5 Steps to Know Which Stream Is Best in Class 11?

By Class 10, you have had enough time to know and develop an interest in the subjects that you score well in and enjoy studying versus those that you dislike. It is important at this stage in your decision-making to be conscious and aware of your strengths and weaknesses so that in Class 11, you can take the right stream to further orient yourself in that domain.
By Kunal Sandhu
It is one of the most important decisions to make the right decision about the subject stream in class 11. It is a decision that will form the basis for the candidates to make further decisions related to their educational goals and professional careers.
One of the first things to focus on while choosing the right stream is to calculate a candidate’s passion and interest. Make sure you select subjects that are of interest and determine your level of commitment, interest and motivation. For those candidates who love problem-solving and are fascinated by numbers, there is a high chance that they will be more inclined towards choosing Mathematics, Science stream or computer science. On the other side, candidates who are inclined towards understanding human behaviours, social dynamics, history and creativity should go for the Humanities or Arts Stream.
As you breathe a sigh of relief after completing your Class 10 Board Exams, you are at a crossroads of an important decision, to select the best subject stream in Class 11 for a successful career. This can be a difficult time for students who are yet to learn about their career ambitions or how to reach them. But you can rest assured, there is help.
Only a small fraction of students know exactly what they want from their careers, and to know which stream is best for class 11, they need to select to succeed. A majority of students need support to help them decide on their next step. Another small number make decisions based on what their peers and parents think would be good for them. To help you make the right decision today to succeed tomorrow, here are five simple things that you can do. With the help of some main factors, candidates can make well-informed decisions. In this Shiksha article, we will discuss some of the most crucial aspects of choosing the best stream in class 11.
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Step 1: Become self-aware
By Class 10, you have had enough time to know the subjects, and now the situation arises where you need to make yourself aware of your strong and weak subjects. One can always get confused here because, at times, maybe you are not looking forward to taking that strong subject in higher education, or maybe your interest develops into another subject. Now, at this dilemma, you can always ask this question to yourself by making a list of:
- Subjects you would like to continue
- Subjects you would like to discontinue and
- Subjects you are confused or unsure of
- Subjects of your interest
For subjects you are confused about, you should ask yourself questions like:
- Do I like Mathematics?
- Am I good at it, and could I be better if I had the right guidance and coaching?
- Am I willing to spend time practising Math to improve my grades in class 11?
Step 2: Take a Career Test
A Career Test is a great starting point. Verified Career Tests are scientifically designed to help you get insight into your personality, motivations, interests and areas of strength that would help you succeed in a potential career. They often include variables such as academic performance to give you a complete roadmap of what subjects you can choose today for a successful career in the future. Once you have done the assessment, you can get one-on-one counselling with a professional to help you plan your next steps.
Step 3: Learn about new subjects
Those students who already have the information related to subjects such as Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies should also explore other subjects of their interest. Students must know that while choosing the 11th science subjects, they also get the option to choose many new subjects that they have not done earlier, such as Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Biotechnology, and Marketing. Find out the subject options available at their school and try to learn more about them to find out your interest. It allows students to speak to their seniors who know the coursework to help them understand better. Apart from knowing how many subjects are compulsory in class 11, students should also know which stream is best for class 11.
Step 4: Think about your long-term career goals
This is a tough but important step. Think about your future and work backwards to where you are today. You should ask yourself – What is important to you? Are you someone who likes structure and working independently, or are you someone who likes to work as part of a team? Do you like routine or do you prefer flexibility? These are important questions that help you understand the kind of career you should choose and then decide the best Subject stream that would lead you there.
Step 5: Take an active approach to decision-making
Take an active approach towards decision-making by researching on your own, meeting and talking to peers, parents and teachers. You should look for Webinars, Projects and Internships that can help you learn more. Most importantly, remember there is no right stream or one-size-fits-all. The idea is to spend time understanding yourself and being honest about the decisions you make. Success in any field comes with hard work – if you are willing to give it your best, you will be successful no matter what. This will help them know which stream is best in class 11 and to make a better decision while choosing the best subject stream in Class 11.
Parents play a key role in helping children make this crucial decision. To know more about how you, as parents, can guide your child, read my article on Parent Guide: How to help your children make the right career decisions.
About the Author:
Kunal Sandhu is Founder & CEO of a specialised student assessment company). Kunal is an Electronics Engineer from Delhi Technological University and holds an MBA in Finance & Marketing from XLRI, Jamshedpur. His company CogitoHub uses predictive analytics and machine learning to help students and educators realise their true potential and perform better.
More articles by this Author:
- Solving the Course-College Selection Dilemma
- The Enabler: Careers in Investment Banking, Health & Medicine, Law and Business Administration
- The Innovators! What’s the right career for you
- The Communicator: Careers in Media & Entertainment, Education; Hospitality & Tourism; Marketing & Sales
- The Builder: Careers in Technology, Computer Applications, Management & Operations

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