Choice of School.

Choice of School

In this part I'll only be talking about Bangalore schools because I've lived here for 7 years and know a fair amount regarding the schools in my area. I'll only be discussing schools that I think are suitable for NRI students. These are only some of the most popular schools among NRI's and other students in general. I'm aware that there are many more schools in Bangalore, but these are the schools I know about the most. These are the schools I'll be talking about:

NPS	DPS	Greenwood High
TISB	Inventure	Oakridge

Most of these schools are around the place that I live (Sarjapur - Whitefield area).

There is a factor that I'll be mentioning, which is reputation. Not the reputation that the school gives itself, but the reputation I have heard from other students who have studied there. This will be what the students think about the school and not what the management tries to sell. Therefore these are all just my opinions on the schools.

The fees aren't exact and vary each year, but they can be categorized as cheap, moderate, expensive, exorbitant, etc. So I'll be rating them out of 10.

National Public School (NPS):

Location: There are many NPS schools in Bangalore such as HSR Layout, Rajajinagar, Indranagar, Koramangala, Yelahanka, Agara and more. 

Board: CBSE.

Fees: 2/10 (1 - 1.5 lakhs a year.)

Infrastructure: Not the best, manageable.

Reputation: Academically, probably the best. The students that these schools churn out are usually smart and this is usually because, to get in, you need to be smart. Especially in Bangalore, there are many people from NPS who do very well in entrance exams like JEE. So if you're willing to devote most of your effort into studies then NPS is a good place. It isn't extremely popular like other schools for NRI's, but it does have moderate fees. However, since most of the time is dedicated to studies, all-round development and extracurricular activities are given less importance. Nonetheless, if you're aiming for a top college in engineering or medical, NPS can be a big help. Since it a CBSE school and it isn't too popular among NRI kids, I wouldn't recommend it to be your first choice, but definitely consider it.

Rating: 6/10.

Dehli Public School (DPS):

Location: East(Sulikunte), South(Konanakunte), North(Santhur).

Board: CBSE.

Fees: 3/10 (1 - 2 lakhs a year.)

Infrastructure: Good, but looks worse because of overcrowding.

Reputation: Not really a school that I would recommend for an NRI. It is true that the number of students is large and I've heard that the management and teachers aren't the best. Academically also it isn't the best and I've seen the difference between students from NPS and DPS in terms of studies. Extracurricular activities are promoted more than NPS, but getting selected for school teams is a hassle because of the number of people. Some DPS schools may be better than others but I still wouldn't recommend it for NRI students. 

Rating: 3/10.

Greenwood High: 

Location: Varthur, Bannerghatta.

Board: ICSE, ISC, International.

Fees: 8/10 (3.5 - 4.5 lakhs (and increasing), around 7-8 lakhs for International curriculum)

Infrastructure: Pretty good, well maintained. Better at International campus.

Reputation: I've been at this school for 7 years and it's had ups and downs. Academically very strong, and produces a good result in ICSE every year. ISC started 2 years ago and has produced decent results and shows potential of becoming one of the best. International as well, has had students go to some of the best Universities abroad like MIT, Imperial,  Brown, UC Berkeley and more. Extracurricular activities are also given importance here, but the management could be a little better. Teachers are pretty good, and the Principal is one of the best. This school is a second home to many many NRI's and so it's a popular choice. The school has been growing really fast and there is a little overcrowding, especially in lower grades. The major downside is the fees. There have been drastic hikes in the fees that show no sign of slowing down. It was affordable earlier, became worse up till now, and may be exorbitant in the future. If you can afford it, then it is a very good choice, but in the future, it may not be. But definitely a great option for NRI's that you should consider.

Rating: 8/10.

The International School Bangalore (TISB):

Location: Varthur. (affiliate of NPS).

Board: International.

Fees: 10/10. (probably highest fees in Bangalore).

Infrastructure: The most common thing heard about TISB is that their campus is huge and the best. 

Reputation: Some say that it's the best school in Bangalore, and ignoring the fees, it probably is. The standard set by them academically is very high, with many students reaching top colleges every year. The teachers and management are better than most schools. Extracurricular activities and sports are really good and the school is reputed for it. It is a great school if you can afford it. This is because most people think they have ridiculously high fees.  But if you prepare properly and work hard, you can make most of the money that you spend. However, this school is a prep school for colleges abroad, and isn't the most suitable option for students aiming for Indian colleges like IIT's, BITS or NIT's. If you are focused on an American or British college, and you can afford the fees, then TISB is the best option. If the fees seem to high for you, then try Greenwood, Inventure or Indus, but those are also quite expensive. 

Rating: 7.5/10. [9/10 for those who can afford it easily]

Inventure:

Location: Varthur. 

Board: ICSE, ISC, IGCSE, A/AS Level

Fees: 9/10. [IGCSE and A/AS level are more expensive than ISC and ICSE]

Infrastructure: In a range between that of Greenwood and TISB.

Reputation: The most common positive things I've heard is that the campus is great, the faculty is decent, extracurricular activities are supported. The negative things I've heard are that the students lack discipline, and the management is more interested in marketing than actual education. Although their results are decent, they aren't as good as those of Greenwood in ICSE and ISC, and TISB in IGCSE. It seems like a good place for NRI students, but academically isn't very strong.

Rating: 7/10. 

Oakridge:

Location: Varthur.

Board: IB

Infrastructure: Supposedly very good, with AC's in classes, etc.

Reputation: This is a fairly new school in Bangalore, but it much more reputed for its branches in Hyderabad. I've heard there are a fair amount of NRI's here, but the overall number of students is low in Bangalore, and it isn't very popular. I couldn't find out how much the fees currently are in Bangalore, but it's probably on the higher side. Its results academically haven't been the best, but since it's new, it may pick up. If you are considering Oakridge,  I think that going for Greenwood or Inventure would be a better option.

Rating: 5.5/10.

These 6 schools have met with 2 criteria, that is, 

• They are popular among NRI's.
• They are close to the Sarjapur-Whitefield.

There are obviously more options than I mentioned such as Primus, Cambridge, Ebenezer, and Indus. 
There are other options like Narayana and Chaitanya schools. But according to me, these are the worst possible choices for NRI's. In America, there was leisure studying, while in these schools, if you aren't a bright student, ready to take on at least 10 hours of studying a day, with school on Saturday and half of Sunday, then the pressure will crush. I've seen some of my friends go to these schools, survive for only 2 weeks and scurry back to Greenwood. 
There is one more option that is worth discussing. In 11th and 12th, coaching centers like Allen and Aakash Institutes have Integrated programs where the students spend a lot more time studying for entrance exams like JEE and NEET. These courses have good results and I would recommend it for people who are serious about JEE and NEET and who actually have a chance. Since a lot of time is spent in the coaching center rather than school, importance is given to entrance exams rather than Board Exams, which is a good thing, because Entrance exams are more important than Boards. I would have definitely considered this option, but I only got most of the details about it after 11th Grade, and so it was to late. So definitely gather info about these courses if you are seriously preparing for JEE or NEET.

To be honest, for schooling from primary years to around 7th or 8th Grade, the results you get academically don't really make a difference. So I think for these years, a student who has just shifted from the US, should be put in a school that he or she is most comfortable with, rather than a school that will put pressure academically. Once you get to 9th or 10th Grade, then the studying becomes more serious. Then in 11th and 12th Grade, where your marks decide your future college, the studying needs to be intense. For these years, the student should be put in a school that will cater to his/her academic needs. For example, if you want heavy focus on entrance exams like JEE, then a school like NPS may benefit you. If you want heavy focus on colleges abroad, Greenwood (IB) or TISB may benefit you. If you want to stay in an Indian college, as well as write SAT's, which is what I did, then Greenwood (ISC) may help you the most. So, in all, after considering all the factors, the choice is yours.

Syllabus options: State Board vs ICSE vs CBSE vs IGCSE.

Syllabus options: State Board vs ICSE vs CBSE vs IGCSE.

First let me outline the structure of syllabus options. In Bangalore, from LKG to 10th Grade, there are four options :

• State Board
• ICSE - Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
• CBSE - Central Board of Secondary Education
• IGCSE - International General Certificate of Secondary Education

For 11th and 12th Grade, there are the also five options with some changes: 

• State Board is mainly called PUC - Pre - University Course
• ICSE becomes ISC (Short for CISCE - Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations
• CBSE
• IGCSE - International General Certificate of Secondary Education
• IB -  International Baccalaureate

I realize that IB is also there for LKG to 10th Grade, but in Bangalore, most schools teach IGCSE from LKG to 10th, then IB for 11th and 12th.

There are massive differences between LKG to 10th and 11th to 12th Grade, since the real preparation for college starts in 11th Grade. This differences involving entrance exams, coaching centers and other things which aren't related to Board studies, are highlighted in a later post, High School Years.

Since I have been in ICSE for 5 years and ISC for 2 years, I can elaborate most on them. However I have interacted with people from various boards and so I'll go over their pros and cons based on this experience: 

State Board: 

PROS: School fees are very low. As state syllabus gives preference for local issues, it is convenient for those students who want to write state-level entrance examinations. Exams are easier. Some schools heavily focus on entrance exams. *

CONS: Schools are run by government and aren’t usually in good condition. No infrastructure, small play areas, shabby classrooms. The students are usually taught to follow the process of by-hearting. Basic facilities are less. Extracurricular activities are less. Syllabus is often outdated. Students find it tough to compete with CBSE Board and other Boards’ students in 12th Grade Indian entrance exams like NEET (Medical) and JEE (Engineering). Would be quite difficult to attempt SAT, ACT, and other foreign exams.

In my opinion, an NRI returnee shouldn't go for State Board. Of all the NRI returnees I know, nobody has taken this option, because there is an enormous gap between American schools and State Board schools in India. The only significant pro is the fees, but most NRI returnees can afford better schools. For me, the con that settles it, is the last point. I mentioned in an earlier post, that SAT exams were important for NRI returnees. Usually students who follow State Board don't have the best English, as compared to other Boards. Since SAT contains English, it will be more difficult for them. The final verdict for State Board is a 2/10. 
* - This isn't necessarily a pro or a con. It depends on the student; if he/she can handle these types of schools, namely, Narayana and Chaitanya Schools. More details about this in a later post, High School Years.

CBSE:

PROS: School fees are relatively low. Exams are easier than ICSE exams. CBSE schools use NCERT books, which is also what entrance exams like JEE base their exams off of. Majority of schools are CBSE schools, showing its popularity and regard.

CONS: Schools are in worse condition than ICSE or IB schools but better than State Board schools.  Books are often outdated, extra reference books may be required. Math and science are given priority, other subjects not so much. It is possible to do good in SAT, but other Boards have more advantage. A downside of the popularity is that there is more competition.

In my opinion, it isn't a bad decision to go for CBSE, and it is the most popular Board because it is successful. The majority of students going to IIT's, NIT's and top medical colleges in India are usually from CBSE. This is because of the number of people from CBSE as well as the fact that CBSE has the same syllabus as entrance exams. Subject matter is similar to ICSE, but a little lower in difficulty. So for grades 1 to 10, I feel that CBSE is an alright choice, if you're willing to settle for a slightly lower level of education, counteracted by the lower fees. However, I felt that 12th Grade CBSE has a greater difference when compared to ISC or IB 12th Grade. This topic is discussed further down in the post, because it will make more sense after reading the pros and cons of ISC and IB. The final verdict for CBSE is a 6/10.

ICSE / ISC:

PROS: Teachers and management are often better in these schools than CBSE or Government schools. Classrooms, playgrounds, and facilities are usually in good condition. Syllabus content is at a good level in ICSE and can be an advantage. Wide range of subjects, with equal importance to all. ISC suggests schools to follow NCERT books which are helpful for entrance exams. ICSE is popular among many NRI students. ISC is rather small, but this means there is less competition.

CONS: Fees are high. Less importance given to entrance exams. English is more difficult than CBSE, State Boards. No special importance given to SAT’s but ICSE students find them easier than CBSE students.

In my opinion, if you're an NRI student, wishing to pursue further studies in India itself, then ICSE is probably the best option. Although it isn't as popular as CBSE, it is still widely reputed. Compared to CBSE the exams are slightly more difficult, but ICSE has one advantage when it comes to exams: choice. For example, in 10th Grade Maths, in Section B, you are only required to attempt 4 questions out of the given 7 questions, whereas these types of choices are not provided by CBSE. However, ISC follows the CBSE pattern (less choice), but questions have greater difficulty. For NRI students pursuing engineering in India, the SAT exams are a boon, but State Boards, CBSE nor ICSE specially prepares you for SAT's. However, it is to be noted that, since the standard of education, especially English, in ICSE is higher, students from ICSE tend to do better in these exams. In all ICSE is almost a perfect option. Final verdict for ICSE is 8.5/10.

Now, ISC is for 11th and 12th Grade. There are a few facts that are important to remember here. First, the number of people in ISC is low: 80,000 in ISC compared to 11,00,000 in CBSE. This implies less competition, which is a pro. However, putting it bluntly, ISC is harder than CBSE and even ICSE. The difficulty is not about passing (which is fairly easy), its about getting high enough marks, such as 80's and 90's. If you chose the stream that's correct for you, and if you feel that you can do well enough, then ISC is a good choice. However, I've seen many people take science stream, but not been able to cope with it. If you can handle it, the next hurdle is entrance exams, which ISC doesn't cover. For this, even if you are in CBSE, it's better to go for coaching classes. I think that ISC is underrated, and that there is a good chance of scoring well here. Final verdict is 9/10 (provided you want to study further in India).

ICSE VS CBSE (LKG to 10th):

ICSE: Fees are usually higher. Less popular among all students. More popular among NRI’s. Importance given to all subjects. Syllabus is a little more difficult, but suitable for SAT exams. Scoring (especially in English) is tougher. English is of a higher level.

CBSE: Fees are usually lower. More popular among all students. Less popular among NRI’s. Importance given to Math and Science. Syllabus is easier. Scoring is easier. Basic level of English.

For 11th and 12th Grade, if you're opting for medical or engineering, regardless of whether you chose ISC or CBSE, it is better if you take a coaching class for entrance exams. However, many people think that CBSE is enough to crack exams like JEE or NEET, but in my opinion, it's very difficult to do it without coaching classes. If you decide to take CBSE, it is a good option, but I had several reasons for choosing ISC:

• I was very comfortable at the school I was at, and I didn't want to shift schools, so I decided to take ISC in the same school, which had teachers I was familiar with.
• ISC Science and Math is at a higher level than CBSE and it can be slightly more useful than CBSE, when it comes to entrance exams.
• The number of people in ISC is less compared to CBSE (in a ratio of 1:14), but this means the competition is less. 
• Since I went to Allen (a coaching centre), I learnt high levels of Physics, Chemistry and Math, which helped me do well in ISC. Since studying for Allen, was more than enough for ISC, I really only needed to study for English and Computers.
• Computers (and Biology) are not extremely difficult, and if you've done good in 10th Grade in these subjects, then it will be easy to well in 12th Grade as well.

By writing all this, I mean to say that ISC isn't a bad option. I've seen that NRI people who shift to CBSE after 10th, put more focus on entrance exams rather than SAT, which isn't a good thing. The SAT's are an important exam for engineering for NRI's, and it's like a golden ticket. If you do well in the SAT's, then you can directly go to a great college like BITS or NITS, rather than studying for the much more difficult BITSAT or JEE. Many people have this outdated view that the only way to get into a top college is to go to either to an mentally exhausting school like Narayana or Chaitanya, or go to a school teaching CBSE, which doesn't prepare you adequately for entrance exams. Rather than going for these extremes, NRI's can thrive in an intermediate option, which is ISC. That's why I think, for NRI's pursuing  engineering in India, ISC is the most viable option. 

IB/IGCSE:

These Boards are different from the previous ones, because they are based off the American System of education. There are 3 different ways I've seen people incorporate IB?IGCSE in their education:

• Study from the beginning in this Board.
• Study till 7th/8th Grade in CBSE or ICSE then shift to this Board.
• Study till 10th Grade in CBSE or ICSE then shift to this Board.

The bottom line is that students who study in these ways usually plan on going to college in America. So if you're planning to go to a college in America, then these Boards are very helpful. They are also helpful for SAT's, but don't specifically teach for them. If you decide on going to college in America and choose IB or IGCSE the only question that remains is which of the three options should you choose. IB and IGCSE are probably the most expensive ones with fees triple to other Boards like ICSE. So it's basically a battle between money and experience. The more time you spend in IB/IGCSE the more money you spend. The first option ensures an adequate time experiencing the Board along with the school, exam papers and patterns, but that many years, means a lot of money spent on fees. The second option means that you only pay for 4 years and get 4 years worth of experience. The third option means that you only study here for 2 years, but only need to pay for that long. So based on your preferences and if you can spend that much money, any one of these options may be the right one for you.

Studying Changes

Studying Changes.

This post is basically about how I studied for exams. Everyone has different ways of studying, so what you I tell you isn't necessarily the way you have to study, but it's a way you could study if it suits you. The reason I'm writing this part is because the way I studied after moving to India was different from the way I studied in US. If you find that you don't need to change the way you study then that's great, but most people find it a little difficult to adjust after their shift. You'll probably need to study more in India, and here's why.

Reason you have to self study more in India:

In the US, most of the content was easily understood, or the teacher helped you understand it easily, and there wasn't too much that was too complicated. The teachers I had taught in an intuitive way and so I learnt the concepts easily in class itself and I didn't need to study much at home. Once I came to India, because I was in a higher grade I had to study more, and the other part was because the contents and teaching were different. In some parts of some subjects, understanding the concept takes priority, and if you have a teacher that'll teach it in such a way that you can understand and not forget, then there really isn't a need to study much for that part. However, if that part isn't clearly taught, or you still don't understand after asking the teacher your doubts,  then self study is the only thing you can do. And the other parts, where the content itself was mostly memory based, the teacher can only dictate it in class and tell you to study it, and you'll have to study it at home on your own. For me, 50% came from class and listening to my teachers. 40% came from studying, and 10% from awareness during the exam. That extra push from a 70 to a 90 marks can only come from studying harder. 

Another reason for me to study more was my Board, ICSE and ISC, where marks are given out of hundred rather than A, B, C etc. If your school is ICSE and academically competitive, then studying harder can make a big difference. This is because, every mark counts. If you get an A, it could mean anywhere from a 100 to a low 90, but that doesn't matter, since they're both A's. However, If you get a 100 in ICSE it's much much much better than getting a low 90. So an extra bit of studying can go a long way in certain Boards.

I'll be explaining mainly how I studied, not for regular school exams, but for the Board Exams (at the end of 10th and 12th Grades). School exams are important, just not as important as the Boards. As long as your teachers are happy with the way you're performing during the regular school exams, you should be fine. Normally people don't study as much for the school exams as the Boards, because of its importance. Once you do start to seriously study for the Boards, then the following points will be more relevant. 

Since my results have been good, many of my classmates, other students and even parents frequently ask me the same question: "How do you study?" In my experience there are two ways of studying: the Extended way and the Focused way. The Extended method is what many people do, which basically studying for a long time, like 8 to 10 hours a day, right before the exams. The Focused way, is to do a little studying studying everyday, like an hour, then, before the exams, study 5 - 6 hours a day, with regular gaps in between. The Extended method works really well for people who can concentrate for extended periods of time. The Focused way is better for people who are willing to vigorously study and focus for brief periods (an hour) at a time. It's better if you try out both methods and see which one suits you. I tried the Extended method in 10th Grade and ended up with 96.2%. However I used the Focused method in 12th Grade and got 98.25%. I paid attention in class, rarely missed a school day, studied a bit after school, and before the Boards, studied a total of 5 - 6 hours a day, with regular 30 to 60 minute breaks in between to cool off. But when I studied, I studied seriously and I studied smart. I felt that studying smart rather than studying hard was more effective, considering the way the system is. To study smart, for each subject, is important and here's how I did it:

• Math: The main thing of course is practice. Find practice problems and try them on your own. If you can get it right on your own, then it will be easier to remember how to solve such problems during the exam. Following this, I got 98 in 12th.

• English: Literature - Make your own detailed answers about the theme and characterizations in the story. If you can, try and memorize the shorter poems, because that can help a lot. Try to remember cause and effects, in Shakespeare, so that you can answer questions like, "What caused Leonato to shout at Claudio?" and "Why did the heroine faint?" and so on.                                                                                          Language - you can find lots of grammar practice, in books or online,  and out of ten, try to get at least 8 or 9 right. Reports and letters are fairly easy, because most of the marks come from remembering the guidelines. Compositions are a little tricky, because examiners shy away from giving full marks. There are usually options, such as descriptive, argumentative, abstract compositions as well as story writing. I usually went for story writing and if you feel you're creative enough to think of  story on the spot, then story writing will be easy. Or you can write a story beforehand, and manipulate it during the exam to fit the question. To see an example of a story I wrote using that method click read more; it's after the physics definitions. The final English score in ISC isn't given separately as Literature and Language, but together, as English. Following this method I got 96 in 12th.

• Physics, Chemistry: The textbook was over a 1000 pages, but actually there were basically 3 things to learn, formulas, definitions and derivations. I made a list of the 3 and studied from that rather than textbook. Since I regularly practiced numerical problems in class, I was familiar with solving problems of that type. I studied from the lists as well as the textbook, and I felt that it really helped. If you scrutinize the previous years' Board Papers, then you realize that they usually only ask questions from a set of around 300 - 400 questions. If you practice these questions, and eventually get all of them right, then a 100 in these subjects isn't too difficult. Using this method I got 96 in Chemistry and 99 in Physics in 12th Grade. For example, here's a list of all the definitions I learnt for 12th Grade ISC Physics.

Change of Education System and What It Entails.

             

               Change of Education System and What it Entails.

Each system has its own pros and cons. If you're moving to India, it's better if you learn the changes so you can prepare yourself to adapt. There are broadly two types of changes, namely, the system changes and the subject changes.

System Changes: 

USA	India
Flexible type of education.	Rigid type of education.
Extracurricular activities and sports have equal importance to core subjects. Fitness is evaluated.	Core subject (math, science, history, etc.) given much more importance. Sports classes once per week. Not usually evaluated.
Public schools are in good shape. Facilities, sanitary, well maintained.	Public schools are not in good shape. Small classrooms, unsanitary, no extra facilities. Private schools are preferred by most people.
Allows students to explore subjects, study more on their interests.	Usually not much choice till after 10th grade.
Math isn’t compulsory.	Math compulsory till 10th grade.
Focus on basics. Not too much depth in the subjects.	Lot of depth in textbooks. Advanced topics learnt early.
More emphasis given to creative thinking.	Memorization required at times.
Low level of learning. Those studying in US would not be able to clear Indian entrance exams.	High level of learning. Those studying in India can easily clear American exams such as the Subject SAT’s.

The last point is really important and I found it to be a huge advantage. Writing the Subject SAT's (Physics, Chemistry and Math) are important for getting engineering colleges in India. Among all the people I know who have studied in America, then shifted to India for at least 5 years, nobody has scored below a 2350 out of 2400 in Subject SAT's. This point will be covered in detail in a later post, but remember about this advantage we have. 

Subject Changes:

Since I've studied in ICSE and ISC Boards, most information about school syllabus and subjects will pertain to these boards. 

I won't go into too much detail about this, but there are a few major changes.

Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics: There are two changes. First, Indian schools go into more depth. For example, a student in USA or India at some point may learn complex numbers, a math topic. American standards usually cover the basics, while in India you would learn advanced concepts like Argand's plane, De Moivre's Theorem, etc. Let's compare two questions. 

From SAT (American):

From 3 + 2i, subtract its complex conjugate.

It isn't too difficult.

From JEE Mains (Indian):

Let z = 1+ai be a complex number, a<0, such that z^3 is a real number. Then the sum 1+z+z^2....+z^11 is equal to - ?

It is harder than the previous question and requires more knowledge on the topic. 

The same can be said for the science subjects. 
The difficulty between systems and exams is as follows:

American System < American Exams (SAT) < Indian Board System < Indian Entrance Exams (JEE).

The second change is that the concepts are learnt earlier in India. This may not be true for every single topic but it is a regular trend for most. Many questions asked on the SAT Math portion and Subject SAT's, which are taken in 11th or 12th grade, were on topics that I had learnt as early as 8th grade in India.

You can expect these subjects to go deep, but you shouldn't consider it to be a problem. Just remember that you have to progress just as fast as the subject advances. It really isn't that hard to manage once you develop a study style that will help you get better marks. 

Some people may say that Sciences and Mathematics are difficult, but that isn't the case if you study properly. The different and efficient study mechanisms will be discussed in more detail in later posts (Studying Changes).

Science (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) in most Boards is optional after 8th grade, while Math is optional after 10th grade.

Social Studies (History, Civics, Geography):  The obvious change is that you'll learn about Indian topics in greater detail. In History, first the ancient civilizations all over the world are learnt. Only after this do the students learn about only Indian history, for nearly four or five years. In the last years, they do teach World History, that is, the World Wars, the United Nations, etc. Till 10th Grade it is compulsory (CBSE and ICSE), but you can chose to study it for 11th and 12th. 
Civics is basically the functioning of the government, which is usually taught after 5th or 6th grade till the 10th grade. Only topics about the Indian Parliament is taught. 
Geography is a little different, because Indian schools teach World Geography, one continent at a time, till around 8th grade. 9th and 10th grade focus only on Indian Geography. Especially in 10th Grade, you will be required to into great detail, learning the map of India, irrigation, agriculture, industries, weather and more, along with basic topographical knowledge. 

For all these subjects, the contents are vastly different from American standards, and so it's difficult to compare them. However the basic study mechanism should be the same. Since these subjects deal in facts, it's impossible to do well without memorization, unlike Science or Math, were you are required to think on your own, at least sometimes. But it is still possible to do good, if you study the right way, which I'll explain in a later post.

English: Probably the most significant change. I'll be talking about the subject English, and not the English that we speak, because they are different. Difficulty wise, English subject in India is easier than in America, because in America, you're required to think much more, use creative writing, and have your own ingenuity.  Broadly speaking, English in India has two subjects, Literature (prose, poems and stories), and Language (called Language Arts in America), and both subjects have separate exam papers (in ICSE and ISC). 

In Literature, in early years, it won't be too difficult, with small and simple poems and stories. Not too much studying is required. Once you get to 8th grade, is when the stories and poems become longer and more complicated, and most schools add Shakespeare to the syllabus. Usually, you'll have 2 or 3 years to complete a full Shakespeare play. I had Merchant of Venice from 8th to 10th Grade ICSE, followed by Much Ado About Nothing in 11th and 12th Grade ISC. The Literature in India, in my opinion, is easier than that of US, because you aren't required to dive deep into the story, and you don't need to learn too much about the metaphors, similes, theme, symbolism and other vague and abstract points. Up until 10th grade, mainly remembering the essential points about the story or poem along with some characterization is all that's needed. After 10th though, it does become a little deeper, with emphasis on the themes and characterization. In ICSE, mainly 3 or 4 mark questions are asked, with 16 mark long answers optional questions. In 12th ISC however, you are required to take 4, 20 mark compulsory questions, which test your ability to write creatively on vaguely defined topics in the story or poem. 

Language requires you to be adept in writing compositions up to 500 or more words long, writing letters, reports or articles, reading a passage and then answering questions about it, and finally, grammar, which includes transformation of sentences, prepositions, usage of verbs, etc. 

In both parts, scoring is a little difficult, especially in school exams (for most schools). For example, my school wouldn't give anyone more than an 85 out of 100 in English, because they say that every answer isn't perfect and can be improved upon. However, in the Boards, that is, the final exams, it is difficult to score above 95, while in other subjects, it isn't that difficult to do so, if you study. Moreover, in ICSE and ISC, English is a compulsory subject (in English medium schools) and very important when considering your final grade. This is because, you can chose to leave out one subject in your average score, other than English. So even if you score 100's in science, history and math, English can bring your average down. So you'll have to prepare properly for it, which I'll detail in a later post. 

Languages:  Most schools opt for a three language path, which is usually, English, Hindi and the Regional Language. However some Boards also provide foreign languages, like French, German or Spanish, while other schools teach Sanskrit. In ICSE, you take English as compulsory, a second language which can be Hindi, the regional language or a foreign language, and up till 8th grade, a third language, however the 3rd language doesn't affect your average. For example, for me, since I went to a Bangalore school that taught foreign languages, I had the options of Hindi, Kannada, or French for 2nd and 3rd language and I opted to take my second language as French, and my third language as Hindi. The choice of Languages that you get is solely based on the school, bet generally ICSE and IGCSE schools have foreign languages. In 11th and 12th Grade, ISC and CBSE, languages other than English are not required, which is an advantage because the time you would have spent studying a Language can be utilized in studying for other subjects.



Now since I've talked about changes in the subject, it's obvious that the way you have to study for each subject will be different, and this is what I'll highlight in the next post.