With the dates for Boards to be announced in March 2021, there is a lot of angst among the students. Bharat Goyal shares tips that will come in handy for them
The Board exams are valued as the foundation of a child’s future in the Indian education system. Every year, schools across the country put a special focus on the students of Classes X and XII so that they perform well in the exam that helps decide their future course. However, the schools had to cancel face-to-face classes this year amidst the fear of Covid-19 contamination. And hence, the students lost crucial time.
Nonetheless, there is no reason for students to not be hopeful of achieving excellent marks in the examinations. To make the job easier for students, CBSE has already slashed 30 per cent of the syllabus. Meanwhile, schools are making all efforts to clear doubts via online sessions. Now, the students must follow certain tips to prepare in a manner that helps them score well.
Prepare a time table, stick to it: First and foremost, prepare your study schedule smartly. It is important to have a timetable based on your style of study. Even without waking up at odd hours, a student can invest around eight hours of preparation each day. However, one must not keep unrealistic goals and take breaks after every hour or so to stay focused. It is advisable to begin studies with a difficult topic as the mind is most fresh then.
Relating to study content, preference should be given to NCERT textbooks over reference books. Rather than jumping to other books, the focus should be on mastering prescribed textbooks. Also, students should prepare brief notes on every topic and make it a habit to underline (or highlight) the crucial sentences/words in their textbook as this helps in better memorisation.
To thrash out weakness, take tests every week: To become ready for the exam day, a student must take up several tests of each subject so as to know the weak points and gain more confidence. This will weed out nervousness in the examination hall. Practice tests will also improve your time management skills. You may also ask a friend to quiz you over the study material as explaining answers to someone else can help you better understand and retain the information.
As this academic year is unprecedented, students must take mock tests with masks and shields as that is how they will be supposed to be in the exam hall. Students must acclimatise themselves to protective gears so that they don’t lose their precious time adjusting masks during exams.
Mental and physical health: Like the old English proverb says — Sound mind rests only in sound body. A student must eat right and exercise at least 15 minutes a day to keep body fit and mind rejuvenated. Not to forget, eight hours of sleep is a must. Slashing sleep time may have negative consequences. Mental strength is extremely essential to score well. And don’t focus too much on competition; your goal should be outperforming yourself. If you did better than the last time, you are successful.
In the exam hall: Read all the questions properly, understand them, and prepare a plan to approach the question paper. Deal with questions carrying more marks first. Logic suggests it is challenging to attempt big questions at the last but a student can finish short questions in little time as well.
Don’t spend too much time on a particular question and if possible, make charts (or diagrams) with answers. It creates a very good impression. Needless to mention, try to avoid cuts. A clean handwriting increases the chances of you securing better marks by many folds. After finishing your paper, do cross-check everything. It helps you thrash out all silly mistakes.
Bonus Tips
Avoid deviation: It is important to switch off the phone and other gadgets while studying to avoid distraction. If possible, stop going to parties and deactivate your social media accounts in the last three months before board exams. This will save you a lot of time.
Seek guidance: Sometimes, topics require extra guidance and self-study doesn’t always suffice. To bounce over this, a student must not feel shy in reaching out to their teachers, classmates, or seniors for help. Not just this, students must also take guidance regarding exam patterns and strategy to score well. Opening your heart out gets you solutions and lightens your mind.
The writer is Founder & Director, Bhartiyam International School