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By Praneet Mungali As students move towards the final leg of preparation towards getting ready for the CBSE Board examination. Let us focus on some key areas and strategies that will make the preparation and readiness more impactful and result-oriented. 1. Understand Where You Stand Begin with a clear assessment of self-preparation. Check the complete syllabus and exam pattern for Class 10: it’s crucial to know what weightage each subject and topic carries. Review Pre-board/mock exam results. Make a checklist of all chapters across all the subjects and tick off what’s done, what’s partially done, and what’s untouched. This helps visualise the remaining work. 2. Create a Realistic & Structured Study Plan With three months left, students need to have more structured and doable plan in place. Divide the time left into weeks, assign subjects/topics to each week. Use methods like “first finish all chapters → then revision → then full mock tests”. Give priority to subjects/chapters which have higher marks or which you find difficult. Schedule revision and practice slots. Keep a plan of buffer days — for catching up on topics that need more practice. 3. Focus on Concept Clarity and NCERT Fundamentals Board exam often draws heavily from the NCERT textbooks and fundamental concept. One needs to have thoroughly read the NCERT for every subject and solved its exercises. Focus needs to be centred on understanding the underlying theory, formulas, derivations and not mere memorisation. Use of mind maps, graphic organisers, concept maps and summary notes for formulas, dates, and key points will be really very beneficial. 4. Practice Extensively & Simulate Exam Conditions Practice makes the difference when you have limited time. Solve previous years’ board question-papers and sample papers under timed conditions based on the revised paper pattern. This helps one get used to exam format, timing and question styles. Analyse your answers: identify recurring errors, weak topic-areas, time-consuming questions and rectify them. For each subject: allot a portion of your schedule for “practice + revision” rather than only reading. In the last month especially, increase the number of full-length mock tests (for all subjects) so that you build stamina and speed. 5. Revision Strategy – From Broad to Focused As one moves closer to the exam date, the strategy should shift from covering new topics to consolidating and refining. Month 3 (first of the three months): Finish the remaining syllabus, revise each chapter once more. Month 2: Begin deeper revision. Focus on high-weightage topics, weaker areas, and start taking mock tests. Last month (Month 1): Focus mainly on revision and practice — don’t start new chapters unless absolutely necessary. 6. Enhance Answer-Writing & Presentation Skills Scoring well is not just about knowing the answers — it’s how you present them. Reading the question carefully: underlining keywords like “define”, “compare”, “explain”. This helps tailor the answers appropriately. 7. Maintain Balance, Health & Stress Management Exam preparation is intense — but neglecting one’s health will harm performance. Proper sleep and rest are key to healthy and happy mind. Incorporate light physical activity or short walks which will help keep the mind fresh. Maintain a quiet and dedicated study space — minimise distractions (social media, mobile phones, etc). Avoid last-minute panic. The last few days are for revision and confidence-building, not learning huge new topics. 8. Mindset and Motivation Celebrate small wins: whenever you finish a major topic or achieve a good score in a mock test, acknowledge it. Last but not least, believe in yourself and your preparation Maintaining a balanced approach with a Well-structured plan focusing on key areas, along with taking good care of one’s health and mind, will definitely yield the desired results. (The author is an educationist and trustee of the Sanskriti Group of Schools. The views expressed above are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.)
