The transition from the 10th Grade to +2 is a tricky one. Up until class 10th, we all study similar things, and in similar ways. However, after completing the 10th standard, we are faced with the challenge of picking a stream to complete our further studies in. Once we choose a stream, studies become different among the friends that picked either of the other two streams. The subject matter is different, the concepts are varying, and the scope that each of the streams offers is also quite different.
 

Most of the time it gets a little difficult to just choose a stream and continue. It needs a lot of deliberate research and a deep dive into one’s interests and aptitudes to be able to decide on the stream that they want to pursue. It is a decision that needs to be made carefully and with elaborate thinking to make the 11th and 12th a smooth ride, and even further studies.

This article is an attempt to make the 11th and 12th Arts students familiar with what they have to put up with for the next two years. Here, we will explore the basics of the Arts stream, the different subjects associated with the stream and its scope, subject combination for class 11 Arts, CBSE Class 11 subject combinations, 11th Class Arts subject books, etc.

We will also discuss in detail the important topics that require more focus and attention, hours that need to go into studies etc. The article also includes tips to maintain studies alongside tuitions or other co-curricular activities, etc. along with tips on following a daily routine, with a study timetable for class 12 Arts from our side as an example.
 

Arts as a Stream

Among the three available streams, Arts is one of the most commonly chosen, yet very neglected stream. Many people still neglect this stream as something meant just for ‘weak’ students, for the ones that aren’t good enough for the Science or Commerce stream, as something that is easy enough to be done without studying. But that is not even nearly true. Arts is as important a stream as the others. According to information from the 2019–20 All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), approximately 97 lakh students were enrolled in undergraduate arts programmes all over the nation. With a share of 53 percent, girls slightly outnumber boys, who make up 47 percent. It too requires a lot of effort, dedication and hard work. As much as the other streams, you have to study to be able to secure good marks and complete your 12th with flying colours.

Check Out: A Guide on Picking the Right Stream After Grade 10th

The scope that the Arts stream offers is not talked about enough. Although it has long been believed that Indian students and their parents prefer that their children study science—especially medicine or engineering—as part of their undergraduate degrees, new data from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) indicates that the humanities are actually the most popular option.

According to the report, undergraduate arts programmes in India are the most popular with 93.49 lakh students enrolled. Enrollment figures for engineering and medical may surprise you: engineering and technology is just the fourth most popular course (38.52 lakh students enrolled), and medicine is the fifth (11.96 lakh students enrolled). Science is the second most popular, but by a wide margin: 47.13 lakh students are enrolled in science courses, over half of those enrolled in arts. With 40.3 lakh students enrolled, commerce is a close second behind science. 

This stream offers a plethora of subjects and hence, the scope too, is quite wide. For starters, students can choose to complete their Bachelors and Masters in one of the subjects that they really liked, like Psychology, English, Anthropology, etc. They can also choose to do their Bachelors in other non-conventional subjects like Fashion Designing or Hotel Management, as they fall under the Arts stream. After doing their Bachelors, students can choose to further complete their Masters and obtain a Doctorate, or they can sit for competitive exams like PCS, UPSC and so on.

The Different Subjects in Arts Stream

Also referred to as Humanities¸ the Arts stream is rich in subjects such as History, Humanities, Languages, Literature, Law, Philosophy, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, etc. The major subjects that the Arts stream comprises of are-

•         Economics
•         English
•         Geography
•         History
•         Legal Studies
•         Philosophy
•         Political science
•         Psychology
•         Sociology
•         Languages (Hindi, Sanskrit, etc.)

Among these subjects, it is up to the students to choose what they want to study. And mind you, the subject combination for class 11 Arts is very essential to ensure smooth sailing through 11th and 12th. CBSE gives you a free hand to choose your own combination of subjects. Here are some examples of CBSE Class 11 subject combinations, with a breakdown of what’s easy and what’s hard, to help you choose one for yourself.

History, Economics, and Political Science: These are subjects that are closely related to each other. Often you will find while studying one subject, that the topics are interrelated and often borrow sources or concepts from one of the other two subjects. However, Economics can get tricky sometimes. So, remember to keep hold of your basic mathematics skills if you want to go with Economics.

English Literature, History, and Psychology: These are all subjects that require one to have great extended writing skills, and an analytical mindset. These subjects are comparatively easy to learn if you set your heart and mind to them. An improvement in learning all three of these subjects can ensure a smooth sailing graduate course in studying Law, with Psychology being the cherry on top.

Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science: Now this is a subject combination that can enable you to help society and its functioning from up close. All of these subjects are concerned with the past and present of society, also giving insights on improving life in society. It is a great combination for someone willing to pursue a career in politics or seeking an undergraduate course in Anthropology.

Note: The 11th Class Arts subject books can be purchased for the subjects that you wish to follow. However, before buying the books, remember to check with the school to see what books are usually followed. You can also consult teachers as to what references and guides you should buy to get your concepts clearer.

How many hours should go into your studies every day?

As mentioned earlier, the Arts stream is not a stream just for the academically dull students. It does require a lot of dedication, hard work and elaborate study hours to put into, to complete your 12th with flying colours.

By now, the students might have grown familiar with the importance of a daily routine and the concept of studying daily. Studying daily helps to keep their minds free from the clutter and the stress of having to get it all done in a short time. Hence, it is very important to have a detailed routine, specifying when and how much to study.

It is essential that you spend at least one hour every day studying each subject, on school days. Make sure that you at least revise what gets taught in school every day, if you do not want to study anything else. It is important to revise to sustain the learning and to point out if there are any doubts that are yet to be cleared. Even this daily revising schedule can help you stick to a longer and more dedicated study time.

However, you are a step closer to your boards as you reach 12th. Once you reach 12th, daily studies become very essential, and that too in ample amounts, along with school. Here’s an example of a study routine for both Class 11 & 12 Arts, after school hours, just to give you an idea of how you can plan your routine.

Let’s assume that the school hours are from 9 to 3, and also that there are five subjects to study. Also, as it is completely upon the student to choose his subject, we are using the words first, second, third, fourth and fifth, instead of the actual subject names in this routine below.
 

Balancing Your Studies

We know balancing your studies can get a little difficult sometimes. With all the school work, tuitions, assignments and other activities, it can get difficult to take out enough time for studying.

Of course, school is not the only thing that you are associated with. You need time to study by yourself, to go for tuition, to take part in co-curricular and other activities, etc. The key to balancing all these is a firm and dedicated mind. You need to sit down and plan in a manner that you do not end up compromising on the others. Yes, it will be hard. But it will also be worth it.

Here are some tips for you to help balance your studies-

Have a Plan

It is important to have a plan. So, plan your activities, like dance or music classes etc., at a time when you are free from both schoolwork and self-study. The same goes for tuition. Talk with your tutor and fix a time that is suitable for you or you can just plan the tuition timetable as a part of self-study time.

Daily Routine

Following a daily routine makes you feel prepared for the day ahead. Jot down all that needs to be done to ensure that you are doing everything in time and that nothing is left out. Remember to include enough breaks in your daily routine to help yourself unwind.

Weekly Journal

Maintaining a weekly journal is another way to elaborately plan your work. Jot down what activities you have to do each day, which subjects you are willing to study and on which day, how many chapters you will be finished with at the end of the week, etc.

Don’t Get Stressed

Managing many things can get stressful at times. But do not let stress get the better of you. Always take some time to relax, to calm your mind down. Maybe go for a walk every day, listen to some music before proceeding from one subject to the other, etc.

Healthy Lifestyle

Having a healthy lifestyle is the key to being able to achieve all that you seek. Do not compromise on your sleep to study a little more or to make up for some lost time. Do not stay hungry just because you have to complete one more chapter. Stay healthy. It will help you in more ways than one.

When it comes to offering subjects of interest, GEMS Modern Academy in Gurgaon has a wide selection of subjects to offer to the students proceeding towards Grade XI. Established back in 2015, this branch of the GEMS Education in Gurgaon believes in imparting education that is truly global as well as culturally relevant. The GEMS School reviews also notably mention that the students of this school are exposed to a range of well-defined learning sources and hence, can mould themselves into innovative, self-motivated, and life-long learners. 

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GEMS Modern Academy provides all three streams with a variety of subject combinations. 

Along with the basic, or common, subjects like Biology, Accountancy, History etc., this branch of the GEMS School in Gurgaon also consists of unique subject choices like Fashion Studies and Textile Design, that will interest students wanting to take up a career choice related to these subjects. Both the subjects are quite unconventional and thus, might interest students who don’t want to stick to the conventional subjects.