ICSE Class 9 Syllabus 2028 Computer Applications

ICSE
INDIAN CERTIFICATE OF
SECONDARY EDUCATION
EXAMINATION
YEAR 2028

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
(86)

Developed by:
Research, Development and Curriculum Division (RDCD)
CISCE

January 2026
____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Council for the Indian School Certificate
Examinations is committed to serving the nation's
children, through high quality educational
endeavours, empowering them to contribute towards
a humane, just and pluralistic society, promoting
introspective living, by creating exciting learning
opportunities, with a commitment to excellence.

ETHOS OF CISCE

Trust and fair play.
Minimum monitoring.
Allowing schools to evolve their own niche.
Catering to the needs of the children.
Giving freedom to experiment with new ideas
and practices.
Diversity and plurality - the basic strength for
evolution of ideas.
Schools to motivate pupils towards the
cultivation of:
Excellence - The Indian and Global
experience.
Values - Spiritual and cultural - to be the bedrock
of the educational experience.
Schools to have an 'Indian Ethos', strong roots in
the national psyche and be sensitive to national
aspirations.

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (86)

Aims:
1. To empower students by enabling them to build their own applications.
2. To introduce students to some effective tools to enable them to enhance their knowledge, broaden
horizons, foster creativity, improve the quality of work and increase efficiency.
3. To develop logical and analytical thinking so that they can easily solve interactive programs.
4. To help students learn fundamental concepts of computing using object oriented approach in one computer
language.
5. To provide students with a clear idea of ethical issues involved in the field of computing.

CLASS IX
There will be one written paper of two hours duration carrying 100 marks and Internal Assessment of 100
marks.
THEORY – 100 Marks
1. Introduction to Object Oriented Programming Concepts
(i) Principles of Object Oriented Programming, (Difference between Procedure Oriented and Object
oriented).
All the four principles of Object Oriented Programming should be defined and explained using real
life examples (Data abstraction, Inheritance, Polymorphism, Encapsulation).
(ii) Open Source, IDE [Integrated Development Environment], Version of java, hardware and software
requirement. Suggested software / tools for working with java:
OpenJDK (Open Java Development Kit),
IDE - DrJava, NetBeans, MyEclipse, blueJ etc.,
(iii)Introduction to JAVA - Types of java programs – Applets and Applications, Java Compilation process,
Java Source code, Byte code, Object code, Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Features of JAVA. Real time
applications which use java
Definition of Java applets and Java applications with examples, steps involved in compilation process,
definitions of source code, byte code, object code, JVM, features of JAVA - Simple, Robust, secured,
object oriented, platform independent, etc. Real time applications which are utilizing java as the
development environment for exposure purposes are to be mentioned only as examples – Mobile
applications, Desktop GUI applications (Acrobat Reader), Web based applications (Banking System,
e-commerce), Gaming applications, Robotic applications (Health care), Education applications
(online quiz, student grading system), chatbots (customer service, messengers), virtual assistants, etc.

2. Elementary Concept of Objects and Classes
Modelling entities and their behavior by objects, a class as a specification for objects and as an object
factory, computation as message passing/method calls between objects (many examples should be done
to illustrate this). Objects encapsulate state (attributes) and have behavior (methods). Class as a user
defined data type.
A class may be regarded as a blueprint to create objects. It may be viewed as a factory that produces similar
objects. A class may also be considered as a new data type created by the user, that has its own functionality.

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3. Identifiers and Literals
Character set, ASCII code, Unicode, Escape sequences, Tokens, Constants and Variables, Data types, type
conversions.
Characters set of java (source characters, escape sequences), ASCII codes of Uppercase Letters (A – Z )
, lower case letters (a – z) , digits (0 – 9) and the white space, Importance of Unicode – Unicode is essential
in Java because it enables the representation and Manipulation of text from virtually all writing Systems
used worldwide, Globalization and Localization, Data Exchange, Character Handling etc.,
Escape sequences [\n, \t, \\, \”, \’], Tokens and its types [keywords, identifiers, literals, punctuators,
operators], primitive types and non-primitive types with examples, Introduce the primitive types with size
in bits and bytes, Implicit type conversion and Explicit type conversion.

4. Operators in Java
Forms of operators, Types of operators, Counters, Accumulators, Hierarchy of operators, ‘new’ operator,
dot ( . ) operator.
Forms of operators (Unary, Binary, Ternary), types of operators (Arithmetic, Relational, Logical,
Assignment, Increment, Decrement, Short hand operators), Discuss precedence and associativity of
operators, prefix and postfix, Creation of dynamic memory by using new operator, invoking members of
class using dot operator, Introduce System.out.println() and System.out.print() for simple output.
(Bitwise and shift operators are exempted)

5. Basic structure of a class in java
Structure of a class
//comment [non executable ]
class <name of the class>
{
void main(<parameters>)
{
Set of statements
}
}
//comment [non executable ]
import java.util.*;//when Scanner class is used
class <name of the class>
{
void main( )
{
Declaration of variables
Create an object of the Scanner class
Accept the required values using the
methods of the Scanner class
Set of statements
}
}
* The keywords ‘public’, ‘static’ and ‘String args[]’ are default in nature.

Note : The standard structure as prescribed above could be followed for designing any other programs
in java.

6. Data processing in Java
Initialization, Parameter, introduction to packages, Input streams (Scanner Class), types of errors, types
of comments
Initialization – Data before execution, Parameters – at the time of execution, input stream – data entry
during execution – using methods of Scanner class [nextShort(), nextInt( ), nextLong( ), nextFloat ( ),

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nextDouble( ), next( ), nextLine( ), next( ).charAt(0) ]
Discuss different types of errors occurring during execution and compilation of the program (syntax
errors, runtime errors and logical errors).Single line comment (//) and multiline comment (/* … */ )

7. Mathematical Library Methods
Introduction to package java.lang [ default ], methods of Math class.
pow(x,y), sqrt(x), cbrt(x), ceil(x), floor(x), round (x), abs(a), max(a, b), min(a,b), random( ), rint(),
hypot(a, b), addExact(int, int), subtractExact(int, int), multiplyExact(int, int)
Java expressions – using all the operators and methods of Math class.

8. Conditional statements in Java
Decision making using if, if else, if else if ladder, switch-case, default, break.
Programs to be practiced using if, if else, if else if, Nested if, switch case, break statement, fall through
condition in switch case, Menu driven programs, System.exit(0) - to terminate the program.

9. Looping / Iterative statements in Java
Defining looping statements along with its types, entry-controlled loops [ for, while], exit controlled loop
[do while] , variations in looping statements, and Jump statements.
Syntax of entry and exit controlled loops, break and continue, Simple programs illustrating all three loops,
inter conversion from for – while – do while, finite and infinite, delay, multiple counter variables
(initializations and updations). Demonstrate break and continue statements with the help of loops.
Loops are fundamental to computation and their need should be shown by examples.

10. Nested for loops
Introduction to nested loops through some simple examples . Demonstrate break and continue statements
with the help of nested loops.
Practice programs based on nested for loops (combination of two loops ) [ square, rectangular,
triangular [right angled triangle only] patterns using numbers and characters], series calculations and
display.
(Nested while and nested do while are exempted. )

11. Ethical computing
Ethical Issues in Computing.
Intellectual property rights (Copyright, patent) ; Safety measures for protecting individual’s right to
privacy ; data protection on the internet; protection against Spam; software piracy and cyber ethics
Handling social media requires a multifaceted approach encompassing education, guidance, and open
communication. Importance about online safety, digital etiquette, and responsible social media use.
* Project on this topic should be done. This topic is considered for Internal assessment.

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INTERNAL ASSESSMENT - 100 Marks
This segment of the syllabus is totally practical oriented. The accent is on acquiring basic programming skills
quickly and efficiently.
Programming Assignments (Class IX)
The students should complete a minimum of 15 laboratory assignments during the whole year to
reinforce the concepts studied in class along with a written project on Ethical computing.
Students are expected to do a minimum of 15 assignments during the whole year to reinforce the
concepts studied in the class.
Suggested list of Assignments:
The laboratory assignments will form the bulk of the course. Good assignments should have problems which
require design, implementation and testing. They should also embody one or more concepts that have been
discussed in the theory class. A significant proportion of the time has to be spent in the laboratory. Computing
can only be learnt by doing.
The teacher-in-charge should maintain a record of all the assignments done as a part of practical work
throughout the year and give it due credit at the time of cumulative evaluation at the end of the year.
Some sample programs are given below as examples. The programs are of varying levels of difficulty:
(i) Programs using Assignment statements. Example: Calculation of Area / Volume / Conversion of
temperature / Swapping of values/developing a calculator/average of subject marks / percentage
calculation/programs using ternary operators / conversion of days to months, miles to kilometers / simple
interest , compound interest etc.
(ii) Programs based on– Input through parameters / Scanner class.
Example: Implementation of standard formula
(iii) Programs based on Mathematical methods. Example: larger/smaller of two numbers, cube root, square
root, absolute value, power, etc.
(iv) Programs based on Decision making statements like if, if else, if else if ladder, nested if etc.
(a) if programs
• Larger / smaller of two numbers
• To check divisibility of a number, etc.
(b) if - else programs
• Odd or even number
• Eligibility to vote
• Upper case or lower case
• Positive or negative number
• Vowel or Consonant
• Buzz number etc.
• Check if a number is a two digit number or not
• Check if the number is ending with a given digit or not
(c) if-else-if programs
• Programs based on discount/interest/ bonus/ taxes/ commission.
• Programs based on slab system [ electricity bill, water bill, taxi meter, internet usage, parking
charges, courier charges etc.,]
• Programs based on Nested if .
(v) Programs based on switch case.
(a) Day of a week

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(b) Name of the month
(c) Names of the seasons
(d) Calculator
(e) Vowel or consonant etc.
(vi) Programs based on Looping Statement
(a) Programs based on for looping statement.
(b) Programs based on printing simple series, summation of simple series, product of simple series,
multiplication table, factorial of a number.
(c) Prime number, perfect number, composite number, Fibonacci series. Lowest Common Multiple
(LCM), Highest Common Factor (HCF) etc.
(d) To find the biggest and smallest number from n number of entered numbers.
(e) Program based on while loop like Armstrong number, Spy number, Niven number, Palindrome
number, etc.
(vii) Programs based on nested loops [rectangular, triangular (right angled triangle only) patterns],
series involving single variable.
(viii) Generate first n multiples of numbers from 1 to the limit input by the user.
(ix) Menu Driven programs.[using switch case ]

Important: This list is indicative only. Teachers and students should use their imagination to create innovative
and original assignments.

EVALUATION
Proposed Guidelines for Marking
The teacher should use the criteria below to judge the internal work done. Basically, four criteria are being
suggested: class design, coding and documentation, variable description and execution or output. The actual
grading will be done by the teacher based on his/her judgment. However, one possible way: divide the outcome
for each criterion into one of 4 groups: excellent, good, fair/acceptable, poor/unacceptable, then use numeric
values for each grade and add to get the total.
Class design:
Has a suitable class (or classes) been used?
Are all attributes with the right kinds of types present? Is encapsulation properly done?
Is the interface properly designed?
Coding and Documentation:
Is the coding done properly? (choice of names, no unconditional jumps, proper organization of conditions,
proper choice of loops, error handling code layout). Is the documentation complete and readable? (class
documentation, variable documentation, method documentation, constraints, known bugs – if any).
Variable and Description
Format for variable description:

Name of the variable Data Type Purpose/Description

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Evaluation of practical work will be done as follows:

Assignments 80 marks
Written Project 20 marks
Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner): Total 100 marks

Evaluation of Assignments will be done as follows:
Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner): 80 marks

Criteria Class Variable Coding and Execution OR
(Total design description Documentation Output
80 marks) (20 marks) (20 marks) (20 marks) (20 marks)
Excellent 20 20 20 20
Good 16 16 16 16

Fair 12 12 12 12

Poor 8 8 8 8

Evaluation of Written Project will be done as follows:
Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner): 20 marks
Introduction 3 marks
Content 8 marks
Presentation 5 marks
Conclusion/Summary 4 marks
Total 20 marks

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