December 2019. Schools across Kerala wrapped up the second term and handed students their Christmas exam papers. Most students sat, attempted, and moved on. But here is something interesting: those same 2019 papers are now among the most searched question papers on the internet, and for good reason.
The Christmas Exam 2019 was the last pre-pandemic question paper for Kerala schools. It represents the purest form of the SCERT pattern before any disruptions. That makes it the single most reliable reference for understanding how Kerala Christmas exams are designed, what question types appear, and how marks are distributed across subjects and classes.
This guide gives you everything in one place: the 2019 exam overview, class-wise and subject-wise paper details, exam pattern analysis, answer key information, download sources, and a practical preparation guide built around the 2019 papers.
Why the 2019 Christmas Exam Papers Still Matter in 2025
Students and teachers often wonder why a paper from 2019 is still worth practicing. The answer is straightforward.
Kerala Board Christmas exams follow a consistent SCERT-designed format. The 2020 and 2021 exams were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with reduced syllabi, modified patterns, and in some cases cancelled exams. The 2022 exams followed a gradual return to normalcy. This means the 2019 Christmas exam is the cleanest, most complete version of the original pattern available.
When you practice the 2019 paper, you practice the real format. The question types, section structure, marks distribution, and difficulty level in 2019 closely mirror what students face in current December exams. Teachers and coaching centres across Kerala routinely include 2019 papers in their revision sets for exactly this reason.
| Factor | Why 2019 Stands Out |
| Exam pattern | Pre-pandemic, unmodified SCERT format. No syllabus reduction or structural changes. |
| Difficulty level | Standard difficulty representing what average students genuinely face |
| Syllabus coverage | Full second-term syllabus tested. No partial or trimmed coverage. |
| Availability | Papers available for Classes 1 to 12 across all subjects in both English and Malayalam medium |
| Answer keys | Official answer keys published by SCERT for Classes 8 to 12 and available via education portals |
| Year relevance | 2023, 2024, and 2025 Christmas exams follow the same core pattern as 2019 |
Christmas Exam 2019: Overview of the Kerala Second Terminal Examination
The Christmas Exam is the official name for the Second Terminal Examination conducted by the Department of General Education, Government of Kerala. It is held every year in December, just before the Christmas holiday break.
Key Facts About the 2019 Christmas Exam
| Detail | Information |
| Exam Name | Second Terminal Examination (Christmas Exam) 2019-20 |
| Conducted By | Department of General Education, Government of Kerala |
| Syllabus Authority | SCERT Kerala (State Council of Educational Research and Training) |
| Classes Covered | Class 1 to Class 12 (LP, UP, High School, Higher Secondary) |
| Exam Month | December 2019 |
| Medium | English Medium and Malayalam Medium |
| Syllabus Covered | Chapters taught from September to December 2019 (Second Term portions) |
| Higher Secondary | Conducted under DHSE Kerala (Directorate of Higher Secondary Education) |
| Passing Marks | 33% of total marks (30% for Higher Secondary) |
Class-Wise Christmas Exam 2019 Paper Details
The Christmas Exam 2019 question papers were designed differently for each class group. Here is a clear breakdown by class level, covering what subjects were tested and how the papers were structured.
Lower Primary: Classes 1 to 4
For Classes 1 to 4, the Christmas exam 2019 focused on foundational learning. Questions were activity-based and picture-supported in many cases, especially for Class 1 and 2. The papers tested listening comprehension, reading, basic number work, and environmental awareness.
| Class | Subjects Tested | Marks |
| Class 1 and 2 | English, Malayalam, Mathematics, Environmental Studies | 20 to 40 marks per subject |
| Class 3 and 4 | English, Malayalam, Hindi, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Arabic/Sanskrit | 40 to 50 marks per subject |
Upper Primary: Classes 5 to 7
Upper Primary papers in 2019 introduced separate Science and Social Science sections. Language papers tested reading passages, grammar, writing, and comprehension. Mathematics began to include reasoning-based questions alongside standard computation.
| Class | Core Subjects | Total Marks (Written) |
| Class 5 | English, Malayalam, Hindi, Maths, Science, Social Science | 50 to 60 per subject |
| Class 6 | English, Malayalam, Hindi, Maths, Science, Social Science, Arabic/Sanskrit | 60 marks per subject |
| Class 7 | English, Malayalam, Hindi, Maths, Science, Social Science, Arabic/Sanskrit | 60 marks per subject |
High School: Classes 8 to 10
This is the most searched category for Christmas exam 2019 papers. High school papers carry the most complexity and are directly relevant to SSLC preparation. The 2019 papers for Classes 8, 9, and 10 follow the standard SCERT question paper format with four sections covering different mark allocations.
| Class | Subjects | Paper Structure | Total Marks |
| Class 8 | English, Malayalam, Hindi, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Social Science | 4 sections: 1, 2, 3, 4 mark questions | 80 marks written |
| Class 9 | English, Malayalam, Hindi, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Social Science, IT | 4 sections: 1, 2, 3, 4 mark questions | 80 marks written |
| Class 10 (SSLC) | All core subjects + IT | 4 sections with internal choice in higher sections | 80 marks written + 20 internal |
Higher Secondary: Plus One and Plus Two (Classes 11 and 12)
Higher Secondary Christmas exam 2019 papers were prepared jointly by DHSE and SCERT. These papers followed the Plus One and Plus Two syllabus and were conducted under the DHSE Kerala examination system. Subjects vary by stream: Science, Commerce, and Humanities.
| Stream | Core Subjects in Christmas Exam 2019 |
| Science (Plus One) | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology/Computer Science, English |
| Science (Plus Two) | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology/Computer Science, English |
| Commerce (Plus One and Two) | Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, Computer Application, English |
| Humanities (Plus One and Two) | Political Science, History, Geography, Economics, Sociology, English |
Christmas Exam 2019 Question Paper Pattern and Marking Scheme
Understanding the exact structure of the 2019 Christmas question paper helps you practice with purpose. The pattern below is consistent across High School subjects (Classes 8 to 10), which are the most commonly searched papers.
Standard Question Paper Pattern (Classes 8, 9, and 10)
| Section | Question Type and Marks |
| Section A | Short answer questions: 1 mark each. Usually 4 to 6 questions. No internal choice. |
| Section B | Short answer questions: 2 marks each. Usually 4 to 5 questions. Straightforward, textbook-based. |
| Section C | Paragraph or explanation questions: 3 marks each. Usually 4 to 6 questions. Internal choice often available. |
| Section D | Long answer or problem-solving questions: 4 to 5 marks each. Usually 3 to 4 questions. Internal choice available in most subjects. |
| Total Written | 80 marks |
| Internal Assessment | 20 marks (projects, assignments, class test) |
| Grand Total | 100 marks |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on subject |
Subject-Specific Pattern Variations in 2019
- Mathematics: Sections include computation, proof-based problems, and application questions. Section D problems were longer and required step-by-step working.
- Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology): Diagram-based questions appeared in Section C and D. Definitions and short explanations dominated Section A and B.
- Social Science: Map-based questions, source analysis, and paragraph writing appeared in the 2019 paper. Questions on Chapter-specific events and concepts were common.
- English: Reading comprehension passage, grammar fill-in tasks, letter or essay writing, and vocabulary questions formed the standard 2019 structure.
- Malayalam and Hindi: Reading passage, grammar, paragraph writing, and summary questions. Some districts included a poetry appreciation section.
Subject-Wise Important Topics Covered in Christmas Exam 2019 Papers
Based on the actual 2019 question papers, here are the most frequently tested topics for Classes 9 and 10, which represent the highest search volume for Christmas exam 2019 papers.
Class 9 Christmas Exam 2019: Key Topics by Subject
| Subject | Topics That Appeared in the 2019 Paper |
| Mathematics | Polynomials, Linear equations in two variables, Coordinate geometry, Triangles, Heron’s formula, Statistics |
| Physics | Motion and measurement, Force and Newton’s laws, Sound, Work and energy |
| Chemistry | Atoms and molecules, Structure of the atom, Matter around us |
| Biology | Cell structure, Tissues, Diversity of living organisms, Natural resources |
| Social Science | Physical features of India, Drainage, Climate, The French Revolution, Socialism and Russia, Electoral politics |
| English | Reading passages from NCERT/SCERT readers, grammar, letter and paragraph writing |
| IT (Information Technology) | Introduction to computers, internet basics, MS Office, Kerala IT at school |
Class 10 Christmas Exam 2019: Key Topics by Subject
| Subject | Topics That Appeared in the 2019 Paper |
| Mathematics | Arithmetic Progressions, Circles and tangents, Coordinate geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, Probability |
| Physics | Light: Reflection and refraction, Human eye and optical instruments, Electricity |
| Chemistry | Chemical reactions and equations, Acids, bases and salts, Metals and non-metals |
| Biology | Life processes, Control and coordination, Reproduction in organisms |
| Social Science | Resources and development, Forest and wildlife, Nationalism in India, Age of industrialisation |
| English | Comprehension, writing skills, grammar, literature from First Flight reader |
Difficulty Level Analysis: How Hard Was the Christmas Exam 2019?
This is one of the most common questions students ask, and the honest answer is: the 2019 Christmas exam was moderate. It was not designed to trip students up. The intent of the Christmas exam, as stated in the Kerala education framework, is to check whether students have understood the second-term syllabus. It is a learning checkpoint, not a selection exam.
Class-Level Difficulty Breakdown
| Class | Overall Difficulty | Scoring Pattern |
| Class 1 to 4 | Easy | Most students who attend class regularly can score above 70% |
| Class 5 to 7 | Easy to Moderate | Scoring 60 to 80% is achievable with regular textbook revision |
| Class 8 and 9 | Moderate | Straightforward if textbook is covered. Section D requires some application skill. |
| Class 10 (SSLC) | Moderate | Requires understanding over memorisation. Step-marking in Maths rewards partial work. |
| Plus One | Moderate to Challenging | Higher conceptual demand. Subject-specific question styles matter. |
| Plus Two | Challenging | Broad syllabus with applied questions. Requires chapter-complete preparation. |
One observation from teachers who evaluated 2019 Christmas exam papers: students who lost marks most often did so not because questions were hard, but because they skipped steps in Maths, forgot units in Science, or ran out of time in language papers due to poor time management.
Also Read : 8th Class Social Question Paper 2018 SA1 Government – AP/TS Download, Pattern, Chapters
Where to Download Christmas Exam Question Paper 2019 for Free
You do not need to pay for the 2019 Christmas exam papers. All the papers are publicly available through free and reliable sources. Below is a subject-verified list of where to find them.
Reliable Free Sources for 2019 Papers
- Education Observer (educationobserver.com): Maintains a well-organised archive of Kerala Christmas exam papers from 2015 to present. Papers are available class-wise and subject-wise for both English and Malayalam medium. This is the most comprehensive free source for 2019 papers.
- Exam Winner (examwinner.com): Hosts a dedicated section for Kerala STD 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 Christmas exam previous question papers including the 2019-20 set. Clean PDF format with separate links per subject.
- HSSLive (hsslive.in): Best source specifically for Higher Secondary (Plus One and Plus Two) Christmas exam 2019 papers and answer keys. Papers are available with marking scheme guidance.
- Studocu (studocu.com): Community-uploaded 2019 papers including Social Science, Science, and English for Class 9 and 10. Useful when other sources are temporarily down.
- AglaSem Schools (schools.aglasem.com): Class-wise landing pages for Christmas exam papers. Organises papers by year and subject. Easy to navigate for a specific class or subject.
- Scribd (scribd.com): Individual subject papers uploaded by teachers and students. Useful for regional language medium papers and less common subjects like Arabic and Sanskrit.
- Your school or subject teacher: Many teachers retain printed sets of the 2019 papers. This remains the most reliable source for district-specific papers in the exact format used in your school.
How to Use the 2019 Christmas Exam Paper for Current Exam Preparation
This is where most students fall short. They download the paper, glance through it, and call it preparation. That is not how previous year papers work. Here is a method that actually produces results.
Step-by-Step Practice Method
- Download the 2019 paper for your specific class and subject. Do not download multiple papers at once and feel overwhelmed. Start with one subject.
- Read through the entire paper once without attempting it. Notice how many questions are in each section and what chapters they come from.
- Check whether those chapters are also in the current year’s second-term syllabus. In most cases, they will be. Kerala SCERT syllabus has been broadly consistent.
- Set a timer for the exact exam duration and attempt the paper in one sitting. Write answers on paper, not just mentally.
- After finishing, use the answer key to evaluate your work. For Maths and Science, check whether your steps are correct, not just the final answer.
- Identify three areas where you lost most marks. Focus your next three study sessions entirely on those areas.
- Repeat this with the 2022-23 paper and compare. If you scored better on 2022 than 2019, you know your preparation is working. If you did worse, you know the current syllabus has something the 2019 paper does not cover.
Which Classes Benefit Most from the 2019 Paper
| Class | How the 2019 Paper Helps |
| Class 9 | The 2019 Maths and Science papers are especially useful because the chapters have minimal changes. Practicing 2019 directly prepares you for similar question types today. |
| Class 10 (SSLC) | The 2019 Christmas paper is the best predictor of annual SSLC exam style. Solving it builds familiarity with the question format used in both Christmas and annual exams. |
| Plus One | Physics and Chemistry papers from 2019 have strong conceptual questions that remain relevant under the current syllabus. |
| Plus Two | Maths and Biology papers from 2019 test application-level understanding. These are particularly good preparation for both Christmas and board exams. |
Answer Keys for Christmas Exam 2019 Papers
Answer keys for the 2019 Christmas exam are available, but the availability depends on the class and subject.
Official Answer Keys
- Classes 8 to 10: SCERT Kerala released official answer keys for High School subjects. These are available through Education Observer and HSSLive.
- Plus One and Plus Two: DHSE Kerala released subject-wise answer keys for the Higher Secondary 2019 Christmas exam. HSSLive is the most reliable source for these.
Community and Teacher Answer Keys
- For Classes 1 to 7, official answer keys are rarely published centrally. Teachers prepare their own evaluation guides. You can find teacher-prepared answer keys on Education Observer’s forum section and Telegram groups maintained by Kerala school teachers.
- Exam Winner posts answer keys prepared by subject experts for Classes 8 to 12. These are not official SCERT keys but are reviewed by experienced teachers and are accurate for standard questions.
Christmas Exam 2019 vs Recent Papers: What Changed and What Did Not
Students sometimes worry that the 2019 paper is too old to be useful. Here is an honest comparison of how 2019 papers compare to the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Christmas exam papers.
| Feature | Christmas Exam 2019 | Christmas Exam 2022 to 2024 |
| Syllabus coverage | Full second-term syllabus | Largely the same. Minor additions in some classes post-NEP adjustments. |
| Paper pattern | 4-section format, 1 to 5 mark questions | Same 4-section format. No structural change. |
| Total marks | 80 written + 20 internal | Same |
| Question style | Textbook and application-based | Same. No shift toward purely conceptual or purely factual. |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate. Slight increase in application questions in Class 10 Maths. |
| Language options | English and Malayalam medium | Same, with some districts offering additional regional options |
| Pandemic adjustments | None. Full standard paper. | 2020 and 2021 had reduced syllabus. 2022 onward returned to full pattern. |
| Use for practice | Highly relevant | 2019 is considered a benchmark paper for current preparation |
The bottom line: the 2019 Christmas exam paper is as useful today as papers from 2023 or 2024. The content chapters may vary slightly, but the format, question types, and marks structure remain consistent.
Preparation Checklist Using the 2019 Christmas Exam Paper
Four Weeks Before the Exam
- Complete reading of all second-term chapters in SCERT textbooks
- Download Christmas Exam 2019 papers for all your subjects
- Review the exam pattern and section breakdown for each subject
- Note which chapters appear most in the 2019 papers
Two to Three Weeks Before
- Attempt at least one full 2019 paper per subject under timed conditions
- Evaluate using the answer key and mark exactly where you lost marks
- Identify your two weakest chapters per subject and revisit them
- For Maths: practice writing solutions step by step, not just getting the answer
- For Science: draw and label all diagrams from memory
One Week Before
- Attempt one more model paper or a different year’s Christmas paper
- Revise all formulas, definitions, and key terms in a single summary sheet per subject
- Practice time allocation: divide total marks by exam minutes to know your pace
- Review the types of questions in Section D and practice long-answer writing
Day Before the Exam
- Write all formulas and key definitions from memory without looking
- Reread headings of each chapter in the textbook to refresh chapter structure
- Avoid starting new topics. Consolidate what you already know.
- Sleep on time. Fatigue is one of the most common reasons for careless mistakes in exams.
Frequently Asked Questions: Christmas Exam Question Paper 2019
Q1. Where can I download the Christmas Exam 2019 question paper PDF for free?
The most reliable free sources are Education Observer (educationobserver.com), Exam Winner (examwinner.com), and HSSLive (hsslive.in). Papers are available class-wise and subject-wise. For Higher Secondary papers, HSSLive is the preferred source. For Classes 1 to 10, Education Observer has the most complete archive.
Q2. Is the Christmas Exam 2019 paper still relevant for students preparing today?
Yes, it is highly relevant. The 2019 paper represents the standard SCERT pattern without pandemic-related modifications. The paper format, section structure, and marks distribution are consistent with current Christmas exam papers. Teachers across Kerala use it as a benchmark practice paper.
Q3. Are Christmas Exam 2019 answer keys available online?
Answer keys for Classes 8 to 12 are available online through Education Observer, HSSLive, and Exam Winner. For Classes 1 to 7, central answer keys are not officially published, but teacher-prepared keys are available on education forums and Telegram groups.
Q4. What was the exam date for the Christmas Exam 2019?
The Christmas Exam 2019 was conducted in December 2019. For High School and Higher Secondary students, papers were typically held between December 9 and December 23, 2019. Exact dates varied by class and district. The exam was part of the 2019-20 academic year.
Q5. Are the 2019 Christmas exam papers available in Malayalam medium?
Yes. The 2019 Christmas exam papers are available in both English medium and Malayalam medium for all classes. Education Observer and Scribd host Malayalam medium papers for most subjects. Your school may also have printed copies of the Malayalam medium papers from 2019.
Q6. How is the Christmas Exam 2019 different from the Onam Exam?
The Onam Exam is the First Terminal Examination held in September, covering chapters taught in the first term (June to August). The Christmas Exam is the Second Terminal Examination held in December, covering second-term chapters (September to December). They are separate exams with no overlap in content.
Q7. Is there a difference between the 2019 Christmas exam and the 2019-20 annual exam?
Yes. The Christmas exam covers only the second-term syllabus. The annual exam covers the entire year’s syllabus, including first-term, second-term, and third-term chapters. Practicing the 2019 Christmas exam helps with the Christmas exam specifically, but the annual exam requires broader preparation.
Q8. Which subjects had the toughest papers in the Christmas Exam 2019 for Class 10?
Based on student and teacher feedback from the 2019 examination, Mathematics and Physics were considered the most demanding papers in the Class 10 Christmas exam. Social Science was considered moderate, and Biology was generally rated as the most scoring subject.
Q9. Can I use the 2019 Christmas exam paper to prepare for the SSLC annual exam?
Partially. The Christmas exam covers second-term chapters only. The SSLC annual exam covers the full syllabus. However, practicing the 2019 Christmas paper helps you get familiar with Kerala Board question style, section structure, and the expected depth of answers. Use it alongside annual exam model papers.
Q10. Are Plus One and Plus Two Christmas Exam 2019 papers available?
Yes. HSSLive hosts Plus One and Plus Two second terminal exam question papers and answer keys from 2019-20. Papers are available subject-wise for Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams. Exam Winner also maintains a Plus One and Plus Two 2019 paper archive.
Conclusion: Use the 2019 Paper With Purpose, Not Just Familiarity
The Christmas Exam Question Paper 2019 is more than a document from five years ago. It is the clearest available snapshot of how Kerala Board second-term exams are designed to test understanding, not memory.
Download the paper for your class and subject. Attempt it under real exam conditions. Evaluate your work against the answer key. Then spend time fixing what the paper reveals you do not know well.
That is the difference between students who treat previous year papers as reading material and students who use them as preparation tools. The paper gives you the information. What you do with it decides your result.
