Which stream to choose after Class 10th? How to Choose a Stream after Class 10th?

Stuck with these life altering questions?

Many of you must have straight and simple answers to your questions as you must have already decided what you want to do with your career, majorly after Class 10th boards? but there may be many who wouldn’t have laid it straight…. which is completely okay, rather more than okay! Let me tell you why it is okay!

Juggling between which stream to choose after the class 10th and what subject combinations to consider, you subconsciously unlock the door to exciting career opportunities after class 10th. It will be your first big decision to make as an individual and this will be just the beginning. It needs to be thoroughly researched, discussed and chosen only when you are absolutely (somewhat) sure of it. So, let’s try and make this as easy as possible.

How to Choose a Stream after Class 10th

There are so many courses after Class 10th that can place you in your dream career. But how will you decide which one is the right course for you? This dilemma can make you go bonkers! But hey, before we learn about all the exciting and futuristic courses after Class 10th board exams, let’s look at how we can make the right career choice.

After Class 10th, you start carving your path for the future and set the basis for your career. There are many exciting careers options you can pursue after class 10th, regardless of the fact whether you are a high or an average scorer, choosing the right career is the topmost priority.

Choosing the career path for yourself is the most essential decision to make. What could be the worst-case scenario? Well, you could end up in a career that is not fulfilling as per you.

It is common among students to get misinformed and thus they end up making the wrong decisions. So, how to make an informed decision?

  1. What’s your area of Interest?
    Have you ever asked yourself what excites you the most? Which subject actually interests you? It is very important to understand your interests as it is definitely a driving force that can help you cruise through your academic career. If you are passionate about the choice you make, you’ll not only enjoy studying and exploring but will also succeed at it.
  2. Know your Aptitude: 
    Being interested in a particular subject and having an aptitude for the same are two different things. It is quite possible that a subject like Accountancy fascinates you and you are very much interested in pursuing it further. However, one must keep in mind that perhaps one might not have the required aptitude for the same. In that case, it is advisable to choose a stream that caters to both your interest and aptitude.
  3. Scope of the subject:
    Another factor that you should keep in mind before making your choice is the scope. What are the future prospects? What are the potential career opportunities? It is advisable to research well about the stream you are planning to choose, where it leads you to eventually and whether in the long run it meets your expectations. Knowing about the future career prospects associated with the choice of your stream is important and should not be ignored.

If you still find yourself in the conundrum of choosing the stream, there are a number of options today that can help one decide which career option to go for with helpful tools like Psychometric Tests, Aptitude Tests or through professional and guided assistance by career experts.

How to select the Board

After Class 10th, you can either study in the same school board or you can opt for a different board. Changing the board/looking for the right education board to achieve your goals requires expertise. Thus, consider asking or taking expert advice for students from your teachers or counsellors.

What are the Main Streams after Class 10th?

The main streams that can be pursued after Class 10th are:

  • Science stream
  • Arts and Humanities stream
  • Commerce/Business stream
  • Vocational stream (Professional/ Short-term courses)

All these streams lead to different career opportunities and knowing the basics are significant in the decision-making process. Let’s get the basic understanding of each of these streams:

Science stream after Class 10th

After Class 10th, depending upon which school board you are enrolling for in class 11th and 12th, you can have several subjects to choose from:

  1. Physical Science Subjects – Physics, Chemistry
  2. Biological Science Subjects – Biology, Biotechnology, Agriculture, Food Science, Sports, Exercise & Health Science, etc.
  3. Mathematical Science Subjects – Mathematics, Statistics
  4. Other Science Subjects – Computer Science, Marine Science, Engineering Graphics, Informatics Practice, Electricity & Electronics, Engineering Science, Environmental Science, Geometrical & Building Drawing, Geometrical & Mechanical Drawing, Design Technology, Environmental Management, Home Science, etc.
  5. Social Science Subjects – Economics
  6. If you want, you can opt to keep a Career-oriented subject like – Information Technology, Information & Communication Technology, Multimedia & Web Technology, Fashion Studies/ Fashion Design, Media Studies, Travel & Tourism, etc.
Arts and Humanities stream after Class 10th

After Class 10th, depending upon which school board you are enrolling for, you can have several subjects to choose from:

  1. Elective Indian Languages like Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Assamese, Urdu, Kashmiri, Manipuri, Mizo, Sanskrit, Nepali, Bodo, etc.
  2. Elective Foreign Languages like English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Persian, Arabic, Portuguese, etc.
  3. Arts and humanities subjects like – Psychology, Economics, Geography, Sociology, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Global Politics, Social and Cultural Anthropology, Home Science, etc.
  4. Career-oriented subjects like – Computer Studies, Information Technology, Information & Communication Technology, Multimedia & Web Technology, Fashion Studies/ Fashion Design, Media Studies, Travel & Tourism, etc.
  5. Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science – some boards let you keep a Science subject along with other arts and humanities subjects
  6. Fine art and performing art subjects like – Fine Art, Visual Art, Dance, Music, Film, Theatre, Carnatic Music, Hindustani Music, Western Music, etc.
  7. Subject on religion like – Hinduism, Divinity, Islamic Study, etc.
Commerce / Business stream after Class 10th

After Class 10th, commerce or business stream in class 11th and 12th offer several courses to choose from, depending upon which school board you are enrolling for:

  1. Commerce and Business subjects like – Accountancy, Business Studies, Commerce, Economics, Economic Geography, Secretarial Practice, Entrepreneurship, etc.
  2. Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science – some boards let you keep a Science subject along with other commerce subjects.
  3. Career-oriented subjects like – you may keep a subject like Computer Studies, Information Technology, Information & Communication Technology, Fashion Studies/ Fashion Design, Media Studies, Travel & Tourism, etc. along with your other Commerce and Business subjects.
Vocational stream (Professional/ Short-term courses) after Class 10th

After Class 10th, several boards offer vocational streams in class 11th and 12th to help you prepare for a job immediately after the completion of class 12th. You can choose two or more vocational subjects along with compulsory languages.
Depending upon which board you are enrolling into, your vocational subject choices could be:

  1. Accountancy and Taxation
  2. Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
  3. Auto Shop Repair and Practice
  4. Automotive
  5. Banking and Insurance
  6. Beauty and Wellness
  7. Business Administration
  8. Business Operations and Administration
  9. Capital Market Operations
  10. Civil Engineering Technician
  11. Clinical Biochemistry and Microbiology
  12. Computer Theory & System Analyst
  13. Construction Technology
  14. Cost Accounting Creche and Pre-school Management
  15. Database Management Applications
  16. Design and Innovation
  17. Electrical Appliances
  18. Electrical Machines
  19. Electrical Technology
  20. Electronics Technology
  21. Environment Education
  22. Exterior & Interior Design
  23. Fashion Design and Garment Technology
  24. Financial Accounting
  25. Financial Market Management
  26. Food and Beverage Services
  27. Food Nutrition and Dietetics
  28. Food Production
  29. Front Office Operations
  30. Garment Construction
  31. Geospatial Technology
  32. Graphic Design Technician
  33. Health and Beauty Studies
  34. Healthcare Science
  35. Horticulture
  36. Hospitality Management
  37. Information Technology Insurance
  38. IT Application
  39. Library and Information Science
  40. Logistics Operations and Supply Chain Management
  41. Marketing and Salesmanship
  42. Mass Media Studies and Production
  43. Mechanical Engineering Technician
  44. Medical Diagnostics
  45. Music Production
  46. Office Procedures and Practice
  47. Office Secretary ship
  48. Offset Printing Technician
  49. Operations and Maintenance of Communication Devices
  50. Retail Operations
  51. Salesmanship
  52. Security
  53. Stenography and Computer Application
  54. Taxation
  55. Telecommunication & Electronic Technician
  56. Textile Design
  57. Transport Systems and Logistics Management
  58. Travel and Tourism
  59. Troubleshooting and Maintenance of Electronic Equipment
  60. Typography and Computer Application
  61. Web Applications
  62. X-Ray Technician

Top Courses after Class 10th: Vocational Education Options

Do you want to leave school and instead opt for vocational training? Are you looking for career options after Class 10th? There is a large chunk of people who want to pursue professional careers soon after 12th to shape their lives

If you have studied Science and Mathematics in class 9th and class 10th, then you can take polytechnic entrance examination in your state and secure a seat in a polytechnic. After a polytechnic diploma (3-year duration), you can secure a job or opt for lateral entry into a 4- year B.E./B.Tech. course in Engineering (you can get admission to the 2nd year). Diplomas in these are considered to be the best course after the class 10th.


Top 20 Polytechnic diploma Courses after Class 10th

  1. Computer Engineering
  2. Cyber Forensics & Information Security Digital Electronics
  3. Applied Electronics & Instrumentation Electrical & Electronics
  4. Electronics
  5. Biomedical Electronics
  6. Information Technology
  7. Mechanical Engineering
  8. Medical Electronics
  9. Mechatronics
  10. Power Electronics
  11. CAD-CAM
  12. 3-D Animation & Graphics
  13. Apparel Design & Fashion Technology Chemical Technology
  14. Civil Engineering
  15. Civil Engineering (Environmental) Food Processing
  16. Water Technology
  17. ITI Certificate Courses (technical)

If you have studied Science and Mathematics in class 9th and 10th, then you can enroll for an ITI Trade course in any of the following technical trades and obtain a certificate (2-year duration).

ITI Certificate courses after Class 10th

  1. Computer Hardware & Network Maintenance Draughtsman (Civil)
  2. Electrician
  3. Electronic Mechanic
  4. Mechanic (Refrigeration and Air-Conditioner)
  5. Mechanic (Medical Electronics) Surveyor
  6. Radiology Technician
  7. ITI Certificate Courses (non-technical)
  8. Mechanic (Auto Electrical & Electronics) Mechanic (Mechatronics)

If you have not studied Science and Mathematics in class 9th and Class 10th or studied any one of the subjects, then you can enroll for an ITI Trade courses in any of the following non- technical trades and obtain a certificate (1–2-year duration):

  1. Baker & Confectioner
  2. Computer Operator & Programming Assistant
  3. Food & Beverage Services
  4. Food Production
  5. Hair & Skin Care
  6. Housekeeper
  7. Multimedia, Animation, Special Effects
  8. Travel Tour Assistant
  9. Plumber
  10. Welder
  11. Old Age Care
  12. Spa Therapy

Instead of opting for a polytechnic diploma or an ITI certificate course, you may also opt for a 3-year D.Voc. (Diploma in Vocation) course under the NSQF (National Skill Qualification Framework) training program.

A degree in vocational training is considered to be the best course.

  1. Software Development Graphics & Multimedia
  2. Travel & Tourism
  3. Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning BFSI
  4. Medical Imaging

Skill Training Programs and courses after Class 10th

After Class 10th, you may also opt for a skill training program in a community college and NSDC approved training center for career options after Class 10th. Some of the options are:

  1. Animator
  2. Beauty Therapist
  3. Food processing
  4. Gems & Jewellery
  5. Healthcare
  6. Mobile Phone Technician
  7. Organic Grower
  8. Sales Executive
  9. Software Development
  10. Solar Photovoltaic System Installer

Choosing a good course from the above list of courses after Class 10th can be a mammoth task. Remember the solution we came up with at the beginning of this article? Well, it is time to take a call and make the right career choice by aligning it with your interests, scope of subjects and choosing the options that is fulfilling.

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