Last year’s CBSE toppers have some words of wisdom to share

While they have accomplished their goals and kept their performance flawless, the CBSE toppers of last year have some success mantras to share for the students who are bracing themselves for the boards.

Raksha Gopal, all India topper and first rank holder of 2017, said the journey to the examination room should be stressfree and hassle-free.

On the day of the exam, use the first 15 minutes to familiarise yourself with the paper and use the reading time wisely. In English paper, it is pertinent to focus on the structure of your answers, said Raksha, who scored 99.6 per cent last year.

I thought very carefully about how much time I will dedicate to every section of my paper, she added.

As for all India Science topper Bhoomi Sawant and second rank holder across India, the key is to stay calm internally and ace lengthy papers like English by managing time.

English paper is known to be among the most lengthy and demanding one. I was strategically attempting my paper to leave at least ten minutes for a round of revision at the end. I attempted all the questions I knew first, and then moved on to the ones that needed more effort, says Bhoomi from Chandigarh.

What was common in all the toppers preparation is that they kept their books at a bay after 8 pm.

It is important that you do not let the stress get to you. Think about the efforts you have put in the last two years and treat the last month as your final test, suggests Aditya Jain, one of the all India toppers and third rank holder who secured 99.2 per cent.

Another success mantra that will aid a smooth sail in March for board candidates is prioritising quality study over quantity.

Do not let the peer pressure get to you. I valued quality and focussed on studying for four to five hours a day before my exam. Another trick is to keep your answer sheet immaculate and tidy, because presentation matters, said Aditya.

Students should underline the important points in their answers so that their efforts come to the examiners notice, he said.

As for the last one month of examination fever, Raksha, Aditya and Bhoomi cannot emphasise enough on the importance of consistency.

You do not have to nose dive into the syllabus and drown yourself in books all day and night. In March, it is all about being consistent and be sincere in your preparations by dedicating a significant number of hours to your preparation. It is also advised that students develop a routine for this month, said Raksha.