Board Exams: Last-Minute Preparation Tips To Help You Score Better – News18

Last Updated:January 08, 2025, 14:27 IST

As CBSE, ICSE, and other board exams approach, students should focus on speeding up their preparation.

By Sanjukta Mukherjee

As the academic year draws to a close, students are gearing up for their final examinations. While some believe that success in these papers can only be achieved if we give up everything else, a more balanced approach often yields better results. So, how can we support our learners as they prepare for their much-awaited exams?

Learning is not always linear. Sometimes, you learn quickly, sometimes slowly, and occasionally, you seem to learn nothing at all… Even Einstein faced these challenges! What matters most is making sure that you are not left with the feeling afterward that you could have done better.

Stay Positive:

Begin with subjects and topics you are confident in. Experiencing early success boosts both motivation and your confidence to tackle more challenging material later. Create a personalized revision timetable and track your progress using a planner or chart. Watching your chart fill up with completed topics can be incredibly satisfying. Start now… exams are a few weeks away, so your long-term and short-term memory can work together effectively, and by exam time, last-minute revision will seem manageable.

Read And Re-Read:

Don’t just memorize the answers. Instead, read your study material over and over again. This will not only help you understand concepts and retain facts, but it will even improve your spelling. When things don’t make sense, try reading aloud to engage another sense. Many students find this to help clarify difficult ideas.

Make Notes:

As you tackle a chapter, underline the important points and try to write them down in your own words. This helps reinforce your understanding and serves as a quick reference during revisions. For essay-based answers, you can try to rewrite them in points to streamline your review process.

Ask Questions:

WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? HOW? When you don’t understand a topic, don’t hesitate to ask your teachers or explore other learning resources. Remember: understanding a concept thoroughly is key to better grades, so focus on clarity over memorization.

Balance Your Time:

If you feel you are studying all day, reassess your schedule. Create a balanced daily timetable for yourself that includes time for studying, playing (and maybe even watching your favorite shows). Study in blocks of 1 – 2 hours with short breaks to avoid burnout. On weekends, you can have longer study hours but ensure that you still find time to relax and recharge.

Stay Healthy And Avoid Distractions:

A healthy body supports a healthy mind. Eat nutritious meals, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Limit screen time and manage social media distractions to ensure your focus remains on your goals.

Build Examination Skills:

Examinations assess more than just the content knowledge—they also test your time management and ability to present answers clearly. Familiarize yourself with evaluation criteria, blueprints, and rubrics for evaluation.

Study model answers to understand how to frame your responses effectively to ensure that you can communicate your understanding of the content and the ability to apply this understanding to situations and case studies.

Test Yourself:

As you revise, jot down potential questions and test yourself later. Self-assess or exchange papers with a friend for mutual feedback. Mistakes in practice papers are valuable learning opportunities as they highlight areas that need further attention. Practice is the key, so simulate exam conditions with timed practice papers.

Manage Your Anxiety:

While a little nervousness can sharpen your focus, excessive anxiety can hinder performance. Recognizing the signs of stress—worry, self-doubt, racing thoughts, or even physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat or nausea—is the first step toward addressing this issue.

Adopt a balanced approach that combines creating a realistic study and revision plan while incorporating relaxation techniques like deep breathing and mindfulness to help calm your mind. Avoid negative thoughts by focusing on your efforts and use positive affirmations to reframe self-doubts.

Stay Positive on Exam Day:

Start your day with a healthy breakfast and a few deep breaths. Arrive early to avoid last-minute stress. Once you get the question paper, read it carefully and plan how you would like to attempt it by allocating time to each section. While you attempt the paper, if you feel stressed or come across a question that seems unfamiliar, pause, take deep breaths, and refocus.

Embrace The Journey!

Examinations are not just about marks but about growth and learning. Building conceptual clarity, practicing timed assessments regularly, and maintaining a healthy balance between study and relaxation will set you up for success.

Celebrate your efforts, learn from your mistakes, and reward yourself with well-deserved breaks. Remember, examinations test your knowledge, not your worth, so believe in your preparation and do your best, which is what truly matters.

With the right mindset, you can confidently sail through your exams and emerge stronger on the other side.

(The Author is the Deputy Head Senior Years, Shiv Nadar School, Noida. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.)