Business Studies – Guidelines for Students: Get Better Marks in the Class 12 Examination
Cracking an examination is a skill that can be acquired. As with studying, scoring good marks is a combination of managing one's time well and applying the right method. Here are some guidelines to follow while attempting and writing an examination.
- Answer the question as it is asked. Read the question at least twice before answering. Be on guard for either/or questions. Make sure to tackle all the sub-sections of a question.
- Use the marks as a guide. The question paper mentions the marks each question carries. Use these marks as a rough guide to how long the answer should be. Do not expand an answer unnecessarily. This will save a lot of time, which can be used for writing the long-answer questions.
- Avoid writing irrelevant points. While writing an answer, focus on the nature of the question asked. Answering something irrelevant to the question, however good the description, will not only waste time but also fetch low marks.
- Budget your time. Do not dwell too long on a particular question, as the remaining questions may get little or no time. However much one writes, one can score only the maximum marks allotted to that question. If you face difficulty in answering a question, move on to the other questions and return to it later.
- Check and double-check. Always keep some time for revision while budgeting time. In the rush to complete the paper, a basic spelling mistake or a forgotten, half-attempted question may spoil all the effort.
- Believe in yourself. Set a goal for yourself.
- Set a timetable for yourself accordingly.
- Identify a limited number of direct questions which usually come in the examinations, and prepare them well.
- Apply FRT (fast reading technique) to revise more in less time.
- Presentation: Be particular about how you write your answers. They should always be in points, each with a heading and a brief explanation.
- Do not leave out any question.
- Be careful not to spend too much time on one question at the cost of the other questions.
- Wherever a process is asked to be explained, write all the steps involved, irrespective of the marks allotted to that question.
- Draw a flowchart or diagram in support of your answer whenever possible.
- Answer first those questions which you know very well.
- Underline all the sub-headings.
- Draw small cartoons or diagrams with small captions wherever they are suitable.
- Attempt the HOTS questions at last.
- Use the question paper reading time to plan your writing strategy, instead of trying to write answers in advance.
- While trying to understand a HOTS question, keep in mind the chapter-wise allotment of marks. Sometimes this helps in guessing the chapter from which the HOTS question is given.
- Especially in the case of application-oriented (HOTS) questions, read the Hindi medium version also. It may give you some clue, and it also removes vagueness in the English language.
- Maintain a separate small hand-book in which you write only the sub-headings for all the concepts in the subject. It helps as a ready reckoner.
- Read the summaries given at the end of each chapter to get a comprehensive idea about the chapter. HOTS questions can be given from the summaries also.
- Refer to the latest CBSE sample question papers along with the previous years' board question papers.
- Refer to the answer sheets of high-scoring students available on the CBSE website.
Don’t dwell too much on particular question as remaining question may get little or no time if. Despite how much one writes, one can only score the maximum marks allocated to that question. If facing difficulty in answering, move on to other question and return to the former later.
* Refer ‘high scoring students’ answer sheets available in the CBSE web site.