CBSE class 12 Psychology exam tips: ‘Mind-mapping, tables and flowcharts work wonders’

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) class XII Board exam has begun. The last one in the exam schedule is that of Psychology, to be held on April 5. However, it is always advised to not wait till the last minute to prepare for an exam. Those taking the Psychology exam should be well-versed with all topics in advance to avoid exam jitters and also score good marks.

Psychology, no doubt, is an interesting subject, and its study can go a long way in shaping students’ character. “It teaches you a lot about human behaviour and their social dynamics. It is important for each student to embrace the knowledge and understanding of this discipline to flourish as a sensitised and empathetic individual,” says Dharini Sahni, who teaches the subject in Apeejay School, Pitampura.

Also Read: CBSE class 12 Biology: Tips from a teacher to score good marks

From comprehensive revision of topics to a smart exam strategy, students need to be prepared with it all to get the perfect score in the exam. Here are some useful tips from the Apeejay teacher to excel in the Psychology Board exam:

1. It is important to retain the concepts learnt during the session and to be able to retrieve them on the day of exam. Mind-mapping, table formation and flowcharts work wonders for your last-minute reference and organise the information better in your memory system.

2. This year application and case-based questions have a high weightage. Do regular practice by attempting as many questions as you can. Focus on the cues given in the statements to identify the correct and suitable concept for that case or situation. Read the complete question and DO NOT draw conclusions based on reading just the first few lines.

3. Psychology as a discipline has technical and scientific vocabulary. Use appropriate terminology and underline to make it visible. This will help the examiner understand your efforts and clarity of concepts.

4. Use your reading time wisely in the exam. Divide the time you will give to each section based on the weightage and word limit. Also, read your application-based questions carefully and formulate your writing strategy to save time later.

5. Multiple choice questions should never be given a backseat while doing the preparation. Use practice paper books, sample papers and papers attempted in this academic session to get the maximum exposure to such types of questions.

6. Learn the researcher/psychologist associated with the theory/therapy/research. It will help you answer the questions where only the name is mentioned.

7. Create a table of psychological distress or disorder and the most appropriate therapy to be given in that condition. This will help you avoid ambiguity of thoughts while correlating these two aspects in a case.

8. There are some concepts where we get confused about whether to include points from the process of attitude formation or the influencing factors? Or that there are coping strategies given by two different psychologists, and if you are quoting the one that is the best fit. Read the relevant questions carefully and develop cues to differentiate.

9. The presentation of the paper reflects a student’s personality and clarity of mind. Write neatly and draw a line after each answer/section. Use a pen that does not leave stains and is suitable for your handwriting.

All the best!