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For School Students (Class 9-12)

School Student Resources

Complete career guidance from Class 9 onwards. Make informed decisions about streams, competitive exams, scholarships, and your future career path.

100+

Career Options

50+

Scholarships

30+

Competitive Exams

20+

Countries to Study

Essential Resources for School Students

Everything you need to plan your academic journey and career from Class 9 to 12.

Stream Selection

Which Stream is Right for You?

Choosing the right stream after 10th is one of the most important decisions. Understand each stream before deciding.

Science (PCM)

Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics

Career Options

Engineering (IIT, NIT)
Architecture
Aviation & Pilot
Merchant Navy
Data Science
AI/ML
Robotics
Defense (NDA)

Key Exams

JEE Main • JEE Advanced • BITSAT • VITEEE • State CETs • NDA

Avg Salary

₹6-50 LPA

Top Colleges

IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi...

Science (PCB)

Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Career Options

MBBS Doctor
Dentist (BDS)
Pharmacy
Biotechnology
Nursing
Veterinary
BAMS/BHMS
Research

Key Exams

NEET UG • AIIMS • JIPMER • State Medical Entrances

Avg Salary

₹5-40 LPA

Top Colleges

AIIMS Delhi, CMC Vellore...

Commerce

Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics

Career Options

Chartered Accountant
Company Secretary
Investment Banking
MBA
Economics
Banking
Stock Market
Entrepreneur

Key Exams

CA Foundation • CS Foundation • CUET • CAT/XAT • CLAT

Avg Salary

₹5-35 LPA

Top Colleges

SRCC Delhi, LSR...

Arts/Humanities

History, Political Science, Psychology

Career Options

Civil Services (IAS/IPS)
Law (LLB)
Journalism
Psychology
Teaching
Design
Film Making
Foreign Service

Key Exams

UPSC CSE • CLAT • NID DAT • NIFT • Mass Comm Entrances

Avg Salary

₹4-30 LPA

Top Colleges

St. Stephens, JNU...

Popular Career Paths

Explore high-demand careers and their requirements

Software Engineer

PCM
Avg Salary:₹8-40 LPA
Growth:Very High
Education:B.Tech CS/IT

Doctor (MBBS)

PCB
Avg Salary:₹8-50 LPA
Growth:High
Education:MBBS + MD/MS

Chartered Accountant

Commerce
Avg Salary:₹7-30 LPA
Growth:High
Education:CA

IAS Officer

Any
Avg Salary:₹8-12 LPA + Perks
Growth:Stable
Education:Any Graduate + UPSC

Lawyer

Any
Avg Salary:₹5-50 LPA
Growth:High
Education:LLB/BA LLB

Data Scientist

PCM
Avg Salary:₹10-50 LPA
Growth:Very High
Education:B.Tech + Skills

Architect

PCM
Avg Salary:₹5-20 LPA
Growth:Moderate
Education:B.Arch

Pilot

PCM
Avg Salary:₹15-60 LPA
Growth:High
Education:CPL

Fashion Designer

Any
Avg Salary:₹4-25 LPA
Growth:Moderate
Education:B.Des

Investment Banker

Commerce
Avg Salary:₹15-80 LPA
Growth:Very High
Education:MBA Finance

Journalist

Arts
Avg Salary:₹4-15 LPA
Growth:Moderate
Education:Mass Comm

Psychologist

Arts
Avg Salary:₹4-20 LPA
Growth:High
Education:MA Psychology
Exam Calendar 2025

Upcoming Competitive Exams

Never miss a registration deadline

ExamDateCategoryRegistration
JEE Main 2025 Session 1Jan 22-31, 2025
Engineering
Closed
JEE Main 2025 Session 2Apr 1-15, 2025
Engineering
Feb 2025
NEET UG 2025May 4, 2025
Medical
Feb-Mar 2025
JEE Advanced 2025May 18, 2025
Engineering
After JEE Main
CUET UG 2025May 2025
Central Universities
Feb-Mar 2025
BITSAT 2025May-June 2025
Engineering
Jan-Apr 2025
VITEEE 2025Apr 2025
Engineering
Nov-Mar
NTSE Stage 1Nov 2025
Scholarship
Aug-Sep 2025
Olympiad Stage 1Nov-Dec 2025
Scholarship
Sep-Oct 2025
CLAT 2025Dec 2025
Law
Aug-Nov 2025
Scholarships

Scholarships for School Students

Financial support for meritorious students

NTSE Scholarship

₹1,250/month till PhD
Class 10 students
Deadline: November

KVPY Fellowship

₹5,000-7,000/month
Class 11-12 Science
Deadline: Merged with INSPIRE

INSPIRE Scholarship

₹80,000/year
Top 1% in 12th boards
Deadline: After results

PM YASASVI

Up to ₹75,000/year
OBC/EBC/DNT students
Deadline: August

Sitaram Jindal Foundation

₹1,000-2,000/month
Meritorious students
Deadline: Rolling

L&T Build India Scholarship

Varies
Engineering aspirants
Deadline: May-June

HDFC Educational Crisis

Need-based
Financial crisis
Deadline: Anytime

Vidyasaarathi Scholarships

Multiple
Various criteria
Deadline: Multiple

Alternative Career Paths

Not interested in regular 11-12th? Explore these options

Diploma in Engineering

Duration: 3 years

10th Pass

Leads to: Lateral entry to B.Tech 2nd year

Computer Science
Mechanical
Electrical
Civil
Electronics

ITI Courses

Duration: 1-2 years

8th/10th Pass

Leads to: Government & Private Jobs

Electrician
Fitter
Mechanic
COPA
Welder

Polytechnic

Duration: 3 years

10th Pass

Leads to: Junior Engineer Jobs

All Engineering Branches

Vocational Courses

Duration: 6 months - 2 years

10th/12th Pass

Leads to: Industry Jobs

Fashion
Animation
Photography
Hotel Management
Study Tips

Proven Study Strategies

Science-backed techniques to study smarter

1

Follow the 25-5 Rule

Study for 25 minutes, take 5 minute break. Repeat 4 times, then take longer break.

2

Active Recall

Test yourself instead of passive reading. Cover notes and try to recall information.

3

Spaced Repetition

Review material at increasing intervals - after 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks.

4

Teach Someone

Explaining concepts to others strengthens your own understanding.

5

Make Mind Maps

Visual representations help connect concepts and improve memory.

6

Practice Problems Daily

For STEM subjects, solving problems daily is more important than reading theory.

7

Sleep 7-8 Hours

Memory consolidation happens during sleep. Never sacrifice sleep for study.

8

Exercise Regularly

30 minutes of exercise improves concentration and memory.

Quick Tools

Calculators and utilities for students

Success Stories

Inspiration from those who made it

Sundar Pichai

CEO, Google

IIT Kharagpur (Metallurgy)

"Came from modest background, excelled in academics"

Indra Nooyi

Former CEO, PepsiCo

IIM Calcutta

"Arts background, rose to lead Fortune 500 company"

APJ Abdul Kalam

Former President, Missile Man

MIT Chennai

"From newspaper seller to Presidents house"

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw

Founder, Biocon

BSc Zoology

"Became Indias richest self-made woman"

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common queries answered by experts

1Which stream should I choose after 10th - Science, Commerce, or Arts?

Choose based on your interests, not peer pressure or salary expectations. If you love solving problems and math, consider Science (PCM). If biology and healthcare fascinate you, choose Science (PCB). If business and finance interest you, go for Commerce. If you love reading, writing, and social sciences, choose Arts. Take career aptitude tests to understand your strengths.

2Can I change my stream after 11th class?

Technically possible but not recommended. You would need to restart from 11th or pursue graduation in a different field. Some boards allow changing within a month of admission. Its better to take time initially to choose the right stream. If you must change, consider doing it before 11th final exams.

3Is Arts a good career option? What are the job prospects?

Absolutely! Arts leads to diverse and prestigious careers including Civil Services (IAS/IPS/IFS), Law, Journalism, Psychology, Teaching, Foreign Services, Film Making, and Design. Many successful administrators, lawyers, and media professionals have Arts backgrounds. The key is excellence in your chosen field.

4What are the best competitive exams for school students?

NTSE (Class 10) for scholarship, Olympiads (Math, Science, Astronomy) for recognition and learning, JEE Main/Advanced for engineering, NEET for medicine, KVPY/INSPIRE for science fellowships. Start preparing from Class 9-10 for JEE/NEET, and Class 8-9 for NTSE/Olympiads.

5How to score 95%+ in board exams?

Focus on NCERT thoroughly, practice previous year papers, make short notes for revision, solve sample papers within time limits, maintain consistency in studies, get adequate sleep, and focus on understanding concepts rather than rote learning. Join coaching only if self-study is not working.

6Can I do both JEE and NEET preparation together?

Not recommended. While Physics and Chemistry overlap, the approach and syllabus depth differ significantly. JEE focuses heavily on Mathematics while NEET requires Biology. Trying both leads to mediocre preparation in both. Choose one based on your interest and focus completely.

7What if I dont get into IIT/AIIMS?

IIT/AIIMS are not the only paths to success. NITs, IIITs, BITS Pilani, top private colleges offer excellent education. Many successful professionals graduated from non-IIT colleges. Focus on skill development, projects, and internships during college for a successful career.

8Is diploma better than regular 12th class?

They serve different purposes. Regular 12th is needed for most professional degrees (engineering, medicine, law). Diploma provides technical skills and allows lateral entry to B.Tech 2nd year. If you want quick employment with technical skills, diploma is good. For professional degrees, 12th is required.

9How to prepare for NTSE scholarship exam?

NTSE has two stages - State level and National level. Focus on MAT (Mental Ability Test) and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). Study NCERT thoroughly for SAT. Practice logical reasoning, patterns, and puzzles for MAT. Solve previous year papers and take mock tests.

10What are the study abroad options after 12th?

You can pursue undergraduate studies in USA (SAT/ACT + TOEFL), UK (A-levels or IELTS), Canada, Australia, Germany (free education), Singapore, and more. Scholarships like Fulbright, Rhodes, and university-specific aids are available. Start preparation from Class 11 for standardized tests.

11How to manage time between school and competitive exam preparation?

Create a realistic timetable balancing both. School curriculum overlaps with competitive exams. Focus on concepts during school, practice competitive problems on weekends and holidays. Avoid sacrificing sleep or health. Quality study of 4-5 focused hours beats 10 hours of distracted study.

12Which coaching institute is best for JEE/NEET?

No single coaching is "best" - it depends on your location, learning style, and budget. Top names include Allen, FIITJEE, Resonance, Aakash, but success depends on individual effort. Many toppers are self-taught. Online coaching (Unacademy, Physics Wallah) are good alternatives. Choose based on demo classes.

13What are emerging careers for school students to explore?

AI/ML Engineering, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Robotics, Drone Technology, Electric Vehicle Engineering, Biotechnology, Climate Science, UX Design, Digital Marketing, Content Creation, E-sports, and Space Technology. These fields are growing rapidly and will have high demand.

14How important are extra-curricular activities for college admissions?

Very important, especially for abroad and top Indian colleges. Participate in sports, debates, Olympiads, science fairs, cultural events. Leadership roles in clubs add value. For JEE/NEET, rank matters most, but holistic development helps in interviews and personality development.

15Can I start a business after 12th instead of college?

Legally yes, but education provides foundational knowledge, network, and backup plan. Many successful entrepreneurs studied first. Consider BBA or online courses while building your startup. Education is not opposite to entrepreneurship - it complements it.

Start Planning Your Career Early

The earlier you start, the better prepared you'll be. Explore our guides, use our tools, and make informed decisions about your future.