Self-study and timely breaks, Class 10 toppers from Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, Jalandhar spell out their success mantras

Hard-work and consistency are best paired with a calm mind and clarity of goals. Class 10 toppers from Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, have it all sorted, as Aarushi Mittal, Ananya Chopra, and Siya Talwar share their Board preparation strategies.

Aarushi Mittal used to regularly attend online classes and focus on self-study. “I had tuitions only for Mathematics and the rest of the subjects, I did by myself. I stuck to the NCERT syllabus and revised my books at least 5-6 times for all subjects,” she says. An aspiring psychiatrist, Mittal has chosen the Medical stream for her classes 11 and 12. She recalls howshe missed meeting her friends during the last one year of the pandemic, “But the online classes were really great at Apeejay and more than made up for it. It helped me prepare better,” she says.

The first one month of online learning was difficult for Ananya Chopra, but she soon became accustomed to it. She started preparing early, and made sure to revise everything taught by her teachers. With several mock tests, unit tests, and pre-boards taken at school, according to her, these proved helpful for her Board preparation. Completing the entire syllabus in November and December, by January, February and March, she was only revising. Chopra scored 100 marks in Social Studies, Punjabi and Science, and has opted for the Medical stream, since she aspires to become a doctor. “My parents are doctors too, my mother is a fertility specialist and my father is a radiologist. I want to become a radiologist too, just like my father,” she says enthusiastically.

Her advice to students who would be sitting for their exams in the upcoming year is to do multiple revisions. Before referring to any other study material, one must complete the NCERT books. Her mantra for preparation can be summarised in three words: Revisions, NCERT and timely breaks.

Siya Talwar’s exam strategy was simple. She studied consistently and prepared in advance. For her, online classes were time-saving, which allowed her to schedule her days better. “Our teachers were very helpful and they provided all necessary study material. They cleared all our doubts, and we could easily learn from the comfort of our homes,” says Talwar. Her suggestion to fellow students is to be mentally prepared for the Boards. Since the pandemic has been a tough period for one and all, she says, “Students should not hesitate to reach out to their family and friends. Believe in yourself and don’t worry about the results.” Talwar is currently pursuing the Non-Medical stream, and is inclined to become a computer engineer.

“It is an unprecedented accomplishment of the students who have set high standards of academic achievement this year. Bringing home a record-high of 99.2% in Class X CBSE Examination 2021, they have made the school proud, and I wish the best for the achievers and their parents!”

-Mr. Girish Kumar, Principal, Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg