School Subjects Students Hate: Why They’re Tough and What to Do About It

When students say they hate a subject, it’s rarely about the topic itself—it’s about how it’s taught, how overwhelming it feels, or how disconnected it seems from real life. School subjects students hate, the classes that trigger stress, avoidance, or frustration in classrooms across India. Also known as difficult school subjects, these aren’t just hard—they’re often taught in ways that make them feel impossible to master. Many of these subjects show up again and again in the conversations around CBSE syllabus, India’s most widely followed school curriculum, known for its rigid structure and exam-focused approach, and ICSE difficulty, a curriculum that demands deep understanding but gives little room for memorization shortcuts. The pressure doesn’t come from the subject alone—it comes from the system that treats every student like they’re training for a national exam.

Take JEE preparation, the high-stakes path to engineering colleges in India, where Physics, Chemistry, and Math are not just subjects—they’re survival courses. Students don’t hate Math because it’s abstract. They hate it because they’re told to solve 50 problems a night, with no time to ask why the formula works. They don’t hate Physics because it’s complex. They hate it because they’re never shown how it connects to the real world—like why braking distance matters in car safety, or how circuits power their phones. The same goes for Chemistry: memorizing reaction chains feels pointless when no one explains how it applies to medicines, food, or pollution. These aren’t just academic hurdles—they’re confidence killers.

The problem isn’t that these subjects are too hard. It’s that they’re taught like they’re meant to filter students out, not help them grow. Schools focus on rankings, not understanding. Exams reward speed, not insight. And when students fall behind, they’re labeled as ‘weak’ instead of being given the right support. But here’s the truth: no subject is inherently hated. It’s the way it’s delivered that turns curiosity into dread. The good news? Many students who once hated these subjects later found they loved them—once they found the right teacher, the right resource, or just the right moment to understand.

Below, you’ll find real stories and practical advice from students who’ve been there—why they struggled, how they turned it around, and what actually works when the system feels stacked against you. Whether you’re a student drowning in formulas, a parent watching your child burn out, or a teacher trying to make a difference, these posts offer more than tips—they offer a way forward.