CBSE Syllabus For Class 11 Biology: Class 11 syllabus is considered to be very important for the higher secondary school students. The concepts of Class 11 are very closely related to that of Class 12 concepts. So, it is important for you to finish the CBSE Class 11 syllabus thoroughly so that studying for Class 12 becomes easier and you clear the Class 12 Board exams with a high score. Students of the Science stream should be especially serious during their Class 11 as engineering and medical entrance exams are based on the PCMB syllabus of both Class 11 and 12. In this article, we will provide you with the detailed CBSE Syllabus for Class 11 Biology.
The Class 11 Biology syllabus also aims at emphasizing the underlying principles that are common to both animals and plants as well as highlighting the relationship of Biology with other areas of knowledge.
The format of the syllabus allows a simple, clear, sequential flow of concepts. It relates the study of biology to real life through the use of technology. The schools that are affiliated with CBSE have to follow the prescribed CBSE syllabus for Class 11 Biology.
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Latest Update: In the view of academic loss due to Covid-19, the officials of CBSE have rationalized the CBSE Syllabus upto 30%. Download the new CBSE Class 12 Syllabus for Biology from this article.
CBSE Syllabus For Class 11 Biology 2020-21
The CBSE Class 11 Biology syllabus promotes understanding of basic principles of Biology and creates awareness in learners about diversity in living organisms. It is expected that students would get an exposure to various branches of Biology in the syllabus in a friendly manner as they study its various units. Let us first have a look at the theory part of the CBSE Syllabus for Class 11 Biology:
CBSE Syllabus For Class 11 Biology: Theory
The CBSE Class 11 Biology Theory part carries a total of 70 marks. The duration of the exam is 3 hours. The different units covered under CBSE Class 11 Biology syllabus are as under:
| Unit | Title | Marks |
| 1 | Diversity of Living Organisms | 12 |
| 2 | Structural Organization in Plants and Animals | 12 |
| 3 | Cell: Structure and Function | 12 |
| 4 | Plant Physiology | 17 |
| 5 | Human Physiology | 17 |
| Total | 70 |
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CBSE Class 11 Biology Syllabus: Units & Chapters
The chapters covered under the different units are as under:
| Name of the Unit | Name of the Chapter |
| Unit 1 – Diversity of Living Organisms | Chapter 1: The Living World Chapter 2: Biological Classification Chapter 3: Plant Kingdom Chapter 4: Animal Kingdom |
| Unit 2 – Structural Organization in Animals | Chapter 5: Morphology of Flowering Plants Chapter 6: Anatomy of Flowering Plants Chapter 7: Structural Organisation in Animals |
| Unit 3 – Cell: Structure and Function | Chapter 8: Cell: The Unit of Life Chapter 9: Biomolecules Chapter 10: Cell Cycle and Cell Division |
| Unit 4 – Plant Physiology | Chapter 11: Transport in Plants Chapter 12: Mineral Nutrition Chapter 13: Photosynthesis in Higher Plants Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants Chapter 15: Plant – Growth and Development |
| Unit 5 – Human Physiology | Chapter 16: Digestion and Absorption Chapter 17: Breathing and Exchange of Gases Chapter 18: Body Fluids and Circulation Chapter 19: Excretory Products and their Elimination Chapter 20: Locomotion and Movement Chapter 21: Neural Control and Coordination Chapter 22: Chemical Coordination and Integration |
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Unit 1: Diversity Of Living Organisms
| Chapter 1 – The Living World |
| What is living? Biodiversity; Need for classification; Three domains of life; taxonomy and systematics; the concept of species and taxonomical hierarchy; binomial nomenclature; tools for the study of taxonomy-museums, zoological parks, herbaria, botanical gardens, keys for identification. |
| Chapter 2 – Biological Classification |
| Five kingdom classification; Salient features and classification of Monera, Protista and Fungi into major groups; Lichens, Viruses and Viroids. |
| Chapter 3 – Plant Kingdom |
| Salient features and classification of plants into major groups -Algae, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae and Angiospermae (salient and distinguishing features and a few examples of each category); Angiosperms -classification up to class, characteristic features and examples. |
| Chapter 4 – Animal Kingdom |
| Salient features and classification of animals, non-chordates up to phyla level and chordates up to class level (salient features and distinguishing features of a few examples of each category). (No live animals or specimen should be displayed.) |
Unit 2: Structural Organization In Animals & Plants
| Chapter 5 – Morphology of Flowering Plants |
| Morphology and modifications: Morphology of different parts of flowering plants: mysqladmin, stem, leaf, inflorescence, flower, fruit and seed. Description of families: Fabaceae, Solanaceae and Liliaceae (to be dealt along with the relevant experiments of the Practical Syllabus) |
| Chapter 6 – Anatomy of Flowering Plants |
| Anatomy and functions of different tissues and tissue systems in dicots and monocots. Secondary growth |
| Chapter 7 – Structural Organisation in Animals |
| Animal tissues; Morphology, Anatomy and functions of different system (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and reproductive) of an insect-cockroach (a brief account only) |
Unit 3: Cell: Structure & Function
| Chapter 8 – Cell: The Unit of Life |
| Cell theory and cell as the basic unit of life, structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; Plant cell and animal cell; cell envelope; cell membrane, cell wall; cell organelles -structure and function; endomembrane system, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi bodies, lysosomes, vacuoles, mitochondria, ribosomes, plastids, microbodies; cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, centrioles (ultrastructure and function); nucleus. |
| Chapter 9 – Biomolecules |
| Chemical constituents of living cells: biomolecules, structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids; Enzymes-types, properties, enzyme action. |
| Chapter 10 – Cell Cycle and Cell Division |
| Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance |
Unit 4: Plant Physiology
| Chapter 11 – Transport in Plants |
| Movement of water, gases and nutrients; cell to cell transport, diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport; plant-water relations, imbibition, water potential, osmosis, plasmolysis; long-distance transport of water -Absorption, apoplast, symplast, transpiration pull, mysqladmin pressure and guttation; transpiration, opening and closing of stomata; Uptake and translocation of mineral nutrients -Transport of food, phloem transport, mass flow hypothesis |
| Chapter 12 – Mineral Nutrition |
| Essential minerals, macro-and micronutrients and their role; Deficiency symptoms; Mineral toxicity; Elementary idea of hydroponics as a method to study mineral nutrition; nitrogen metabolism, nitrogen cycle, biological nitrogen fixation. |
| Chapter 13 – Photosynthesis in higher Plants |
| Photosynthesis as a means of autotrophic nutrition; site of photosynthesis, pigments involved in photosynthesis (elementary idea); photochemical and biosynthetic phases of photosynthesis; cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation; chemiosmotic hypothesis; photorespiration; C3 and C4 pathways; Factors affecting photosynthesis. |
| Chapter 14 – Respiration in Plants |
| Exchange of gases; cellular respiration -glycolysis, fermentation (anaerobic), TCA cycle and electron transport system (aerobic); energy relations -number of ATP molecules generated; amphibolic pathways; respiratory quotient. |
| Chapter 15 – Plant – Growth and Development |
| Seed germination; phases of plant growth and plant growth rate; conditions of growth; differentiation, dedifferentiation and redifferentiation; Sequence of developmental processes in a plant cell; growth regulators -auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, ABA; seed dormancy; vernalisation; photoperiodism |
Unit 5: Human Physiology
| Chapter 16 – Digestion and Absorption |
| Alimentary canal and digestive glands, role of digestive enzymes and gastrointestinal hormones; Peristalsis, digestion, absorption and assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; calorific values of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; egestion; nutritional and digestive disorders -PEM, indigestion, constipation, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhoea. |
| Chapter 17 – Breathing and Exchange of Gases |
| Respiratory organs in animals (recall only); Respiratory system in humans; Mechanism of breathing and its regulation in humans -exchange of gases, transport of gases and regulation of respiration, respiratory volume; disorders related to respiration -asthma, emphysema, occupational respiratory disorders. |
| Chapter 18 – Body Fluids and Circulation |
| Composition of the blood, blood groups, coagulation of blood; composition of lymph and its function; human circulatory system -Structure of human heart and blood vessels; cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG; double circulation; regulation of cardiac activity; disorders of the circulatory system -hypertension, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, heart failure. |
| Chapter 19 – Excretory Products and their Elimination |
| Modes of excretion – ammonotelism, ureotelism, uricotelism; human excretory system – structure and function; urine formation, osmoregulation; regulation of kidney function -renin-angiotensin, atrial natriuretic factor, ADHand diabetes insipidus; the role of other organs in excretion; disorders -uremia, renal failure, renal calculi, nephritis; dialysis and artificial kidney, kidney transplant. |
| Chapter 20 – Locomotion and Movement |
| Types of movement -ciliary, flagellar, muscular; skeletal muscle, contractile proteins and muscle contraction; skeletal system and its functions; joints; disorders of muscular and skeletal systems -myasthenia gravis, tetany, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, osteoporosis, gout. |
| Chapter 21 – Neural Control and Coordination |
| Neuron and nerves; Nervous system in humans – central nervous system; peripheral nervous system and visceral nervous system; generation and conduction of nerve impulse; reflex action; sensory perception; sense organs; elementary structure and functions of eye and ear |
| Chapter 22 – Chemical Corodination and Integration |
| Endocrine glands and hormones; human endocrine system -hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, gonads; mechanism of hormone action (elementary idea); role of hormones as messengers and regulators, hypo -and hyperactivity and related disorders; dwarfism, acromegaly, cretinism, goitre, exophthalmic goitre, diabetes, Addison’s disease.Note: Diseases related to all the human physiological systems to be taught in brief. |
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CBSE Syllabus For Class 11 Biology: Practical
The CBSE syllabus for Class 11 Biology Practical is of 30 marks and the time allowed/duration for the practicals is 3 hours. The evaluation scheme of the practicals is as follows:
| Evaluation Scheme | Marks |
| One Major Experiment Part A (Experiment No-1,3,7,8) | 5 |
| One Minor Experiment Part A (Experiment No-6,9,10,11,12,13) | 4 |
| Slide Preparation Part A (Experiment No-2,4,5) | 5 |
| Spotting Part B | 7 |
| Practical Record + Viva Voce | 4 |
| Project Record + Viva Voce | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
CBSE Syllabus For Class 11 Biology: List Of Experiments
Below we have provided the list of experiments that will be asked in the Class 11 Biology Practicals.
- Study and describe three locally available common flowering plants, one from each of the families Solanaceae, Fabaceae and Liliaceae (Poaceae, Asteraceae or Brassicaceae can be substituted in case of particular geographical location) including dissection and display of floral whorls, anther and ovary to show the number of chambers (floral formulae and floral diagrams). Types of mysqladmin (Tap and adventitious); types of stem (herbaceous and woody); leaf (arrangement, shape, venation, simple and compound)
- Preparation and study of T.S. of dicot and monocot mysqladmins and stems(primary).
- Study of osmosis by potato osmometer.
- Study of plasmolysis in epidermal peels (e.g. Rhoeo/lily leaves or flashy scale leaves of onion bulb).
- Study of distribution of stomata in the upper and lower surfaces of leaves.
- Comparative study of the rates of transpiration in the upper and lower surface of leaves.
- Test for the presence of sugar, starch, proteins and fats in suitable plant and animal materials.
- Separation of plant pigments through paper chromatography.
- Study of the rate of respiration in flower buds/leaf tissue and germinating seeds.
- Test for the presence of urea in urine.
- Test for the presence of sugar in urine.
- Test for the presence of albumin in urine.
- Test for the presence of bile salts in urine.
CBSE Syllabus For Class 11 Biology: Study/Observation Of The Following (spotting)
- Parts of a compound microscope.
- Specimens/slides/models and identification with reasons -Bacteria, Oscillatoria, Spirogyra, Rhizopus, mushroom, yeast, liverwort, moss, fern, pine, one monocotyledonous plant, one dicotyledonous plant and one lichen.
- Virtual specimens/slides/models and identifying features of -Amoeba, Hydra, liver fluke, Ascaris, leech, earthworm, prawn, silkworm, honeybee, snail, starfish, shark, rohu, frog, lizard, pigeon and rabbit.
- Tissues and diversity in shape and size of plant cells(palisade cells, guard cells,6parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma, xylem and phloem) through temporary and permanent slides.
- Tissues and diversity in shape and size of animal cells (squamous epithelium, smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscle fibres and mammalian blood smear) through temporary/permanent slides.
- Mitosis in onion mysqladmin tip cells and animals cells (grasshopper) from permanent slides.
- Different modifications in mysqladmins stem and leaves.
- Different types of inflorescence (cymose and racemose).
- Human skeleton and different types of joints with the help of virtual images/models only
CBSE Syllabus For Class 11 Biology: Prescribed Books
Some of the books which are prescribed for Class 11 Biology are:
- Biology Class-XI, Published by NCERT
- Other related books and manuals brought out by NCERT (including multimedia)
Take CBSE Class 11 Biology Chapterwise Test Now
Now you have the detailed CBSE syllabus for Class 11 Biology. Make sure that you complete all the concepts, topics and chapters on time. Embibe provides CBSE Class 11 study material which includes descriptions and video lectures that cover the entire CBSE Class 11 syllabus. You can also solve CBSE Class 11 Biology Practice questions on Embibe and take chapter-wise mock tests to excel in each and every chapter and score higher.
We hope this detailed article on CBSE Syllabus for Class 11 Biology helps you. If you have any queries, feel free to ask us in the comment section below. We will get back to you at the earliest.
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