High school

NIOS

Quite flexible.
If you go through NIOS, but have excellent SAT scores, you can still enter good international universities.
Anyone over 14 can enter Secondary course (10th)
- subject groups -
  - language (group A)
  - others (group B)
  - Indian knowledge tradition
- For base certificate - 5 subjects. Must have 1-2 languages (group A).
- Additional mention - 2 extra subjects (can have 3rd language)
Anyone with a secondary certificate can enter senior secondary course (12th); and the thence university.
- The student will not be able to give exam before one year. Practically takes Min 2 years from time of registration to get certificate.
- subject groups
  - group A languages
  - math and others (group B)
  - physics history etc group C
  - chemistriy etc group D
  - biology etc. group E
  - Computer science group F
- For base certificate - 5 subjects. Must have 1-2 languages (group A). Learner can opt only one subject from each of Group C,D,E and F.
- Additional mention - 2 extra subjects (can have 3rd language)
On-Demand Examination (ODE) in certain subjects - Source: TW
- result will be declared and published through NIOS web site during last week of every month for the examinations conducted during the preceded month.

Ref
- TW
Can be taken without IGCSE.
Courses & certs:
- Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level: 1-year courses (=1 semester university course), 180 teaching hours, 3-4 college credits
  - Grades - A* A B C D E (US equivalent - A+ A, B+ B, C+ C)
- Advanced (A) Level: 2-year courses, 360 teaching hours, 6-8 college credits
  - Grades - a a b c d e
- AICE Diploma
  - Need 7 credits. A level = 2 credits, AS = 1 credit.
  - subject groups: math/ sci, languages, art & humanities
  - >=1 credit from 3 subject groups (with 3 A levels) + AS Level Global Perspectives & Research course
  - Learners can accumulate credits for the Diploma over a 25-month period.
  - Grades - Pass, Merit and Distinction
3 A level courses needed to enter many universities including Cambridge.
Exam times
- June and November. Results are issued in August and January. In India only, a March exam series with results issued in May.

Grades A* to G
Offered at schools. Need to register with them as private candidate (less recognized by Indian universities). May write exam as regular student in some schools.
Exam times - May-June, Oct-Nov, Feb-Mar. Schools may not be able offer this board exam at all these times due logistical burdens.
Can apply as private candidate
more expensive. subject fees for IGCSE exams ranging from 5000 to 25000. (2024??)
Ref WS
Coursees for diploma