There's nothing new about history being an optional subject.
However, Chinese may be taught as an optional extracurricular subject.
The pupils in the 8th to 10th year must choose at least one optional subject.
Year 10 students study three optional subjects of their choice.
From second year of classes however, there are both compulsory and optional subject.
Students are expected to choose at least two optional subjects.
There used to be 23 optional subjects along with a general studies paper.
Now there will be no optional subjects in the preliminary examination.
Participants may choose a language as their optional subject.
Transition Year was introduced as an optional subject in 2010.