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    Choosing Optional Subjects: 5 Things To Keep In Mind

    By Dr. Srividya
    2 May'22  8 min read
    Choosing Optional Subjects: 5 Things To Keep In Mind
    Synopsis

    Once the challenge of choosing a stream is overcome, students face the next big question - ‘What to choose as optional subjects?’ This article talks about five factors you should consider before you choose your optional subjects. It also lists some of the commonly offered optional subjects in schools, and their salient features.

    Choosing Optional Subjects: 5 Things To Keep In Mind
    Synopsis

    Once the challenge of choosing a stream is overcome, students face the next big question - ‘What to choose as optional subjects?’ This article talks about five factors you should consider before you choose your optional subjects. It also lists some of the commonly offered optional subjects in schools, and their salient features.

    There are a host of different criteria that you need to consider before you choose an optional subject in class 9 or 11. Different subjects may prove beneficial to students based on their individual needs and predispositions.

    This article highlights the different factors you need to consider before you answer the question, “Which optional subjects do I choose?”. As a student, your criteria for choosing optional subjects is likely to vary from that of your friends and batchmates. The examples that follow will help you understand this better.

    Also Read | Stream Selection For Class 11: What To Do When You Don't Fit In Any Of The Three Streams

    Amount Of Time Required

    Noora had chosen Science with Biology stream as she wanted to be a doctor. She had already chosen Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English. Now, she had to choose the fifth subject. As per the options given by her school, she had to choose between Maths, Home Science, and Physical Education. She knew Maths would keep all her options open for the future, in terms of the courses that needed a combination of science and maths. However, it meant that she would have to put in a lot of hard work.

    She also needed to prepare for NEET and wanted to join a government college. She realised that studying Maths would be a bit too tough for her. So, she was left with choices of Home Science and Physical Education in her school. Noora has represented her school in many table tennis matches and was considering Physical Education.

    She also learnt that most of the theory part of the Physical Education paper comprised Anatomy and Physiology. This was like Biology, and she decided to take Physical Education. As an afterthought, she knew that if she took Physical Education, it would make it easier for her to learn and pass the exam. A little bit of exercise through the week while she is preparing for the NEET will only do her good, and playing a sport is something she always loved doing.

    Also Read | 94% MBBS Students Started NEET Coaching In Class 11 Or Later: Survey

    Alignment With Career Goals

    While Noora opted for Physical Education, her friend Ratan from the same stream was considering Home Science. His first option after class 12 was to try and join medicine. However, if that did not work, he was considering Culinary Arts, or becoming a chef in a hotel. So, he felt drawn toward Home Science as a subject.

    The only drawback was that people had stereotyped Home Science and Culinary Art as subjects only girls study, and so he was wondering if everyone will mock him. However, the teacher and the other students in the Home Science class were very supportive and friendly, so he sat through the class on nutrition and found it very informative, and so his choice was made.

    Also Read | Here Are Five Ways To Find Your Passion

    Practical Applicability Of The Subject

    In a different city, Akshat has opted for the Commerce stream. His compulsory subjects were Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, and English. He needed to choose his optional subjects between Entrepreneurship, Maths, and Informatics Practices. Akshat wanted to become a chartered accountant or pursue a business programme. He did not particularly enjoy complex Maths, though he was good with numbers per se. After much thought, he decided to choose applied maths as this would help him learn the commercial side of Maths, something he was actually interested him.

    Also Read | Is There A Future Without Maths?

    How Comfortable You Feel

    Tara, on the other hand, was going to join her family business and was very uncomfortable with numbers. She decided to choose entrepreneurship instead of maths so she could learn more about business and startups.

    Value Addition To Your SkillSet

    Tarang was an exceptionally good artist. Born to parents who worked in advertising agencies, he was very good at making portraits and artwork. He was also a fitness freak and wanted to join the Army. However, his marks in class 10 science were not exceptionally good, and he did not enjoy studying physics and chemistry at all. So, he decided to opt for humanities and look for a bachelor’s course in design. Maybe later, or after graduation, he could take the Central Defence Services Exam (CDSE).

    So, Tarang found that his choices were between physical education, information practices, and fine arts. He was wondering what to choose and found that learning informatics practices would be useful as many areas require some knowledge of coding and technology. He had done a few coding courses earlier, so it would perhaps have been easier for him to clear the exam too.

    Also Read | How Important Is It For Your Child To Learn To Code?

    Some Optional Subjects You May Consider

    As we just saw in these examples, depending on your specific situation, your choice of optional subjects may vary. To help you understand this better, we have listed below a few optional subjects offered by the CBSE, along with their salient features and advantages.

    optional subjects, how to choose optional subject, optional subjects in class 11 cbse, cbse class 9 optional subjects, cbse optional subjects for class 10, science, biology, maths, physical education, entrepreneurship, economics, nutritionDo What Excites You

    Psychology

    This subject is offered in all three streams and is gaining popularity amongst students these days. Psychology, when combined with Biology, gives you a very good base to understand the mind and the body. The topics taught are relevant to everyday life and offer useful insights into human functioning. The subject does require extensive study and needs preparation for one to do well in it.

    Also Read | 9 Careers In Psychology You Should Aim

    Maths

    Maths is essential for engineering and architecture courses, and is also useful if you want to pursue Economics, Data Science, Statistics, and the like, at higher levels. Commercial or Applied Maths is useful for business and banking related careers like CA, ICWA, company secretary, etc.

    Computer Science And Informatics Practices

    If you enjoy coding or have learnt a little bit of programming in Python and other languages, Computer Science can be a useful subject to opt for. This is an excellent option if you want to pursue computer engineering too. Informatics Practices is similar, in that it focuses on how data is processed to form useful information. This is a scoring subject, and relevant in today’s times when data management through technology is essential to most businesses.

    Entrepreneurship

    This is a useful subject that teaches you the basics of setting up a business or venture of your own. If business interests you, you must consider taking this subject. It takes a moderate amount of preparation, but provides you with many practical tips about the process of becoming an entrepreneur.

    Physical Education

    If you are comfortable reading about fitness, and studying Anatomy and Physiology, then this is a good option. A mix of theory and practicals, it is a high scoring subject and is recommended for students who would want to study about one’s health and well-being. It is also not very demanding in terms of the time and energy you are required to devote to it.

    Home Science

    This subject offers you training on the life skills of budgeting, managing a home, nutrition, cooking, etc. A scoring subject with a mix of theory and practical, the concepts learnt can be easily applied to daily life. A popular belief says that this subject is for the less intelligent or skilled, which is clearly misplaced in today’s times. There is also significant learning regarding nutrition and fitness in this subject.

    Fine Arts

    If you have a flair for drawing and painting, and like to read about artists and the historical foundations of art, then this is a good option. This subject requires you to put in the time to prepare your files, and is fun if you find drawing, sketching, and painting enjoyable.

    Political Science

    If you are keen on pursuing the civil services, or like studying about the government, political parties, or have a keen interest in politics and contemporary affairs, this is a good subject to opt for. The topics covered are all relevant and contemporary, and a balanced perspective helps build good citizenship and voting behaviours.

    Sociology

    This subject helps you understand the behaviour of groups and cultures, and has a mix of theory and practicals. Studying Sociology is useful if you want to pursue careers in the social sector, human resources function, civil services, etc.

    Economics

    Studying Economics helps you understand the economic scenario of a nation and is a mix of statistics and microeconomics at the school level. A relevant subject, it is useful to pursue courses in management, finance, research, economics, etc. It is also helpful for civil service aspirants.

    Legal Studies

    If you are interested in pursuing law and understanding how the judiciary of the country works, then Legal Studies is an excellent option for you. This can also be very useful for civil services, advocacy of human rights, and work in the social sector.

    In a nutshell, when you are choosing your optional subject/s, try to seek answers to the following questions:-

    • Will this subject be useful for your future study and career plans?
    • Will the subject load be manageable in terms of work and hours of study, given the stream you have chosen?
    • Is the subject to your liking? To figure this out, read a few pages of the school textbook and evaluate for yourself.
    • Are you choosing the subject/s out of any social or peer pressure?

    Remember, the subject options are to give you choices. Feel empowered to choose based on what works for you.

    Note: The case examples used in this article are a combination of real and fictional, added to enhance understanding for the reader.

    Also Read | Science Student Aspiring To Pursue Law? Here Are A Few Tips

    Dr. Srividya is an Organisational Psychologist, and a Career and Personal Growth Coach. She works with teens, parents, adults, and returning professionals, to help them align their personal and professional needs, desires, and overcome personal and professional challenges. She can be reached at www.lifevidya.in.

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