Toppers’ Perspective: When to begin preparing for CBSE class 10 Board exams

What is the right time to start preparing for Board exams? “Start from Day 1 of the session,” says Aditri Arya from Apeejay Svran Global School, who topped her school with 92.8 per cent in the Central Board for Secondary Examination (CBSE) class X exam. “Otherwise, you are likely to get nervous and panic and end up writing wrong answers,” she warns.

The CBSE class X Board exam was the “first major offline exam” after two years of online exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “In the first few months, most of us procrastinated. This shouldn’t be done because we realised soon that we needed to put in a lot of hard work,” shares Jia Zutshi, who came second with 92.4 per cent.

While studying, one should give ample time to each of the subjects, asserts Daksh Kaushik, who calls his performance a result of “careful planning, hard work, and effective study strategies.” The student, who ranked no 3 with 92.2 per cent, also thanks his teachers and parents for their constant guidance.

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Practise sample papers, write notes yourself

The toppers share some tips to prepare for CBSE Board exam:

Make a study plan: Board exams need meticulous preparation. “You should ideally be organised and have a study plan. But make sure you take interest in whatever you study, else you will not be able to retain concepts,” Jia recommends.

Write and learn: If you are unable to memorise, the best way to remember is by writing them down, Aditri asserts. “For Social Science, I used to write and learn to remember facts and concepts.”

Decode concepts: “As you read a textbook, especially in the case of Science, try to decode what it is saying on your own in order to understand the concepts better. Remember to always make notes yourself, without depending on a teacher or a classmate,” she advises.

Work on your speed: One should also practise as many sample papers as possible without waiting till the last moment. “You must develop the habit of solving papers at a fast pace or you might run out of time on the day of the final exam. Increase your thinking and writing speed,” Jia, who has taken up Humanities in class XI, emphasises.

Seek help: One should not hesitate to seek help from teachers when required. “My teachers were very supportive throughout my journey. They cleared my doubts and prepared me mentally for the exam,” Aditri, who has taken up Science (medical) in class XI, reveals.

Also Read: ‘Normalise conversation on exam anxiety’: CBSE Class XII toppers on mental well-being during Board prep

‘No need to be nervous’

What worked in Daksh’s favour was that he treated the Board exams “as any other school exam”. “This helped alleviate much of the nervousness.” Daksh said, who aspires to become a software engineer. He will begin his preparations for JEE soon.

Pre-Board exams are a good way of prepping for the final day, Aditri further says. “Do not take the pre-Boards lightly. If you study the chapters thoroughly, you will be more confident.”

At the same time, you shouldn’t be stressed as it will not have a good impact on your mental and physical health. Jia recalls, “In our class, at least, students began to get very stressed around mid-August-September. But you don’t need to worry or be scared. Even if you practise rigorously for one or two months, you will be able to perform very well.”