HSC Full Form: Higher Secondary Certificate

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October 28, 2024
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HSC Full Form

HSC full form is a Higher Secondary Certificate. It is also known as the Higher Secondary School Certificate HSSC. It is an intermediate school examination taken by the students of India. According to the 1953 report the Secondary Education Commission set the foundation for India’s Higher Secondary Education system. The structure of the examination differs in the CBSE Board and ISC Board and states like the Maharashtra Board, UP Board, MP Board, and Bihar Board.

What is the HSC Full Form?

HSC full form stands for Higher Secondary Certificate. HSC is a stepping stone for the students of the Indian continent to continue their further studies in colleges. The HSC exam mostly comprises two years of senior secondary classes (Class XI and XII). Once the students clear SSC or secondary school certificates, they get to study in the higher secondary with diverse subjects. This senior exam prepares them for further studies. The Higher Secondary Certificate(HSC full form) which is awarded to students upon completing their higher secondary education.

Various Indian states carry out HSC exams to determine the student’s eligibility for further studies, and some of them are Maharashtra, Gujrat, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Goa, Tamil Nadu, etc. The education boards of the respective boards carry out the exam. Currently, India has 52 sanctioned boards that serve in various states. These boards are WBCHSE, CBSE, ICSE, MP, and UP, etc. Many students aspire to achieve good marks in the Higher Secondary Certificate(HSC full form) exams to secure admission to prestigious colleges.

HSC Facts and Figures

Every year lakhs of students appear for the HSC exam in each state making it one of the biggest exams ever conducted in India. HSC, standing for Higher Secondary Certificate, plays a crucial role in determining a student’s future academic and career opportunities. For example, in 2023, a total of 14.57 lakh students appeared for the HSC exam under Maharashtra from different streams at different exam venues. Since every education board of the Indian state conducts the exam, the methods differ. Even though there are differences, let us present to you some common facts about this exam –

  • Students can choose the subjects for the next two years if they perform well in the SSC or Madhyamik Exam.
  •  The assessment of Class 11 is done internally. Class 12th’s assessment is carried out by external evaluators.
  •  A set of qualified, skilled, and knowledgeable teachers collaborate to prepare the question papers from three essential streams – Science, Arts, and Commerce. However, the questions are also prepared from cross-combinations like Bioscience, Pure Science, and commerce subjects.
  •  The HSC exam takes place in a space of three hours to complete each paper.
  •  The students must qualify in five out of six subjects to successfully clear the HSC exam. In some states, the boards have set the qualifying percentage at 40% in the main five subjects.
  •  The examination boards award grades to the students based on their percentile in marks scored out of 100.
  •  The HSC exam includes both theoretical and practical exams. While some boards have practical exam provisions for science subjects, others have the option of practical exams for almost all the available subjects.
  •  After the publication of the result, the students reserve the right to do RTI or scrutinize their papers.

The importance of this exam

As the full form of the HSC exam relegates to the Higher Secondary Certificate exam, you can understand this exam decides your fate for higher studies. The Higher Secondary Certificate(HSC full form) curriculum typically includes a mix of core subjects and electives to cater to diverse interests. Whether you want to do engineering or appear for NEET, this exam is valuable. It ensures your academic journey in colleges or universities.

Fields in HSC

Fields and Subjects in HSC

The students must choose their field according to their future academic journey. The subjects you will select will decide whether you are eligible for a particular course. For this reason, you must study hard and pay attention to the subjects in your secondary exam.

Before you go on to selecting the subjects, you must understand the HSC full form – Higher Secondary Certificate exam. Every subject you will choose comes with an advanced level of study. In India, the Higher Secondary Certificate(HSC full form) board exams are a significant milestone for students transitioning to higher education. In any case, you should know, there are three prime sections of higher secondary education –

  • Arts
  • Science
  • Commerce

These three sections are again divided based on two categories – The science program and the Non-science program.

HSC Exam Pattern

The exam pattern of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC full form) is mentioned below:

  • After finishing SSC Exam the important HSC exams are taken.
  • Subjects in Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC full form) are divided into three categories Science, Arts, and Commerce.
  • HSC has exams in two parts: Written (Theory) and Practical (Hands-on)
  • You can choose your subjects based on your interests and career plans.
  • HSC exam marks are very important for college admissions and future opportunities.

Subjects in Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC full form)

Higher secondary exams consist of a variety of subject combinations, so you must comprehend the entire purpose of HSC. Let’s examine the important streams of commerce, science, and the arts, as well as the subject allocation. There are two required papers: English and the state-specific vernacular subjects.

Arts in HSC

The following subjects are primarily included in the arts subjects:

  • Political science
  • History
  • Geography
  • Philosophy
  • Economics
  • Education

Science in HSC

The following subjects are primarily included in the science subjects:

  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Biology
  • Computer Science
  • Statistics

Commerce in HSC

The following subjects are primarily included in the commerce subjects:

  • Accountancy
  • Commerce
  • Business Mathematics
  • Company Law and Business Studies
  • Economics

Science programs

If you wish to study science, you will have the option to choose from the following subjects. These subjects decide which field you can choose – medical and non-medical. Physics and Chemistry are common in both these fields. Many programs also offer practical laboratory sessions to enhance hands-on learning and critical thinking skills. This curriculum prepares students for further studies in fields like engineering, medicine, or pure sciences. You can select Mathematics if you choose to pursue engineering, aeronautics, architecture, etc. The students prefer Biology if they wish to follow their medical dream.

Apart from these common subjects, you can do other subjects as well, subject to the availability in the schools. These other subjects are Computer Science, Psychology, Economics, Physical Education etc. You can pursue different courses after 12th such as B. Tech, MBBS, Bachelor of Science (to pursue a further academic journey as an option), Bachelor of Pharmacy, etc.

Non-science programs

The non-science programs cater to the subject of Arts and Commerce. Arts is more of a creative field while Commerce points to the business-oriented field. If you select the creative field, you can choose from a range of subjects like Bengali (regionally can be different), English, History, Political Science, Education, Geography, Sanskrit, Economics etc. If you prefer Commerce, you will have ample options to choose from – Accountancy, Commerce, Business Mathematics, Company Law and Business Studies, Economics etc. Apart from these common subject options, you can opt for a cross-section of subjects with Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy, Home Science, etc.
All these subjects will allow you to pursue graduation after the Higher Secondary Certificate exam. The students often choose these days Diploma courses that specialize in Nutrition, Nursing, Digital Marketing, Advertising, Hotel Management etc.

Benefits of HSC

Some experts believe that the future of HSC Full Form has changed and is now declining. A more centralized educational system is being prioritized by the government, increasing public awareness of Delhi boards such as ICSE and CBSE.

However, this system has many benefits that have lasted for over a century. Among them are:

The abbreviation’s degree of deep penetration Higher Secondary Certificate HSC Full Form.

more affordable and less expensive than other boards.

  • Valid everywhere and recognized nationally.
  • A localized educational system that values the culture of the area
  • Easy access to study resources
  • Students can choose specific streams like science, commerce, or arts, allowing them to focus on subjects that align with their career interests.
  • The HSC curriculum promotes critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities through rigorous coursework and practical assessments.
  • A good performance in HSC exams enhances a student’s chances of gaining admission to reputable colleges and universities.

Common Subjects and the States Where HSC Examination Happens

Almost all the Indian states conduct the HSC examination during March and April. However, the examination boards conduct the exams at the specified time. There are two divisions in the boards –

State level boards

The Maharashtra Secondary & Higher Secondary Boards of Education Act 1965 (Maharashtra Act No. 41) established the Maharashtra State Boards of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education and Eight Divisional Boards. Code No. 18 of the Act outlines the State Board’s rights, responsibilities, and functions. The State Board’s guidelines and the provisions of the rules and regulations govern how the Divisional Boards operate.

These boards are specific to the states. For example, in Maharashtra, the HSC exam is conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education or MSBSHSE. The board is responsible for carrying out both secondary and higher secondary exams. Similarly, some other state boards are as follows –

  1. Kerala Board of Public Examination.
  2. Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan.
  3. Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh.
  4. Bihar School Examination Board.
  5. Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, etc.

National Level boards

These boards can operate across states that adopt the education system for secondary and higher secondary classes. These national boards are of three types –

  1. Central Board of Secondary Education which offers All India Senior School Certificate Examination.
  2.  Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination.
  3.  National Board of Open Schooling.

When it comes to the subjects, many states have similar subjects that they have in their syllabus. These common subjects mostly belong to the science category such as mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, etc. Other common subjects are English, geography, education, Sanskrit, sociology, psychology, etc. You can find similar commerce subjects in many state board exams – accountancy, economics, etc.

HSC Full Form in Other Languages/Terms

HSC Full Form in English

Higher Secondary Certificate

HSC Full Form in Hindi

भारत में HSC का फुल फॉर्म एक हायर सेकेंडरी सर्टिफिकेट बोर्ड है।

HSC Full Form in Medical

Hematopoietic Stem Cells

For more Full Forms → Click Here

Conclusion

HSC full form is the Higher Secondary Certificate examination, one of the most important milestones in a student’s life. You can opt to take the HSC exams in three main branches, like Arts, Commerce, and Science. It is essential to score good marks in HSC as it will determine the pathway for the rest of your career. The HSC marks are essential in getting your dream college and career field where you want to establish yourself.

Along with HSC Full Form, learn about some other full forms:

AICTE Full Form
SCERT Full FormCWSN Full Form
CET Full FormCLAT Full Form
ISC Full FormCCE Full Form
LBSNAA Full FormCPT Full Form

HSC Full Form: FAQs

How many subjects are there in the HSC exam?

You must choose four subjects from a pool of options. Once you decide which stream you want to follow, you can select the subjects. Along with the four, there are two compulsory subjects. For example, in the West Bengal board, these compulsory subjects are Bengali and English.

Is it easy to pass HSC?

Whether an exam is difficult or easy, depends on your preparation. Since many students appear for this test annually, you can relax a bit. It is a deciding test that will determine whether you should move to college-level education. Therefore, extra pressure always remains. However, if you focus and cover all the lessons, you can excel.

Is 70% marks in Science good in HSC?

70% marks denote a good result in the HSC exam. It will help you follow your dreams such as engineering, MBBS, pharma etc. However, if you wish to pursue a scientific background, you should pay attention to your studies and prepare yourself for the ultimate exam. The more you excel, the better it will be for you to carry on with your further studies.

What can I do after HSC with Arts?

Nowadays, the Arts stream is opening up new avenues for aspiring students. Depending on your subject, you can pursue a Graduation or a diploma course. The graduation course options are Bachelor in English literature, History, Education, Geography, Political Science etc. You can also opt for various hotel management courses after the HSC exam.

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