Best formula for a better score

Aakash Chaudhry

Chemistry is one of the most interesting and scoring subjects if one develops a firm grip on it. Since the Board exam focuses on getting students' fundamentals correct by testing them on most of the core areas, it is important to develop an in-depth understanding of the subject.

Here are some tips that will help you understand how to chalk out a study plan to excel in Chemistry section in Class X Pre-Boards:

Be more productive by becoming the master of your minutes

Chemistry is a high scoring part of the Science paper. To ace the Chemistry section, it is important to improve your speed and accuracy which is possible through extensive practice of sample papers along with in-depth preparation of the subject. You should, thus, solve as many sample papers and previous years' papers as possible for a judicious preparation. This will not only enhance your speed and accuracy but also familiarize you with the exam pattern and types of questions asked in Chemistry section.

NCERT holds the key to success

Since the syllabus of the CBSE Board exams is completely based on the NCERT textbooks, a thorough study of the NCERT textbook is a must. Study every line of the book more than once as it implies important information that can be asked in form of questions. Practice every in-text question, including solved examples and do not overlook the activities. Most of the inference-based questions are asked from such corners of the NCERT textbook that students usually skip.

Pre-board is pre-final

What is special about Pre-Board exams in comparison to other exams is that it covers the entire syllabus and gives you a real time experience of the main exam. Your marks in the Pre-Boards help you gauge your final Board exam score. So put your best efforts in preparing, so that you can face the main exam with full confidence.

Make an achievable revision plan

Revising the entire syllabus as many times as possible makes a huge difference to your preparation. Make a chart of all-important chemical reactions (chapter-wise) for last minute quick recap. Flow charts, brain maps and flash cards really help. It is also crucial to revise everything on the morning of the exam to ensure that your retention is high.

Remember, learning is not the only goal here. Retention is the key! Achieve great scores by revising the whole syllabus at least twice before the exam.

— The writer is Director and CEO, Aakash Educational Services Limited

Syllabus and exam pattern

The Chemistry syllabus in Class X consists of five chapters:

• Chemical Reactions and Equations
• Acids, Bases and Salts
• Metals and Non-metals
• Carbon and its Compounds
• Periodic Classification of Elements

As per CBSE Sample Paper, the chemistry section carries a weightage of 25 marks where you will find the following question types (as per the sample paper pattern):

Type of Question No. of Questions Marks

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 3 3

Assertion-Reason 1 1

Very Short Answer 2 2

Short Answer 3 9

Long Answer 2 10

Important portions first

There are definitely some important and frequently asked questions from each chapter that must not be overlooked. Prepare the following topics thoroughly and focus on revision before the exam: