Get on Board

A good performance in pre-Boards doesn’t mean you have reached your destination. A good study strategy will ensure that you utilise the rest of the time in revising and use the 2-month span in the most effective way, says Aakash Chaudhry

After pre-board exam, students generally have mixed feelings about their level of preparation. You may either feel that you are ready to go, or sense something missing in your preparation, or have identified that you are far from your own expectations in terms of your dream results.

A good performance in pre-boards should not let you assume that you have nearly achieved your desired goal. Every exam should be treated independently. At the same time, a bad performance at pre-boards should not discourage you from performing to the best of your abilities. You can still turn the tide in two months by channelising your energy in the most appropriate way.

On one hand, you may have done well in the pre-boards as the questions asked were from topics that you were strong at. What if the picture turns out to be totally different in the board examsIJ You should always be prepared for the worst. Try to lookout for the grey areas and work upon them – the topics, which easily confuse you; the numericals, which take a great toll on time; and the answers, which claim unaffordable time in their articulation.

On the other hand, your performance at pre-boards may have been below your expectations and you may be disillusioned about your preparation for board exams. This should not be considered as the end of the road, as I know a large number of students who did very badly at pre-boards but surprised everyone by their excellent board-results.

This is the moment, when you should sit and ponder. A good plan will ensure that you take only the most necessary steps and use the 2-months’ span in the most effective way. let’s discuss some necessary steps, you need to take.

Stress on your weaknesses

When it comes to planning, identifying your relatively weaker areas should be the first task as it gives you a glimpse of what all needs to be covered and helps you plan how it can be achieved. For example,

• Weak in memorizingIJ - Prepare more mnemonics
• Concepts not clearIJ - re-read the topic from a book, where it is more clearly explained, discuss with your teacher / friends and solve related questions
• Many topics not preparedIJ - Identify and write down topics according to their weightage. Identify time you need and can actually devote. Chalk out a plan to execute balanced preparation keeping in mind the board-exam schedule
• Numericals are too difficult to handleIJ - take tips for short calculations, they do exist
• Writing speed is a concernIJ - try to answer in pointers and be to-the-point in your articulation (refer previous years’ model answers available on cbse.nic.in, solve as many mock papers as you can in time-bound manner, etc. Write required steps only
• Getting easily de-motivatedIJ - always remain positive as it keeps you upright and focused towards the challenges of exams’ preparation
• lack of concentrationIJ – make your study methods interesting by making flashcards; using flow-charts, diagrams, graphs and charts of formula, equations; sing, read topics out loud, record and listen them.
• Often miss the target I planIJ – big targets are often missed, small targets are easily achieved. Break your each large target into small time-bound achievable targets. For example, instead of setting a target of completing one long chapter in few hours, try to complete 2-3 pages in few minutes and set alarm accordingly. If you over-achieve it, you’ll celebrate; if not, you’ll be more cautious the next time. Do not be stubborn with the topics you get stuck with. Consult your teacher instead. It saves your precious time
• Accumulation of doubts – keep clearing your doubts from teachers on regular basis. It helps you boost your confidence as you can apply your minds more freely and confidently

You should ensure that your daily method of preparation addresses these areas properly.

Avoid reading too many books

You should choose only one good fundamental book for concept building and refer other good books to clear your doubts later. It saves your valuable time and helps you avoid confusion due to different write-ups. Having thoroughly read NCERT textbooks, refer other books to practice application based questions.

Every student is different

Successful are not those who not only know their strengths but also their weaknesses. Every student has his/her own strengths and limitations. If you know your shortcomings, you can either work upon them or find means to fight them out in the exam.

Solve 5 previous-years’ papers

Solving only recent previous years’ papers are essential as the paper patterns and trends, all have been undergoing radical changes since the last few years. Also, you should not carry a myth that previous year’s questions are often repeatedly asked. Solving such papers should be simply taken as a preparatory exercise to ensure that you are able to crack them well in time - keeping only the question paper, blank sheets, writing-kit and a watch before you.

Take care of your health

A lot of students end up feeling sick due to pressure, sleep deprivation and improper diet – such anxieties build up negative energy. If any of these issues affect you, consult your teacher/parent or counselor immediately. Ensure that you have at least seven hours of sound sleep and have four healthy ‘not-so-heavy’ meals every day. Always take out some time for recreational activities to keep yourself rejuvenated after long hours of studies.

Remember, just thinking about problems does not solve them, however, an act to resolve them can! A little worry only helps you do better. Stay calm; avoid worrying too much about the end result. Trust yourself and your efforts and you will emerge as a winner!

The writer is director, AESPl, Aakash Educational Services Pvt. ltd.