Step-by-step preparation for pre-board examinations

Pre - board examinations make an integral part of the strategies for the preparation and performance of the students in the ensuring board examinations of X and XII classes. The results of these pre board examinations are reckoned as the determining factors of the successes in the domain of both the career and life in the years to come. Conducted in the schools after the completion of the syllabi of all the subjects, pre-board exams are nostalgically the end of the school days of a student.

It is also assumed that results of these examinations in terms of percentage of marks obtained prepare the base of achievement of only 5 to 10 % less or more marks in the final examinations. So, pre-board examinations are the yardstick of the performance of the board examinations and must be taken as the full dress-rehearsal of the upcoming board examinations.

From this perspective, students must take the pre-board examinations very seriously and plan for them meticulously. Following strategies may help the students prep well for these examinations that may result in the performance much- expected and dreamt for -

1. Thorough brushing up of syllabi is essential

Syllabi are the roadmap of an examination. This axiom applies equally for the pre - board examination. It means students must have the perfect knowledge of syllabus of each subject for the serious and focussed study. They must have the perfect knowledge of the following important points -

• Details of marks allotted to each chapter of the subject.

• Chapters with high and low weightage of marks and types of questions asked from these chapters in the examination.

• Each chapter must be thoroughly studied to find out the number of objective or multiple-choice type questions, short-answer type questions, long-answer type questions, passage questions and, most importantly, numerical questions to be asked in the examination.

• Choose long-answer type questions in each chapter very carefully and prepare their answers well.

• Make ready-reckoner like notes of important facts, figures and formulae of each chapter and paste them at a vantage point in your study room.

2. Clarity about multiple choice questions is essential

Multiple-choice questions are generally of one-mark each but they are asked in a sizeable number in the pre-board examinations. These questions are memory-based questions correct answers of which greatly helps a student score good marks.

To prepare for the answers of these types of questions, you must study each chapter very intensively, line by line. Keep on jotting down important concepts, theories, inventions, rules, laws, formulae, equations, and step-wise methods of measurement or calculation, units, year, date and a lot of other facts and figures while studying a chapter. This helps the students have a substantial command over the topics and concepts of the subjects.

3. Ensure planning for the study on day-to-day basis

Since the time period left for the pre-board examination usually happens to be very meagre, so students need to make a plan on day-to-day basis. Identify the chapters which you find hard nut to crack and devote entire day for their mastery. You may even take a few chapters altogether for the preparation over the period of a particular day. This would hasten the learning and accelerate the process of preparation to best utilize the time.

But we must take care to make plans very realistic. Avoid burdening your day with the tasks which you fail to accomplish and handle. This would aggravate the situation.

4. Do not fear, nor panic ... have patience and confidence

When time runs fast and the tasks to be mastered are so immense, it is natural to get the feelings of fear and frustration. Panic starts overwhelming the students and finally they succumb to mental disturbance and depression. This is really a fatal condition which must be avoided at all costs.

Stop worrying for the examination because it is only the assessment at the school level. It is very essential to keep patience and maintain the confidence level high and intact to continue to prepare for the final examination at the planned tempo.

5. Manage time rationally

Rational time management is also an essential prerequisite for the success in examination like pre-board. Every student has his or her own favourite subjects which he or she loves to study and finds easier to prepare than others. On the contrary, some of the subjects seem to be very tough for the preparation of which you may need to labour hard and struggle a lot. For such subjects you need to allot relatively more time and resources. This type of rational time management not only makes the task easier but also wards off unwanted anxieties and confusion.

6. Always stay positive and optimistic

It is said that having a positive mental attitude means asking how something can be done rather than saying it can’t be done. It also means you must always stay optimistic even if the situation does not seem to be bright and in favour of you. Always believe in your capability and stop underestimating yourself.

No one is perfect in this world and so are you. But it does never mean that you stop trying to labour hard for what you have set your eyes to achieve in your life. Do not let early failures of your life hold you back from trying and trying to achieve your goal.

Success in pre-board examination is, in fact, the reflection upon how you are going to do in your final examination. The academicians and the subject experts believe that the final board examination results are only plus and minus 5 to 10 percent of the pre-board examination results. Keeping in mind such a wide significance of the pre-board examination, students must not afford it as other periodic tests.

Last but not the least

While preparing for the pre-board examination, you must keep in your mind the following important points -

• Make daywise plan to suit your time and resources. Planned study schedule is very good strategy to gain more marks. Without planning, it is hard to realize your dreams of achieving good marks in the final examination.

• Do not ignore NCERT text books because they are blue print. Study them thoroughly and solve the questions of the exercises given at the last of chapters.

• Solve as many sets of model question papers as you can. Doing this will give you the much-needed confidence.

• Attempt a few mock tests which may prove to be very beneficial.

• Do not get carried away by the unrealistic dreams and targets fixed by the parents and family members.

• -Take out some time to meditate which helps you stay relaxed and free from a lot of unnecessary worries and stresses.

• Discuss problems with your subject teachers and always keep in touch with them.

(The author is Principal, PM Shri School Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Garhbanaili, Bihar)