These 5 questions will be

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 subjects will be varied and may be suggested by language or by other stimuli such as pictures. The subjects will be so chosen so as to allow the candidates to draw on first-hand experience or to stimulate their imagination.

With one subject, a number of suggestions about the content of the composition will be given, but the use of the suggestions will be optional, and a candidate will be free to treat the subject in any way that he/she chooses. 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 an informal mode of treatment. Suggestions regarding the content of the letter may be given. The layout 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 vocabulary appropriate to the context.

Question 3: Candidates will be given a specific situation and will be required to:

(a) Write the text for a notice based on given directions.

(b) Write an e-mail on the same content as the notice.

Question 4: An unseen prose passage of about 450 words will be given. Uncommon items of vocabulary, or structure will be avoided. One 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 clear indications 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 use of the language.

Syllabus to be Covered in Class 9 for the ICSE Examination – Literature in English (Paper 2)

A) Drama:The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s unabridged play by A.W. Verity): Acts 1 & 2

B) Treasure Trove – A Collection Of Icse Poems And Short Stories (Evergreen Publications)

Poetry:

(i) The Heart of the Tree – Henry Cuyler Bunner

(ii) The Cold Within – James Patrick Kinney

(iii) The Bangle Sellers – Sarojini Naidu

(iv) After Blenheim – Robert Southey

(v) Television – Roald Dahl

Prose (Short Stories):

(i) Chief Seattle’s Speech

(ii) Old Man at the Bridge – Ernest Miller Hemingway

(iii) A Horse and Two Goats – R.K. Narayan

(iv) Hearts and Hands – O. Henry

(v) A Face in the Dark – Ruskin Bond

Internal Assessment of Paper 1 – English Language

Schools will prepare, conduct and record assessments of the Listening and Speaking Skills of candidates. Three assessments in the course of the year will be given to candidates.

Pattern of Assessment

a) Listening Skills: 10 Marks

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.

b) Speaking Skills: 10 Marks

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 how to make or operate something, expressing an opinion, giving a report, relating an anecdote or commenting on a current event.

Internal Assessment of Paper 2 – Literature in English

Schools will set, assess and record written assignments by the candidates. Two or three assignments of approximately 300 to 400 words each will be assigned to candidates.

Learn Maths and Science in an interactive and fun way with BYJU’S – The Learning App or Tablet. We have also compiled the syllabus of all subjects in place. Students can access them easily by visiting the ICSE Class 9 Syllabus page.