What to study after Matric: the main paths and how to choose

The short answer

After Matric most students take a two year intermediate programme: Class 11 and Class 12, called HSSC or FSc, FA or ICom depending on the group. The group you choose decides which university programmes you can enter later, so choose with the end programme in mind. Other paths are a diploma from a technical board and a vocational course.

The main groups

• Pre-Medical: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. It is the route to MBBS, BDS, pharmacy, physiotherapy, nursing and other health programmes. MBBS and BDS admission also needs the MDCAT.
• Pre-Engineering: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. It is the route to engineering degrees, which use tests such as ECAT, NET or university tests, and to many science and computing degrees.
• ICS (Intermediate in Computer Science): Mathematics or Statistics, Physics and Computer Science. It leads to computer science, software engineering, data science and related degrees.
• Commerce (ICom): Principles of Accounting, Commerce, Economics, and Business Mathematics or Statistics. It leads to BBA, BCom, accounting and finance, and to the ACCA and CA routes.
• General Science and Arts (FA, FSc General): subject combinations of your choice. They lead to a wide range of programmes in the social sciences, languages, education and law.

How to choose

1. Write down two or three careers that interest you and find the entry rules of the degree programmes that lead to them.
2. Check which intermediate group each programme accepts. Some accept more than one group, and some need a bridging course.
3. Look at your Matric marks by subject. A group that rests on subjects where you were weak needs extra effort.
4. Ask students in their first year of the group what the workload is.
5. Check the college itself: its results, teaching staff, laboratories and fees.

Before you apply

• Read the admission notice of the college and the board's rules on subject combinations and on the minimum marks.
• Keep copies of your Matric certificate, Form-B or CNIC, domicile, photographs and any other papers that the notice names.
• Check the dates. Admission to the first year often opens soon after the Matric result, and each college has its own merit rules.
• Do not choose a group only because friends are taking it.

Other paths

• Technical and vocational education: a diploma of associate engineering or a trade course after Matric, which can lead to work or to further study.
• The O Level and A Level route, for students of those systems.
• Private and public sector skill programmes. Check that the body is recognised.

Common questions

• Can I change my group later? It is difficult after the first year starts, so decide before admission. Ask the board and the college about their rules.
• Do I need the MDCAT after Matric? No. It is taken after the intermediate, with a Pre-Medical background.
• Where can I practise? This site has chapter notes and practice questions for Classes 9 to 12.

Where this comes from

• General guidance based on the structure of the intermediate programmes in Pakistan. Admission rules differ between boards, colleges and universities, so check the notice of the institute you apply to.