Choose Wisely: Optional Choices In CBSE

Well! Now that you are in class 10, you might have been asked by your parents and school teachers to submit your preference for stream selection for class 11. Some of you would have already made up your minds about selecting the right stream with the right subject combination to open up great career prospects in the future. The subjects that one chooses after class 10 shall play a huge role in exploring one’s career options even after class 12. The student choosing an optional or 5th subject would not only boost them up to explore two or more fields together but also help them to keep a backup plan. Therefore, this optional subject should be selected with a lot of deliberation and wisdom. This article focuses on CBSE board curriculums and to help you make a great choice with each of the subjects separately and also get to know the benefits of their combination with each stream i.e. Science, Commerce, and Humanities etc.

While making a choice at the end of class 10, students are often left with a lot of doubts, confusion, anxiety and questions. CBSE students are to choose between three streams only – Science, Commerce and Humanities, along with some other additional choices to be made. The questions that often arouse the student’s minds regarding choosing the optional subjects are: Which optional subject shall I choose? What can be the right combination of subjects for my career? How beneficial will it be for me to choose a 6th subject? Shall I opt for it or not? Thus, to avoid all such confusion, doubts and conception regarding what actually is this concept of 6th subject, this article would preferably answer all your doubts about opting for a 6th subject in class 11 and 12.

1.   Introducing the concept of 6th subject

CBSE gives students the choice to study an additional subject i.e. a 6th subject along with their 5 other regular subjects in class 11 and 12. This subject is not a substitute for a main subject as it is generally opted to compensate for the possibility of scoring low marks in a major subject or even to keep additional career options open ( like Mathematics in case of Humanities students).

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS (IN CBSE) WITH EACH STREAM

2.      How compulsory is a 6th subject in class 11 ?

Opting for a 6th subject in class 11 is not compulsory in the sense that the 5 main subjects are counted towards one’s percentage calculation in the board exam and adding a 6th additional subject is optional.

3.   Is it necessary to appear for the 6th subject exam after opting for it?

Yes it is compulsory to write the 6th subject exam if opted for it. The marks of this additional subject are not counted in the percentage calculation if one scores less in it or fails. They are only considered in the total percentage calculation in case if one scores less in their 5th subject or a language.

4.   ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HAVING A 6TH SUBJECT.

ADVANTAGES:

·        Having or opting for a 6th subject can help one to improve their overall percentage. In case if one scores higher in the 6th subject, the marks obtained in it shall substitute the 5th subject in the percentage calculation. Thus, the overall percentage shall increase.

·        Opting for a 6th subject can help one increase the number of career options available in some cases as well. A Humanities student may choose to opt for Maths as a 6th subject in addition to the main subjects to keep Economics open as a career option.

·        An easier 6th subject can be a backup if one does not score well in the optional subject. The overall percentage won’t be affected since the percentage shall include the additional subject one scores higher percentage in.

DISADVANTAGES:

·        The biggest concern shall be putting extra efforts, hard work and time while opting for an extra subject.

·        The more focused attention towards the 5 subjects, the better chance to divide attention by scoring a good percentage between 6 subjects.

5.   What if I am unsuccessful in my 6th subject? Shall I be considered pass or fail?

The 6th subject marks are not counted to the overall percentage and even for admission purposes, only four/five subjects are counted. The marks in the 6th subject will be written on the final mark sheet and might not give a good impression to future recruiters if not passed the subject.

6.   What will the results show if one passes in the additional subject but scores low or fails in one of the main subjects?

·        As per the CBSE Board guidelines, a language offered as an additional subject shall replace a language in the event of a candidate failing in the same, provided that after replacement the candidate has English/Hindi as one of the languages.

·        An elective subject offered as an additional subject might replace one of the elective subjects offered by the candidate.

·        Thus, if one fails or scores low in one of the main subjects, there is an option to replace it with marks of the 6th subject.

7.   How to calculate class 12’s percentage with 6 subjects?

Even if one has six subjects, the top five subjects would be considered for calculating aggregate percentage in class 12. If one scores better in the 6th subject, then its marks can replace the 5th subject marks in the total.

FAQs

 Q: How many subjects should one take in CBSE?

 A: It is usually suggested to take 6subjects in 12th standard.

 Q: What are the optional CBSE 11 Humanities Subjects?

 A:  ECONOMICS
PSYCHOLOGY
MATHEMATICS
HOME SCIENCE
LEGAL STUDIES
FINE ARTS
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
MEDIA STUDIES

 Q: Is it mandatory to choose Maths as a subject in CBSE 11th Commerce Subjects?

 A: No. It is not mandatory as students have the option to choose any one subject out of Maths, Informatics Practices and Entrepreneurship.

By Tunisha Banerjee

Also Read:

• CBSE Class 10th Date Sheet 2021

• CBSE Class 12th Date Sheet 2021