CBSC, ICSC or State board: Which one is best for students? Choosing an education board might feel challenging. Each path leads to different opportunities, and so parents often get confused about which is the best education board (India) for them.
The truth is that none of the boards is universally ‘the best’ or better than the others. Which one to consider the best one for your child depends on their goals, which could be excelling in competitive exams or preparing for studies abroad or keeping education simple and affordable.
And, if you want to know which one suits your child then this blog is for you. Here, you will explore the difference between CBSE, ICSE & State Board, their advantages, Syllabus differences (CBSE, ICSE, State Board), and many more.
Understanding the three boards:
1. CBSC
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSC) is run by the government.
Advantages of CBSC board:
a. The board of CBSE for competitive exams can be really useful as it focuses on subjects like science, mathematics which makes it highly suitable for the students who are preparing for exams like NEET, JEE and UPSC.
b. It is closely tied to the NCERT textbook and thus can help in most national-level entrance exams.
c. The syllabus is compact and concept oriented which makes it exam friendly and manageable for students who wants more clarity
2. ICSE
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).
Advantages of ICSE:
a. It is recognised by universities abroad, and thus makes it a great choice for students who want to pursue higher studies abroad.
b. It has a broader syllabus that dives into detail.
c. The syllabus focuses on subjects like literature, applied learning, science projects, humanities, etc.
3. State Board:
The State Board is designed by individual state governments like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu. You can visit each state's website to take a look in detail.
Advantages of State Board:
a. The syllabus has state-level relevance and prepares students for local competitive exams or government exams.
b. The syllabus and difficulty level can vary from each state. It can sometimes be easy and sometimes be difficult depending upon the state and focuses on subjects like regional language, local history, and culture.
c. It is more affordable and less expensive than other boards and so State Board is a practical choice for many parents.
Key Differences between CBSE, ICSE & State Board:
1. CBSE vs ICSE
When it comes to CBSE, ICSE comparison, it focuses more on the career goals of a student. Here is the key difference to consider while deciding among these two board:
a. CBSE: It is more exam focused and avoids unnecessary complexity. It ensures that students build strong fundamentals in subjects like science and mathematics and is more efficient for those preparing for exams like NEET, JEE.
b. ICSE: It focuses more on depth and details and gives students exposure to a wide range of knowledge. This helps them develop language skills and prepares them for international universities.
2. State Board vs CBSE
Many parents find it tough to choose between State board and CBSC. Here is the key difference to consider when choosing one from the two:
a. State Board: State Board education is more affordable and tailored to local context like state languages and culture. It becomes beneficial for those students who want to stay within the state for higher education and pursue state government jobs.
b. CBSE: It gives a national level recognition and the syllabus is mostly consistent across India. Families with a transferable job find CBSE more convenient and also it has an advantage when it comes to competitive exams.
3. ICSE vs State Board:
The comparison between these two boards comes down to career goals of whether a student wants a global approach or a local approach. Here is what to consider while choosing between these two board:
a. ICSE: It has a comprehensive and balanced learning and offers detailed coverage in various subjects but particularly in English and applied learning. The students can be more confident during communication and it also prepares them for international exams like SAT, TOEFL.
b. State Board: It is more region focused and prioritizes the state's official language, culture, and history, while keeping the syllabus lighter than ICSE. It is more affordable and easy to manage but it might not give the same level of global recognition as ICSE.
FAQ’s
1. How CBSE helps for NEET, JEE compared to State Board?
Ans: CBSE helps for NEET and JEE because the syllabus is aligned with NCERT textbooks which helps for competitive exams while State Board focuses on state-level competitive exams.
2. Which board is better: CBSE or State Board?
Ans: It depends on the career goals. If the aim is national level competitive exams and mobility across India then CBSE is the right choice but if the goal is regional focus and state level opportunities then Stateboard is the option to go for.
3. Best board for competitive exams CBSE or ICSE?
Ans: CBSE is the best choice for competitive exams like NEET and JEE as the syllabus is based on NCERT.
4. Is ICSE harder than CBSE & State Board?
Ans: Yes. ICSE is considered more challenging than CBSE and State Board because of detailed Syllabus, extensive project work and strong emphasis on English