Math or Science or Accounts or Economics or Psychology or Art? Its great to have choices… but as many parents and students realise across the IB, CBSE or ICSE board, choosing the right subjects for Grades 11 and 12 isn’t just about being able to score well. Of course, that is a critical factor, but it should also align with the student’s strengths, interests and long-term goals.
The sweet spot lies in the intersection of three factors—subjects you love, subjects you do well in and subjects that will lead you towards careers you aim for!
Of course, you may be hard–pressed to find 5 or 6 subjects that tick all boxes. So, beyond the 2 or 3 subjects that do satisfy all three criteria, we suggest that you go for subjects that lead you towards your target careers and those you enjoy OR do well at (see diagram).
But then the question is how do you know? Let’s consider each of the three factors and what it takes to know.
Factor 1. Subjects I do well at
That’s simple for subjects you have studied before– like Maths, History, Physics or Economics. But how about Psychology or Accounts or Environmental Science? You can get some insights by watching easy primer videos on these subjects, looking at sample question papers in your board on them, or even going through an introductory online course on the area in Coursera or any online academy. This is not conclusive, of course, since different boards have different approaches—and your specific teacher may or may gel with your learning style—but it is a good place to start. Most schools will allow you to sit in on some sample classes before you decide your final subject choices to ratify this.
Factor 2. Subjects I love studying
You may already know this, just like we know what foods we love, or sometimes, you may be confused. I hear many students saying “I love Maths when I understand it, or practice it well…” The truth is that some subjects take more immersion for you to make sense of whether you really like them. Again, some subjects are fun simply because they seem easy. However, Grade 11 presents a quantum leap in the depth and breadth of content across subjects like History or Biology, that are relatively simple till Grade 10.
This is an exploration for parents and students to do together, giving each subject a fair shot before you decide what you really enjoy. It also helps to watch simple explainer or tutor videos on Grade 11 subjects that you think you like, or might like even if you haven’t studied them. Watching subject-specific tutorials for Grade 11 subjects in any board—CBSE, ICSE or IB—will allow you to observe your own level of engagement with the concepts, and your curiosity to learn more about them.
As a thumb rule, if learning a new concept in a subject makes you feel excited and curious to know more, this is a subject you are more likely to find engaging and immersive through high school. Subjects I love are typically subjects I wake up happily for on exam days. On the other hand, if a class, test or exam in a subject regularly makes you feel stressed or energised, even after you have prepared to your best, it may not be a great idea to inflict it on yourself in senior school!
Factor 3. Subjects needed for the careers I am aiming for
This is perhaps the most complex factor to analyse. The logic feels circular—should I not choose the subject first and then see what careers it leads me to? Or should it be the other way round?
I believe that career choices should be made keeping in mind your skills, personality and goals– and then the filter of subjects should be applied. You may find it necessary to take some subjects you don’t enjoy to perform so well in, simply to open career choices you like—like aspiring doctors and architects studying Physics and Chemistry, aspiring architects studying Chemistry, aspiring pilots, psychologists or entrepreneurs studying Maths or aspiring designers studying Art (so not all design is about sketching and painting, right).
It helps to know the necessary and desirable subjects for career paths in the country or system you want to apply to, as well. For instance, Economics usually requires Maths for all countries, the US generally likes to see Math for all courses (seriously), Canada is keen on Chemistry for any Engineering or Computer Science courses and for Maths for Psychology courses, while the UK usually demands two sciences for most STEM areas. Delhi Unviersity has, by far, the most stringent subject restrictions, as do Engineering and Medical colleges in India. See diagram for a general mapping of subjects and careers.
Pro-tips for parents to make this process more productive
1. Balance Passion with Practicality
A really critical step in this whole process is finding a balance between passion and practicality. Your child loves to write and aspires to be a writer, and you don’t want to discourage them? While we always want children to be able to follow their passions, it’s important to also tell them that writers/ artistic careers/ sports careers take a long time to establish and how will one support themself until that day comes? While this may deter many students from going down that path, they may say that it’s fine as a passion but I’d like a more stable career and lifestyle. However, the truly passionate ones may still insist on pursuing an artistic/ sporty career. For them, it is advisable to suggest a mainstream career related to their field of interest and continue pursuing their passion on the side until they are able to make that the center of their career.
Discuss with your children the importance of employability, market demand, earning and growth prospects, the kind of life they want for themselves in the future. Explain to them that creativity is valuable in all fields today. Sports builds teamwork, resilience, discipline- all soft skills that are transferable to any field.
2. Work through academic roadblocks
Students often find themselves changing their dream career or aim, simply because the necessary subjects seem too tough or boring or intimidating to them. Our advise is to not give up so easily on such roadblocks. Discuss academic challenges with your child, and how you can help them overcome the challenges.
Maths is A dreaded subject for many parents and students. While we generally encourage students to study Math in 11th and 12th just to keep career options like Economics, Data Analytics, Product Design, Investment Banking, and even Psychology open across countries, we also understand some students are very fearful of the subject. Regular practice is the only way forward in Math and putting in 8-10 hours a week on Maths can significantly change how your child feels about the subject and even enhance their general self-efficay – that is, the belief that they can do what they set their minds to. So do try to improve your child’s relationship with Math and only consider dropping it after giving it some serious thought.
It is important for the child to make an informed, thoughtful decision and to make it themselves (for the large part) so they can take ownership of their education journey.
3. Speak to Counselors, Professionals and Mentors
Your child wants to become a lawyer? Have them speak to a lawyer and ask about the field. Let them intern at a law firm, pursue an online course and understand the field better. Speak to your school counselor about subject choices and options at your school. Schools also offer career days and workshops on colleges, try to attend those to get more information.
And yes, approach professional career counselors who can guide you on career prospects, environments and personality traits across different fields. A lot of services are available both online and in-person today, and getting multiple views is one way to open your mind and discuss the important criteria that you and your child want to use to take these important decisions.
Overall, though, the world is moving towards an environment where many paths are opening across creative, academic, business and technical fields, but each area is also changing rapidly. So, the most important thing is to choose a path that will sustain your interest long enough for you to learn, navigate changes and make your own path.
The writer is Founder and CEO, Inomi Learning, a Gurugram-based career and college guidance firm. info@inomi.in
The original article was first published in ‘The Hindu’, on November 16th, 2024.
With inputs from Kritika Malhotra, Lead Counsellor at Inomi Learning.
Richa Dwivedi Saklani is a certified coach from UCLA and is an accredited MBTI trainer who has worked with over 10,000 people across career planning and as a behavioral trainer in companies. She is the CEO & Founder of Inomi Learning and author of “The Ultimate Guide to 21st Century Careers”.
