CBSE class 12 Exam Tips: ‘Importance to revise class 11 syllabus first’

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has slated the Computer Science exam for April 2, 2024. The three-hour question paper will be for 70 marks. Students must have already completed their initial round of prep for the exam. However, studying the chapters needs to be complemented by solving several question papers to ensure one is exam-ready.

According to Sujata Bhardwaj, HoD, Computer Science at Apeejay School, Noida, the first thing that students must do, even if they have completed their revision for the exam, is to thoroughly revise the class XI topics. “This is because out of the 70-mark paper, 20 per cent weightage is given to the syllabus from this class. Only when the students have revised their previous years’ topic should they move to topics that have been covered in class XII,” Bhardwaj said and shared last week’s preparation before the exam.

·         Review the syllabus word by word to understand the meaning of each term and its relevance.

·         Understand the syntax differences between programming languages taught, such as Python, to avoid confusion during exams.

·         Recognise the similarities and differences between topics, both conceptually and syntactically, as syntax accuracy is crucial in programming languages.

·         Go through the assignments, sample papers, and previous year’s papers provided on the learning platform to familiarise yourself with the exam format and question types.

·         Students can study from the NCERT book for Computer Science and a reference book by Sumita Arora, focusing on understanding every aspect of the syllabus.

“One can study from any book. The important thing to keep in mind is to cover all the topics that have been listed in the CBSE syllabus. For example, if the syllabus mentions Functions, the students must know everything about this topic. This is because the person setting the question paper is given the CBSE syllabus, the CBSE sample paper to help them design the paper based on the sample paper, and the previous year’s question paper,” Bhardwaj said.

·         Ensure accurate responses by following the syllabus closely, as exam papers are set based on it.

·         Be aware of common mistakes such as case sensitivity and improper indentation in Python, and ensure not to alter predefined names in the exam.

The educator also shared a few tips that students must keep in mind while attempting the question paper on the day of the exam.

·         Read questions carefully to ensure that the response matches the exact requirements, considering that small variations can lead to different outputs.

·         Attempt all questions in the exam, including those with perceived errors, to maximise the scoring opportunity.

“Students must attempt all the questions even if there is an error on the questions. They can identify the error, correct it, and then attempt the question. This gives the chance to the examiner to give grace marks,” Bhardwaj advised

·         For Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), write both the answer and the option text, attempting them in order. For example, if the answer is ‘A’ and the option is PAN. Write – A (PAN).

·         Prepare tabular comparisons of different concepts, including examples, to aid in understanding and explaining during exams to illustrate points, as coding examples can effectively demonstrate understanding.

·         Practice writing programs and queries on paper and then on the computer, noting common errors to avoid during the actual exam.

·         Distinguish between SQL and Python syntax, especially regarding indentation and how SQL queries are structured.

·         Pay attention to detail in output questions, including line breaks, to avoid losing marks for minor errors.

·         Attempt the question paper in a sequence and manage time so that you have time to properly revise the answer sheet.