This post includes How to Prepare for Boards in 3 Months, Board Exam Preparation Tips for CBSE, ICSE, and Other State government Exams in 2021-22 session. Here, we explained the top 18 exam preparation tips for students in class 10th and 12th.
Class 10th and class 12th boards exams have been haunting the students for many years. Students are from time to time advised by their parents and teachers to study sincerely for board exams. Since these exams are crucial in deciding the stream that a student is going to choose, it becomes imperative to study hard to ensure a smooth transition from class 10th to class 11th, and class 11th to class 12th. Today, we will discuss how one should prepare for these board exams to secure good marks and pass the exams with flying colors.
How to Prepare for Boards in 3 Months (2021-22)
Tips for board exams preparation are-
#1- Go Throughout the Syllabus
It doesn’t matter what exam you are preparing for; the foremost thing you should do is read the syllabus. It happens quite many times when students give more importance to the topics that do not have much weightage in the examination, wasting their precious time studying something that is not going to be asked. So, what should I do? Go through the syllabus and mark the topics in your textbook that are mentioned in the syllabus. Remember Pareto’s Principle (also known as the ’80-20 principle’). It says 80% output is produced by 20% effort. Therefore, you should focus on the most important chapters first and then move to other chapters.
#2- Set Tasks for Each Subject, Allot a Fixed Time to Accomplish
When we fix a deadline to a task, we are more likely to complete that task in the given time frame. Thus, you can set deadlines for each chapter or even subject to maintain a procrastination-free learning environment. For example, you may allow yourself 2 hrs to complete the first chapter of your maths textbook. After completing this task, set another deadline for another subject or chapter.
#3- Use Parallel Subject Study Approach – Study 3, 4 Subjects Daily, and Rest Subjects on Alternate Days
Have you ever felt exhausted after reading the same book for many hours? Yes, it happens with everyone. It isn’t easy to concentrate on the same topic for a long duration. So, it is a wise strategy to study the subjects in a mixed manner. In other words, rather than studying the same subject for 4 hrs, you can bifurcate the time to study 2 (or more) subjects in the same duration. For instance, you can study English, Maths, and Hindi on a particular day and then the next day you can study Science and Social Science together. This method is called Parallel Study Approach. It helps your brain to retain better without getting tired.
#4- Understand the Concept of the Topics, Explain them in your words
Our teachers always advise us to make notes while reading. Do you know why? Well, the reason is pretty easy to understand. When we write a statement or concept in our own words, it is nicely imprinted in our brains. Therefore, try to remember the definitions and theorems in your own words to recall them easily in the exam.
#5- Prepare Quick Short Revision Notes
How do you revise your subjects? By re-reading the whole book? This is not what toppers do! It is not a good idea to re-read the entire book for revision. What can a student do to reduce the burden of revision? He/she can make short and crisp notes of all the topics while reading those topics for the first time. This will help him/her retain the concepts better. And at the time of examinations, you can read these notes instead of going through the book. It will save a lot of time, and you know time is the most critical factor during exams.
Another thing is that you should not borrow others’ notes. You can analyze others’ notes but do not copy them. Writing your notes on your own will benefit you more than anything else.
#6- Remember Important Chapters’ Headings
Questions in the examination are framed while keeping in mind the headings of the chapters. It would be best if you remembered the important headings. It will help you to write answers efficiently. Even if you do not know the exact answer, you can write a general answer if you can figure out from which topic the question is being asked. And to figure out this thing, you must remember the important headings. For instance, suppose there is a question in your Social Science paper about the French Revolution. Despite not knowing the exact answer, you can write a general answer explaining the causes and consequences of the French Revolution. The examiner will surely give you some marks, which any serious student would gladly accept.
#7- Aim Fast Revision Strategy
Revision is the most essential part of any exam preparation. To reproduce what you have learned at the time of examination, it is imperative to have a good revision strategy. So, how should I do my revision? You need to keep three things in mind while making a revision strategy. First, do not revise the entire book. Revise only the important points and concepts from your notes. Second, while revising a chapter, go through the questions that have been asked in the previous years. You will get an idea of what to study. Third, form a mind map. In other words, try to categorize the topics under headings and headings under chapters for each chapter. It will help you to memorize everything efficiently.
You already know the importance of revision, but you might not be aware of the best revision technique. It’s not something very fancy but just keep these things in mind
- You have to fix a specific time(for most of us early morning would be the high time). Revise each topic once a week and thrice a month.
- Form short questions or MCQs that can be asked in the exam.
#8- Solve Previous Year Question Papers
Solving previous year questions is an extremely crucial aspect of good exam preparation. If you read the strategy of toppers, you will see that they all had solved previous year’s questions before attempting the final exam. Previous year questions provide you with the structure of an exam. If you carefully analyze these past year question papers, you will identify a trend of questions that are being asked in the exams. You will find out the chapters that should be given the first priority.
#9- Develop Writing Skills, gain Speed
Imagine a situation where a student knows the entire question paper but is unable to put his/her thoughts on the answer sheet. Or a situation where despite knowing the correct answers, the student was not able to complete the question paper on the stipulated time. These are not extremely unlikely situations. It may happen with anyone who is not well prepared for the exam. What needs to be done in this scenario?
The answer is developing writing skills. Writing is essential as you have to present your solutions in a written format. You must create a habit of answer-writing before exam days. While attempting mock tests, make sure that you are able to complete the paper in the allotted time. Increase your speed by reducing the time spent on difficult and unimportant questions.
#10- Solve Answers Using Diagrams
Diagrams and flowcharts play a vital role in explaining the concepts. You must have seen plenty of diagrams in your science and social science textbooks. Why not use these diagrams in your exam? There is a question on the classification of resources in your social science exam; do not forget to make a flowchart illustrating the classification.
A rough diagram of the heart must be there while explaining its functions and importance in your natural science exam. These diagrams make you stand outside the crowd. It will make an impression on the checker that you have learned these topics sincerely. One more thing to keep in mind is not to overuse diagrams. That is, use them only when it is necessary; otherwise, you will not be able to finish the paper on time.
#11- Discuss Doubts with Classmates, ask Teachers
Don’t shy away from asking for help. You can always discuss your doubts with your friends and teachers. They are always there for you. Teachers are a great source of knowledge and inspiration. You should have a friendly relationship with them so that you can ask your doubts without any hesitation. Always talk to your teachers in case you need any guidance or facing difficulty in something. They are always ready to help you.
#12- Avoid Wasting Time on Mobile/Social Media
Social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., should be avoided when the exams are approaching. These applications are designed to grab your attention. Do not waste your precious time scrolling your Instagram feed. It is not going to help you in exams. If you cannot resist your temptation to use them, you can allot a specific time, say ½ hr a day, to them. At times, YouTube helps us to understand a concept that we missed in class. You can use it but make sure to do it sincerely. Don’t spend too much time searching for the ‘perfect lecture’. Use your time wisely.
#13- Exercise at Home, Take a Healthy Diet:
Exercise daily for at least 10 minutes, preferably in the morning. This will help your body and mind to remain active for a longer period. Eating balanced food will help you to study very efficiently, and you have to be fit to take the exam so that you can utilize your full potential and fetch good marks.
#14- Use Online Sources Technology:
You can always refer to online sources whenever you didn’t understand something. For Mathematics and Physics, a lot of graphing utilities are available online which will help you understand the topics which are difficult to visualize.
#15- Pomodoro Technique:
Do you know the attention span of humans has decreased drastically in due time? Thus, it is advised to study in short time formats and then take a very short break which eventually helps your mind to retain the concepts. For example, study for 30 minutes and then take a 5 minutes break, you can repeat this process multiple times.
#16- Analyze Topper’s answer sheet:
It would be a great idea to see how the topper of the previous year’s exam has written the answers so that you can get an idea of the presentation of answers.
#17- Watch the Board Toppers Interviews:
You might have always wondered what strategy these students used to top the exam, now you don’t need to guess it there are several sources where you can watch their interview to know how they prepared.
#18- Be Confident, Relax, and Optimistic:
This is just an exam, and you have taken plenty of exams in your life till now. Be confident and believe in what you have studied. Don’t worry this is going to be very easy if you have adhered to the strategy mentioned above.
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