<p>Hey! So I'm writing the boards this year (CBSE) and havta pick b/w science and commerce. Here's my problem. For all you +2 science student out there, did u guys havta study day and night going to diff. classes and stuff? Because everyone in my grade who plans on taking science is applying for FIITJEE or ACE etc., and I'm like yeah i'll self study. So is by self-studying, is it possible to do well?? Or are coaching classes imperative? Because I have no intention of spending hours at coaching classes :). Also, is the 1th really very tough to score? My seniors who got 10 in their 10th boards now get around 70-80%! Do colleges in the US look at 11th grade marks??</p>
<p>The colleges in US look at your High School performance which is 9/10/11/12.</p>
<p>An upward or consistent good score is advisable.</p>
<p>Class 11 is the the most decisive of all, followed by midyear report of Class 12 as those scores are the ones which measure your current form when applying for colleges, which is December of your Class 12.</p>
<p>So tighten up and take Class 11 very seriously if you want to go out.</p>
<p>My understanding is that the coaching will make the first year at college a cakewalk, but I have also noticed the time and effort required for coaching classes does effect the academics in class. </p>
<p>I might be wrong here but the school requires one to write their test in a particular way (especially CBSE) and any deviation from that does mess up the school performance. Also since coaching focuses on 1 or 2 subjects rest of subjects like Lit suffer.</p>
<p>One more important factor to consider while applying for US Colleges is ECs, if you really want your application to be well rounded, and for that again you will need to figure out approximately 4hrs a week.</p>
<p>I am a parent.</p>
<p>Here’s a student perspective:</p>
<p>As you know, most of us here ('16ers) were part of the last batch who had the compulsorily take the Board Exam and were given a CGPA. My sister, who is part of the batch of students you refer to as your seniors, took the exams last year. Taking to others from the same batch, I have gathered the general consensus among students that the X Board exams have become quite easy (simply because of the massive jump in number of students getting 10s and and overall increase in CGPA). I am saying all this only because I want to point out to you that the decrease in the marks from 10th to 11th is greater/will be greater for my sister’s batch and the batches thereafter than it was for us.</p>
<p>I agree that 70s are average scores for 11th grade but anything about 85 is great. 11th is difficult, there’s no doubt about that. If you take science and want to score above 80 or 85, then, as a conservative estimate, you will have to study 6-7 hours a day. Obviously, not everyday. Plus, once you get to the middle of 11th, all this studying will become second nature and things will come easier to you.</p>
<p>Also, everyone has a different approach to studying. You might find that you’ll do fine with 3-4 hours/day.</p>
<p>On the issue of whether you should choose Science or Commerce, I would advise you not to look at it as a choice where the only factor is the hours of study you need to put in but as what you would like to do when you grow up (college/grad school/job, etc)</p>
<p>As for the IITs … if you do intend to join FIITJEE/VMC/other institutes, note that it is a complete waste of money unless you are in their top batches (to put it bluntly). Also, your house of study will increase significantly (~10/12 per day).</p>
<p>After writing all this, I realized that it can sound intimidating. I would like to hear this if I were a 10th grader, but it’s not far from the truth and when you see everyone around you putting in the same effort, you will too. You’re not alone ;)</p>
<p>One last note is that if you decide to apply to colleges in the US, the process is equally, if not more difficult than the IITs. Writing the essays, filling in the supplements, keeping up your grades throughout 4 years, passionate about extracurricular activities, good recommendations, SATs and other olympiads … whatever you decide to do, you will need to put in effort.</p>
<p>I totally agree with Tizil’s views. </p>
<p>Make the choice between studying Commerce and Science subjects not because of the fact what’ll be easier, but what you are interested in. You can apply to almost all the US universities from Commerce stream as well. But ultimately it is a question of what you want to study. If you find business interesting, go for Commerce or if you find physics interesting then go for science… Because when you study what you love, you won’t mind the long hours you’ll spend studying (personal experience)… Hope this helped…</p>
<p>Thank you guys for replying! :)</p>
<p>@anialways: Yes you’re right. Coaching classes do take up a whole lot of students’ time! No time for ECs. But these student usually aim for the IITs and so it doesn’t mater for them. But I’m stuck in between. If I don’t get in to a preferred college outside, then I would have to stay in India and the IITs would be ruled out!</p>
<p>Yea in the 10th we are expected to write answers in a certain way according to the answer key. This is implies that slight mugging up is required :. Especially in the social sciences. But the sad part is even science involves mugging up and is not application based. I’m not sure about how it is in the 11th and 12th though. Some people say that it is all application based but other say that there is mugging required. </p>
<p>If anybody has any insight on this please share. :)</p>
<p>@Tizil: Thank you for your advice from a student’s perspective!
I wanted to know, will American colleges understand the reason for the sudden drop of grades in the 11th? Because people who do stunningly well in their 10th and 12th boards have a not very convincing 11th grade score. Will this affect their admission chances? (Keeping aside ECs, etc.)</p>
<p>Also do you know anybody who has gotten in to one of the IITs or has done exceedingly well in the 12th grade without going for a single class? Because there isn’t a senior in my school who doesn’t!</p>
<p>@phr34k: Yea I get that alot! :). It’s just that we haven’t been exposed to commerce! If it weren’t for my sister I wouldn’t even consider it an option!
Thank you for your advice!</p>
<p>I’m in 11th grade and I’m experiencing the same problem. I have to prepare for both US universities as well as engineering tests in India for the simple reason that if I don’t get admitted to any preferred college in US I’ll still have a back up plan. But in India getting into a good engineering school is extremely competitive and hence the preparation for it has to rigorous.
I’m a science student and in reply to your question, the three branches, physics, chemistry and math, are mostly application based (Biology is more theory centered, of course). Its a lot tougher than what you have studied in class 10th, especially if you are in CBSE. There are things you will have to mug up but that can get you only so far. I suggest opt for the sciences only if you’re genuinely interested in the subject. </p>
<p>And yes I have known a number of students who have cracked the JEE without taking any coaching classes but purely on their own intelligence and interest.</p>
<p>But iits without coaching aid is not possible (until you are exceptionally bright)
But you could always go for courses like the Pinnacle of fiitjee that collaborates with a school to run the coaching and board academic hours in unison. That saves your time a lot and it is quite useful…
find out if your place has this facility…</p>
<p>Thank you nikita and rajat for your replies!</p>
<p>@nikita: problem right? 
So there isn’t much mugging required right? Not like how we have to in the tenth. That’s good to hear! So with all this preparation, do you get time to yourself?</p>
<p>@rajat: Yea I’ve heard of those integrated courses. Many of my friends are going for them! I shall look into them too :).</p>
<p>No, not much mugging required. But its also much tougher than what we had in tenth. So choose carefully. </p>
<p>Time to myself? Thats a term I haven’t heard since the past one year. Its hectic, tough and drains you of all your energy, but in the end if it gets you to a bright future, its completely worth it. :)</p>
<p>Ah k. Thanks for your opinion!</p>
<p>I took an Indian board(subjects PCM) for the last two years, giving my exams next month, and I have as much free time as the tenth. I am regularly involved in 2 school clubs, 1 sport, 2 part time jobs, and still have 2-4 hours a day to chill.</p>
<p>That being said, I’m not giving any Indian college exams like AIEEE.</p>
<p>@tastycles : Whoa! That’s definitely something I haven’t heard from a twelfth grader! That’s nice!!!</p>
<p>So you’re aiming for a university in the US? And do you think u would have this much spare time if you are in fact preparing for AIEEE, etc.?</p>
<p>@rroar: My classmates who are giving those exams and applying abroad have less time on their hands than me. Still, they definitely get a few hours to themselves every week - its not all work and no play. I doubt I would have had as much time if I were giving entrance exams, but since I have always wanted to study pure science and not engineering the US has been my only option. Indian colleges seem to offer more career-oriented programs than the broad based American curricula which focus on learning.</p>
<p>Oh ok! Thanks for your view! :)</p>
<p>Did u find the eleventh grade hard because it’s apparently a ‘leap’ from the tenth.</p>