The worst thing that can happen to a student taking the Board exam is not having a proper textbook to study from. Over the last three years, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) made a lot of changes in the Political Science syllabus for class XII students.
Many topics have been added, and some of its parts have been deleted. Besides this updated books aren’t available. Hence it’s extremely important to understand the syllabus thoroughly so you know exactly what to study.
According to Zeenat Parveen, a Political Science teacher at Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, this year there are 14 chapters which are divided into 2 parts. These are:
Part A: Contemporary World Politics has: The End of Bipolarity, New Centres of Power Organizations, Contemporary South Asia, United Nations, and its Organizations, Security in Contemporary World, Environment and Natural Resources, and Globalization.
Part B: Politics in India since Independence has: Politics in India since Independence has: Challenges of Nation-Building, Planned Development, India’s Foreign Policy, Parties, and Party System in India, Democratic Resurgence, Regional Aspirations, and Indian Politics: Recent Trends and Development.
Class 12 Political Science exam pattern
“The question paper has five sections and every section consists of a defined number of questions having the same pattern. Each section’s question pattern is different from the other sections. Section A: MCQs (1-12) – 1 mark each; Section B: 6 questions (13-18) – 2 marks each; Section C: 5 questions (19-23) – 4 marks each; Section D: passage, cartoon, and map-based questions (24-26) – 4 marks each, and Section E: 4 questions (27-30) – 6 marks each. So the students must assign the allotted time accordingly and finish the paper at least five to 10 minutes before and then spend time revising the answer sheet,” Parveen advised.
Figure out the topics that are harder to understand or learn and try doing them first. This helps in completing a difficult portion and leaves time for easy parts to be done later
–Zeenat Parveen, Political Science teacher at Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park
Topics not to be missed
Part A: Contemporary World Politics: Gulf War, the 21st Century (Arab Spring), European Union, ASEAN, BRICS Nations: Russia, China, Israel, India, Conflicts and efforts for Peace Democratization in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives. Principal Organs, Key Agencies: UNESCO, UNICEF, Security Council and the Need for its Expansion. Terrorism. Global Warming and Climate Change, Conservation of Natural Resources. Globalization: Meaning, Cultural consequences.
Part B: Politics in India since Independence: Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and Integration of States, the Kashmir problem. Political conflicts over language. Linguistic Organization of States, National Development Council, NITI Aayog, India’s Nuclear Programme, Multi-Party Coalition System, Jaya Prakash Narayan, Total Revolution, Ram Manohar Lohia and Socialism, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and Integral Humanism, National Emergency, Democratic Upsurges – Participation of the Adults, Backwards and Youth, The Kashmir Issue, Movements for Autonomy. The era of Coalitions, National Front, United Front, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) – I & II, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) I, II, III & IV, and Issues of Development and Governance.
Prep tips
1. Try to make a framework for each chapter so that you must know what topics you have to study. You can also refer to the frameworks that teachers may have shared. A framework is a list of topics with a page mentioned or the sources from which you can study the topic.
2. Study from your notes in addition to the textbooks. Use the first reading to understand the information and then subsequent readings to remember the information.
3. Write short notes on important topics in your own words, this will help you understand and remember the answers.
4. Go through plenty of previous years’ question papers and sample papers. This will act as an aid to knowing the question paper pattern and also the questions that are repeating.
5. Figure out the topics that are harder to understand or learn and try doing them first. This helps in completing a difficult portion and leaves time for easy parts to be done later.
6. Learn the answers to every question given at the back of each chapter.
7. Read the cartoons and maps that are present in each chapter thoroughly.
8. Clear all the doubts from your teacher before appearing for the exam. Leave no space for the examiner to question your content.
“This is how you can cover up each chapter. Remember to manage your time effectively so that you’ll have time to read every chapter and topic and revise it,” Parveen explained and shared a few dos and don’ts.
A. When you are given reading time, use it to the fullest. Scan the question paper, and choose the questions you want to attempt from the choices you are given. Try to start with the section in which you could be able to answer all the questions.
B. Mentally do the MCQs, passage-based questions, and cartoon-based questions during reading time.
C. Properly plan your 6 marks answers. As they will be lengthy and tricky. Read the question carefully and plan out your answer. Began these questions with an introductory paragraph, write six relevant points and underline them, and finished it with a concluding paragraph. It helps keep the answers tidy.
D. Do not spend extra time answerting short questions.
E. It is important to attempt all the questions. Write something, anything that you can remember related to the topic.