With board exams around the corner, lakhs of students like you are biting their nails and studying hard. You have been preparing for these exams for almost two years now. Your scores from these exams are taken into consideration for the next course that you want to apply to. Moreover, many master's programmes across the country and abroad also have your board exam score as one of their admission criteria.
Unlike competitive exams, the approach to board exams is different. Your paper has questions that need long answers. This is why you should know all the concepts thoroughly. You should be able to answer them in a systematic, step-wise format. However, long answers are also an area where you could lose track of time and struggle to complete the paper. If you are aspiring to score well in your board exams, managing time and strategising your revision is key, at this stage. Here are a few tips to help you.
Learn time management by taking one mock test every day
Solving mock tests and previous years’ question papers help you in more ways than one:
Learn time management
Your board exams can get tricky. Many students like you get stuck on a single question that they don’t know well and lose track of time.
Mock tests and previous years’ question papers will help you understand the various sections of your question paper. By solving them, you can get an insight on which sections need more time and which sections will help you save time. Moreover, you will know which questions have options and which don’t, so that you don’t end up skipping a question by mistake. The amount of time needed for each section differs from student to student. Find out what suits you well and stick to it.
Learn from your mistakes
When you take a mock test, analyse your mistakes and figure out which areas need revision. Make a note of each answer where you lost marks and categorise these answers as follows:
• You had no idea how to solve it — you should study these concepts thoroughly and practice several questions on this topic.
• You started writing it correctly, but got confused midway — you might not need to study entire concepts. You should find out what confused you, solve any doubts and try solving such questions again.
• You knew the answer, but didn’t follow the correct steps — this will usually happen when it comes to theorems. Practice these answers stepwise a few times until you get all the steps right.
• Set your routine — try taking mock tests at the same time as your board exam. This will change your body clock and you will concentrate better during your board exam.
Revision strategy: Stick to what you know
In case you haven’t completed your syllabus, don’t try studying new concepts when there are only a few days left for your exam. Stick to the concepts that you have already studied well and work towards mastering them. After taking your daily mock test, go through your notes chapter by chapter and revise all important formulae, diagrams, concepts and theorems. Keep your notes and flashcards handy. Whenever you get time, revise formulae. This will help you in solving numerical problems and score higher. Make a list of questions that were popular amongst paper setters in the last 5–7 years. Practice these questions thoroughly since they have a higher chance of being repeated.
Get your doubts solved at the earliest instance possible
As you keep solving more mock tests and previous years' question papers, you will end up with several doubts and queries. At this stage, it is difficult to schedule a doubt solving session with your teacher. Apps like Doubts on Chat by Toppr can be used to get most of your doubts cleared in under a minute, no matter what time of day it is. All you have to do is upload a picture of your doubt on the app. An expert will solve it for you via chat and help you until you understand it clearly. Apart from these three key tips, you should always keep your mind calm and remain motivated throughout your exam month. If you feel low or under confident, talk to those you are close to — your parents, teachers or friends — and continue studying hard in order to get to where you want to be.
