Irrespective of whether parents want to send their child abroad for an undergraduate education or not, the right board choice for their child tends to be a pressing question for a lot of parents. The truth is - there is no such thing as the ‘best board’ or the ‘ideal board’. What matters is which is the right board for YOU! This is based on a lot of factors - your learning style, your current board, subjects you like and your career plans.
We recently conducted an in-person seminar on the different boards for Grades 11 and 12, and written below is a snapshot of the main points that we discussed.
The first step to pick the right board is to gain knowledge about all the available boards. Here is a summary of the popular boards available in India:
1. CBSE/ISC/HSC
Type: Indian Boards.
Available Streams: Choose between Humanities, Commerce & Science.
Subject Options: Humanities Stream - English, Second Language, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, History, Sociology, Art.
Commerce Stream - English, Second Language, Accounts, Organisation of Commerce, Business Studies, Econ, Maths and Secretarial Practice, Science Stream, English, Second Language, Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology, Computer Science, Electronics.
Points to Note:
In ISC, a second language is not a requirement.
All 3 boards allow you to pick Maths with the 3 streams.
ISC and CBSE boards are more flexible than HSC and allow you to take subjects across streams.
Grading Scale: 0-100.
2. International Baccalaureate
Type: European Board.
Subject Groups: First Language, Foreign Language, Social Science, Science, Maths, The Arts.
Subject Options: First Language: English Language & Literature, English Literature & Performance English Literature ;
Foreign Language: Hindi, French, Spanish
Social Science: Economics, Business Management, History, Geography, Psychology, Global Politics
Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Environmental Sciences
Maths: Mathematics Analysis and Approaches, Mathematics Applications and Interpretations
Arts: Visual Arts, Theatre, Music
How do you pick the subjects:
You pick a total of 6 subjects, one each from Groups 1 to 5 and 1 from Group 6 or another Science/Social Science. Of these 6 subjects, choose 3 subjects at a higher level and 3 subjects at a standard level.
Additional Requirements: In addition to these 6 subjects, you must complete an Extended Essay (in any subject), Theory of Knowledge and CAS (Creativity, Action and Service)
Grading Scale: 1-7
3. A Levels
Type: British Curriculum
Popular Subjects: English Language, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Accounting, Psychology, Economics, Accounting, Business, Geography, Computer Science, IT, Global Perspectives, History, Mathematics (Note: Subjects offered differ from school to school. This list only lists the popular subjects)
How do you pick the subjects:
A Levels don’t have streams or subject groups, you can choose 3-5 subjects of your choice based on your career interests. In India, most schools require you to take English + 3 additional subjects.
Grading Scale: A*-E
4. Advanced Placement (APs)
Type: American Curriculum
Popular Subjects: English, US History, Government, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Statistics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Human Geography, Psychology
Grading Scale: 1-5
To help you make the right choice, here are some myth-busters:
Myth: If you want to apply to the US for your undergraduate education, you must study the IB.
Fact: You can apply to the US for your undergraduate education with any educational board.
Myth: Take the A-Levels only if you want to pursue your undergraduate education in the UK
Fact: The A Levels are accepted by all countries across the world.
Myth: If you study IB or A Levels, you can’t pursue your undergraduate education in India
Fact: You can pursue your undergraduate education in India even after studying the IB/A-Level in grades 11 & 12.
Myth: You can only take Advanced Placement subjects if you’re studying in an American school.
Fact: Advanced Placements are open to all students through the College Board.
Essentially, make the right choice for YOU after weighing in all these factors!
Author: Alisha Mashruwala Daswani is the CEO & Co-Founder of OnCourse Vantage, a full-service study abroad-focused company that's been in operation since 2010.
Alisha Mashruwala Daswani |
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