CBSE IT 402 vs 802: Which Code Are You Studying?
CBSE Information Technology runs as code 402 in Classes 9 and 10, assessed 50 theory plus 50 practical, and as code 802 in Classes 11 and 12, assessed 60 theory plus 40 practical. Both include a 10-mark Employability Skills part, and 802 adds RDBMS, web-based applications and Java fundamentals.
The codes are not interchangeable
If you buy a book or download a paper for the wrong code, almost everything you revise will be off-target. Check the code on the report card first.
| 402 (Class 9-10) | 802 (Class 11-12) | |
|---|---|---|
| Theory | 50 | 60 |
| Practical | 50 | 40 |
| Employability Skills | Included | 10 of the theory marks |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
What Class 12 IT (802) actually contains
The Class 12 theory paper splits into Part A Employability Skills (10 marks) and Part B Subject Specific Skills (50 marks), and Part B is where the subject lives:
- Database concepts and RDBMS, 15 marks
- Operating web-based applications, 10 marks
- Fundamentals of Java programming, 20 marks
- Work integrated learning, 5 marks
Java at 20 marks is the largest single block, which surprises students who chose IT expecting no programming.
Why 402 has more practical marks
At Class 9 and 10 the subject is about capability: documentation, spreadsheets, presentations and basic databases. That is best examined by making you do it, so the practical carries 50 of the 100.
Is IT a scoring subject?
Genuinely yes, on one condition. The 40 to 50 practical marks are the most reliable marks available anywhere in the CBSE computer family, but only for a student who has actually sat at a keyboard through the year. They cannot be revised into existence.
Who should take IT
- Students who want a computer subject with a strong hands-on component.
- Students carrying a heavy science or commerce load who want less abstract programming than CS.
- Students who like producing finished work rather than solving puzzles.