Examination Pattern

• One paper of two hours duration carrying 80 marks and Internal Assessment of practical work carrying 20 marks.
• The paper will be divided into two sections:
  • Section I (40 marks, Compulsory): Short answer questions on the entire syllabus.
  • Section II (40 marks): Six questions, answer any four.

1. Basic Biology

1. Cell Cycle and Cell Division
   • Cell cycle – Interphase (G₁, S, G₂) and Mitotic phase.
   • Cell Division:
     • Mitosis and its stages.
     • Basic understanding of Meiosis as a reduction division (stages not required).
     • A brief idea of homologous chromosomes and crossing over leading to variations.
     • Significance and major differences between mitotic and meiotic division.
2. Structure of Chromosome:
   • Basic structure of chromosome with understanding of chromatin, chromatid, gene structure of DNA, and centromere.
3. Genetics: Mendel’s laws of inheritance and sex-linked inheritance of diseases
   • The three laws of Mendel.
   • Monohybrid cross – phenotype and genotype.
   • Dihybrid cross – Only phenotype.
   • Terms: gene, allele, heterozygous, homozygous, dominant, recessive, mutation, variation, phenotype, genotype.
   • Sex determination in humans.
   • Sex-linked inheritance (only X-linked: haemophilia, colour blindness).

2. Plant Physiology

1. Absorption by roots, imbibition, diffusion and osmosis; osmotic pressure, root pressure; turgidity and flaccidity; plasmolysis and deplasmolysis; absorption of water and minerals; active and passive transport (in brief); ascent of sap
   • Processes related to absorption of water by roots.
   • Characteristics of roots for absorbing water.
   • Structure of a single full-grown root hair.
   • Cohesive, adhesive forces and transpirational pull.
   • Experiments to show conduction of water through xylem.
2. Transpiration - process and significance
   • Ganong’s potometer and its limitations.
   • Factors affecting transpiration.
   • Experiments:
     • Loss in weight of potted plant/leafy shoot.
     • Cobalt chloride paper for dorsiventral leaf.
   • Mechanism of stomatal transpiration (potassium ion exchange theory).
   • Plant adaptations to reduce transpiration.
   • Guttation and bleeding.
3. Photosynthesis: process and significance, experiments to show necessity of factors, carbon cycle
   • Internal structure of chloroplast: idea of site of light and dark reactions.
   • Stomatal opening/closing (potassium ion exchange theory).
   • Overall balanced photosynthesis equation.
   • Light ("photochemical") and dark ("biosynthetic") phases.
   • Light reaction: photolysis, O₂ release, ATP and NADPH formation.
   • Dark reaction: Combination of H by NADP with CO₂ to glucose (not detailed equations).
   • Adaptations for photosynthesis.
   • Experiments emphasizing destarching and starch test.
   • Diagrammatic carbon cycle.
4. Chemical coordination in Plants: growth regulators; Tropic movements
   • Physiological effects of plant hormones: Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Abscisic acid, Ethylene.
   • Basic understanding of tropic movements: Phototropism, Geotropism, Hydrotropism, Thigmotropism, Chemotropism (with examples).

3. Human Anatomy and Physiology

1. Circulatory System: Blood, lymph, heart structure and working, blood vessels (main vessels for heart, liver, kidney only), lymphatic system.
   • Blood composition (RBC, WBC, platelets - structure & functions).
   • Tissue fluid and lymph: brief idea.
   • Efficiency of mammalian RBCs (absence of some organelles - reasons).
   • Blood coagulation: brief idea.
   • Heart: structure/working with names of vessels entering/leaving heart, liver, kidney.
   • Systole, diastole, double circulation.
   • Pulse and blood pressure: brief idea.
   • Artery, vein, capillary: structure, function, diagrams.
   • Lymphatic organs: spleen, tonsils.
   • ABO blood group, Rh factor.
   • Significance of hepatic portal system.
2. Excretory System
   • Different excretory organs in human body: brief idea.
   • External and internal kidney structure.
   • Urinary system parts and associated blood vessels; functions; diagrams (with labels).
   • Structure of nephron.
   • Ultra-filtration (Malpighian capsule diagram). Selective reabsorption, tubular secretion (relation to plasma and urine formed).
3. Nervous System: Structure of neuron; CNS, ANS, PNS (in brief); brain & spinal cord; reflex vs. voluntary action
   • Neuron structure.
   • External brain primary parts: Medulla Oblongata, Cerebrum, Cerebellum, Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Pons; functions.
   • White and gray matter in brain, spinal cord.
   • Voluntary/involuntary actions - meaning, examples.
   • Reflex arc diagram: pathway receptor to effector.
   • Peripheral and autonomic nervous system: role in regulation.
   • Natural vs. acquired reflex.
   • Eye and Ear: internal/external structure and functions.
   • Stereoscopic vision, adaptation, accommodation of eye.
   • Eye defects & corrections: Myopia, Hyperopia (Hypermetropia), Presbyopia, Astigmatism, Cataract (diagrams for first two).
   • Perception of sound course in ear. Role in balance.
4. Endocrine System
   • Endocrine vs exocrine glands: differences.
   • Location and shape of Adrenal, Pancreas, Thyroid, Pituitary glands.
   • Hormones:
     • Pancreas: Insulin, Glucagon
     • Thyroid: Thyroxin
     • Adrenal: Cortical hormones, Adrenaline
     • Pituitary: Growth hormone, Tropic hormones, ADH, Oxytocin
   • Effects of hypo/hyper secretion.
   • Feedback mechanism with reference to TSH.
5. The Reproductive System
   • Functions of male/female reproductive organs, male accessory glands, secondary sexual characters.
   • Structure and function of sperm, egg.
   • Terms: Fertilization, implantation, placenta, gestation, parturition.
   • Placenta's role (nutrition, respiration, excretion, endocrine function).
   • Foetal membranes and amniotic fluid: functions.
   • Outline of menstrual cycle.
   • Sex hormones: Testosterone, Oestrogen, Progesterone in reproduction.
   • Identical and fraternal twins: meaning, differences.

4. Population

• Population explosion in India; need for control measures.
• Main reasons for sharp rise in population in India/world.
• Terms: demography, population density, birth rate, death rate, growth rate.
• Problems: unemployment, overexploitation of resources, low per capita income, price rise, pollution, unequal wealth distribution.
• Population control methods: surgical methods – Tubectomy and Vasectomy.

5. Human Evolution

• Introduction to Human evolution. Theories:
  • Lamarck’s theory of inheritance
  • Darwin’s theory (natural selection)
• Human ancestors: Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon, Homo sapiens sapiens (Modern Man):
  • Bipedalism
  • Increasing cranial capacity
  • Reduction in canine teeth
  • Forehead and brow ridges
  • Chin development
  • Reduction in body hair
  • Height and posture
• Lamarck’s theory (acquired characters): use/disuse (e.g., giraffe’s neck, vestigial organs in humans).
• Darwin’s Natural selection: "Survival of the fittest" (e.g., peppered moth).

6. Pollution

1. Types and Sources of pollution; major pollutants
   • Air: Vehicular, industrial, burning garbage, brick kilns
   • Water: Household detergents, sewage, industrial waste, oil spills
   • Thermal pollution
   • Soil: Industrial, urban/commercial/domestic waste, fertilizers
   • Biomedical waste: needles, syringes, soiled dressings
   • Radiation: X-rays, radioactive fallout
   • Noise: Motor vehicles, industry, construction, loudspeakers
2. Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable wastes
   • Biodegradable: meaning/examples: paper, vegetable peels
   • Non-biodegradable: meaning/examples: plastics, glass, styrofoam, DDT
3. Effects of Pollution and Control Measures
   • Greenhouse effect, Global warming, Acid rain, Ozone layer depletion: brief explanation
   • Control measures:
     • Use of unleaded petrol/CNG
     • Switching engines off at traffic lights
     • Social forestry
     • Sewage treatment plants
     • Ban on polythene/plastics
     • Organic farming
     • Euro Bharat vehicular standard
     • Reference to "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan": Clean India campaign

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF PRACTICAL WORK

Practical work tests ability to make accurate observations from plant and animal specimens.

PLANT LIFE

1. Observation of permanent slides of mitosis stages.
2. Experiments demonstrating:
   • Diffusion (potassium permanganate in water)
   • Osmosis (Thistle Funnel experiment, potato osmoscope)
   • Absorption (using a small herbaceous plant)
3. Experiments on Transpiration:
   • Bell Jar demonstration
   • Cobalt chloride paper for dorsiventral leaf
   • Ganong’s potometer: uptake of water and rate of transpiration
4. Experiments on Photosynthesis:
   • Show necessity of light, CO₂ and chlorophyll for photosynthesis
   • Release of O₂ using hydrilla/elodea

ANIMAL LIFE

1. Identification (models/charts) of urinary system, heart, kidney (internal), brain (external).
2. Blood cells types under microscope.
3. Internal structure of Ear and Eye (models/charts).
4. Location of Adrenal, Pancreas, Thyroid, Pituitary glands (model/chart).

Evaluation

• Practical/project work to be evaluated by internal (teacher) and external examiner (e.g., Biology teacher from other class).
• Both assess independently, marks out of 20.
• Award of Marks (20 Marks):
  • Internal Examiner: 10 marks
  • External Examiner: 10 marks
  • Total sent to Council by school head; marks entered online by the due date.

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN SCIENCE – Guidelines for Marking with Grades