Yellow Slate – Blog

Category: Curriculum

  • The Truth About CBSE VS IB Is About To Be Revealed

    The Truth About CBSE VS IB Is About To Be Revealed

    One is the most popular curriculum in India, and the other offers a refreshing new approach to learning. Which one must you choose for your little one?

    Among the many struggles of parenting is the struggle of choosing the right curriculum. As if there weren’t enough options to confuse us already, we have the International Baccalaureate (IB), which is quite different from the typical learning methodology that we are aware of. The only way to overcome this confusion is to understand the differences. This article will make it easy for you!

    A brief about each syllabus

    The CBSE syllabus follows the NCERT curriculum, and the Union Government of India manages the board. It is a national level syllabus that approximately 19,300 schools follow at the moment. The curriculum is quite child-friendly and focuses on the all-round development of each child.

    The IB curriculum is a national-level curriculum, headquartered in Switzerland. It focuses quite a lot on creativity, critical thinking, and becoming an all-rounder. It is detailed and flexible at the same time, giving children a world of choices when it comes to learning. Not many schools in India offer the IB curriculum.

    Salient features of the CBSE board

    Let’s discuss the very popular CBSE syllabus here:

    1. The CBSE syllabus is well-rounded and creates a stress-free environment for children.
    2. It prepares children for most competitive examinations that are conducted in the country.
    3. The board allows instruction and teaching in English as well as Hindi, making it accessible to smaller areas of the country where English may not be prevalent.
    4. While practical work is a part of the curriculum, the emphasis is on theoretical learning.
    5. It has a set of recommended textbooks that children have to follow.
    6. CBSE curriculum sets the base for many careers in the country.
    7. Co-curricular activities and physical education are also important in this syllabus.

    Salient features of the IB board

    Now, let’s see how the IB board is different:

    1. The IB board is child-centric and encourages enquiry-based learning. Children studying the IB curriculum are more independent and take ownership of their experiences.
    2. It is a balanced program that focuses equally on music, art, business administration, etc. Subjects are divided into groups and children are free to pick out subsets from a wide variety of options based on their preferences.
    3. IB board promotes concept-based learning rather than typical textbook-based learning. Children understand what’s being taught in class and have resources that they may pick from to learn the concepts in-depth. There are no prescribed textbooks.
    4. The curriculum is recognized all over the world, and it is highly beneficial for children aiming at studying in foreign countries.
    5. Children earn credits in the school itself. This helps them advance in college without having to go through basic courses again.

    Based on your preferences and the type of learning approach you think would be ideal for your child, we urge you to take a call.

    CBSE vs IB – The final verdict

    IB prepares children to study across the world. However, at the moment, it is not very popular in our country, and the schools that do offer it are mostly expensive. Thus, you may need to work hard to find an IB World School that fits your other criteria. CBSE schools, on the other hand, offer a comprehensive education that is affordable. Also, you have a variety of options in all locations to choose from.

    Once you decide, we would love to hear your verdict and the reason behind it. Do comment!

  • The 7 Secrets About CBSE VS ICSE Only A Handful Of People Know.

    The 7 Secrets About CBSE VS ICSE Only A Handful Of People Know.

    Oh, this one is going to be close. Or, is it?

    From our personal experience and what we learned after talking to many parents, we realized that choosing between CBSE and ICSE took up a lot of time and research. This is because both boards have very strong positives, which are hard to ignore and/or override.

    To help ease the frustration you may face while making a choice, we brought the major differences between the curricula in one page. Read on!

    A brief about each syllabus

    The national level board of education, CBSE, is still the most popular board in our country. The Union Government of India recognizes it and is tailored to help children prepare for competitive examinations after school.

    Indian Certificate of Secondary education (ICSE) is complex and detailed, put together by the Local Examinations Syndicate. Please remember that the Government of India recognizes the ICSE board, and the certificate is valid globally.

    Salient features of the CBSE board

    Let’s talk about CBSE in detail:

    1. Student-centric and child-friendly, the CBSE board helps turn enthusiastic children into well-rounded individuals.
    2. The syllabus is interesting and aims at creating a happy environment for children to study without too much pressure.
    3. Labs and practical work are a part of the curriculum but they don’t carry as much weightage as theoretical learning.
    4. CBSE is recognized globally and is a good choice if your child plans on pursuing higher studies in the Indian subcontinent.
    5. The board allows English and Hindi modes of instruction.
    6. CBSE board is more inclined towards science and math.
    7. CBSE schools usually focus equally on physical education and activities.

    Salient features of the ICSE board

    Let’s learn about ICSE in detail and understand whether it really is a better choice:

    1. The ICSE board mandates instruction in English and does not encourage any other language.
    2. It is student-centric as well but each course is detailed and well-researched. All chapters go in-depth and the concepts are far more complex than in CBSE.
    3. The syllabus focuses more on practical knowledge, especially when compared to CBSE.
    4. ICSE is recognized globally as well and if your child plans on going abroad to pursue higher studies, ICSE will help him/her at the foundation level. His/her base will be very strong for higher studies abroad with ICSE.
    5. ICSE board gives equal weightage to arts, science, and language. The scale does not tip in the favor of any particular field. Thus, children studying in ICSE schools are well-rounded and have more opportunities (professions) to explore.
    6. ICSE board is especially a great choice for children who want to go with English literature or arts.
    7. ICSE schools focus on physical education and activities as well.

    CBSE vs. ICSE – The final verdict

    Simply put, ICSE is more detailed and could be more difficult than CBSE board. CBSE is crisp and student-centric, making is slightly easier.

    The call is yours on this one, thus! We recommend that you take your priorities into account and see which of them fulfills most. We are slightly aligned to ICSE because we think student must get the chance to explore each field equally. However, CBSE does not lag in this aspect either. ICSE is just slightly better!

    We would love to know which one you chose for your child and why. Please tell us through Comments once you take a decision.

  • Understand CBSE VS SSC Before You Regret.

    Understand CBSE VS SSC Before You Regret.

    Should you choose CBSE for your child or should you go with SSC syllabus? Pretty much every parent faces this conundrum while choosing the right school.

    Among the many factors that we consider before zeroing in on a school, the syllabus is one of the most challenging. Only when we decide which one to choose can we narrow our search down. So, if you can’t decide between CBSE and SSC, you must continue reading.

    A brief about each syllabus

    State Board or SSC is native to each state. The exam patterns, etc. depend on the guidelines that the state lays out.

    Central Board of Secondary Education or CBSE is a central board that the Union Government of India takes care of. The syllabus is the same throughout the country. Almost 20,000 schools in India follow this curriculum.

    Salient features of the SSC board

    Let’s understand the SSC board in detail now:

    1. It is usually exam-centric and a majority of schools that follow the SSC curriculum focus on ensuring that children study to do well in their board examinations.
    2. The mode of communication may be English or Telugu (regional language). The State Board does not lay emphasis on English communication.
    3. The State Syllabus is said to be easier when compared to CBSE. This is mainly because questions are almost never out of the textbook. What children see in their books is what will appear in the examination. However, this raises a few eyebrows because many parents think that children are not challenged enough, and they may not nurture their logical skills.
    4. Sports and extra-curricular activities may be a part of the curriculum, but they are not given as much importance as education. With State Syllabus, education is always the priority.
    5. If children join intermediate colleges, they may find that the syllabus aligns with what they studied in school, but once they pass out of intermediate, they may face difficulty in acing competitive examinations.
    6. Many schools do not give importance to anything other than studying, and that can tax young minds to a very large extent. Children may not be able to explore their extra-curricular talents at all.

    Salient features of the CBSE board

    Is the CBSE board better? Do you think CBSE is the right choice for your little one? Let’s learn about it before we decide:

    1. CBSE board is child-centric and flexible. The entire syllabus is designed to make learning fun for children. Each chapter comes with activities and projects to ensure that children are interested.
    2. CBSE focuses on English and communication. Mode of instruction at CBSE schools is almost always English.
    3. When compared to SSC, children may find that CBSE is slightly tough because you cannot expect the exact same questions to appear in the examinations. This is because the syllabus focuses on learning and understanding, and not mugging up and reproducing.
    4. CBSE sets a solid base for the future because children get the foundation to excel in competitive examinations.
    5. CBSE is widely accepted in India and abroad, making it easy to get admissions in good colleges and universities across the globe.
    6. The CBSE curriculum is well-rounded. It encourages sports and activities. In fact, most schools give equal importance to all aspects of growing up. Thus, a child’s life in a CBSE school is usually far more interesting and fun-filled than a child’s life in an SSC school. Children who grow up in such a wholesome environment become strong individuals not just mentally but also physically and emotionally.

    CBSE vs. SSC – The final verdict

    In our opinion, CBSE takes the lead quite easily, but we also believe that this is a matter of personal choice. You may want your child to focus only on studies during his early, growing up stages, and we totally understand that. In this case, of course, SSC will be a great choice. If all-round development is your priority among other things, CBSE is the way to go.

    Would you like to add anything to this comparison? We would love to hear from you! Please put down your thoughts in the Comments section.

  • Understanding The Background Of CBSE VS IGCSE.

    Understanding The Background Of CBSE VS IGCSE.

    Choices can be frustrating, especially when both sides have pros that you cannot ignore! That’s why choosing between CBSE and IGCSE is a challenge.

    While CBSE is one of the most popular boards in our country, IGCSE brings the world to India, and that’s something! Each has proven to be amazing in laying the right schooling foundation. IGCSE may be relatively new, but we already have some great schools in Hyderabad that offer the curriculum. 

    A brief about each syllabus

    CBSE is the most widely followed curriculum in India. More than 19,000 schools across the country follow it. It is a national level board recognized by the Union Government of India.

    IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) or Cambridge Curriculum is an international curriculum. The coursework, the teaching methodology, and the approach are significantly different from what we are used to.

    Salient features of the CBSE board

    We have explained the CBSE curriculum a number of times on Yellow Slate, but we will talk about it again for your benefit. J

    1. The CBSE board allows instruction in Hindi and English.
    2. It lays the foundation for a number of competitive examinations in the country.
    3. The approach is theoretical with supportive, practical learning.
    4. The curriculum focuses mainly on science and math, while arts and language take a backseat.
    5. The syllabus is well-rounded with a focus on activities and sports.
    6. The CBSE certificate is accepted globally in many universities and colleges.
    7. The syllabus is quite child-centric and does not pressure children much. In fact, in recent years, the board brought in a number of changes in the syllabus to make it easier to learn.
    8. The syllabus is also quite interesting with projects and activities designed for each chapter.
    9. CBSE schools follow NCERT textbooks.

    Salient features of the IGCSE board

    We will need you to forget everything you know about learning here. With IGCSE curriculum comes a very fresh approach to learning and schooling.

    1. The Cambridge Curriculum is among the most child-focused approaches in the entire world.
    2. The curriculum scraps the old approach to subjects and typical classrooms. It gives schools a list of mandatory aspects in each subject that they must teach. Schools design the entire coursework based on this list.
    3. IGCSE is project-driven and experiential. Children learn everything through activity, play, and experience. Instruction-based learning is cut down to the minimum. In an IGCSE school, you will see kids learning in the playground, in the crafts room, in the lobby – just about everywhere. That’s the type of learning the curriculum encourages.
    4. Participation is hugely encouraged in IGCSE.
    5. Even the assessments in a Cambridge school are different. Children are tested on their application capability rather than their ability to reproduce what they learned or to write on exam sheets.
    6. There are no textbooks here. However, the board recommends a wide range of books that schools and children are free to choose from.

    CBSE vs. IGCSE – The final verdict

    Since both forms of education are very strong, it can be difficult to make a choice even though they are poles apart. We will make it simple for you here.

    If you are looking to prepare your child for competitive examinations such as IIT and AIIMS, CBSE will serve as the right precursor. If you are looking at higher studies in a foreign country, IGCSE will immensely help your child.

    Having said that, even if we want to prepare our children for IIT, AIIMS, etc. we think that learning must be activity-based and wholesome rather than instruction-based. That’s why we are slightly in favor of the Cambridge Curriculum.

    We hope this blog helped you make a choice. Once you come to a conclusion, please don’t forget to tell us!