ISC Courses & Streams
After ICSE (Class 10), students choose a stream and a subject combination for ISC (Class 11–12). ISC is flexible: you take English plus a set of subjects from defined groups. This guide explains the streams and how the subject groups work.
ISC streams
- Science
- Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and/or Biology — for engineering, medical, and pure-science paths.
- Commerce
- Commerce, Accounts, and Economics, often with Mathematics — for CA, finance, and business.
- Humanities (Arts)
- History, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, and more — for law, civil services, design, and the social sciences.
How ISC subject groups work
- English is compulsory — Every ISC student takes English; it is the one common subject across all streams.
- Choose from the subject groups — You select the remaining subjects from defined groups, so a Science student can still take a subject like Economics or a language.
- Check what your target course needs — Work back from the degree or entrance exam you want, then pick the combination that satisfies its requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Which stream should I take after ICSE?
Choose the stream that matches your intended degree and entrance exams. ISC is flexible with subject groups, so you can often combine a core stream with a complementary subject.
Is Mathematics compulsory in ISC?
No. English is the compulsory subject; Mathematics is required for many Science and Commerce paths but is not universally mandatory. Confirm the requirements for the courses you plan to pursue.