Strategies for Excelling in the 10th CBSE Board Exams: A Student's Journey

Introduction to the CBSE 10th Board Preparation

Preparing for the 10th CBSE Board Exams can be both rigorous and rewarding. I started my serious preparations in mid-December, after the datesheet was published in late December. Before this, my focus was mainly on school tests and I was quite active in class. I did not have any tuition, and my scores were decently good.

Realizing the Need for Extra Effort

However, after early December, when I went through previous year papers and top-ranked students' answer copies available on the official CBSE website, I realized that my initial preparation was only sufficient for scores ranging from 85 to 94. However, if I wanted that extra edge to achieve higher scores, I knew I needed to work even harder.

Effective Study Techniques

Starting from December, here are the key strategies I followed:

1. Revising NCERT Textbooks

I revised my NCERT textbooks multiple times and made selective notes for certain sections to ensure I didn't miss any critical information. This helped me to dive deeper into the subjects and understand complex concepts more effectively.

2. Practicing Previous Year Questions (PYQ)

I bought a PYQ bank and solved it religiously during weekends and holidays. Since I started late, I focused on solving repeated questions, certain Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions, and those that had specific nuances. I paid special attention to questions post-2017 to save time and cover more topics.

3. Analyzing Topper's Answer Copies and CBSE Marking Schemes

I referred to previous year's topper's answer copies and the CBSE official marking schemes for previous year papers. This helped me understand how to answer questions according to the marking scheme. I also watched a couple of videos on paper presentation to improve my writing style.

4. Attempting Sample Papers

I attempted a couple of sample papers in a time-bound manner to find out my mistakes. Additionally, I analyzed my answer paper from the school pre-board examination to identify further areas for improvement.

Vital to my preparation, I did not use any reference or guide books apart from these resources. My focus remained solely on the textbooks, understanding the material, and framing my own answers rather than memorizing them. I did not memorize a single answer except theorems, which I framed in the hall to enhance my understanding.

Conclusion and Advice

By following these strategies, I managed to secure a perfect score of 100 in both science and my second language, achieving an overall score of 97.6. However, the intense preparation in the last three months was pretty hectic. To help readers, I recommend starting preparation as early as possible and studying consistently. Additionally, it's important to maintain a balance between studies and extracurricular activities.

Remember, consistency trumps intensity. It is crucial to stay calm and relaxed. Class 10 is not just about academics; it's also a great time to groom your personality, work on your talents, interact with good people, and participate in extracurricular activities. Consistency will help you manage all these aspects well.