What is the difference between HSC and Alim?

Both are higher-secondary certificates and each is recognised as the equivalent of the other. The difference lies in the syllabus and in who runs it — HSC is administered by the general education boards, Alim by the madrasah education board.

On syllabus, Alim teaches religious and Arabic subjects alongside general ones. HSC runs through one of three streams — science, humanities or business studies. What you study differs; the level you study at does not.

For higher education, an Alim qualification lets you sit general university admission tests. One practical condition is worth remembering, though: some departments require that you studied particular subjects, and that requirement applies to every candidate alike. So check each university’s subject conditions in its notice.

The admission processes are separate too. The central Class XI application and admission to Alim are not the same thing — applying in one does not enter you into the other, and their timetables can differ.