ICSE Class 9 German Syllabus 2026-27

Group I note: Candidates opting for German as a Second Language in Group I may not opt for the same language under Modern Foreign Languages in Group II and Group III.

Class IX note: The Class IX examination is conducted by the school on the portion of this syllabus covered during the academic year. The Class X ICSE Board Examination paper is set on the entire syllabus (Classes IX and X combined). CISCE has not prescribed a fixed bifurcation of the syllabus.

Aims

•        To develop and integrate the use of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

•        To use the language effectively and appropriately on topics of everyday life situations.

•        To develop an interest in the appreciation of German.

•        To develop an intercultural awareness.

•        To enhance the ability to express ideas and feelings in their own words and to understand the use of correct language.

•        To appreciate the language as an effective means of communication.

•        To understand German when spoken at normal conversational speed in everyday life situations.

•        To understand the basic structural patterns of the language, vocabulary, and constructions.

Written Paper: 80 Marks (3 Hours)

The written paper covers five components. The syllabus is common to Classes IX and X. The Class IX school examination is set on the portion covered during the year.

1. Composition (Aufsatz)

•        Candidates write one short composition in German.

•        The composition may include short explanations, directions, descriptions, or narratives.

•        There will be a choice of subjects, varied and may be suggested by language or other stimuli such as pictures or objects.

2. Letter Writing (Brief)

•        Candidates write one letter from a choice of either a formal or an informal letter.

•        Suggestions may be given to guide the content.

•        The layout of the letter (address, introduction, conclusion, sign-off) forms part of the assessment.

3. Comprehension (Leseverstehen)

•        An unseen passage of about 150 words is given in German.

•        Questions are set to be answered in German, testing the candidate's understanding of the content.

4. Grammar (Grammatik)

Tests vocabulary, syntax, and idiom. Detailed knowledge of grammatical definitions is NOT required. The following grammar topics are included in the ICSE German syllabus (as listed in the official CISCE document):

Verbs and Verb Forms

•        Verb conjugation in the singular (all persons: ich, du, er/sie/es)

•        Verb 'haben' (to have): conjugation in all persons, singular and plural

•        Verbs in the first and second person plural (wir, ihr)

•        Verb pairs: 'stellen/stehen', 'legen/liegen', 'setzen/sitzen', 'haengen' (placement vs. position verbs)

•        Modal verbs: 'duerfen', 'koennen', 'muessen' in Praeteritum; 'wollen', 'sollen', 'moechten'

•        Reflexive verbs (e.g. sich waschen, sich freuen)

•        Indefinite verbs (verbs used with indefinite subjects)

•        Imperativ (affirmative and negative commands: du-, ihr-, Sie-forms)

•        Verbs in singular (all verb groups: regular, irregular)

•        Separable verbs (Trennbare Verben, e.g. aufstehen, anrufen): correct use and position of prefix

•        koennen and duerfen: distinction in meaning and use

•        'sein' in singular and plural (all forms; Praesens and Praeteritum)

•        Past tense with haben and sein (Praeteritum and Perfekt; choice of auxiliary)

•        Praeteritum of 'sein' and Praeteritum of 'haben'

•        Imperative as a polite form (Sie-Imperativ)

Pronouns

•        Interrogative pronouns (Fragepronomen: wer, was, wen, wem, etc.)

•        Possessive pronouns 'mein' and 'dein' in Nominative

•        Personal pronouns er, sie, es (third person singular)

•        Personal pronouns in Akkusativ (mich, dich, ihn, sie, es, uns, euch, sie/Sie)

•        Dativ personal pronouns (mir, dir, ihm, ihr, ihm, uns, euch, ihnen/Ihnen)

•        Personal pronouns in Dativ and Akkusativ (combined use in sentences)

•        Interrogative pronouns in Dative (wem?)

•        Interrogative pronouns 'welcher/welches/welche' in Nominative and Akkusativ

•        The polite form 'Sie' (formal address: conjugation and use)

•        The indefinite 'man' (impersonal pronoun)

•        The impersonal 'es' (weather, time, impersonal expressions)

Questions and Negation

•        'W' Questions (Wer, Was, Wo, Wann, Wie, Warum, Woher, Wohin, etc.)

•        Ja/Nein Questions (Yes/No questions with verb-first word order)

•        W-Questions: Was? Wen? (Akkusativ interrogatives)

•        Negative question: Ja / Nein / Doch (responses to negative questions)

•        Negation with 'nicht' (position of 'nicht' in sentences)

Articles and Adjectives

•        Definite article (bestimmter Artikel): der/die/das in Nominative; in Akkusativ; in Dativ

•        Indefinite article (unbestimmter Artikel): ein/eine/ein in Nominative and Akkusativ; in Dative

•        Negative article (Negativartikel): kein/keine/kein in Akkusativ

•        Possessive articles: 'mein', 'dein', 'sein', 'ihr', 'unser', 'euer' in Nominative, Akkusativ, and Dative

•        Possessive article 'unser'/'euer' in Nominative and Akkusativ

•        Possessive article 'sein'/'ihr' in Nominative and Akkusativ

•        Demonstrative articles (Demonstrativpronomen: dieser/dieses/diese) in Nominative, Akkusativ, and Dative

•        Adjectives in Nominative, Akkusativ, and Dative (adjective endings with definite, indefinite, and no article)

Prepositions

•        Prepositions of place: 'Wo?' + Dative case (location); 'Wohin?' + Accusative case (direction)

•        'in' and 'auf' with Akkusativ (place: direction/destination)

•        'Woher?': aus / aus der (origin)

•        'Wo?': in / in der (location)

•        Prepositions an, bei, in, von, zu, mit + Dative

•        Prepositions fuer, ohne (with Akkusativ)

•        Prepositions inter, auf, ueber, unter, vor, neben + Dative

•        Wechselpraepositionen: an, in, auf, ueber, unter, neben, vor (Dative for location; Akkusativ for direction)

•        Temporal prepositions: vor / nach + Dative (before/after in time expressions)

Adverbs and Comparisons

•        'gern / lieber / am liebsten' (expressing preference: like, prefer, like most)

•        Comparative and Superlative (Komparativ and Superlativ of adjectives and adverbs)

•        Comparison using 'wie' and 'als' (as...as / more...than)

Nouns

•        Genitive case with names (Possessive 's': Annas Buch)

•        Diminutive form with '-chen' (e.g. Maedchen, Haeschen)

•        Compound nouns (Komposita: combining two or more nouns)

Sentence Structure

•        Inversion (verb-second word order when a time or place adverb begins the sentence)

•        Subordinate clauses with 'weil' (because: verb moves to end of clause)

•        Subordinate clauses with 'dass' (that: verb moves to end of clause)

•        Subordinate clauses with 'wenn' (when/if: verb moves to end of clause)

•        Main clause with 'deshalb' (therefore) and 'trotzdem' (nevertheless)

5. Translation and/or Dialogue Writing

•        Translation from German into English: one short passage

•        Translation from English into German: one passage

•        Dialogue writing (approximately 150 words): based on everyday life situations; hints may be given

Communication Topics (Annexe)

The following topics cover oral and written communication skills. They may be taught from any resource book. The topics are common to Classes IX and X.

Topic A: Myself

Self, Family, and Friends

•        Describing self, family, and friends; physical description; personality and sentiments; personal relationships, generation gap, friendship, pets

Important Events

•        Festivals (religious, national, international, family); celebrations, special occasions, invitations; culture and customs

Interests and Hobbies

•        Sports, books, films, music; likes and dislikes

Home and Locality

•        City and village life; description of one's home, furnishings, and surroundings; shops and places in the vicinity

Daily Routine

•        Adverbs of time and frequency; weekend and weekly routine at home and school; outings; everyday communication

School

•        School system, subjects, professions, teachers, timetable, school uniform, academic year, school activities, stationery and supplies, school experiences

Topic B: Holiday Time and Travel

Travel, Transport, and Tourism

•        Vacations, modes of transport, duration, itinerary; travel plans (past, present, future); experiences and memories

Accommodation

•        Holiday homes, hotels, reservations; renting or hiring a place; the stay; types of boarding

Restaurant

•        Ordering food, menu, different cuisines, recipes

Directions

•        Traffic rules, road safety; giving directions; following and understanding maps

Holiday Activities

•        At the seaside, mountains, in the city, countryside, or abroad

Services

•        Public services at hotel, airport, shops, train station, restaurant, library

Topic C: Work and Lifestyle

Home Life

•        Household chores, domestic animals, guests and outings, family life

Everyday Living and Health

•        Communications and technology; food habits and lifestyle; the human body, health and illness; visit to a doctor or pharmacist

Work Experience

•        Internships, world of work, work experiences

Leisure

•        Cinema, concerts, theatre, park, entertainment; social media, television, newspapers

Shopping

•        Brands, clothes and accessories, modes of payment, budget, expenses; fashion and lifestyle; shopping malls, supermarkets, local markets

The Environment

•        Natural environment; problems, causes, and solutions; technology; seasons and weather; World Environment Day, Earth Day

Internal Assessment: 20 Marks

Schools prepare, conduct, and record assessments of Listening, Speaking, and Creative Writing skills. Class IX requires three assessments in the course of the year.

Award of Marks: Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner): 10 Marks | External Examiner: 10 Marks. Both assess independently. Schools must maintain records of all assessments for up to two months after ICSE results are declared.

(a) Listening Skills (5 Marks) -- Class IX

•        A passage of about 300 words is read aloud by the examiner twice at normal reading speed (approximately 110 words per minute).

•        Candidates may make brief notes during the readings.

•        Candidates then answer an objective type test based on the passage, on the paper provided.

(b) Speaking Skills (5 Marks) -- Class X

•        Each candidate makes an oral presentation for approximately 2 minutes, followed by a discussion with the examiners for approximately 3 minutes.

•        Subjects may include: narrating an experience, providing a description, giving directions, expressing an opinion, giving a report, relating an anecdote, or commenting on a current event.

•        Candidates may refer to brief notes; reading or excessive dependence on notes will be penalised.

•        It is recommended that candidates be given one hour for preparation and a choice of subject on a common paper.

(c) Creative Writing (10 Marks) -- Classes IX and X

•        Each candidate writes short compositions based on the suggested assignments.

•        Stimuli may include: a piece of recorded music; a series of recorded sounds; a picture or photograph; an opening sentence or phrase; a newspaper or magazine clipping.

•        One piece of factual writing (informative or argumentative).

•        One piece of expressive writing (descriptive or imaginative).

•        Preparation of a film or book review.

•        Students should also be aware of contemporary forms of written communication such as fax and memo.

Suggested Assignments for Classes IX and X

Aural (Listening)

•        Listening to a conversation, talk, or reading of a short passage

•        Writing down the relevant or main points in the specified number of words

•        Answering the given questions based on the passage

Oral (Speaking)

•        Prepared speech or declamation

•        Impromptu speech, debate, or discussion

•        Report or interview

•        Elocution

•        Role-play or general conversation on selected topics

Creative Writing

•        Short compositions using stimuli: recorded music, sounds, pictures, opening sentences, or clippings

•        One piece of factual writing (informative or argumentative)

•        One piece of expressive writing (descriptive or imaginative)

•        Film or book review

Internal Assessment: Guidelines for Marking with Grades

Creative Writing (Classes IX and X)

Aural Assignment (Class IX)

Oral Assignment (Class X)

Preparation Tips for Students

For the Written Paper

•        Composition: practise writing short essays in German on everyday topics from the communication topics (A, B, C). Use correct verb position, appropriate vocabulary, and clear paragraphing.

•        Letter writing: master both formal (Geehrter Herr/Geehrte Frau style) and informal (Lieber.../Liebe... style) letter formats. Memorise correct layout, salutations, and sign-offs.

•        Comprehension: read German passages regularly; practise answering questions in complete German sentences without copying word-for-word from the passage.

•        Grammar: focus systematically on the entire grammar list from the official syllabus. Particular areas to master: case system (Nominative, Akkusativ, Dative) for articles, pronouns, and adjectives; separable verbs; modal verbs in all tenses; Wechselpraepositionen (dual-case prepositions); and subordinate clause word order (weil, dass, wenn).

•        Translation: practise both directions. For English to German, focus on correct case endings, verb position, and agreement.

•        Dialogue writing: practise everyday dialogues from the communication topics (ordering at a restaurant, asking for directions, at a doctor's, shopping).

•        Solve previous years' ICSE German question papers to understand the format and time management.

For the Internal Assessment

•        For Listening (Class IX): practise listening to German audio at normal speed (Planet 1 audio materials are ideal). Take brief notes and answer comprehension questions from memory and notes.

•        For Speaking (Class X): prepare 2-minute presentations on varied topics from the communication topics. Practise speaking fluently, using correct German word order, and emphasising key points.

•        For Creative Writing: practise under timed conditions using different stimuli. Aim for Grade I: effective analysis, correct German language use, clear structure, and original ideas.

Official Source and Further Reference

This document is based on the official CISCE syllabus for German (Subject Code 28), pages 46 to 52 of the CISCE Regulations and Syllabuses document. The complete and authoritative syllabus is published by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on their official website.