Indian OF Secondary Education Examination: Certificate
Indian OF Secondary Education Examination: Certificate
INDIAN CERTIFICATE OF
 SECONDARY EDUCATION
     EXAMINATION
     SCIENCE (52)
       BIOLOGY
February 2025
____________________________________________________________________________________________
MISSION STATEMENT
ETHOS OF CISCE
                                       SCIENCE Paper - 3
Aims:
1. To acquire the knowledge of the economic                    of the significance of life and its importance in
   importance of plants and animals.                           human welfare.
2. To develop an understanding of the                     4. To understand the capacities and limitations of
   inter-relationship between sustainability and             all the biological and economic activities so as to
   environmental adaptations.                                be able to use them for a better quality of life.
3. To develop an understanding of the                     5. To acquire the ability to observe, experiment,
   interdependence of plants and animals so as to            hypothesize, infer, handle equipment accurately
   enable pupils to acquire a clearer comprehension          and make correct recordings.
                                              CLASS IX
There will be one paper of two hours duration of               (ii) Tissues: Types of plant and animal tissues.
80 marks and Internal Assessment of Practical Work                  • A brief understanding of their location,
carrying 20 marks.                                                      basic structure and functions with
                                                                        examples.
1. Basic Biology
                                                                   •   A brief understanding of their role in
   (i) The cell, a unit of life, protoplasm, basic                     different physiological processes in
       difference    between    prokaryotic   and                      plants and animals.
       eukaryotic cell; differences between an
       animal and a plant cell.                           2.   Flowering Plants
        • A basic understanding of the cell theory,            (i) Flower: Structure of a bisexual flower,
          structure of plant and animal cell with                   functions of various parts.
          functions of various cell organelles.
          (Protoplasm, Cytoplasm, Cell Wall, Cell                   • A brief introduction to complete and
          Membrane,        Nucleus,     Nucleolus,                       incomplete flowers.
          Mitochondria, Endoplasmic Reticulum,                      • Essential and non-essential whorls of a
          Ribosome,    Golgi    bodies,   Plastids,                      bisexual flower; their various parts and
          Lysosomes, Centrosome and Vacuole).                            functions.
        • Major differences between a prokaryotic                   • Inflorescence and placentation (meaning
          and eukaryotic cell.                                           only)
        • Differences between a plant cell and an                   (Charts or actual specimens may be used to
          animal cell should be mainly discussed                    help enhance clarity of concepts.)
          with respect to cell wall, centrosome,               (ii) Pollination: self and cross-pollination.
          vacuoles and plastids.                                    • Explanation,           advantages       and
                                                                         disadvantages of self and cross-
                                                                         pollination.
                                                                    • Agents        of   pollination     and   the
                                                                         characteristic features of flowers
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ICSE Examination Year 2027
       (iii)Digestive System: Organs, digestive                6. Health and Hygiene
            glands and their functions (including
                                                                  (i) A brief introduction to maintaining good
            enzymes and their functions in digestion,
                                                                      health.
            absorption and assimilation of digested
            food).                                                    General idea of personal hygiene, public
                                                                      hygiene and sanitation.
            • Organs and glands of the digestive
              system and their functions with                     (ii) A brief introduction to communicable,
              reference to digestion, absorption and                   non-communicable, endemic, epidemic,
              assimilation.                                            pandemic and sporadic diseases; modes of
                                                                       transmission.
            •   brief idea of peristalsis.
                                                                      • Meaning of each of the above with
 (b) Skeleton - Movement and Locomotion.                                examples.
     • Functions of human skeleton                                    • Modes of transmission: air borne, water
     • Axial and Appendicular Skeleton                                  borne; vectors (housefly, mosquito,
                                                                        cockroach).
     • Types of joints with reference to their
       location:                                                  (iii) Bacterial,   Viral,   Protozoan,    Helminthic
                                                                        diseases:
          - immovable joints
                                                                       •    Bacterial:         Cholera,       typhoid,
          - slightly movable joints                                         tuberculosis.
          - freely movable (hinge joint, ball and
                                                                       •    Viral: AIDS, Chicken pox, Hepatitis.
             socket joint, gliding joint, pivot joint.)
                                                                       •    Protozoan:       Malaria,     Amoebic
 (c) Structure and functions of skin.                                       Dysentery, Sleeping sickness.
      •    Various parts of the skin and their                         •    Helminthic:       Ascariasis,   Taeniasis,
           functions.                                                       Filiariasis.
      •    Special derivatives of the skin with                             (symptoms and measures to control the
           reference to sweat glands, sebaceous                             above diseases.)
           glands, hair, nails and mammary glands.
                                                                           (Scientific names of causative agents not
      •    Heat regulation       -   vasodilation    and                   required).
           vasoconstriction.                                      (iv) Aids to Health: Active and passive immunity.
 (d) Respiratory System: Organs; mechanism of
                                                                      •    Meaning of Active and passive immunity.
     breathing; tissue respiration, heat production.
                                                                      •    An understanding of the use and action
     • Structures of the respiratory system.
                                                                           of the following – vaccination,
     • Differences between anaerobic respiration in                        immunization,        antitoxin,       serum,
       plants and in man.                                                  antiseptics, disinfectants, antibiotics.
     • Role of diaphragm and intercostal muscles in                   •    An idea of the local defense system and
       breathing to provide a clear idea of the                            its merits, difference between antiseptics
       breathing process.                                                  and disinfectants.
     • Brief idea of gaseous transport and tissue                 (v) Health Organisations: Red Cross, WHO.
       respiration.                                                   Major activities of the Red Cross and WHO.
     • Brief understanding of respiratory volumes.
     • Effect of altitude on breathing; asphyxiation
       and hypoxia.
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ICSE Examination Year 2027
7. Waste generation and management                              (iii) Specimens of germinating seeds with plumule
                                                                      and radicle (the bean seed and maize grain) for
    (a) Sources of waste - domestic, industrial,
                                                                      examination, identification, drawing and
        agricultural,   commercial and    other
                                                                      labelling the parts.
        establishments.
                                                                                  ANIMAL LIFE
       •   Domestic waste: paper, glass, plastic,
           rags, kitchen waste, etc.                            (i) The examination of a human cheek cell under
                                                                    the microscope to study various parts of the cell.
       •   Industrial: mining operations, cement
           factories, oil refineries, construction units.       (ii) Identification of sugar, starch, protein and fat.
                                                                     through conduct of relevant tests.
       •   Agricultural: plant remains,          animal
           waste, processing waste.                              (iii) Examination and identification of specimens
                                                                       belonging to the following groups of animals:
       •   Municipal sewage: Sewage, degradable
           and non-degradable waste from offices,                    Non-Chordata     -   Porifera,  Coelenterata,
           etc.                                                      Platyhelminthes, Nemathelminthes Annelida,
                                                                     Arthropoda. Mollusca and Echinodermata.
       •   e-waste: brief idea about e-waste.
                                                                     Chordata- Pisces, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves,
    (b) Methods of safe disposal of waste.                           Mammalia.
       •   Segregation,     dumping,      composting,               Identification of the structure of the following
           drainage, treatment of effluents before                  organs through specimens/models and charts:
           discharge, incineration, use of scrubbers                Lung and skin.
           and electrostatic precipitators.
                                                                (iv)Experiments    to   show   the   mechanism     of
       •   Segregation of domestic waste into                       breathing.
           biodegradable and non-biodegradable by
           households: garden waste to be converted                 Bell jar experiment should be discussed.
                                                                    Comparison should be made with the human
           to compost; sewage treatment plants.
                                                                    lungs and respiratory tract to show the
                                                                    mechanism of breathing.
       INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF                                   (v) Visit a few establishments in the locality such as
           PRACTICAL WORK                                           motor repair workshops, kilns, pottery making
                                                                    units, fish and vegetable markets, restaurants,
The practical work is designed to test the ability of               dyeing units. Find out the types of wastes and
the candidates to make accurate observations from                   methods prevalent for their disposal. On the
specimens of plants and animals.                                    basis of the information collected prepare a
                    PLANT LIFE                                      report, suggest measures to improve the
                                                                    environmental conditions.
(i) The examination of an onion peel under the
    microscope to study various parts of the cell.               (vi)Visit a water treatment plant, sewage treatment
                                                                     plant or garbage dumping or vermicomposting
(ii) A cross-pollinated flower to be examined and
                                                                     sites in the locality and study their working.
     identified and the parts to be studied and labelled
     e.g. Hibiscus.
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ICSE Examination Year 2027
                                                 CLASS X
There will be one paper of two hours duration of             2. Plant Physiology
80 marks and Internal Assessment of practical work              (i) Absorption by roots, imbibition, diffusion
carrying 20 marks.                                                  and osmosis; osmotic pressure, root pressure;
1.    Basic Biology                                                 turgidity and flaccidity; plasmolysis and
                                                                    deplasmolysis; the absorption of water and
     (i) Cell Cycle and Cell Division.
                                                                    minerals; active and passive transport (in
         Cell cycle – Interphase (G 1 , S, G 2 ) and                brief); The rise of water up to the xylem;
         Mitotic phase.                                             Forces responsible for ascent of sap.
         Cell Division:                                             •   Understanding of the processes related
         •   Mitosis and its stages.                                    to absorption of water by the roots.
         •    A basic understanding of Meiosis as a                 •   Characteristics of roots, which make
             reduction division (stages not required).                  them suitable for absorbing water.
         •   A brief idea of homologous chromosomes                 •   Structure of a single full-grown root
             and crossing over leading to variations.                   hair.
         •   Significance and major differences
                                                                    •   A general idea of Cohesive, Adhesive
             between mitotic and meiotic division.
                                                                        forces and transpirational pull.
      (ii) Structure of chromosome.
                                                                    •   Experiments to show the conduction of
           Basic structure of chromosome with                           water through the xylem.
           elementary understanding of terms such as
           chromatin, chromatid, gene structure of DNA         (ii) Transpiration - process and significance.
           and centromere.                                          Ganong’s potometer and its limitations. The
     (iii) Genetics: Mendel’s laws of inheritance and               factors affecting rate of transpiration.
           sex-linked inheritance of diseases.                      Experiments on transpiration. A brief idea of
                                                                    guttation and bleeding.
          • The three laws of Mendel.
                                                                    •   Concept of transpiration             and   its
          • Monohybrid cross – phenotype and
                                                                        importance to plants
            genotype.
          • Dihybrid cross – Only phenotype.                        •   Experiments related to transpiration:
          • The following terms to be covered: gene,                     (a) Loss in weight of a potted plant or a
            allele,   heterozygous,     homozygous,                          leafy shoot in a test tube as a result
            dominant, recessive, mutation, variation,                        of transpiration.
            phenotype, genotype.
                                                                         (b) Use of cobalt chloride paper to
          • Sex determination in human beings.                               demonstrate      unequal rate         of
            Sex linked inheritance of diseases to                            transpiration in a dorsiventral leaf.
            include only X-linked like haemophilia
                                                                    •   Mechanism of stomatal transpiration on
            and colour blindness.
                                                                        the basis of potassium ion exchange
                                                                        theory.
                                                                    •    Adaptations in       plants    to    reduce
                                                                        transpiration.
                                                                    •    A brief idea of guttation and bleeding.
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ICSE Examination Year 2027
       •    A brief idea of ultra-filtration (emphasis         (iv) Endocrine System: General study of the
            on the diagram of malpighian capsule);                  following glands: Adrenal, Pancreas, Thyroid
            selective reabsorption and tubular                      and Pituitary. Endocrine and Exocrine
            secretion in relation to the composition                glands.
            of blood plasma and urine formed.                      •   Differences between      Endocrine     and
   (iii)Nervous system: Structure of Neuron; central,                  Exocrine glands.
        autonomous and peripheral nervous system                   •   Exact location and shape of the
        (in brief); brain and spinal cord; reflex action               endocrine glands in the human body.
        and how it differs from voluntary action.
                                                                   •   Hormones secreted by the following
       Sense organs – Eye: Structure, functions,                       glands: Pancreas: insulin and glucagon;
       defects and corrective measures: Ear: Parts
                                                                       Thyroid: only thyroxin; Adrenal gland:
       and functions of the ear.                                       Cortical hormones and adrenaline;
       •   Parts of a neuron.                                          Pituitary: growth hormone, tropic
       •   Various parts of the external structure of                  hormones, ADH and oxytocin.
           the brain and its primary parts: Medulla                •   Effects of hypo secretion and hyper
           Oblongata, Cerebrum, Cerebellum,                            secretion of hormones.
           Thalamus, Hypothalamus and Pons;                        •    A brief idea of Feedback mechanism with
           their functions.                                             reference to TSH.
       •   Reference to the distribution of white and          (v) The       Reproductive    System:    Organs,
           gray matter in Brain and Spinal cord.                   fertilisation functions of placenta in the
       •   Voluntary and involuntary actions –                     growth of the embryo Menstrual cycle.
           meaning with examples.                                  •   Functions of Male and Female
       •   Diagrammatic explanation of the reflex                      reproductive organs and male accessory
           arc, showing the pathway from receptor                      glands. An idea of secondary sexual
           to effector.                                                characters.
       •   A brief idea of the peripheral and                      •   Structure and functions of the various
           autonomic nervous system in regulating                      parts of the sperm and egg.
           body activities.                                        •   Explanation of the terms: Fertilization,
       •   Differences between          natural    and                 implantation, placenta, gestation and
           acquired reflex.                                            parturition.
       •   External and Internal structure and                     •   A brief idea of the role of placenta in
           functions of the Eye and Ear and their                      nutrition, respiration and excretion of the
           various parts.                                              embryo; its endocrinal function.
       •   A brief idea of stereoscopic vision,                    •   Functions of Foetal membranes and
           adaptation and accommodation of eye.                        amniotic fluid.
       •   Defects of the eye (myopia, hyperopia                   •   Menstrual cycle outline of menstrual
           hypermetropia, presbyopia, astigmatism                      cycle.
           and cataract) and corrective measures                   •   Role of Sex hormones: Testosterone,
           (diagrams included for myopia and                           Oestrogen     and Progesterone   in
           hyperopia only)                                             reproduction.
       •   The course of perception of sound in                    •   Identical and fraternal twins: meaning
           human ear.                                                  and differences only.
       •   Role of ear in maintaining balance of the
           body.
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ICSE Examination Year 2027
4. Population                                             6. Pollution
   Population explosion in India; need for adopting          (i) Types and sources of pollution; major
   control measures - population control.                          pollutants.
   • Main reasons for the sharp rise in human                      • Air: Vehicular, industrial, burning
                                                                       garbage, brick kilns.
     population in India and in the world.
                                                                   • Water:         Household      detergents,
   •    A brief explanation of the terms:                              sewage, industrial waste, oil spills.
       demography, population density, birth rate,
                                                                   • Thermal pollution.
       death rate and growth rate of population.
                                                                   • Soil: Industrial waste, urban
   • Problems faced due to population explosion:                       commercial and domestic waste,
     unemployment, over exploitation of natural                        chemical fertilizers.
     resources, low per capita income, price rise,                 • Biomedical waste – used and
     pollution, unequal distribution of wealth.                        discarded needles, syringes, soiled
   • Methods of population control: Surgical                           dressings etc.
     methods – Tubectomy and vasectomy.                            • Radiation: X-rays; radioactive fallout
                                                                       from nuclear plants.
5. Human Evolution                                                 • Noise: Motor Vehicles, Industrial
   Basic introduction to Human evolution and                           establishments, Construction Sites,
   Theories of evolution: Lamarck’s theory of                          Loudspeakers etc.
   inheritance; Darwin’s theory of evolution by               (ii) Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable
   natural selection.                                              wastes
   •   A brief idea of human ancestors –                           Biodegradable wastes: meaning and
       Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo                        example; paper, vegetable peels, etc.
       erectus, Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon and                       Non-biodegradable wastes: meaning and
       Homo sapiens sapiens (Modern Man) with                      example; plastics, glass, Styrofoam etc.
       reference to the following characteristics:                 Pesticides like DDT etc.
                                                              (iii)Effects of pollution on climate,
       - Bipedalism
                                                                   environment, human health and other
       - Increasing Cranial capacity                               organisms; control measures.
       - Reduction of size of canine teeth                     • Brief explanation of: Greenhouse effect
                                                                   and Global warming, Acid rain, Ozone
       - Forehead and brow ridges                                  layer depletion.
       - Development of chin                                   • Measures to control pollution:
       - Reduction in body hair                                    -    Use of unleaded petrol / CNG in
                                                                        automobiles
       - Height and Posture
                                                                    - Switching of engines at traffic signal
   •   Lamarck’s theory of inheritance of acquired                      lights
       characteristics – with reference to use of                   - Social forestry
       organs (e.g.: neck and forelimbs of giraffe)                 - Setting of sewage treatment plants
       and disuse of organs (e.g.: vestigial organs                 - Ban on polythene and plastics
       in humans like wisdom teeth, vermiform                       - Organic farming
       appendix, pinnae).                                           - Euro Bharat vehicular standard.
                                                                   (A brief idea of the above measures)
   •   Darwin’s theory of Natural selection:
       Survival of the fittest - e.g. adaptation of            •   A brief mention of “Swachh Bharat
       peppered moth.                                              Abhiyan”- A national campaign for
                                                                   Clean India.
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ICSE Examination Year 2027
         INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF                             (ii) The identification of different types of blood cells
                                                                  under a microscope.
             PRACTICAL WORK                                 (iii) Identification of the internal structure of the Ear
The practical work is designed to test the ability of             and Eye (Through models and charts).
the candidates to make an accurate observation from
                                                            (iv) Identification and location of selected endocrine
specimens of plants and animals.                                 glands: Adrenal, Pancreas, Thyroid and Pituitary
                                                                 glands with the help of a model or chart.
                  PLANT LIFE
 (i) Observation of permanent slides of stages of           EVALUATION
     mitosis.
(ii) Experiments demonstrating:                             The practical work/project work are to be evaluated
                                                            by the subject teacher and by an External Examiner.
     • Diffusion: using potassium permanganate in
                                                            (The External Examiner may be a teacher nominated
       water.
                                                            by the Head of the school, who could be from the
     • Osmosis: Thistle Funnel experiment and               faculty, but not teaching the subject in the relevant
       potato osmoscope.                                    section/class. For example, a teacher of Biology of
     • Absorption: using a small herbaceous plant.          Class VIII may be deputed to be an External
(iii) Experiments on Transpiration:                         Examiner for Class X, Biology projects.)
     • demonstration of the process using a Bell Jar.       The Internal Examiner and the External Examiner
     • demonstration of unequal transpiration in a          will assess the practical work/project work
       dorsiventral leaf using cobalt chloride paper.       independently.
     • demonstration of uptake of water and the rate        Award of marks                              (20 Marks)
       of transpiration using Ganong’s potometer.
(iv) Experiments on Photosynthesis:                         Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner)            10 marks
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ICSE Examination Year 2027
               INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN SCIENCE - GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES
 Criteria             Preparation               Procedure/ Testing                  Observation                Inference/ Results               Presentation
 Grade I    Follows instructions (written,      Analyses            problem    Records                    Processes     data    without    Presentation is accurate
(4 marks)   oral,    diagrammatic)      with    systematically.                data/observations          format.     Recognises and       and good. Appropriate
            understanding;    modifies     if   Recognises a number of         without being given a      comments upon sources of         techniques are well
            needed. Familiarity with and        variables and attempts to      format.      Comments      error.                           used.
            safe use of apparatus, materials,   control them to build a        upon, recognises use       Can deal with unexpected
            techniques.                         logical        plan       of   of instruments, degree     results,           suggesting
                                                investigation.                 of            accuracy.    modifications.
                                                                               Recording             is
                                                                               systematic.
 Grade II   Follows instructions to perform     Specifies sequence of          Makes           relevant   Processes data appropriately     Presentation         is
(3 marks)   experiment with step-by-step        operation; gives reasons       observations.        No    as per a given format. Draws     adequate. Appropriate
            operations.     Awareness of        for    any    change      in   assistance is needed       qualitative        conclusions   techniques are used.
            safety.      Familiarity with       procedure. Can deal with       for recording format       consistent    with    required
            apparatus,     materials    and     two variables, controlling     that is appropriate.       results.
            techniques.                         one.
Grade III   Follows instructions to perform     Develops             simple    Detailed instructions      Processes data approximately     Presentation          is
(2 marks)   a single operation at a time.       experimental       strategy.   needed     to  record      with a detailed format           reasonable,         but
            Safety awareness. Familiarity       Trial       and        error   observations. Format       provided.               Draws    disorganised in some
            with apparatus & materials.         modifications made to          required to record         observations       qualitative   places.    Overwriting;
                                                proceed       with       the   results.                   conclusions as required.         rough work is untidy.
                                                experiment.
Grade IV    Follows some instructions to        Struggles through the          Format required to         Even when detailed format is     Presentation is poor and
(1 mark)    perform a single practical          experiment. Follows very       record observations/       provided, struggles or makes     disorganised         but
            operation. Casual about safety.     obvious     experimental       readings but tends to      errors while processing data.    follows an acceptable
            Manages to use apparatus &          strategy.                      make mistakes in           Reaches conclusions with         sequence. Rough work
            materials.                                                         recording.                 help.                            missing or untidy.
 Grade V    Not able to follow instructions     Cannot proceed with the        Even when format is        Cannot process results, nor      Presentation
(0 marks)   or proceed with practical work      experiment without help        given, recording is        draw conclusions, even with      unacceptable;
            without     full    assistance.     from time to time.             faulty or irrelevant.      considerable help.               disorganised,    untidy/
            Unaware of safety.                                                                                                             poor.     Rough work
                                                                                                                                           missing.