A Complete Guide to choosing the Best Stream after 10^th

Choosing the right stream in class XI is the first step towards a rewarding career path. This stage lays the foundation for future courses for specialization. And this is the first decision that eventually determines a student’s future prospects.

In the present times, we have managed to resolve some challenges in our education system through innovative solutions like online  schools and hybrid learning models. But till date, the struggle to select the right stream and career path is a daunting task for students in the high school/secondary stage. In fact, Indian students have been facing the challenge of parental pressure. And they are often compared with their peers or forced to take up a stream that does not match their passion or aptitude. In Indian society, the comparison is one of the biggest reasons that lead to academic stress. And the situation is quite alarming as academic stress is one of the top causes of depression, eating disorders, and even suicide in the worst cases.

Clearly, career exploration and stream selection are quite stressful for Indian students. However, this choice can be made simpler with the right handholding at this crucial stage of life.

This guide will cover all important aspects that a student must consider before selecting a stream in class XI. Read further about the streams that can be chosen in class XI along with some practical tips and advice to make an informed decision. Let’s begin this information by understanding the scheme of subjects as per our policymakers.

Scheme of Studies in Class XI (as per CBSE):

One of the prominent reforms suggested in the National Policy of Education 2020 was the flexibility to choose subjects in secondary school (under point 4.9-Curriculum and Pedagogy in Schools). This point also highlighted the importance of co-curricular, vocational, and skill-based learning to help students in designing a promising career path.  

The present CBSE curriculum is based on the same recommendation of the NPE 2020 (under point 3- Scheme of studies). Let’s take a quick look at the scheme of studies for class XI (and the same to be continued in class XII) before we move on to popular streams:

The curriculum has varied segregations for different choices. ‘Group A’ has academic electives and ‘Group L’ has language choices. Similarly, ‘Group S’ has all the skill electives that a student can choose from.

• Subjects 1-5 are 5 compulsory subjects
• Subject 6 is whether 1 elective or a language as an additional subject
• Subjects 7 to 9 are only for internal assessments these will be in the form of work experience

You can find the exact subject combinations in table number 3.1 of the Senior School Curriculum 2022-23.

In schools, additional subjects are offered as per the above-mentioned scheme. Students can choose these subjects irrespective of the combination of any core subjects (that are mostly based on streams).

What are the different streams available for students in class XI?

For class XI, students can choose between these options:

• Science (Medical or Non-Medical)
• Commerce
• Humanities

Science

For students inclined towards STEM learning or logical reasoning, Science offers a combination of core subjects commonly known as PCM (Non-medical subject choices -Physics, Chemistry, and Maths) and PCB (medical subject choices- Physics, Chemistry, and Biology). Students can also choose to study PCMB subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, and Biology).

Commerce

Another stream that is ideal for students inclined towards accountancy, finance, mathematics or statistics is Commerce. Core subject choices are mostly Business Studies, Accountancy, Mathematics, and Economics. Some students also choose this stream without choosing Maths.

Humanities

The most commonly opted subject choices in this stream are History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, and Economics. 

• English, Hindi, or any of the permitted languages as per the CBSE curriculum are also compulsory.

Moving on to the scope of streams or subject selection in Class XI:

Science

With the growing opportunities and diversified career choices, there is now a better scope to meet one’s aspirations. However, despite numerous initiatives and ground-level changes to do away with stream biases, Science still remains a top favorite. According to a leading journal, Science students have an edge to take up career opportunities from all the streams including Humanities and Commerce as well. MBBS, Botany, Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Clinical Research, etc. are some common options that students (from Medical Science background) choose after selecting this stream for specialization. Non-medical students have options like Architecture, B. Pharma, Information Technology, Animations, Aviation, Statistics, Merchant Navy, etc.  

Commerce

Career options for students from this stream are Accountancy, Management, Banking, Investment, Company Secretory, Law, Financial Analyst, Mass Communication, etc. 

Humanities

For the ones who choose Arts or Humanities stream, the most popular career options are mostly Teaching, Civil Services, Archeology, Journalism, Creative Writing, and Management, etc.

Before we discuss the points to be kept in mind before selecting your stream and additional subjects, let’s explore the importance of selecting the right stream for better employability prospects.

Streams and Employability

Stream selection in class XI is directly related to one’s employability prospects. Here’s a look at some statistics that prove this point.

In India, the employability rate of undergraduates in engineering and technology domains was over 55%. The same was only 29% for graduates with a computer application degree.

Below is the employability rate of the graduates as per their selected streams (As of 2022)

How to Choose the Right Stream?

Consider career planning

The first and foremost point that students must understand is that their stream/subject selection is directly related to their career planning. A successful career is possible only when you identify your strengths, skills and indulge in what you really like. Stream selection should be directly linked with career goals. And these can be decided by seeking the help of a professional counselor if the student is not able to identify the right choices (or in cases of confusion).

Identify Skillsets

Another important point that one needs to keep in mind is skillsets and aptitude. If a student can identify transferable soft skills, it is a great edge. However, you must consider core skillsets of the student to identify the most suitable stream. Parents often make the mistake of considering their child as a genetically identical personality. However, this holds no importance as every individual is unique in terms of skill sets irrespective of genetics.  

Check the Practicality

For all lifestyles, all choices cannot work perfectly. For instance, if a student has rampant health issues, choosing a stream that demands too much laboratory work/travel/exposure, etc. can be a bad choice. See to it that the choice fits the lifestyle before planning to give a final nod. You can also consider options like online schooling (now available for higher classes as well)   

Market Trends

The stream that you select today must have prospects that can support employability in the future. As per the World Economic Forum, future jobs will be quite different from the jobs in the present times. The biggest reason for this change in the job market is the adoption of technology by companies. The forum highlights that this massive change will transform tasks and skills by the year 2025. Keeping all this in mind, the future prospects of selecting a stream and career opportunities must be cross-checked in the light of facts.

Understand the pros and cons

All streams have their pros and cons. And these must be considered before making a choice. Time requirements, stress factors, financial burden, and adaptability can matter for the student (and even the family) at any stage. Do consider all these possibilities instead of being fascinated by the high salary openings or social prestige associated with particular streams. 

Some More Quick Tips for students:

• Consider personal preferences and stay away from comparison. Never imitate others.
• Do not succumb to any pressure, be it from the family or friends. A wrong choice can tarnish your dreams so be cautious about your decisions.
• Never hesitate to seek help if you feel the need. Consult a career counselor and see how best you can plan for your future.
• Avoid taking a hasty decision. Always do your research and check all possibilities well in advance.
•  Cross-check the course eligibility in advance for the next level, so that you can opt for the right subject to choose the right course at the post-secondary level.
• Understand the financial requirements and preempt the cost before discussing it with your parents.
• Choose additional subjects to support your career path, and consider your passion as well.
• Talk to people who matter (elders, siblings, cousins, or peers), and consider their opinions before finalizing a choice.
• Try to explore the topics in the stream that you like (through books or websites), and see if the content seems interesting enough to make a choice.

Indian Students Are Rearing to go!

 &

 All they need is the Right Handholding at the right time!

In India, the pass percentage of students appearing for class X (CBSE board) has been remarkable. In fact, this percentage has increased from 90.95% in 2017 to 99.4% in 2021. This percentage was 94.40% in the year 2022.

Our students are ready to thrive, prosper and succeed. As parents, we can always help them to choose the right stream. And most importantly, play a constructive role in their career planning by prioritizing their interests and keeping all other biases at bay!