CBSE Class 11 Computer Science Syllabus (2025-26) - Detailed Breakdown

CBSE Class XI Computer Science Syllabus 2025-26 - Complete Unit-wise Curriculum

Course Overview

Theory Paper

Marks

Practical Work

Marks

Duration

Hours

Total Units

Units

Learning Outcomes

Develop basic computational thinking and problem-solving skills
Explain and effectively use various data types in programming
Appreciate the notion of algorithms and their representation
Develop understanding of computer systems architecture and operating systems
Master Python programming fundamentals and data structures
Understand cyber ethics, cyber safety, and cybercrime prevention
Appreciate technology's value in society including gender and disability considerations
Apply Boolean logic and number system conversions

Unit-wise Marks Distribution

Unit No.	Unit Name	Marks	Percentage	Focus Area
1	Computer Systems and Organisation	10	14.3%	Hardware & Software
2	Computational Thinking and Programming–1	45	64.3%	Python Programming
3	Society, Law, and Ethics	15	21.4%	Digital Ethics
Total Theory		70	100%	3 Units

Note: Python Programming carries maximum weightage (45 marks - 64.3% of total)

Unit 1: Computer Systems and Organisation (10 Marks)

Foundation of Computer Hardware & Software Knowledge

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Official NCERT textbook covering all computer systems and programming fundamentals

Basic Computer Organisation Core Topic

Computer System Components

Introduction to Computer System architecture
Hardware and Software distinction
Input devices (keyboard, mouse, scanner, etc.)
Output devices (monitor, printer, speakers, etc.)
CPU (Central Processing Unit) working
Memory hierarchy and types

Memory Units and Storage

Primary Memory (RAM, ROM)
Cache Memory concepts
Secondary Memory (HDD, SSD, optical disks)
Units of memory: bit, byte, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB
Memory addressing and organization

Software Classification Important

System Software

Operating Systems and their functions
System utilities and maintenance tools
Device drivers and hardware interface
OS user interface (GUI vs CLI)

Programming Tools & Language Translators

Assembler for assembly language
Compiler for high-level languages
Interpreter execution process
Application Software categories

Boolean Logic & Number Systems Mathematical

Boolean Logic Operations

NOT, AND, OR logic gates
NAND, NOR, XOR operations
Truth tables construction
De Morgan's laws applications
Logic circuits design

Number Systems & Encoding

Binary number system (base 2)
Octal number system (base 8)
Decimal number system (base 10)
Hexadecimal number system (base 16)
Conversion between number systems
ASCII, ISCII, and Unicode encoding schemes
UTF8 and UTF32 character encoding

Unit 2: Computational Thinking and Programming–1 (45 Marks)

MAXIMUM WEIGHTAGE - 64.3% of Total Theory Marks

NCERT Textbook: Computer Science Class XI

Comprehensive Python programming coverage with practical implementation

Problem-solving & Algorithms Foundation

Introduction to Problem-solving

Steps for systematic problem-solving
Analyzing the problem statement
Developing effective algorithms
Coding implementation strategies
Testing and debugging methodologies
Problem decomposition techniques

Algorithm Representation

Flowchart symbols and conventions
Pseudocode writing techniques
Algorithm efficiency considerations
Step-by-step algorithm design

Python Programming Basics Core Python

Python Fundamentals

Introduction to Python language
Features and advantages of Python
Executing "hello world" program
Interactive mode vs script mode
Python character set understanding

Python Tokens & Variables

Keywords and their usage
Identifiers naming conventions
Literals (string, numeric, boolean)
Operators and punctuators
Variables and assignment
l-value and r-value concepts
Comments and documentation

Data Types & Operators Data Handling

Python Data Types

Number types: integer, floating point, complex
Boolean data type (True/False)
Sequence types: string, list, tuple
None type for null values
Mapping type: dictionary
Mutable vs immutable data types

Operators in Python

Arithmetic operators (+, -, *, /, %, //, **)
Relational operators (==, !=, <, >, <=, >=)
Logical operators (and, or, not)
Assignment operators (=, +=, -=, etc.)
Identity operators (is, is not)
Membership operators (in, not in)

Control Flow & Statements Logic Control

Program Flow Control

Expressions and statements
Type conversion (implicit and explicit)
Input and output operations
Error types and handling
Indentation significance
Sequential, conditional, iterative flow

Conditional Statements

if statement structure
if-else conditional execution
if-elif-else multi-way branching
Nested conditional statements

Iterative Statements

for loop and range() function
while loop implementation
break and continue statements
Nested loops programming
Loop optimization techniques

String Operations Text Processing

String Fundamentals

String creation and representation
String indexing and slicing
String operations and concatenation
Built-in string functions
String methods (upper, lower, strip, etc.)
String traversing using loops

Data Structures Collections

Lists in Python

List creation and initialization
List indexing and slicing
List operations (append, extend, insert)
Built-in list functions
Nested lists implementation
List comprehension basics

Tuples in Python

Tuple creation and properties
Tuple operations and methods
Built-in tuple functions
Tuple vs list comparison

Dictionaries in Python

Dictionary creation with key-value pairs
Dictionary access and modification
Dictionary mutability concepts
Dictionary traversing techniques
Built-in dictionary functions

Python Modules Library Usage

Module Implementation

Importing modules in Python
Math module functions
Random module for number generation
Statistics module operations
Module aliasing and selective imports

Unit 3: Society, Law and Ethics (15 Marks)

Digital Citizenship & Cyber Safety

Digital Society & Footprints Digital Awareness

Digital Footprints

Understanding digital footprints
Active vs passive digital traces
Privacy implications
Digital identity management

Digital Society and Netizens

Net etiquettes and online behavior
Communication etiquettes in digital space
Social media etiquettes and guidelines
Responsible digital citizenship

Data Protection & IPR Legal Aspects

Intellectual Property Rights

Copyright laws and protection
Patent system understanding
Trademark registration and use
Fair use doctrine applications

IPR Violations

Plagiarism detection and prevention
Copyright infringement cases
Trademark infringement issues
Academic integrity maintenance

Open Source & Licensing

Open source software movement
Creative Commons licensing
GPL (General Public License)
Apache License understanding

Cyber Crime & Safety Security

Cyber Crime Types

Hacking and unauthorized access
Eavesdropping and surveillance
Phishing attacks and prevention
Fraud emails identification
Ransomware threats and protection
Cyber trolls and online harassment
Cyber bullying awareness

Cyber Safety & Malware

Computer viruses and protection
Trojans and their detection
Adware and spyware threats
Antivirus software usage
Safe browsing practices

Technology & Society Social Impact

E-waste Management

Electronic waste generation
Environmental impact of e-waste
E-waste recycling processes
Sustainable technology practices

Technology and Social Issues

Gender issues in technology
Disability accessibility in computing
Digital divide challenges
Technology for social good

Practical Work (30 Marks)

HANDS-ON ASSESSMENT - 30% of Total Marks

Practical Assessment Structure

Total Practical Marks: 30

Lab Test: 12 Marks | Report File: 7 Marks

Project Work: 8 Marks | Viva Voce: 3 Marks

Practical Assessment Breakdown

Lab Test

12 Marks
Python Programming:
Logic: 60% (7.2 marks)
Documentation: 20% (2.4 marks)
Code Quality: 20% (2.4 marks)

Report File

7 Marks
Minimum 20 Python programs covering all units with proper documentation

Project Work

8 Marks
Independent project using concepts learnt throughout the year

Viva Voce

3 Marks
Oral examination on practical concepts and project understanding

Suggested Practical Programming List

Pattern Generation & Basic Programs

Number patterns (triangular, diamond, etc.)
Star patterns and character patterns
Arithmetic sequence generation
Basic calculator operations
Simple interest and compound interest
Temperature conversion programs

Number Operations & Checking

Prime number checking algorithms
Perfect number identification
Armstrong number verification
Palindrome number checking
Factorial calculation methods
Fibonacci series generation

String Manipulation

String reversal and palindrome check
Character frequency counting
Word counting in sentences
String encryption and decryption
Anagram checking programs
Text analysis and processing

Data Structure Operations

List operations (append, remove, sort)
Tuple manipulation and processing
Dictionary creation and updates
Nested data structure handling
Data searching and filtering
Data sorting algorithms

Searching & Sorting Algorithms

Linear search implementation
Binary search algorithm
Bubble sort technique
Selection sort method
Insertion sort algorithm
Counting and frequency programs

Module Usage & Advanced

Math module function applications
Random number generation programs
Statistics module implementations
Date and time manipulation
File reading and writing basics
Graphics and turtle programming

Practical Work Guidelines

Maintain proper documentation for all programs
Follow Python coding standards and conventions
Include input/output examples for each program
Test programs with different input values
Use meaningful variable names and comments
Implement error handling where appropriate
Create user-friendly interfaces for programs
Submit handwritten or typed report files
Prepare for viva voce with concept understanding
Choose project topics that demonstrate practical application

Examination Pattern

Question Paper Design

Total Marks: 70 | Duration: 3 Hours

Subject Code: 083

Question Type	Cognitive Level	Marks	Percentage
Remembering and Understanding	Knowledge & Comprehension	28	40%
Applying	Application	21	30%
Analysing, Evaluating and Creating	Higher Order Thinking	21	30%
Total Theory + Practical		100	100%

Assessment Features

Maximum emphasis on Python programming and computational thinking
Number system conversion and Boolean logic problems
Python code analysis and debugging questions
Data structure manipulation and implementation
Algorithm design and flowchart representation
Ethics and cyber safety scenario-based questions
Practical programming output prediction
Integration of theoretical concepts with practical applications

Key Success Tips

Preparation Strategy

Master Python programming concepts thoroughly (45 marks weightage)
Practice number system conversions and Boolean logic regularly
Implement all suggested practical programs hands-on
Understand computer hardware and software architecture
Stay updated with cyber safety and digital ethics practices
Work on algorithm design and problem-solving skills
Practice code debugging and error identification
Maintain proper documentation in all practical work
Prepare for viva voce with conceptual understanding
Complete project work with innovative practical applications
Practice previous year question papers and sample papers
Focus on writing clean, well-commented Python code

Career Connections

Software Development

Python Developer
Software Engineer
Web Developer
Mobile App Developer
Full Stack Developer
Backend Developer
Frontend Developer

Data Science & Analytics

Data Scientist
Data Analyst
Machine Learning Engineer
AI Specialist
Business Intelligence Analyst
Statistical Analyst
Research Scientist

Cybersecurity & Networks

Cybersecurity Specialist
Network Administrator
Ethical Hacker
Information Security Analyst
Digital Forensics Expert
System Administrator
Cloud Security Engineer

Hardware & Systems

Computer Hardware Engineer
System Architect
Embedded Systems Developer
IoT Developer
Robotics Engineer
VLSI Designer
Computer Technician

Gaming & Graphics

Game Developer
Graphics Programmer
3D Animator
VR/AR Developer
Game Designer
Multimedia Developer
Visual Effects Artist

Education & Research

Computer Science Teacher
Technical Trainer
Research Associate
Academic Content Developer
EdTech Specialist
Curriculum Designer
Technology Consultant

Important Resources

Official CBSE Resources

NCERT Computer Science Textbook Class XI
CBSE Sample Papers 2025-26
Previous Year Question Papers
CBSE Marking Schemes
Supplementary Reading Material
CBSE Support Materials

Python Programming Resources

Python Official Documentation
Python IDLE Environment
PyCharm IDE
Jupyter Notebook
Online Python Compilers
Python Module References

Online Learning Platforms

Codecademy Python Course
Python.org Tutorial
W3Schools Python
GeeksforGeeks Programming
Khan Academy Computer Science
Coursera Python Specializations

Development Tools

Python Interpreter
Code Editors (VS Code, Sublime)
Version Control (Git)
Debugging Tools
Testing Frameworks
Documentation Tools

Cybersecurity Resources

Cyber Safety Guidelines
Digital Ethics Handbooks
Privacy Protection Tools
Antivirus Software
Safe Browsing Practices
Digital Footprint Analyzers

Project Ideas

Student Management System
Calculator Applications
Text-based Games
Data Analysis Projects
File Management Tools
Quiz Applications

Important Dates & Timeline

Event	Timeline	Action Required
Project Topic Selection	August - September 2025	Choose practical programming project with teacher guidance
Practical File Completion	October - December 2025	Complete minimum 20 Python programs with documentation
Project Development	November 2025 - January 2026	Develop and test project application
Practical Examination	February 2026	Lab test, project presentation, and viva voce
Theory Examination	March 2026	3-hour comprehensive theory paper

NCERT Textbook Download

Download Official NCERT Textbook

Complete NCERT Computer Science Class XI textbook covering all syllabus topics including Python programming, computer systems, and digital ethics.

Chapters Include: Computer System Overview, Encoding Schemes, Number Systems, Introduction to Python, Data Types, Control Structures, Strings, Lists, Tuples, Dictionaries, and more.

Author: menturox.in