CATECHISM ACADEMIC SYLLABUS, EXAMS & QUESTION PAPER PATTERN: 2026-2027

CATECHISM ACADEMIC SYLLABUS

Section	Class	Semester I			Semester II
		Textbook Chapters	Basic Prayers	Teachings	Textbook Chapters	Basic Prayers	Teachings
		Textbook Chapters	Basic Prayers	Teachings	Textbook Chapters	Basic Prayers	Teachings
LP	I	1 to 10	1 to 2	–	11 to 15	1 to 3	–
	II	1 to 10	1 to 3	–	11 to 15	1 to 4	–
	III	1 to 10	1 to 5	–	11 to 15	4 to 5	15 to 17
	IV	1 to 10	1 to 7	15 to 19	11 to 15	8 to 12	20 to 24
UP	V	1 to 10	1 to 8	15 to 20	11 to 15	9 to 13	21 to 26
	VI	1 to 10	1 to 9	15 to 24	11 to 15	10 to 14	25 to 33
	VII	1 to 10	1 to 9	15 to 24	11 to 15	10 to 14	25 to 33
HS	VIII	1 to 10	1 to 9	15 to 24	11 to 15	10 to 14	25 to 33
	IX	1 to 10	1 to 9	15 to 24	11 to 15	10 to 14	25 to 33
	X	1 to 10	1 to 9	15 to 24	11 to 15	10 to 14	25 to 33
HSS	XI	1 to 8	1 to 9	15 to 24	9 to 12	10 to 14	25 to 33
HSS	XII	1 to 8	1 to 9	15 to 24	9 to 12	10 to 14	25 to 33

Prayers and Teachings for Examinations

Catechism students are expected to study the prayers from the CBC Prayer Book, particularly from the sections Basic Prayers and Catholic Living and Doctrines. The list of prayers included in the examination syllabus is given below for reference:

Basic Prayers		Catholic Living and Doctrines (Teachings)
Sr. No.	Prayer	Sr. No.	Teaching
1	(a) Sign of the cross-short (b) Sign of the cross-Solemn	15	The Ten Commandments
2	Glory be	16	Five Precepts of the Church
3	Our Father	17	The seven sacraments
4	Hail Mary	18	Five Steps to make a good confession
5	The Apostles Creed	19	Three requisites to receive the Holy Communion worthily
6	Prayer before confession	20	Fourteen Acts of Mercy
7	Act of Contrition	21	Four Destinies of Man
8	(a) The Angelus (b) Holy week Prayer (c) The Queen of Heaven	22	The Beatitudes
9	Hail Holy Queen	23	Four Characteristics of the Church
10	Act of Faith	24	Capital Sins and their Contrary Virtues
11	Act of Hope	25	Four Cardinal Virtues
12	Act of Love	26	Three important Religious Virtues
13	Memorare	27	The Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
14	Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary	28	The Twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit
		29	The Sins against the Holy Spirit
		30	The Attributes of God
		31	Three Theological Virtues
		32	Sins that cry to Heaven for Vengeance
		33	Three Evangelical Counsels

Allotment of Marks

Classes I – III: Allotment of Marks
Category		Marks
Semester I – Textbook chapters and prayers		20
Semester II – Textbook chapters and prayers		20
Overall attendance of the academic year 5 marks >= 95%4 Marks >= 90% and < 95%3 Marks >= 85% and < 90%2 Marks >= 75% and < 85%1 Mark >= 70% and < 75%0 <= 69%		5
Participation in Good Samaritan activities (outreach programs, charity works etc.)		3
Participation in Faith Formation & Extra-Curricular activities		2
Total Marks		50

Classes IV – XII: Allotment of Marks
Category		Marks
Semester I – Student Bible Exam		10
Semester I – Textbook chapters and prayers		45
Semester II – Textbook chapters and prayers		35
Overall attendance of the academic year 5 marks >= 95%4 marks >= 90% and < 95%3 marks >= 85% and < 90%2 marks >= 75% and < 85%1 mark >= 70% and < 75% [for classes X to XII >= 60% and < 75%]0 <= 69% [for classes X to XII <= 59%]		5
Participation in Good Samaritan activities (outreach programs, charity works, Mission Sunday events etc.) 3 marks >= 3 activities 2 marks = 2 activities1 mark = 1 activity0 = no activities		3
Participation in Faith Formation & Extra-Curricular activities 2 marks >= 3 activities 1 mark >= 1 activity0 = no activities		2
	Total Marks	100

Classes I & II: Question Paper Format

First & Second Semester – Oral Examination
Sr. No.	Category	No. of Questions to Answer	Questions Provided (Options)	Marks	Total Marks
1	Answer in one word or one sentence.	6	8	3	18
2	Basic prayer from the catechism diary	1	2	2	2
Total Marks					20

Class III: Question Paper Format – First & Second Semester

First & Second Semester – Oral Examination
Sr. No.	Category	No. of Questions to Answer	Questions Provided (Options)	Marks	Total Marks
1	Answer in one word or one sentence.	8	10	2	16
2	Basic prayer from the catechism diary	2	4	2	4
Total Marks					20

Class IV to XII: Question Paper Format – First Semester

First Semester – Written Examination
Sr. No.	Category	No. of Questions to Answer	Questions Provided (Options)	Marks	Total Marks
1	Fill in the blanks	4	6	1	4
2	StateTrue or False	5	7	1	5
3	Answer in one word or phrase or sentence	4	6	2	8
4	Answer in two to three sentences	5	7	3	15
5	General essay question	1	2	5	5
6	Prayer from catechism diary	4	6	2	8
Total Marks					45
Total Duration				1.5 Hours

Class IV to XII: Question Paper Format – Second Semester

Second Semester – Written Examination
SI. No	Category	No. of Questions to Answer	Questions Provided (Options)	Marks	Total Marks
1	Fill in the Blanks	4	6	1	4
2	Answer in one word or phrase or sentence	4	6	2	8
3	Answer in two to three sentences	4	6	3	12
4	General essay question	1	2	5	5
5	Prayer from catechism diary	3	5	2	6
Total Marks					35
Total Duration				1.5 Hours

Evaluation and Passing Criteria for Catechism Exams

1. Minimum Passing Criteria

Students must secure at least 35% marks each semester.

First Semester Passing Marks:

Classes I to III: Minimum 7 out of 20
Classes IV to XII: Minimum 19 out of 55 (including SBE marks)

Second Semester Passing Marks (including internal marks):

Classes I to III: Minimum 11 out of 30
Classes IV to XII: Minimum 16 out of 45

2. Minimum Attendance Requirement

Classes I to IX: Minimum 70% attendance
Classes X to XII: Minimum 60% attendance

3. Examination Paper Evaluation & Re-Examination

The answer sheets for the First and Second Semester examinations of Classes X and XII will be evaluated centrally at the diocesan level.
Participation in the centralized evaluation is mandatory for all catechism teachers handling Classes X and XII.
Evaluations for all other classes will be carried out at the parish level.
Requests for re-evaluation of answer scripts for Classes X and XII must be submitted to the Catechism Central Office within the stipulated deadline, along with an approval letter from the Catechism Unit Director.
Re-examinations shall be conducted after both semesters for students who do not attain the minimum passing marks or are unable to appear due to valid reasons. Re-exam question papers for Classes X and XII will be provided by CBC Mandya, while catechism units are required to prepare the re-exam question papers for all other classes.

4. Diocese-Level Rankings for Classes X and XII

Based on the centralized evaluation, the top three students from each of Classes X and XII will be recognized at the CBC Mandya Annual Award Ceremony.
Diocese-level rankings will be determined solely based on marks obtained in the centrally evaluated First Semester and Second Semester examinations.
To be eligible for consideration for diocese-level rankings, a student must meet the following criteria:

Minimum 75% attendance
Minimum 50% marks in internal assessments
Minimum 50% in the Student Bible Examination marks

Academic Syllabus & Exams