How to choose the right subjects in Grade 10

The subject choices that are right for you in Grade 10 requires a certain amount of consideration. This includes:

• Who you are as a person
• Your career choices
• Further education
• The subject requirements for further education
• Understanding your subject choices

1. Who you are as a person

If you know what kind of person you are, you will be in a position to choose the right subjects. Knowing the answers to the following questions will help:

What are my values? – Your values can determine the kind of career that you may want. For example, some professions can take you away from home for long periods. If you value family relationships, such a career may not be the right one for you.

What skills do I possess? – The skills that you have or are willing to acquire can also determine your choice of career and thus your subject choices. For example, if you have good communication skills, you can consider a career as a journalist, broadcaster or a public relations position.

What are my strengths and talents? – For example, are you athletic? If you are, it can be possible to consider a career as a firefighter, policeman or in the army.

2. Career Choices

After getting to know yourself a little better, do some research on the careers that might appeal to you. In your research, consider the following:

Fields of specialisation – Are there any specialisations in the career choice? For example, if you want to be a Doctor, you can be a specialist in one of the following:

• Oncology – The treatment of cancer
• Ophthalmology – The treatment of eyes
• Paediatrics – Medical care of children
• Psychiatry – Mental health
• Urology – The treatment of the urinary system
• Dermatology – The treatment of skin disorders

Related careers – Identify the careers related to your chosen one. For example, the following are related to a marketing career:

• Advertising
• Branding
• Customer services
• Sales management
• Public relations

Possible employers – You should also do some research on the possible employers of the careers that you wish to consider. This can give you an idea of the job opportunities that may be available.

Talk to professionals – In your research, you may also need to talk to people who are already professionals in the careers that you are considering. This can give you an idea of the day-to-day activities in the profession.

3. Further education

You will need to consider the requirements needed to qualify for your possible career choices. Here is what you will need to consider when you explore further education requirements:

• General requirement for the qualification that you want to achieve for your possible career (Bachelor’s Degree, National Diploma or National Certificate). This can also guide you on the choice of your subjects.
• The specific subjects required for your course. This will guide you on your subject choices.
• Minimum pass mark that you need to achieve in specific subjects
• Specific requirements of the institution

4. Identify subject requirements for further education

Identify the subject requirements for the course that you want to pursue. Some tertiary courses may require you to have specific subjects as well as a specific level of achievement in those subjects. Also, note that there are subjects that are recommended for certain professions.

There are also 4 compulsory subjects to take for Grade 12:

a) Home Language
b) First Additional Language
c) Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
d) Life Orientation

There are quite a number of elective subjects to choose from. Elective subjects are subjects that are not compulsory, and you can choose whichever ones you want when going to Grade 10. You need 3 electives to be able to write the examinations for the National Senior Certificate.

What is also great is that you are not limited to only the subjects provided by your school. You can take one or more of these elective subjects through an accredited distance or online school, like Brainline. This is known as mixed provisioning. Keep in mind that all your subjects must be registered with one examination board. This means that, if you are at, for example, an IEB school, providers of additional subjects should also offer IEB exams.

Click here to have a look Brainline’s elective subjects.