From the 2026–27 session, CBSE is doing something it has never done in Science and Maths: giving Class 9 students a second, tougher paper they can choose to attempt — and one that can never pull their percentage down. Here’s exactly what the new “Advanced Level” option is, what’s inside it, and whether your child should say yes.
What actually changed
Until now, every CBSE student sat the same Science and Maths paper. From 2026–27, each of these two subjects splits into two levels. The standard paper stays compulsory for everyone. On top of it, a student may opt in to an Advanced Level paper — a separate one-hour, 25-mark test that rewards thinking over memorising.
Standard Level
- The regular Science / Maths exam
- Decides your full percentage & result
- Same syllabus students already know
Advanced Level
- Extra 1-hour, 25-mark paper
- Higher-Order Thinking — reasoning, not recall
- “Problems with no obvious first step”
You can take it for Maths, Science, or both. It’s CBSE’s way of stretching students who want more — especially future JEE, NEET and Olympiad aspirants — without forcing extra pressure on those who don’t.
The part that surprises most parents: it can’t hurt you
This is the single most important rule, and it changes everything about the decision.
How the Advanced paper is treated
- ✓ Marks from the Advanced paper are not added to your total or aggregate. Your percentage comes only from the standard exam.
- ✓ Score 50% or more and you get a distinct note on your marksheet — a recognition of extra ability.
- ✓ Score below 50%? It simply doesn’t appear anywhere on the record. No penalty, no trace.
What’s inside Advanced Maths
Six chapters — and if they look familiar, that’s the point. Several are topics students normally meet only in Class 11. Advanced Level pulls them earlier as a gentle on-ramp.
usually a Class 11 topic
the maths behind pH, sound, earthquakes
the language of all higher maths
deeper than the standard course
counting & arrangements — JEE favourite
beyond basic AP/GP
What’s inside Advanced Science
Ten chapters spanning Physics, Chemistry and Biology — each taking a familiar Class 9 idea and pushing it one real step further.
+ the 4th equation of motion
pseudo-forces, g at height & depth, torque
advanced simple machines & gear trains
Hooke’s law, spring energy ½kx²
Bohr model, spectra, Rydberg equation
octet exceptions, electron-sea model
chromatography, fractional distillation
TEM vs SEM, resolution vs magnification
recombinant DNA, insulin, fermenters
Should your child take it?
✅ A good fit if they…
- Enjoy problems that don’t have an obvious first step
- Are aiming at JEE, NEET or Olympiads
- Finish the standard syllabus comfortably and want more
- Like the idea of a badge that costs nothing to attempt
⏳ Maybe wait if they…
- Are still building confidence in the standard course
- Feel stretched thin across subjects already
- Would treat it as pressure rather than play
Remember: even here, there’s no downside to trying — only a “wait” on effort, not on risk.
The timeline
Today’s Class 9 cohort is the first to grow up with this two-level system, reaching their Class 10 board exams in 2028. It’s part of the wider NEP-2020 push to reward depth and reasoning over rote learning.
FAQ
Is the Advanced paper compulsory?
No. It is entirely voluntary. The standard Science and Maths papers remain compulsory for everyone; the Advanced Level is an opt-in extra.
Can a bad score on it lower my child’s percentage?
No. Advanced marks are never added to the aggregate. A score below 50% simply doesn’t appear on the marksheet at all — there is no penalty.
What does the student actually get for it?
If they score 50% or more, a distinct note (recognising Advanced Level) is added to their marksheet — a credential that signals higher-order ability to schools and beyond.
Can you take just one subject?
Yes. Advanced Level is available for Maths, Science, or both — the choice is per subject.
Getting your child ready for Advanced Level?
FirstVidya builds exactly the reasoning-first foundation these new papers reward — the bridge from Class 9 to JEE/NEET-grade thinking. Explore our courses and give them the head start.