ICSE English Class 09 Syllabus 2025-26

There are two papers: (1) English Language and (2) Literature in English. Each of these papers is of two hours duration and 80 marks.

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Paper 1: English Language

Five questions are set, all of which are compulsory.

Question 1

You are required to write a composition of about 300 to 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 topics are varied and may be suggested by language or by other stimuli such as pictures. The topics will be so chosen so as to allow the candidates to draw on first-hand experience or to stimulate their imagination.

The organisation of subject matter, syntax, punctuation, correctness of grammatical constructions and spelling are expected to be appropriate to the mode of treatment required by the subject.

Question 2

You 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., forms 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

You are given a specific situation and are required to:

  1. Write the text for a notice based on given directions.
  2. Write an e-mail on the same content as the notice.

Question 4

An unseen prose passage of about 500 words is given. Uncommon items of vocabulary, or structure is avoided. One question is set to test vocabulary. You are required to show that you understand the words/phrases in the context in which they have been used.

A number of questions requiring short answers are also asked on the passage. These questions test your ability to understand the explicit content and organisation of the passage and to infer information, intentions and attitudes from it.

The last question consist of a summary that will test your ability to distinguish main ideas from supporting details and to extract salient points to re-express them in the form of a summary. You are given clear indications of what you are to summarize and of the length of the summary.

Question 5

There are a number of short answer questions to test your knowledge of functional grammar, structure and usage.

All the items in this question will be compulsory. They will consist of correct use of prepositions, conjunctions, verbs and structure of sentences.

Paper 2: Literature in English

You are required to answer questions based on the prescribed textbooks, which include Drama, Prose (Short Stories) and Poetry.

Drama and Prose (Short Stories)

Questions set will be central to the text. Candidates will be required to show that they have understood the passage and are able to clearly respond in their own words.

Excerpts may be given from the drama and prose texts leading to questions.

Poetry

A poem, or lines from poems, will be given and questions will be set to test the candidates’ response. The questions will focus on the content, understanding and the personal response of candidates to the entire poem as a whole.

I. DRAMA: Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare

(Acts I & II)

II. TREASURE CHEST: A Collection of ICSE Short Stories & Poems

PROSE (Short Stories)

  1. Bonku Babu's Friend - Satyajit Ray
  2. Oliver Asks for More - Charles Dickens
  3. The Model Millionaire - Oscar Wilde
  4. Home-coming - Rabindranath Tagore
  5. The Boy who Broke the Bank - Ruskin Bond

POETRY

  1. The Night Mail - W.H. Auden
  2. Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat - T.S. Eliot
  3. I Remember, I Remember - Thomas Hood
  4. A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 - Vikram Seth
  5. A Work of Artifice - Marge Piercy