How to prepare for Class 10 & 12 board exams: Preparation tips (including last minute revisions)

Useful techniques that will help you prepare well for Class 10 & 12 board exams (applies to any exam actually). Find preparation tips & strategies to beat stress during the exams.

Preparation Tips for Board Exams

10th and 12th board exams are important milestones in your 16-17 years educational journey. Competition gets fierce every year, expectations increase from parents and teachers, and if you don’t plan it well right from the beginning of the year, you will be under tremendous stress during the exam period.

Stress, tension and nervousness are apparently the most common happenings during an exam. However, the most stressful one is indeed the board exam.

• ‘Have I done enough?
• Will I blank out while writing the paper?
• What will my score be?’

Numerous questions keep revolving in the mind prior to the final day. You may helpless, as if your knowledge is vaporising and you’re forgetting every detail (happens often if you have not revised properly). But in some cases, its because of the immense pressure and tall towers of expectations from others, including parents.

However, at this crucial point in ones life, it’s important to keep the blues away. It’s important to focus on ones mental and physical well-being, along with avoiding indulgences that could lead to unnecessary distractions. Believing in oneself and repeated self motivation is the need of the hour.

Read: CBSE Class 10 / 12 Sample Question Papers, Marking Schemes

• Stick to the Word Limit: You are not going to get extra marks for writing lengthy answers; in fact it could go against you Examiners have been asked to give importance to the word limit. As such, students should focus on the word limits (applies to language examination as well). This would also help them complete the paper in time.
• Include the formula: In Mathematics, Physics or Accountancy, write the formula wherever you can. It makes writing the answer quicker, reduces error and it also ensures you get some mark for the question.
• Answer in points, as far as possible: Paragraphs are passe and students should learn to provide concise answers, such as answering in points. As far as possible, students should try to answer in points and not in paragraphs. It saves time, gets the answers across and is also easier to mark.

Read: Students must follow the important instructions issued by the Board before the exams

Here’s how you can reduce the stress during the board exams – be it Class X or class XII.

Use these suggestions when you have sufficient time on hand…
1. Don’t leave everything until the last moment. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Past (successful) students and teachers suggest having a plan for your Class X and class XII studies, so regular timetables and checklists are a must. Set a timetable and ensure you follow what you have aimed to complete. Make a to-do list to plan your week and day.
2. Follow ‘quality, not quantity’. Its okay to study for lesser hours, but study with full concentration and study effectively.

   Remember: plan wisely, win proudly!

3. Munch light, eat healthy snacks (such as dry fruits) frequently so that you do not feel sleepy (avoid junk food). Some students feel sleepy studying in an air conditioned room, so avoid AC room if it arouses lethargy and sleep.
4. Its okay to take short rejuvenating breaks through the year, where you don’t discus studies. when you return, get back to your studies with renewed vigour.

   Use these suggestions as you near the exam dates…

5. Revise effectively, important to help you retain things in the memory when you appear for the exam.

   Also read: Effective revision techniques

6. Its an important year but don’t deprive yourself of sleep. I know a student whose father used to wake him at 3 AM early morning (some would call it mid-night) during last 2 months so that he could study more, without any disturbance. I personally don’t suggest that approach because it’s difficult to concentrate throughout the day if you sleep so less. May be 5 or 5.30 am would have been more appropriate.
7. Refer to textbooks of different authors and solve many past papers for an insight into different questions . Go through last years question papers and see which questions/topics are given more importance.Start with the recent ones first and then move to the earlier years.
8. Take notes on confusing ideologies or tough questions while solving papers or when referring to different textbooks, it will ease your revision work before the exams. During the exams, is revise these mistakes and go through these challenging topics again.

   Use these tips on the day of the exam…

9. Avoid staying awake all night before the final day; you won’t learn anything new at the last moment and you may not be able to focus well during the actual exam.
10. Prepare a checklist of things to carry on the exam day: I-card, Watch, Address of the exam centre, pen, stationery, whatever is important
11. If possible, make sure a parent or guardian accompanies you to the exam
12. Before writing the paper, read the questions first, decide on the approach (which one to answer first and which ones later)
13. After the paper, don’t think too much about it, as you cannot rewrite it. focus on the next paper.

Finally, after the exams, enjoy your vacation, and plan for the future. Don’t sulk a lot if the results are disappointing; its not the end of the road.

You can still find your path and succeed, provided you are willing to work hard.

External Links
Board exams 2019: Last minute tips for students

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