So your Grade 10 boards are over…
The sun is shining again – and you don’t have to bury yourself in books and count marks for a while now. What’s more, you are moving into Grade 11 – that most fun time of all in school! Congratulations – and my best wishes for a great fun year ahead!
But well, Grade 11 is a whirlwind and a year that leads up to the most critical (and perhaps high-stakes) year of student life, Grade 12.
So while having fun, remember that in Grade 11, the pace of study is faster, the concepts are more complex and the expectations of self-study are greater. Therefore,
Expect a big academic jump…
Everybody is hoping that you will rise to the occasion and start some adulting here, but this will need a push from your side.
Your Grade 11 scores will appear on every transcript sent to any college you apply to.
The Great Indian Dip refers to the sudden drop in Grade 11 marks typically after a super Grade10 score. Grade 11 subjects suddenly become more complex and advanced and maybe the same study routine you had before does not yield the same results.
The dip is common and universities are aware of it but those who push harder in Grade 11 and maintain high scores stand out in the college application process. And all it takes is maintaining consistency from your side, and not treating Grade 11 academics lightly.
What YOU can do in Grade 11 to stay ahead of the game:
This is the time for Test Prep
Grade 11 is ideally placed for you to take a couple of attempts at standardized tests for college admissions. And the SATs or ACTs being widely accepted in India as well makes preparing for these tests an ideal project for Grade 11 students. Starting testprep in Grade 11 summer means that you may have time for more than one attempt on these tests and you can truly maximise your score.
It also means that it’s probably going to be out of the way in Grade 12 and you focus entirely on school and applications that year.
Should you take Advanced Placement tests (APs)?
APs help strengthen your academic profile and are valued by some admission teams abroad. Particularly, Oxford, Cambridge and elite universities in the US require students from Indian school boards to also present AP results to be considered equivalent to students from international boards. So if you are aiming for top universities in the US and UK, research which AP’s align with your intended major.
Some universities will allow students to skip basic level programs if they have high AP scores, saving tuition fee and time!
Those aiming for Computer Science majors can consider AP Computer Science A, AP Calculus AB or BC, AP Physics C or AP Statistics. For Economics majors, students can consider AP Microeconomics, AP Macoroeconomics, AP Calculus AB or BC, or AP Statistics.
Students aiming for Psychology majors can consider AP Psychology or AP Biology ror understanding neuroscience, cognitive science, and the biological basis of behavior.
AP Statistics is also relevant for research, data analysis, and experimental psychology studies.
Registration for APs opens from September to mid November, then up to mid March with late registration fee. Some schools are test centers too so check with your school if they are a registered test center.
Summer programs
Starting now, you have two summer breaks before you put in your college applications and these should be spent adding to your story by exploring the area you intend to pursue. A summer course is a great way to build some knowledge and vocabulary for your intended major. In-person summer programs also give you a flavour of college life – taking different classes, meeting new people and living on your own!
Aim for the most competitive summer programs in the US and in India if you are willing to spend money on a program abroad like the Yale Young Global Scholars Program, Promyss or SUMAC for Math students, Management and Technology Summer Institute at UPenn, MET (Management, Entrepreneurship and Technology at Berkeley) or some of the highly selective science and research-based programs like Summer Science Program or the Research Science Institute at MIT. In India, you can consider the Young Technology Scholars program at Plaksha, the Young Scholars Program at Ashoka University or Promyss India for Math students.
Internships
While you are still below 18, most of your internship will probably consist of shadowing someone. Nevertheless, internships add a LOT of value to your CV. It gives you a taste of working in the real world! They show you what kind of work you would be able to do in the future. They add immense credibility to your application, show your passion and commitment and help you build industry knowledge and soft skills.
Community engagement
If you are passionate about a social cause, then this is the right time for you to build an engagement that actually adds value. Pick something that is close to your heart and your authenticity will shine through your applications. Be consistent in your work. Universities love to see a cause that you have worked on for a while. It shows your dedication and universities prefer depth over quantity.
Personal Project
For those who are led by their own passions, now is the time to work on something that gives you results—you could start a blog/ YouTube channel/ podcast on something you like (book reviews, movie reviews, travel blog, fashion tips for teens, simple recipes, stock markets for teens, anything really). You could work on a research paper on a topic of your choice. You could learn a new skill through an online course—graphic design, video editing, coding. Else you could even opt for an adventure camp, trek, or prepare for a marathon.
And finally, pick up a book or two to read in the area you are applying to college for. Explore TED Talks, podcasts and online courses to build more academic depth.
If all this sounds like a lot, breathe and centre yourself. You’ll be off to college soon, stepping into a new phase of your life and this is the time to build the skills of discipline and balance. Build a timeline and start one step at a time.
Happy surfing!
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 March 15th, 2025.
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”.
