Class 12 Board exams: Use flowcharts to memorise important topics in Biology

Science is never an easy subject to pursue. Physics and Chemistry are two subjects that can prove to be a student’s nemesis. With all students taking the Board exams post-Covid and the format undergoing a dramatic change, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are not going to be a cakewalk. However, not all students are looking to score 100. More so, if they have chosen their field – engineering or medical.

According to Neetu Bhardwaj, a PGT Biology at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg in Jalandhar says that Biology is a scoring subject, and with a little alertness on the exam day, students can get a 100. “Format of all the subjects has been changed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The same holds for Biology. The question paper is for 70 marks and has 33 questions including MCQs,” Bhardwaj said.

The format

Section A: It has 16 questions of 1 mark each – spend 16 minutes attempting.

Section B: It has 5 questions of 2 marks each – spend 25 minutes attempting.

Section C: It has 7 questions of 3 marks each – spend 50 minutes attempting.

Section D: It has 2 case-based questions of 4 marks each – spend 20 minutes attempting.

Section E: It has 3 questions of 5 marks each – spend 45 minutes attempting.

“It may look that the question paper is lengthy but that is not the case. The students have ample time to complete the paper and leave five-10 minutes for revision. Most students will be sitting for the competitive exams. Being fast and time management is the mantra here. For example, MCQs should not take more than 15-16 minutes. The focus of the CBSE is to evaluate the knowledge and skills of the student from the 33 questions that the Board asks in three hours,” Bhardwaj explained.

Dos and Don’t

1.       The students must solve as many mock papers as possible. This will not only help them in managing their time but will also help them to be familiar with the format. The website (https://mycbseguide.com/) has 12 sample papers. The case-study-based questions given here are very good. Prior practice will help them stick to the time otherwise the students won’t be able to complete the paper in time. Attempting these will help the students. Several other websites and books have sample papers and the students should have solved several of these.

2.       The sample papers must be solved between 10:30 am to 1:30 pm only. Send it to the subject teacher for checking or self-evaluate.

3.       Use a flowchart to memorise the important chapters. This will help the student answer the question paper in a proper order neatly.

4.       The long questions must be divided into three parts – introduction, body, and conclusion. One can give sub-headings to make it look tidier.

5.       While most questions in Biology require a drawing, do this only where asked or if the student has the time. DO NOT make diagrams at the cost of missing out on the other questions – answer to the point.

“If the student goes through the last 10 years of CBSE Board exam papers, a pattern will emerge – Genetics and evolution (20 marks); Reproduction (16 marks); Biology and Human Welfare (12 marks); Biotechnology and its application (12 marks), and Ecology and Environment (10 marks). Based on this the students need to study,” Bhardwaj said.

She added that there are some repetitive questions when it comes to long questions.

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The long questions must be divided into three parts – introduction, body, and conclusion. One can give sub-headings to make it look tidier

–Neetu Bhardwaj, a PGT Biology at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg in Jalandhar

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“These include DNA replication, transcription, translation, RNA World, gene expression, and monohybrid-dihybrid Crosses. In the chapter on Ecology and Environment graphs are asked in the long question format like the population growth curve (Sigmoid J-shaped), and species-area relationships. From the chapter Reproduction – double fertilisation, megaspore genesis, embryogenesis. Another favourite question is on the menstrual graph cycle. A thorough study of these topics can easily help a student score well,” Bhardwaj said in conclusion.