Beyond Marks: CBSE class 12 toppers share study strategies and tips to manage stress  

From covering a massive syllabus to solving papers endlessly, Board exam preparation can be quite stressful and overwhelming. And that’s why de-stressing is important in order to stay focussed and motivated, believes Vani Gupta, who topped the class XII Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exam in her school Apeejay Noida.

“I practised yoga, enjoyed light music, and watched the TV soap “Tarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chasma” with my family,” said the Science student, who scored 97.8 per cent. “I feel great and grateful to the Almighty, my teachers, and my parents for their blessings.”

Reva Seth, who ranked second in the school with 97.2 per cent, shared how she “went with the flow” without putting too much stress on herself during her preparation. The Humanities student shared, “One must work hard, of course, but I do not believe in studying 10-12 hours every day. I kept things easy, and my parents played a big role in that. There was no pressure from my teachers either. I think that paid off well.”

Also Read: Student ambassador for ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ aces CBSE Board exam

Simran Bhatia, a Commerce student who came a close third with 97 per cent, conceded that worrying over marks is almost unavoidable and so it is important to take breaks from time to time. “It was a tense time for all students. I made sure to go out for a walk every day for at least 30 minutes, which helped clear my mind after studying for hours. It is important to take breaks. I like dancing, so I continued performing in a few events to avoid losing touch. That is how I kept myself motivated. Everyone has a different way of coping with exam stress. But it is important they identify their interests or stressbusters and take a break every now and then,” she emphasised.

Besides, her family encouraged her every step of the way. “While there was some pressure at the back of my mind, my parents, sister, and grandmother handled it very well. They were very supportive and never burdened me with expectations. They told me that while scores are important, what matters more is my personal growth. Having a supportive family is a huge advantage.”

Aryan Singh, another Science student (non-medical) of the school, shared the rank with Simran by securing 97 per cent.

How the toppers prepared for the CBSE class XII Board exam

All the toppers mostly relied on NCERT books and sample question papers to achieve good marks. “Focussed study and regular assignments helped in completing my syllabus. School-recommended books and class notes are sufficient for a good score,” Vani advised.

She added, “I would like to thank Dr Davinder Kaur, my Physics teacher, who helped me with my practicals and preparation for the Board exam, my maths teacher Anju Loomba, my class teacher and English teacher Neena Agarwal and my Chemistry teacher Akansha Gupta. My parents always motivated me and kept me charged.”

Simran focussed a lot on mutilple choice questions (MCQs) and referred to various books. Each of them also solved many sample papers to clear their concepts.

‘There should be a plan B’

Reva and Simran are prepping well for the upcoming Common University Entrance Test (CUET) to secure admission into a top Delhi University college. Reva wants to take up English or Psychology. “I was intrigued by the concepts in Psychology when I was introduced to it in class XI,” she said. The Apeejayite also loves to learn languages, her favourite being German. And she hopes to be proficient in it.

Simran, on the other hand, is aiming for BCom Hons or Journalism & Mass Communication. “BCom is what I really want to do but I think there should always be a plan B, which, in this case, is Journalism & Mass Communication. I am an extrovert who loves to interact with people and interview them. So, I think this field will be good for me,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Vani is busy with rigorous preparation for JEE Advanced. “My CBSE result has worked as a booster for the forthcoming JEE exam,” she remarked.