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SCIENCE (52)
PAPER 3: BIOLOGY
Aims:
1. To acquire the knowledge of the economic
importance of plants and animals.
2. To develop an understanding of the
inter-relationship between sustainability and
environmental adaptations.
3. To develop an understanding of the
interdependence of plants and animals so as to
enable pupils to acquire a clearer comprehension
of the significance of life and its importance in
human welfare.
4. To understand the capacities and limitations of
all the biological and economic activities so as
to be able to use them for a better quality of life.
5. To acquire the ability to observe, experiment,
hypothesise, infer, handle equipment accurately
and make correct recordings.
CLASS IX
There will be one paper of one and half-hours
duration of 80 marks and Internal Assessment of
practical work carrying 20 marks.
The paper will be divided into two sections, Section I
(40 marks) and Section II (40 marks).
Section I (compulsory) will contain short answer
questions on the entire syllabus.
Section II will contain six questions.Candidates will
be required to answer any four of these six
questions.
1. Basic Biology
(i) The cell, a unit of life, protoplasm, basic
differences between an animal and a plant
cell.
(ii) Tissues: Types of plant and animal tissues.
2. Flowering Plants
(i) Outline of the external morphology of a
simple herbaceous plant e.g. Petunia,
Hibiscus.
(ii) Vegetative Propagation: Natural and
artificial methods, advantages and
disadvantages. Economic importance of
propagation and hybridisation. Micro
Propagation. Brief idea of Biotechnology
and its role in medicine and industry.
(iii) Medicinal Plants – their role in Indian
system of medicine. Example – Neem,
Turmeric, Quinine, Amla and Tulsi.
(iv) Flower: Structure of a bisexual flower,
functions of various parts.
(v) Pollination: self and cross-pollination.
(vi) Fertilisation.
3. Plant Physiology
(i) Germination of seeds, types, and conditions
for seed germination.
(ii) Respiration in plants: nature of the process,
gaseous exchange.
4. Flowerless Plants
Economic importance of bacteria and fungi; role
in medicine, agriculture and industry; medicine
– antibiotics, serums and vaccines; agriculture –
nitrogen fixing, nitrifying and denitrifying
bacteria; industry - wine, baking, cheese,
mushroom cultivation. Methods of preservation
of foods.
5. Animal Study
(i) A brief study of classification of animals -
vertebrates and invertebrates. Characteristics
of each group of animals with examples
(class in case of vertebrates and phylum in
case of invertebrates).
(ii) Adaptation to environment: examples: to air
(bird), water (fish), land (mammal), to
modes of life.
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(iii) Mammal: the general arrangement of
internal organs.
(iv) Nutrition in animals: the structure of a tooth,
different types of teeth.
(v) Nutrition in man: Classes of food, balanced
diet. Malnutrition and deficiency diseases.
(vi) Digestive System: Organs and digestive
glands and their functions (including
enzymes and their functions in digestion;
absorption, utilisation of digested food);
tests for reducing sugar, starch, protein and
fats.
(vii) Structure and functions of skin.
(viii) Circulatory System: Main features; the
structure and working of the heart, blood
vessels, structure and functions of blood and
circulation of blood (only names of the main
blood vessels entering and leaving the heart,
liver and kidney will be required).
(ix) Respiration System: Organs; mechanism of
breathing; tissue respiration, heat
production.
(x) Excretory System: Elementary treatment of
the structure and function of the kidneys; the
kidneys treated as comprising cortex and
medulla and consisting of a branched system
of tubules well supplied with blood vessels
leading to the ureter (details of the courses
of the tubules and their blood vessels not
required).
6. Health and Hygiene
Cause of diseases:
(i) Bacteria - types of bacteria, bacterial
control, three examples of diseases caused
by bacteria e.g. Tuberculosis, Cholera,
Tetanus, Syphilis (Veneral disease).
(ii) Virus - nature of viruses, three examples of
viral diseases e.g. Poliomyelitis, Mumps,
Rabies, etc. Introduction to HIV, its outline
structure and spread.
(iii) Parasites - two examples, roundworm,
tapeworm and their control.
(iv) Hygiene: simple personal hygiene and social
conditions affecting this. Disease carriers
(vectors) flies, rats and cockroaches,
contamination of water, waterborne
diseases.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF
PRACTICAL WORK
The practical work will be designed to test the
ability of the candidates to make accurate
observations from specimens of plants and animals.
For this, candidates should be familiar with the use
of a hand lens of not less than x6 magnification.
They should be trained to make both simple and
accurate drawings and brief notes as a means of
recording their observations.
The practical examiners will assume that candidates
would have carried out the practical work outlined
below.
NOTE: Candidates are expected to have a basic
idea of plant morphology.
PLANT LIFE
(i) The examination of an onion peel under the
microscope to study various parts of the cell.
(ii) Specimens of simple flowering plants for
morphological study. Identification and drawing
of the root, stem, leaf and flower. The parts of
the flower to be studied in detail and labelled
e.g. hibiscus, petunia.
(iii) Specimens of different types of underground
stems for examination, identification, drawing
and labelling e.g. Potato, Onion, Ginger, Corm.
(iv) A cross-pollinated flower to be examined and
identified and the parts to be studied and
labelled e.g. Hibiscus.
(v) Specimens of germinating seeds (e.g. the bean,
maize) for examination, identification, drawing
and labelling the parts.
ANIMAL LIFE
(i) The examination of a human cheek cell under
the microscope to study various parts of the cell.
(ii) Identification of sugar, starch, protein and fat.
(iii) Examination and identification of specimens
belonging to the following groups of animals:
Porifera, Coelenterata, Annelida,
Platyhelminthes, Arthopoda, Fish, Amphibia,
Bird and Mammal.
(iv) General anatomy of a mammal to be taught with
the aid of a model or a chart.
(v) Identification of the structure of the following
organs through specimens/models and charts:
Kidney, Lung and Heart.
(vi) The identification of different types of blood
cells under a microscope.
(vii) Experiments to show the mechanism of
breathing.
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CLASS X
There will be one paper of one and half-hours
duration of 80 marks and Internal Assessment of
practical work carrying 20 marks.
The paper will be divided into two sections,
Section I (40 marks) and Section II (40 marks).
Section I (compulsory) will contain short answer
questions on the entire syllabus.
Section II will contain six questions.Candidates will
be required to answer any four of these six
questions.
1. Basic Biology
(i) Cell Division and structure of chromosomes.
(ii) Genetics: Mendel’s laws of inheritance and
sex-linked inheritance of diseases.
2. Plant Physiology
(The whole of plant physiology should be
treated experimentally with sufficient theory
to explain the phenomena and importance to
the plant).
(i) Absorption by roots; diffusion and osmosis;
osmotic pressure; turgidity and flaccidity;
plasmolysis and deplasmolysis; the
absorption of water and minerals; the
importance of root hair.
(ii) The rise of water up to the xylem; a general
idea of the causative forces (questions will
not be set on causative forces);
demonstration by the use of dyes.
(iii) Transpiration, process and significance;
experimental work includes the loss in
weight of a potted plant or a leafy shoot in a
test tube, the use of cobalt chloride paper
and the effect of external conditions on the
rate of water loss; potometer and its
limitations should be stressed.
(iv) Photosynthesis: the nature of the process
itself and the great importance of
photosynthesis to life in general;
experiments to show the necessity of light,
carbon dioxide & chlorophyll and also the
formation of starch and the output of
oxygen; carbon cycle.
3. Animal Study (with reference to humans only)
(i) Nervous system: a simplified account of the
brain (only the external structure of the brain
is needed but reference should be made to
the distribution of white and gray matter),
spinal cord, reflex action and how it differs
from voluntary action, the sense organs,
their position and functions; structure of the
eye and ear simply treated, the use of
spectacles for the correction of short and
long sight; the ear should be treated as
consisting of cochlea sensitive to vibrations
and semicircular canal sensitive to position.
(ii) Endocrine System: General study of the
following glands: Adrenal, Pancreas,
Thyroid and Pituitary.
(iii) The Reproductive System: Organs,
fertilisation and a general outline of nutrition
and respiration of the embryo. (Menstrual
cycle not to be taught).
(iv) Population: Problems posed by the increase
in population in India; population control.
4. Health: Diseases and Hygiene
(i) Aids to health: an understanding of the use
and action of the following - vaccination;
immunisation; antitoxin; serum; antiseptics;
disinfectants; penicillin; sulphonamide
drugs; First Aid.
(ii) Health organisations: Red Cross, WHO
(reasons for its formation); common health
problems in India.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF
PRACTICAL WORK
The practical work will be designed to test the
ability of the candidates to make accurate
observation from specimens of plants and animals.
For this, the candidates should be familiar with the
use of a hand lens of not less than x6 magnification.
Candidates should be trained to make simple and
accurate drawings and brief notes as a means of
recording their observations.
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The practical examiners will assume that candidates
would have carried out the practical work outlined
below.
PLANT LIFE
(i) Observation of permanent slides of mitosis.
(ii) Experiments indicating osmosis, diffusion and
absorption.
(iii) Physiological experiments on transpiration to be
set up by the teacher and the pupils to identify
the products, draw and label the apparatus.
(iv) Experiments to show the necessity of light,
carbon dioxide essential for photosynthesis;
release of O2 during photosynthesis. Candidates
to write down their observations and draw and
label the apparatus.
ANIMAL LIFE
(i) Identification of the structure of the Brain
through models and charts.
(ii) The structure of the Ear and Eye (candidates
will be required to identify each structure in
the models of these organs).
(iii) Identification and location of selected endocrine
glands (Adrenal, Pancreas, Thyroid and Pituitary
glands) with the help of a model or chart.
(iv) Compiling material for a First Aid box.
EVALUATION
The practical work/project work are to be evaluated
by the subject teacher and by an External Examiner.
(The External Examiner may be a teacher nominated
by the Principal, who could be from the faculty, but
not teaching the subject in the relevant
section/class. For example, a teacher of Biology of
Class VIII may be deputed to be an External
Examiner for Class X, Biology projects.)
The Internal Examiner and the External Examiner
will assess the practical work/project work
independently.
Award of marks (20 Marks)
Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner) 10 marks
External Examiner 10 marks
The total marks obtained out of 20 are to be sent to
the Council by the Principal of the school.
The Head of the school will be responsible for the
entry of marks on the mark sheets provided by the
Council.
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INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN SCIENCE - GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES
Criteria Preparation
Procedure/
Testing
Observation Inference/
Results
Presentation
Grade I
(4 marks)
Follows instructions (written,
oral, diagrammatic) with
understanding; modifies if
needed. Familiarity with and
safe use of apparatus, materials,
techniques.
Analyses problem
systematically. Recognises
a number of variables and
attempts to control them to
build a logical plan of
investigation.
Records
data/observations
without being given a
format. Comments
upon, recognises use of
instruments, degree of
accuracy. Recording is
systematic.
Processes data without format.
Recognises and comments
upon sources of error.
Can deal with unexpected
results, suggesting
modifications.
Presentation is accurate
and good. Appropriate
techniques are well
used.
Grade II
(3 marks)
Follows instructions to perform
experiment with step-by-step
operations. Awareness of safety.
Familiarity with apparatus,
materials and techniques.
Specifies sequence of
operation; gives reasons for
any change in procedure.
Can deal with two
variables, controlling one.
Makes relevant
observations. No
assistance is needed for
recording format that is
appropriate.
Processes data appropriately
as per a given format. Draws
qualitative conclusions
consistent with required
results.
Presentation is
adequate. Appropriate
techniques are used.
Grade III
(2 marks)
Follows instructions to perform
a single operation at a time.
Safety awareness. Familiarity
with apparatus & materials.
Develops simple
experimental strategy.
Trial and error
modifications made to
proceed with the
experiment.
Detailed instructions
needed to record
observations. Format
required to record
results.
Processes data approximately
with a detailed format
provided. Draws observations
qualitative conclusions as
required.
Presentation is
reasonable, but
disorganised in some
places. Overwriting ;
rough work is untidy.
Grade IV
(1 mark)
Follows some instructions to
perform a single practical
operation . Casual about safety.
Manages to use apparatus &
materials.
Struggles through the
experiment. Follows very
obvious experimental
strategy.
Format required to
record observations/
readings, but tends to
make mistakes in
recording.
Even when detailed format is
provided, struggles or makes
errors while processing data.
Reaches conclusions with
help.
Presentation is poor and
disorganised but
follows an acceptable
sequence. Rough work
missing or untidy.
Grade V
(0 marks)
Not able to follow instructions or
proceed with practical work
without full assistance. Unaware
of safety.
Cannot proceed with the
experiment without help
from time to time.
Even when format is
given, recording is
faulty or irrelevant.
Cannot process results, nor
draw conclusions, even with
considerable help.
Presentation
unacceptable;
disorganised, untidy/
poor. Rough work
missing.
