In 2026-27, CBSE Class 9 uses new NCERT books: Ganita Manjari for Maths (14 chapters in two parts), Exploration for Science (13 chapters) and Kaveri for English, with Social Science in two NCERT parts. CBSE's course structure gives Maths 80 marks across six units and Science 80 marks across four units, and each major subject carries 20 marks of internal assessment. The annual exam is set by your school. A compulsory third language (R3) is also new this year. Because chapter names and content have changed, older guides will not match.
What is new in Class 9 this year
- New textbooks. Maths uses Ganita Manjari, with Part I (8 chapters) and Part II (6 chapters, first published in August 2026). Science uses Exploration (13 chapters, first published in April 2026). English uses Kaveri.
- Chapters older Class 9 books did not have. CBSE's Maths curriculum includes Sequences and Progressions (arithmetic and geometric progressions, fractals and the Tower of Hanoi), and NCERT's book adds a chapter on algorithms. Other chapters have new names and content, such as Exploring Algebraic Identities.
- A compulsory third language. R3 is compulsory in Class 9 from 2026-27, assessed by the school. See our three-language policy guide.
- Application-style questions. CBSE says its question papers are competency-focused, and the Class 9 Maths curriculum lists the same question paper design as Class 10. Read more in our guide to competency-based questions.
Also worth knowing: NCERT's Maths books mark some questions and sections with an asterisk (*) as enrichment, and say these are not to be assessed or included in examinations. Your child can skip them without losing exam marks, though they are good practice for curious students. For a shorter summary of the changes, see what is new in CBSE Class 9 for 2026-27.
How Class 9 is assessed
CBSE's curriculum says the Class 9 annual examination is conducted by the school (80 marks for major subjects), with 20 marks of internal assessment, also run by the school. The assessment scheme is meant to be similar to the Class 10 board examination, and grades in Class 9 use a fixed scale from A1 (91 to 100) down to D (33 to 40). We explain both in our guides to how the 20 internal marks are earned and the CBSE grading system.
Maths: marks by unit and every chapter
CBSE's 2026-27 course structure for Class 9 Maths has 80 theory marks across six units and 15 chapters.
| Unit | Chapters (as named in CBSE's curriculum) | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I. Number System | Number System | 7 |
| II. Algebra | Introduction to Polynomials; Sequences and Progressions; Exploring Algebraic Identities; Linear Equations in Two Variables | 20 |
| III. Coordinate Geometry | Coordinate Geometry | 4 |
| IV. Geometry | Introduction to Euclid's Geometry: Axioms and Postulates; Lines and Angles; Triangles: Congruence Theorems; 4-gons (Quadrilaterals); Circles | 25 |
| V. Mensuration | Area and Perimeter; Surface Area and Volume | 14 |
| VI. Statistics and Probability | Statistics; Introduction to Probability | 10 |
Source: the course structure in CBSE's Class 9 Mathematics curriculum for 2026-27. Internal assessment adds 20 marks: 10 for a pen-paper test and multiple assessment, 5 for a portfolio and 5 for lab activities.
What each chapter covers, from CBSE's curriculum
| Chapter | Key concepts |
|---|---|
| Number System | Rational numbers on the number line, density of rationals, decimal representation, irrational numbers, proof of irrationality of root 2 and root 3, the square root spiral. |
| Introduction to Polynomials | Algebraic expressions, definition and degree of a polynomial, linear polynomials, linear growth and decay, slope and y-intercept. |
| Sequences and Progressions | Sequences with explicit and recursive rules, arithmetic progressions (nth term, sum of the first n natural numbers), geometric progressions, fractals, Tower of Hanoi. |
| Exploring Algebraic Identities | Identities visualised with geometric models, factorisation using identities including quadratic expressions, simplifying rational expressions. |
| Linear Equations in Two Variables | Graphing, slope-intercept form, pairs of linear equations, graphical solution, consistency, substitution and elimination. |
| Coordinate Geometry | The Cartesian plane, distance between two points, midpoint, checking a right-angled triangle using coordinates. |
| Introduction to Euclid's Geometry | History of geometry, Euclid's definitions, axioms and postulates, the square construction in Baudhayana's Sulbasutras. |
| Lines and Angles | Rays and angles, pairs of angles, theorems on intersecting and parallel lines, proof by contradiction. |
| Triangles: Congruence Theorems | SAS, SSS, ASA, RHS and AAS conditions, isosceles triangles, propositions and their converses. |
| 4-gons (Quadrilaterals) | Properties and proofs for parallelograms, the midpoint theorem, central symmetry, tiling the plane. |
| Circles | Chords, arcs and angles they subtend, cyclic quadrilaterals, the circumcircle of a triangle. |
| Area and Perimeter | Circumference and pi, arc length, areas of triangles and circles, Heron's formula, sectors, Brahmagupta's formula. |
| Surface Area and Volume | Cuboids, cylinders, cones, pyramids and spheres (including hemispheres). |
| Statistics | Graphical representation of data including stacked bar graphs, weighted averages, mean, median and mode. |
| Introduction to Probability | Randomness, the probability scale, empirical and theoretical probability, tree diagrams and tables. |
Summarised in simple words from the 'Key Concepts' columns of CBSE's Class 9 Mathematics curriculum for 2026-27.
The NCERT book: Ganita Manjari
| Part | Chapters |
|---|---|
| Part I (8 chapters) | 1. Orienting Yourself: The Use of Coordinates; 2. Introduction to Linear Polynomials; 3. The World of Numbers; 4. Exploring Algebraic Identities; 5. I'm Up and Down, and Round and Round (the circles chapter); 6. Measuring Space: Perimeter and Area; 7. The Mathematics of Maybe: Introduction to Probability; 8. Predicting What Comes Next: Exploring Sequences and Progressions |
| Part II (6 chapters) | 9. Propositions and their Converses; 10. How Quantities Combine: Understanding Data; 11. The World of Algorithms; 12. Quadrilaterals; 13. Two Variables, One Line; 14. Math of Space: Surface Area and Volume |
Source: contents pages of NCERT's Ganita Manjari, Textbook of Mathematics for Grade 9, Parts I and II.
One thing to note: CBSE's curriculum lists 15 chapters and NCERT's two parts have 14, and the two lists do not line up word for word. For example, CBSE names separate chapters on Euclid's geometry, lines and angles, and triangles, while NCERT organises its geometry differently and adds a chapter on algorithms. Schools plan around both, so ask your child's school which list its tests follow.
Where children usually need the most support: Geometry carries 25 of the 80 marks, and CBSE's outcomes for it are mostly about explaining why a statement is true, such as the circle theorems and congruence proofs. Algebra carries 20 marks and now includes progressions and factorising quadratic expressions with identities. Statistics now includes weighted averages and stacked bar graphs, and Probability covers empirical and theoretical probability with tree diagrams. Our guide to Class 9 maths tuition covers the warning signs and when extra help makes sense.
Not sure where your child stands in Class 9 Maths? In a free 30-minute demo class a tutor works on a chapter your child finds hard, so you can see how they think and where the gap is. No commitment.
Science: marks by unit and every chapter
CBSE's 2026-27 curriculum gives Class 9 Science 80 theory marks across four units, defined by the chapter numbers of NCERT's new Exploration book. The book has 13 chapters, and the first, an introduction to secondary science, is not assigned marks in CBSE's course structure.
| Unit | Chapters in Exploration | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I. World of Living | 2. Cell: The Building Block of Life; 3. Tissues in Action; 11. Reproduction: How Life Continues; 12. Patterns in Life: Diversity and Classification | 27 |
| II. Matter: Its Nature and Behaviour | 5. Exploring Mixtures and their Separation; 8. Journey Inside the Atom; 9. Atomic Foundations of Matter | 25 |
| III. Motion, Force, Work and Sound | 4. Describing Motion Around Us; 6. How Forces Affect Motion; 7. Work, Energy, and Simple Machines; 10. Sound Waves: Characteristics and Applications | 23 |
| IV. Earth as a System | 13. Earth as a System: Energy, Matter, and Life | 5 |
Unit and marks from CBSE's Class 9 Science curriculum for 2026-27; chapter titles from the contents page of NCERT's Exploration, Textbook of Science for Grade 9. Internal assessment adds 20 marks: 5 each for periodic assessment, multiple assessment, a portfolio and subject enrichment (practical work).
The biology units together carry 27 marks, more than any other single unit, which many families do not expect. Matter and Motion together carry another 48 marks. A simple routine is to link every chapter to one experiment or everyday example and ask your child to explain it aloud. Our Class 9 and 10 science tuition guide goes deeper.
English: Kaveri
CBSE's Class 9 English curriculum for 2026-27 prescribes Kaveri: Textbook of English for Grade 9, designed so that the same book can be used at the R1 and R2 levels. The 80-mark paper has three sections: Reading Skills (20 marks), Writing Skills and Grammar (30 marks) and Language through Literature (30 marks), with 20 marks of internal assessment. The reading section includes an unseen descriptive passage and a case-based passage with a chart or other visual data. Our guides on English writing and reading comprehension give simple routines.
Social Science
CBSE's curriculum lists two NCERT Social Science parts for Class 9. At the time CBSE published its Class 9 Social Science document, the course structure for the year was marked as to be provided separately, so ask your school for the chapter list it is following and check cbse.gov.in for updates.
How to plan the year
- Get the right books. Confirm with the school that your child has Ganita Manjari Part I and Part II, Exploration, Kaveri and both Social Science parts, and ask for the school's annual plan.
- Start with the heaviest units. In Maths that is Geometry (25 marks) and Algebra (20). In Science it is the World of Living unit (27 marks).
- Practise explaining. Many outcomes ask students to prove or explain. A child who can say why a theorem is true will cope with unfamiliar questions.
- Revise weekly. A short recall of the last chapter prevents the end-of-term pile-up.
- Keep internal assessment on track. Twenty marks per subject come from tests, portfolios and projects during the year. See our guide to the 20 internal marks.
- Ask early if marks slip. Our guide to improving Class 9 marks gives a parent's action plan, and why Class 9 matters for the boards explains the stakes.
If your child is still in Class 8, our Class 8 syllabus guide shows the foundations that Class 9 builds on.
Where tuition fits
Class 9 is where gaps first begin to cost real marks, and where tuition works best when it targets specific chapters and keeps pace with the school. TutorHive's CBSE online tuition covers maths, science, English and social studies. You can watch a free 30-minute demo class before deciding anything.
A note on sources: marks, units and key concepts come from CBSE's Secondary Curriculum documents for 2026-27 on the CBSE Academic website, and chapter titles from the contents pages of NCERT's textbooks. CBSE and NCERT can update these, and schools may arrange chapters differently, so treat your school's plan as the final word.
Frequently asked questions
Which books does CBSE Class 9 use in 2026-27?
CBSE's Class 9 Maths uses NCERT's Ganita Manjari in two parts, Science uses Exploration, English uses Kaveri, and Social Science uses two NCERT parts. A third language (R3) is also compulsory, with books chosen by the school.
Is the Class 9 syllabus different from last year?
Yes. The books are new-generation NCERT titles, and CBSE's Maths curriculum includes chapters such as Sequences and Progressions, which earlier Class 9 books did not have. Chapter names and order differ from earlier Class 9 books, so older guides will not match.
How many marks is each unit in Class 9 Maths and Science?
In Maths: Number System 7, Algebra 20, Coordinate Geometry 4, Geometry 25, Mensuration 14, and Statistics and Probability 10, totalling 80. In Science: World of Living 27, Matter 25, Motion, Force, Work and Sound 23, and Earth as a System 5, totalling 80. Each subject also has 20 marks of internal assessment.
Do questions marked with an asterisk in the Maths book come in exams?
No. NCERT says questions and sections marked with an asterisk are intended for enrichment and are not to be assessed or included in examinations.
Who sets the Class 9 exams?
The school conducts the Class 9 annual examination, 80 marks for major subjects, along with 20 marks of internal assessment. CBSE says the assessment scheme is meant to be similar to the Class 10 board examination.
Why does my school's chapter list differ from yours?
CBSE's curriculum and NCERT's textbooks organise some chapters differently, and schools may rearrange them. Use your school's annual plan for what is being taught and tested, and use this guide to understand the overall structure.
Related guides
What Is New in CBSE Class 9 for 2026-27
Is Class 9 Important for CBSE Class 10 Boards?
Online Maths Tuition for Class 9: Parent Guide
Online Science Tuition for Class 9 and 10: Parent Guide
How to Improve Class 9 Marks: A Parent's Action Plan
CBSE Three-Language Policy: R1, R2, R3 Explained for Parents