How many chapters are in the new Class 9 Science book?

Thirteen. The 2026-27 book integrates Physics, Chemistry and Biology instead of blocking them separately, so a chapter on forces sits next to one on reproduction rather than in a Physics section.

Which unit carries the most marks in Class 9 Science?

World of Living at 27 of the 80 theory marks, then Matter at 25 and Motion, Force, Work and Sound at 23. Earth as a System is 5. The three big units are close enough that none of them is safe to leave late.

Are there practicals in Class 9 Science?

Yes — the curriculum lists thirteen. They sit inside the 5-mark subject-enrichment band of the 20 internal marks, alongside periodic assessment, multiple assessment and portfolio at 5 marks each.

Is the new book harder than the old one?

It is differently organised rather than harder. The change that catches students out is the integration: you cannot revise "all the Physics" as one block any more, because it is distributed across the book. Plan by unit, not by stream.

CBSE · Class 9 Science · new book

CBSE Class 9 Science syllabus 2026-27 — 13 chapters, four units

The Class 9 Science book is new this year and it integrates the three streams instead of separating them. Thirteen chapters, four CBSE units, and the three big units are within four marks of each other — so there is no cheap one to leave out.

Chapters: 13
CBSE units: 4
Paper: 80 marks
Practicals: 13

How the 100 marks divide

Class 9 Science
Section	Marks	Share
Written theory paper three hours	80
Internal assessment includes 13 listed practicals	20
Total	100

The 80-mark paper, unit by unit

Theory, by unit
Section	Marks	Share
World of Living	27
Matter — Its Nature and Behaviour	25
Motion, Force, Work and Sound	23
Earth as a System	5
Total	80

CBSE lists topics under each unit rather than chapter numbers, and because the book is integrated a single chapter can feed more than one unit. Use the weighting to budget revision time, not to decide which chapters to skip.

Where the other 20 marks come from

Internal assessment
Section	Marks	Share
Periodic assessment	5
Multiple assessment	5
Portfolio	5
Subject enrichment — practical work 13 listed practicals	5
Total	20

The 13 chapters, in book order

Read the order rather than skimming it. Cells and tissues open the year, motion and forces sit in the middle, and the book closes on Earth as a system — the streams are deliberately interleaved.

Science

13 chapters

NCERT Science (2026–27 edition)

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

1 Exploration: Entering the World of Secondary Science
2 Cell: The Building Block of Life
3 Tissues in Action
4 Describing Motion Around Us
5 Exploring Mixtures and their Separation
6 How Forces Affect Motion
7 Work, Energy, and Simple Machines
8 Journey Inside the Atom
9 Atomic Foundations of Matter
10 Sound Waves: Characteristics and Applications
11 Reproduction: How Life Continues
12 Patterns in Life: Diversity and Classification
13 Earth as a System: Energy, Matter, and Life

Class 9 Science syllabus — common questions

How many chapters are in the new Class 9 Science book?: Thirteen. The 2026-27 book integrates Physics, Chemistry and Biology instead of blocking them separately, so a chapter on forces sits next to one on reproduction rather than in a Physics section.
Which unit carries the most marks in Class 9 Science?: World of Living at 27 of the 80 theory marks, then Matter at 25 and Motion, Force, Work and Sound at 23. Earth as a System is 5. The three big units are close enough that none of them is safe to leave late.
Are there practicals in Class 9 Science?: Yes — the curriculum lists thirteen. They sit inside the 5-mark subject-enrichment band of the 20 internal marks, alongside periodic assessment, multiple assessment and portfolio at 5 marks each.
Is the new book harder than the old one?: It is differently organised rather than harder. The change that catches students out is the integration: you cannot revise "all the Physics" as one block any more, because it is distributed across the book. Plan by unit, not by stream.