Introduction
Psychology – Class XI (CBSE 2025-26)
About This Book
This book is written for Class XI students studying Psychology under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum for the academic session 2025-26. It is aligned with the NCERT Psychology textbook and the official CBSE syllabus.
Every chapter includes:
- Comprehensive theory covering all syllabus topics
- SVG diagrams and flowcharts for visual understanding
- Practice questions (MCQs, short answer, long answer, and competency-based) modelled on the past five years of CBSE board question papers and official sample papers
- Detailed answers in expandable sections for self-assessment
Syllabus Overview
| Unit | Topic | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I | Understanding Psychology | 11 |
| II | Methods of Enquiry in Psychology | 13 |
| III | Human Development | 11 |
| IV | Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes | 8 |
| V | Learning | 9 |
| VI | Human Memory | 8 |
| VII | Thinking | 5 |
| VIII | Motivation and Emotion | 5 |
| Total (Theory) | 70 |
Practical Component: 30 Marks (Project/Small Study + Experiments + Viva Voce)
Examination Pattern (Theory – 70 Marks)
| Competency | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Remembering and Understanding | 35 | 50% |
| Applying | 25 | 35% |
| Analysing, Evaluating and Creating | 10 | 15% |
| Total | 70 | 100% |
Competency-Based Questions (CBQs)
Starting from recent sessions, CBSE has introduced competency-based questions that emphasise:
- Application of psychological concepts to real-life scenarios
- Case studies requiring analysis and inference
- Assertion–Reason questions testing deeper understanding
- Source-based questions drawn from research findings or newspaper reports
Each chapter in this book includes a dedicated Section D – Competency-Based Questions to help you practise these formats.
How to Use This Book
- Read the theory section carefully; pay attention to key terms in bold.
- Study the diagrams — they summarise complex processes visually.
- Attempt the practice questions at the end of each chapter before checking the answers.
- Expand the answer sections (click on “Answer”) only after you have attempted the question.
- Revise using the key-term summaries and formula boxes.
Tip: Understanding psychology is best done through examples and reflection on everyday life. Try to connect each concept to real-world situations.
Prescribed Textbook
- Psychology, Class XI, Published by NCERT
Best wishes for your studies!