Subjects to take up in 11th to pursue career as a software engineer (2024)

You will have to study computer science for pursuing a career of software engineering. Biology is not required in such cases. Most important subject for learning computer science is mathematics. In case computer/IT related subjects are available in your board then the same can be opted. Besides selection of the subjects it may be noted that the class XI and XII are the golden years of studies. Full attention should be paid to the studies leaving all other activities for future.

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Regards,
Shatakshi.

Hi,
It is good that you are quite focused at this stage. At the level of 11th standard, there are only 2 broad categories related to science and these are PCB- Physics, Chemistry and Biology and PCM- Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
In some institutes, Mathematics is compulsory even with PCB.
You basically need to go with Mathematics and computers. If possible at your location, you may join some course also related to computers.
For a would be successful computer engineer, it is very much essential to secure good grades during 11th and 12th standard. So, do study hard and try for competitive exams after 12th to get admission in some reputed colleges for engineering.

Padmini

Living & Learning- simultaneous processes!

Both PCM and PCMB will work for you to get into the engineering. In order to be a software engineer, you can pick any engineering course. You can finally get placed during campus time as a trainee engineer. This way you have an option to pick career as a software engineer without having to worry about stream you picked.

One thing to note though, if your college or state allows PCB as only option, don't take it. Just make sure that you take Maths in any combination you have. That is because engineering courses and computer degrees require maths in your career. This is how they hire and place people into the work.

In order to become a software engineer, you need to choose computer science as the base subject. Computer science involves knowledge in C, C++, Java and SQL. Basic programming knowledge is expected by the companies so that efforts in training them would be less.

So it would be wise to choose Computer Science in your 11th standard. Also you have another chance in choosing arts group with computer science. This also helps to step in software sectors. But these alone will not develop your programming skills. You can get guidance from your school teachers and also go for certified courses in a good institution where you get proper training.

There are many languages in computer science which are to be learnt. You need to be challenging in solving each program without any error. PHP, Dotnet, Oracle database etc are also required in the company profile for software engineers.

Janani

An interesting question and many wonderful answers already given. Let me add on what is already mentioned:
1. Science in Std XI and XII along with Computers/ IT Vocational subject.
2. Apart from regular studies, it would help to focus on developing strong logical and analytical thinking. This will be useful to developing logic for algorithms and programs.
3. Software Engineering is all about Software Modeling, Programming, Debugging, Testing, project management.
4. Learning one language is the key, and in depth so that you can write complex codes.
5. Just being able to write a program is no good, but you should be able to deploy a program which is bug free and up an running. So I would suggest whenever you write a program, do so for some live or real time system.
6. Often in industry, engineers are required to modify/ enhance/ fine tune existing programs. This requires understanding the existing program logic and then moving further to modify/ enhance/ fine tune it. Currently the last skill is lacking among existing generation of software engineers.

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