English (Compulsory) Class 9: Paper Pattern and Structure Overview

Pairing Scheme for BISEs Annual Examination 2027 (Punjab), explained in simple words

Introduction

The English paper for Grade 9 is a 75-mark paper. It has an objective part of 19 marks, which must be solved in 20 minutes, and a subjective part of 56 marks, which is given 2 hours and 10 minutes. The total time for the paper is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Important note: Under the Smart Syllabus (ALP), three units are excluded from the textbook: Unit 5 (Women Empowerment through Entrepreneurship), Unit 8 (The Impact of Globalisation on Culture and Economy) and Unit 10 (The Silent Predator and the Majestic Prey: Snow Leopard and Markhor). No question of any type will come from these units.

Objective Part: Q.1 Multiple Choice Questions (19 Marks)

Question 1 has 19 multiple choice questions (MCQs) of 1 mark each. They are taken from the whole English-9 textbook (except Units 5, 8 and 10) and from the book English Grammar and Composition 9-10. The questions are divided into four groups.

(a) Correct form of verb (5 marks)

Five questions ask you to choose the correct form of the verb. These come from English Grammar and Composition 9-10.

(b) Correct spelling (4 marks)

Four questions ask you to choose the word with the correct spelling. Two come from Units 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 and Review-I, and two come from Units 7, 9 and 11 and Review-II.

(c) Meanings of underlined words (5 marks)

Five questions ask you to choose the correct meaning of an underlined word. Two come from Units 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 and Review-I, and three come from Units 7, 9 and 11 and Review-II.

(d) Correct option according to grammar (5 marks)

Five questions test grammar and are taken from the entire textbook (except Units 5, 8 and 10) and from English Grammar and Composition 9-10.

Subjective Part: Short Questions and Textbook Writing (Q.2 to Q.5)

Q.2: Short Answer Questions (10 Marks)

All short questions are taken from the exercises of the textbook. This question has two parts. In Part A (6 marks), five questions are given and you answer any three, each for 2 marks. Three questions come from Units 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 and Review-I, and two questions come from Units 7 and 9 and Review-II. Questions from Units 8 and 10 and from the play are not included in this part. In Part B (4 marks), two questions are given and you answer any one. They come from Unit 11, the play “The Dear Departed”, and from the play portion of Review-II.

Q.3: Translation or Rewriting of Paragraphs (8 Marks)

Three paragraphs are given: two from Units 1, 2, 4 and 6, and one from Unit 9. You attempt any two. For each paragraph you either translate it into Urdu or rewrite it in simple English. Each paragraph carries 4 marks.

Q.4: Poem Summary or Stanza Explanation (5 Marks)

You are given the choice of writing the summary of a poem or explaining a stanza with reference to the context. The summary is asked from one poem and the stanza from the other poem.

Q.5: Use Words, Phrases or Idioms in Sentences (5 Marks)

Eight words, phrases or idioms are given and you use any five in your own sentences, 1 mark each. Three of them come from Units 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 and Review-I, and five come from Units 7, 9 and 11 and Review-II.

Subjective Part: Grammar and Composition (Q.6 to Q.9)

The remaining questions are all taken from the book English Grammar and Composition 9-10.

Q.6: Letter, Story or Dialogue (8 Marks)

You write either a letter, or a story, or a dialogue. Only one of these is to be attempted.

Q.7: Comprehension Passage (10 Marks)

A passage is given and you answer the questions at the end of it. The question carries 10 marks (2 × 5).

Q.8: Translation or Paragraph Writing (5 Marks)

You translate any five sentences into English, each for 1 mark. Candidates whose medium of examination is English do not translate. Instead, they write a paragraph of ten sentences on a given topic.

Q.9: Change of Voice (5 Marks)

Five sentences are given and you change their voice (active to passive or passive to active), 1 mark each.

Total Marks at a Glance

The paper adds up as follows: Q.1 carries 19 marks; Q.2 carries 10 marks (6 + 4); Q.3 carries 8 marks; Q.4 and Q.5 carry 5 marks each; Q.6 carries 8 marks; Q.7 carries 10 marks; Q.8 and Q.9 carry 5 marks each. The objective part is 19 marks and the subjective part is 56 marks, so the whole paper makes 75 marks.

Preparation Advice

Skip Units 5, 8 and 10 completely and spend that time on the remaining eight units. Learn the spellings, meanings and idioms of every unit, because they are tested in both the MCQs and Q.5. Read the play “The Dear Departed” carefully for Part B of Q.2. Since Q.6 to Q.9 come from the grammar book, practise one letter, one story and one dialogue, passage comprehension, translation and change of voice regularly. These are the parts where careful practice gives the most marks.