Skills, scores and more in High school 2
Choice of subjects and stream to study 2
Adding entrance tests to the mix 3
Skill development beyond academia 4
The 11th and 12th grade, popularly referred to as the pre-university course (PUC) is a critical phase in every student’s life. Together, they form the second major threshold of a student’s education career. In this period, the student studies the foundational programmes for college courses and entrance tests that qualify them for the college programme. Until the 10th grade, the student studies all the subjects, but in high school, they study only those subjects that are relevant to the career and college course they plan to pursue. This is the first big independent decision that the students make.
The 10th grade is a decisive year in every student’s life, as its score determines which stream, Science, commerce or Arts the student can enter if they are in the State or CBSE board. In the case of boards such as IB and IGCSE, students can finally choose to study only those subjects which they find interesting or relevant to their college programme. Thus, students have the liberty to study only those subjects that they want to and build the pathway to the education and career that they want. Although there is great stress on academics, 11th and 12th grade is also the time to learn many skills that prepare one for college and a career.
The subject stream a student chooses in PUC will decide the career you can choose. This is a weighty decision as once you decide on a stream and the subject combination, you have set the path and cannot go back to many career alternatives. For instance, if you choose PCMB, you can enter medical, engineering or any other fields. However, if you drop Biology and pick the other alternatives, that is, Electronics, Statistics, or Computer Science, you are ineligible for Medicine. Furthermore, science students can study Commerce or humanities-related subjects in college, but Humanities and Commerce students are ineligible for most Science subjects in college. So, one has to make these choices very wisely.
Most universities and colleges conduct entrance tests for professional college programmes to gauge a student’s eligibility. The applicants for these courses can come from anywhere in India and they may have studied in any of the education boards that have different syllabi and scoring criteria for assessments. By conducting entrance tests, they create a standardised test and offer a level playing field for students. Most of the competitive exams follow the syllabus of CBSE and PUC subjects. For instance, the JEE & NEETE test syllabus is borrowed from the CBSE and PUC science subjects. Students have to decide what entrance tests they will appear for and prepare for them simultaneously as they prepare for 11th and 12th grade.
One cannot put off deciding which college programme or which university they will apply to until their 12th board exams are over. This will result in inadequate preparation time for entrance tests or loss of year because one will miss many important application dates. For instance, if you plan to apply to a foreign university for a college programme, then your admission packet, which must contain SAT scores (if you apply to a US university), TOEFL/IELTS scores, personal statement and mark sheet must be sent within the stipulated timeline. Students must decide -
11th and 12th grade are rightly called the junior college because here students enjoy greater agency over what and how they study. In this period they have the opportunity to become better aware of their talents and interests. The best PUC colleges are located in the heart of the city and have many societies, clubs, events and learning opportunities for students outside the classroom. Through the course, students receive a strong foundation for their college subject. However, the curriculum and pedagogy allow them to cultivate skills such as critical thinking, academic research, time management, coherent communication etc.
Your 11th and 12th grade is an interesting phase that poses a plethora of opportunities which can cause stress and anxiety too. So, it is equally important to understand one’s limitations and learn to push themselves through productive engagement.
