CBSE · Class 9 · Annual examination

CBSE Class 9 question papers — what to expect, and what to practise

Class 9 has no board exam. It is assessed by your school through periodic tests and an annual written paper, built in the same style as Class 10 — objective questions including assertion–reason, short answers, and competency-based questions. The catch is that the books changed this year.

Board exam
None in Class 9
Assessed by
Your school
Paper style
Same as Class 10
Books
New for 2026–27

Why last year's question papers may mislead you

NCERT replaced the Class 9 Mathematics, Science and Social Science books for 2026–27. A question paper written for the old Class 9 Maths — fifteen chapters, different order — will send you revising topics your school is not teaching this year. Check any paper you practise from against the current chapter list.

What the paper asks you to do

Objective questions

MCQs and assertion–reason, one mark each. Fast marks, and the place where careless reading is most expensive.

Short answers

Two and three marks. Precision beats length — answer the question asked and stop writing.

Competency questions

A familiar concept in an unfamiliar situation. This is what the new books are built to teach and what rote revision cannot prepare you for.

Long answers

Five marks, usually with internal choice. Method and diagrams earn marks even when the final answer is wrong.

Three questions, to calibrate

Assertion–reason questions from Class 9 Science, with the reasoning spelled out. Twenty more are on the dedicated page.

Q1 Assertion & Reason 1 mark · Ch 1: Exploration: Entering the World of Secondary Science

Assertion (A): The effectiveness of a surgical mask in filtering viruses depends on concepts from physics (particle motion), chemistry (polymer properties), and biology (virus size). Reason (R): Real-world problems often require an integrated approach combining multiple branches of science, as natural phenomena do not adhere to artificial academic boundaries.

  1. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. (b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
  3. (c) A is true but R is false.
  4. (d) A is false but R is true.
Show answer

Correct option: (a)

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. Explanation: The mask's function is a complex phenomenon involving filtration (physics), material structure (chemistry), and biological agents. The reason correctly explains that such complexity necessitates an interdisciplinary approach, as science divisions are human constructs for organization.

Q2 Assertion & Reason 1 mark · Ch 1: Exploration: Entering the World of Secondary Science

Assertion (A): Asking about measurable data and past patterns makes a prediction scientifically testable. Reason (R): Questions with simple yes/no answers are usually not useful for scientific testing.

  1. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. (b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
  3. (c) A is true but R is false.
  4. (d) A is false but R is true.
Show answer

Correct option: (b)

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A. Explanation: Both statements are true. While yes/no questions are less useful, the reason a prediction is testable is specifically because it relies on measurable data (Assertion A), not merely because it avoids yes/no formats.

Q3 Assertion & Reason 1 mark · Ch 1: Exploration: Entering the World of Secondary Science

Assertion (A): Disproving the viral claim that 'food becomes harmful during an eclipse' requires asking scientific questions about physical, chemical, or biological mechanisms. Reason (R): Scientific disproof relies on emotional appeals and anecdotal evidence to counter popular beliefs, rather than looking for measurable data.

  1. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. (b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
  3. (c) A is true but R is false.
  4. (d) A is false but R is true.
Show answer

Correct option: (c)

(c) A is true but R is false. Explanation: The assertion is correct; scientific inquiry seeks mechanistic explanations. The reason is false because science relies on evidence, data, and logic, not emotional appeals or anecdotes. Disproving a claim requires demonstrating the lack of a causal mechanism (e.g., no temperature change significant enough to spoil food).

All 20 assertion–reason questions

The chapters to be strongest in

Class 10 assumes these. A gap here does not show up in Class 9 marks — it shows up next year, looking like a Class 10 problem.

  • Mathematics

    8 chapters in the new book

    Eight chapters in the new book, down from fifteen in the old one. The content is reorganised, not reduced.

  • Science

    13 chapters in the new book

    Thirteen chapters, integrating Physics, Chemistry and Biology rather than separating them.

Class 9 question papers — common questions

Is there a board exam in Class 9?
No. Class 9 is assessed by your school, usually as periodic tests plus an annual examination. It still matters enormously, because Class 10 assumes you learned it.
What is the Class 9 annual exam pattern?
Schools follow the CBSE assessment scheme: periodic tests, notebook and subject enrichment marks, and an annual written paper for most subjects. The written paper mirrors the Class 10 style — objective questions including assertion–reason, short answers, and competency-based questions.
Does the new Class 9 syllabus change what I should practise?
Yes. The 2026–27 Mathematics, Science and Social Science books are new, so question banks written for the old chapters no longer map cleanly. Practise from material built on the new chapter list, not the old one relabelled.
What should I focus on in Class 9?
The chapters Class 10 leans on hardest: geometry, the atom, motion and the economics of choice. A Class 9 gap in these is the most common cause of a Class 10 struggle that feels like it came out of nowhere.

Exam rules and marks on this page were last checked on 23 August 2026. Boards do change them. Always confirm dates and the final syllabus against cbseacademic.nic.in.

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