Board exams are the exams conducted by the education boards like CBSE, ICSE or the state boards. They usually occur at the end of the Tenth and Twelfth grade now a day. Earlier the board exams also occurred at the end of the Fifth and Eighth standard. The board exam covers the full syllabus taught to the students in one academic year. Giving an exam of the whole syllabus is not an easy task for the students. Keeping this point in mind and to make the education system easier, CBSE introduced a new system for the students studying in class sixth to tenth in the year 2009. This system was called CCE (continuous and comprehensive evaluation). It divided the whole academic year into two semesters. The topics which were covered in the first semester were not touched in the second semester. Both the semesters had their own end of semester exams which were compiled together to form the final result of the student. It was believed that this system would reduce pressure on the students. Due to CCE, the results of the students got better but they were not precise, that is, they did not reflect the actual intelligence of the students. The students who got 10 CGPA were not so intelligent and those who got below 6 CGPA were not so poor at studies. So, now board exams are being reintroduced. Today, there is a lot of competition. All the students are equally intelligent. Even a difference of a single mark creates a lot of difference in the result and rankings. In such a competitive environment, it becomes important for all the students to their best in the board exams. Because in the society we live board exams are considered the ultimate measure of intelligence of a student, the students feel more pressurized. To perform well in board exams the students should know what the right way to practice for board exams is. Here are some tips which will help you to prepare well for board exams.
Tips to Score Good Marks in Board Exams
- Time Table and Time Management: This is the first step towards the success in board exams. First of all, calculate the time left for commencing of board exams. Subtract four from the number of days left because you will revise for your first board exam in these four days when the exams will start. You have to prepare the whole syllabus for all the subjects in these remaining numbers of days. Make a timetable for this. The timetable should be such that it does not stresses you out. It should have sufficient resting time. Do not make the timetable in such a way as in the first four days you will study only one subject and then the remaining subjects will be covered like this only. When you will continuously study a single subject for a long, you will get bored and will not want to study anymore. Make your timetable in such a way that you at least study one topic or chapter of each subject in a day. This approach will be more relaxing for your brain. You have to be determined and strictly follow this timetable.
- A Proper Study Space: While studying you need a proper place. That place means a study table in a corner of a house which frees from all kinds of disturbances. While studying the mind needs to be in a peaceful state. No outside noise should enter into your ear. If you sit with the family and then try to study, it will be wrong. It will decrease your concentration. Study table or simple table and chair are a must for studying. If you sit on the bed and then try to study, this will also be wrong because you will feel sleepy. This will cause a lack of concentration and will make you fall asleep.
- Know your Weak Points: Write down your syllabus in a notebook with even the minute topics. Then you should go through the syllabus and mark your week point that is the topics you do not know or have some understanding problem in them. Give your priority to these topics first and then move on to the remaining syllabus. As you complete one topic ticks mark that topic on the list so that you know what all you have covered and what all you have to do.
- Try solving Question Papers: Reading books and notes is not at all enough. If you will read or memories the notes, you will not be able to attempt the question paper properly. You should practice the previous year question papers or the sample paper or model papers. When you practice these questions, you get the idea of how the questions will be framed in the paper. With practising so many questions you can predict the other questions also which can come in the exam. While practising the previous year question papers you get to know the important topics which come repeatedly in the exam. This will give you a hint about which topics you should give more attention and which topics you can take lightly. It is also a good way of revision. After reading and understanding the text, when you practice the papers, you recall what you have learned, and then it stays in your mind and the concept becomes clearer.
- Do not Cram: Cramming is not at all a good option. You should try to understand what is there in the text. Cramming is not the solution if you cannot understand a topic. If you cannot understand it ask for help from your teachers or your elders who can guide you on the topic. If you cram a question for the exam, and the question comes in some other form, you will not be able to attempt it. On the other hand, if you would have understood the question then no matter what form the question comes, you can attempt it.
- Write and Practice: Instead of reading or speaking, you should write down what you have learned. Things which you write with your own hands stay in your mind for a longer time than the things which you type, read or speak. It will give one more advantage that when you write and practice it will increase your writing speed and the fluency of writing. This will be very beneficial for you in the exam as you will be able to finish your paper on time and then revise it also.
- Group Study: It is the human nature to get bored while doing some task alone. Same goes for studying. If you think that you cannot study alone or you need help from your friends you can opt for group study. But if you go for group study, make sure you actually study. It usually happens that when some friends try to study while sitting together, they just start gossiping or having fun. This will be a waste of time. Make sure that you have only those people in your study group which actually want to study and can explain to you the topics which you do not know.
- Take small Breaks: Do not study regularly. Your mind will become tired. Take out ten to twenty minutes in between and have some refreshing drink or listen to music or just have some walk in the fresh air. In this way, you will be able to study effectively.
- Stay Fit: If you want to perform well in your exam, you should stay fit and healthy. For this, avoid eating junk food. Eat healthy food cooked in the house. Include some physical exercises in your routine. Try to meditate in the morning in the fresh air. It will be very beneficial because when you do deep breathing, more amount of oxygen is inhaled by you, which reaches your brain making your brain healthier and it will also increase your concentration.
Ways to Attempt the Paper?
- Go through the Question Paper: These days extra fifteen minutes are given as reading time for the question paper. In that time you should read the question paper thoroughly. Mark the questions you know very well. Recall what all you have learned in context to the paper.
- Do Easy and Long Questions First: Never ever start your papers with a difficult question. You will waste you all your time. Start with the questions that have the highest weight age and is the easiest for you and follow this in a decreasing order for the rest of the questions. Try to keep the difficult questions for the last and try to solve long questions which carry the maximum marks first so that if you fall short of time you have attempted your best and all the questions with maximum weight age have been attempted.
- Effective Answering: Do not write too much or too little. Try to include diagrams in your answers. Write in points. Make headings for each point. Underline the important parts of the answer. Your answer should be presented in such a way that the checker can check it just by looking at it even without reading it.
- Write in Good Handwriting: A bad handwriting can spoil the checkers' mood. If he will not understand your handwriting, he will definitely deduct marks for it. Also, avoid cuttings in the paper. Write your best handwriting in the paper and make sure that your answer sheet looks neat and clean.
- Revise before Submission: After you have attempted all the questions, give a reading of the answers written by you. Find mistakes if any in the answers and correct them.
Conclusion
Every student wants to score good marks in the board exams. The increase in the competition among students has made it a difficult task. But if you follow the tips mentioned above, you can definitely succeed in your wish. Practice makes a man perfect. If you will practice, you will definitely get good marks. Do not leave this studying and practice for later. Start from the very beginning. Revise what all is done in the class when you come home. This will be the first step towards preparation of board exams. Do not compare your preparation and performance with your friends as everyone is different and has different capabilities. And most importantly do not ignore your health because a healthy mind needs a healthy body.
