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Class 7 to 12 · Mostly free

Six years, one calm plan.

The best schools don't leave subjects and careers to one talk in Class 10. They guide every year, with one clear decision at the right time. Here is that plan for your family, with the free tools for each year.

See the six years What good guidance looks like

Year by year

Only two years carry a big subject decision: Class 8 and Class 10. The years in between are for exploring, so those decisions are made with real experience, not guesses.

  1. Class 7

    Explore widely

    Decided this year: Nothing yet. This year is for noticing what your child enjoys.

    Student
    • Try clubs, projects, sport, art and reading. Keep a simple list of what was fun and what was not.
    • Keep Maths and Science habits strong: they are the subjects that close doors later if they slip.
    Parent
    • Notice what holds your child's attention, not only the marks.
    • Talk about the work people around you do. Real jobs are more useful than job titles.
    Free on EasyApply
    Find your fit quiz Skills: life skills and 21st-century skills Interests at 12: what they tell you
  2. Class 8Decision year

    Choose the board and Class 9 subjects

    Decided this year: Board for Class 9 (staying or switching) and Class 9 electives. IGCSE options are often chosen at the end of Grade 8.

    Student
    • Get your school's subject sheet early and see which subjects sit in the same block.
    • If unsure, keep Maths and all the sciences you can. They keep the most doors open.
    Parent
    • Ask the school for this year's sheet and the rules for moving into Class 11.
    • Check language rules if you might switch boards (some boards and universities ask for a second language up to Class 8).
    Free on EasyApply
    Check your school's subject blocks Choosing Class 9 subjects, board by board Subject map
  3. Class 9

    See real work

    Decided this year: Nothing big. This is the year to meet the world of work.

    Student
    • Visit two or three workplaces: a hospital, an office, a lab, a studio, a court. Ask people what a normal day looks like.
    • Start your portfolio: activities, awards, projects. Add to it a little every term.
    Parent
    • Use your own network to open two or three workplace visits.
    • Keep marksheets and certificates in one place from now on.
    Free on EasyApply
    Careers: what each path really involves Student portfolio (free sign-in) Science, Commerce or Arts: where each leads
  4. Class 10Decision year

    Choose Class 11 subjects

    Decided this year: Class 11 subjects. This is the one choice that opens or closes the most doors.

    Student
    • Take an interest and aptitude assessment, then talk it through with a counsellor.
    • Have a first and a second choice of subjects, and check both against your school's blocks.
    • Find out each subject's entry rules (for example, some schools won't allow an A Level in a subject taken at IGCSE Core level).
    Parent
    • Sit in on one proper subject-choice conversation with your child and the counsellor.
    • If two subjects your child needs are in the same block, ask the school early.
    Free on EasyApply
    Check your subjects against careers Which stream after 10th Psychometric tests: what they can and can't tell you
  5. Class 11

    Build the profile, shortlist the paths

    Decided this year: Where to study after school: India, abroad or both. Which entrance exams to prepare for.

    Student
    • Do one internship or summer project in an area you are considering, and write a short reflection.
    • Visit two or three college campuses. Attend a university fair.
    • Make a long list of courses and colleges, and the exams each needs.
    Parent
    • Agree the budget early: it shapes the India-or-abroad decision.
    • Put entrance exam dates in the family calendar.
    Free on EasyApply
    Find colleges and courses Universities abroad Key dates for exams
  6. Class 12

    Apply

    Decided this year: Final college list, applications, and which offer to accept.

    Student
    • Narrow to a short, balanced list: a few reach, most match, a few safe.
    • Plan essays, recommendation letters and interviews well before deadlines.
    Parent
    • Keep a single list of deadlines, fees paid and documents sent.
    • Have a plan B ready, including a gap year if that is the right call.
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    Scholarships Cost calculator Taking a gap year

What good guidance looks like

Eight things the best school guidance programmes do, based on The Gatsby Benchmarks used by schools in England. Use it to judge your school's programme, and ours.

  1. A plan for every yearGuidance runs from Class 7 to 12, not one talk in Class 10.On EasyApply: The six years on this page.
  2. Real information about jobs and coursesFamilies see where subjects lead, with official sources.On EasyApply: Career pages, subject map, college finder.
  3. Fits each childDifferent children need different advice and pace.On EasyApply: Interest check and assessment, then a one-to-one talk.
  4. Subjects linked to careersChildren see why a subject matters for the doors they care about.On EasyApply: Subject map and the school-blocks checker.
  5. Meeting people who do the workHearing from working people beats reading job titles.On EasyApply: Career pages, and workplace-visit ideas each year. Videos with professionals are coming.
  6. Experience of a workplaceA short visit in Class 9, an internship by Class 11.On EasyApply: Family-arranged, with our checklist. Recorded in the portfolio.
  7. Meeting colleges and universitiesCampus visits and fairs before the shortlist.On EasyApply: College finder, universities abroad, key dates.
  8. One-to-one guidance at the key momentsA trained counsellor at Class 8, Class 10 and Class 11–12.On EasyApply: Free first session, then a package only if it helps.

Not sure which year of the plan your child is in? Talk it through free — 20 minutes