PUC Science Course Guide
Wondering what to do after 10th grade? Like science but don’t know where to go from there? Let’s have a look at the different options available in the PUC science stream. This article will tell you everything you need to know to pursue a PUC science course. 1st PUC science and 2nd PUC science courses offer information on different topics in a graded manner, so let’s understand what a pre-university course in science entails.
PUC Course Combinations / PUC courses list
PUC science courses come in a combination of subjects like Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Electronics, Chemistry, and Computer Science. Depending upon the combination of subjects, the science combination for PUC equips candidates with the practical and theoretical application of scientific concepts. It not only educates them on the theories that explain the world around us but also helps us use this understanding to make life easier. This 2-year course comes with 1 major board exam at the end of the second year of PUC/12th standard.
PUC science courses typically involve various modes of instruction like projects, workshops, seminars, presentations, and lectures. In the science stream, here’s a list of course combinations, and what they include.
- PCMB- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology
- PCMC- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Computer Science
- PCME- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Electronics
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Other Flexible Options
Unlike what most people think, PUC science courses don’t necessarily follow the above combinations in the strictest form. If you wish to modify your course to include or exclude a particular subject, PUC science courses do accommodate that. However, you must check if your chosen college/university allows for such modifications
For instance, if you don’t want to study Biology but want to swap it with Geology, you can opt for a PCMG (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Geology). You would still be eligible for a career in engineering. Also, if you don’t prefer Mathematics, you can opt for PCBH (Home Science) or PCBS (Statistics). This works especially for those who are looking for a career in medicine but want to bypass mathematics.
It is important to note that if you do not enjoy science subjects or are finding it difficult to cope after choosing a PUC science course, you still have an option to shift to an Arts or Commerce stream. An Arts or Commerce student won’t be able to shift to a science stream, however; even though some subjects (like psychology) and paramedical courses are open for Arts and Commerce students too.
In all, a student opting for a PUC science course studies 6 subjects- English, a secondary language, 3 core subjects, and one optional subject.
PUC Course Eligibility Criteria
The basic qualification criteria required to pursue a PUC science course is that the student should’ve passed matriculation or 10th standard from a recognized school/institution.
The selection and admission of a candidate depend on the institution. Selection happens through merit and by direct admission for management seats.
PUC Course Duration
The duration of a PUC science course is typically 2 years. The course is cleared by passing a board exam at the end of the second year (or 12th standard).
The first year of the course builds a foundation for the subjects chosen, and the second year gives a more detailed overview, allowing for students to make an informed decision about the subjects they would like to choose for higher studies.
PUC Course Syllabus/Subjects
The PUC science subjects help students understand different scientific elements and concepts. Here’s what the PUC science syllabus includes.
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PCMB- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology
This is the choice for a solid foundation in a science-oriented career. Most doctors, researchers, and engineers begin with these subjects. This is also a great choice for those who wish to take up competitive exams in the future. PCMB candidates can pursue a range of options for higher studies including medical, Dental, Ayurvedic, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Nutrition and Dietetics, Life Sciences, Paramedical Diploma, Hospital Administration, and Vocational courses among others.
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PCMC- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Computer Science
This is best for those looking for a career in engineering, but not in the medical field. This combination also leads to standardized, All-India exams like JEE that serve as entrance exams to various engineering colleges across the country. PCMC candidates can choose subjects for higher studies from Engineering, Management, Computer Applications, Poly Technic, and Vocational courses.
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PCME- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Electronics
This is yet another great option for those interested to pursue engineering. This PUC science course introduces electronics as a subject and forms the base for engineering in the field of electronics. Like other combinations, this also qualifies students to take up entrance exams. Higher studies options for PCME candidates include Engineering, Management, and Vocational courses among others.
| Combination | Subjects | Prospects |
|---|---|---|
| PCMB | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology | Medical, Paramedical Diploma, Life Sciences, Ayurveda, Physiotherapy, Nutrition and Dietetics, etc. |
| PCMC | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science | Engineering, Management, Polytechnic, computer application, etc |
| PCME | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Electronics | Management, Vocational courses, polytechnic, etc. |
PUC Course After 10th Course
After passing SSLC or 10th standard, there are several course options that Indian universities and colleges offer. The pre-university course allows students to pick from 3 streams namely, Arts, Science and Commerce.
Like PUC science courses offer a choice between PCMB, PCMC, and PCME, Arts and Commerce stream also comes with a bunch of subject combinations that you can choose to study.
PUC Commerce
If you are interested in pursuing a career in accounting and economics and have an aptitude for numbers, commerce subjects are the right way to go. Courses in commerce pave the way to a career in financial advising, investment banking, entrepreneurship, and chartered accountancy. PUC commerce courses are also a starting point for those interested to take up management courses. Popular subject combinations in commerce include;
- HEBA- History, Economics, Business Studies, and Accountancy
- CEBA- Computer Science, Economics, Business Studies, and Accountancy
- MEBA- Basic Mathematics, Economics, Business Studies, and Accountancy
- SEBA- Statistics, Economics, Business Studies, and Accountancy
PUC Arts
If you are passionate about languages or humanities, you can opt for the Arts stream. This stream offers a wide range of courses on designing, journalism, psychology, social work, etc. Among others, the following are a few subject options to pursue after the 10th standard, in the Arts domain.
- Economics, Political Science, English, History, Geography, Psychology, Music, Home Science, Physical Education, Public Administration, Sociology, Fine Arts, and Languages.
Other than mainstream PUC courses, there are Diploma courses in many subjects that have completion of 10th standard as a pre-requisite to admission. The following are some Diploma courses that PUC science aspirants may be interested in.
- Diploma in Engineering
- Diploma in Pharmacy
- Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery
- Diploma in Plastic Technology
- Diploma in Leather Technology
- Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology
PUC Coaching
2nd PUC (12th) courses of any stream are of great importance because the board exams this year serve as a launchpad for further studies. Considering the importance and the challenging nature of the syllabus, tuition and coaching classes are popular choices for many students. Through these classes, they receive one-to-one guidance from expert faculty that increases their knowledge and confidence to attend competitive exams.
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Of the many PUC coaching classes in Bangalore, Giraffe Learning stands out the most. Equipped with a team of renowned IIT and IIM graduates, Giraffe offers 2 program options.
- 1-year Program- Here students can opt to study any PCM combination and will be trained for 2nd PUC board exams along with competitive exams.
- Summer Vacation Program- This is a 3-month program aimed at preparing 1st PUC students for the second year, giving them a head start for 2nd PUC syllabus and exam preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Having a strategy and being consistent is the key. Making notes, mapping out key points, definitions, and formulae, having a strategy to learn long answers, and starting preparations well in time will help you learn and practice your answers. Practising model exam papers and papers from previous years are very important. Remember to time your practice so that you learn how to manage time too.
The following steps will help you prepare well for your 2nd PUC board exams.
- Have a properly planned and organized schedule- Make sure you club easy and difficult subjects together so that you don’t lose motivation
- Be thorough in reading from the NCERT books as this is where the entire syllabus exists
- Understand your weak points- Whether it is ill-managed time, a difficult subject, or bad handwriting, make sure you put an effort to improve your weak spots
- For difficult subjects get help- from a teacher, tuition, or coaching class
- Practice sample and previous question papers well
- Focus on English and Language papers too- They might seem unimportant, but they affect the overall performance
- Take care of your health (both physically and mentally) and reach out to your loved ones when you feel too anxious or overwhelmed
After completing 2nd PUC science, several professional courses can open up lucrative career options. Of the many choices, science students can pursue medicine and engineering. At postgraduate levels of science, students can opt for Pure Sciences or Allied Sciences. The following Bachelor’s degree courses are some of the more popular science courses to pursue after the 12th.
- B.E./B.Tech (Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Technology)
- B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture)
- MBBS
- BSc. (Bachelor of Science)
- BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications)
- BSc (IT and Software)
- B.Pharma (Bachelor of Pharmacy)
In all, there are 6 subjects comprising English, three core subjects, one optional subject, and one language. Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are the core subjects that can be paired with Biology, Computer Science or Electronics.
The success or failure of studying a course depends on one’s interest and choice of subjects. So, the best combination for a PUC science course would include subjects that interest you, and those in which you see yourself pursuing a career. For instance, those interested in the medical field can pursue biology, and those interested in engineering can opt for electronics or computer science.
PUC science courses equip candidates with a working knowledge of scientific concepts. These courses educate students on various theories and applications of science and form a firm foundation on which students can make career choices.
After completing a science PUC course with biology, you can pursue an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) course in many areas. These include Pharmacy, Food Technology, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, Nutritional Biology, Homeopathic Medicine, Biochemistry, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Dental Surgery, and Ayurvedic medicine to name just a few.
There are many courses one can pursue after their 10th standard, depending on their area of interest. PUC is broadly categorized into 2 streams- Arts, Science and Commerce. Each stream offers a combination of subjects that teach specific concepts and ideas. While Arts subjects usually reflect humanities and design, science subjects focus on scientific theories and applications, and commerce subjects dwell on the various aspects of finance.
Pre-university courses are also known as pre-degree courses that form a bridge between schooling and university education. It is a senior-secondary course under the 10+2 education system, also referred to as the 11th (1st PUC) and 12th (2nd PUC) standards, followed by state education institutions or boards in India.
No, pre-university is a part of senior secondary school that a student must clear to be eligible for university education. Upon completion of the 12th standard, one can opt for undergraduate courses in universities.
2nd PUC science comes with 3 major combinations-
PCMB- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology
PCMC- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Computer Science
PCME- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Electronics
Apart from these combinations, there are subject variations that students can opt for instead of particular subjects. Note that, the option for switching subjects should be available in the university/college you’re applying to.
While 1st PUC is usually considered relatively easy because the syllabus includes basic principles of the subject, 2nd PUC is considered more difficult with more in-depth knowledge and the added pressure of scoring well in the board exams.
1st and 2nd PUC is equivalent to the 11th and 12th standards of a school. Notably, PUC comes under state board directives, so they are found only in institutions/colleges that are run by state boards.
For people wanting to learn quicker, a Diploma is a good option because it gives you more specific, practical knowledge of a subject. It is quicker too, as you can apply for jobs at the end of 3 years. PUC on the other hand takes time and deals with a slower knowledge progression. It is important to note though, that most undergraduate and postgraduate courses place more value on a PUC as they consider these courses more rounded and mainstream.
Choosing a PU college is mainly based on 2 things- The subject you wish to choose (expertise of the faculty to teach those subjects) and the college environment. Other factors to consider while choosing a college include the importance of extra-curricular activities, results from outgoing students, lower cut-offs at admission (increasing your chances of getting selected), and class strength (colleges with more students might not be equipped to cater to the individual needs of each student.
No, students must do both years of PUC and 12th standard in regular mode. After completing 1st PUC in regular mode, students cannot opt for a 2nd PUC in distance education.
No, colleges accept students who have completed both years of pre-university in regular mode. Distance education is considered for university courses and Diplomas.
While there are no upper age restrictions to write a 2nd PUC board exam, a candidate must be at least 17 years of age to apply for the PUC science course.
To apply for the 2nd PUC board exam, complete the following steps;
- Visit the official website (for Karnataka it is karnatakaone.gov.in)
- Select the “Generate Challan” option on the homepage
- Enter the details required to generate the challan
- Click on “generate challan” and take a printout
- Complete the payment process with your respective bank, submitting your challan
- If you wish to pay online, select the “online payment” button after filling out the details to generate your challan
- Click on the “Pay now” and complete your online transaction
This depends on the degree of stimulation and guidance you are receiving at school/college. While most of the topics are dealt with quite effectively by teachers, it does help to enrol in coaching classes or tuitions. Tuitions and coaching give an added leverage which can only help- they give additional exposure, provide practice material, and it’s always more motivating to study in a group.
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