Covid pandemic has shifted the style in which we function in most of our everyday operations. The examination pattern is one such area that has affected almost the entirety of our student population. The entire paper as MCQ is the pattern of the Board Examination for now. The focus of every student and teacher is on this new pattern of CBSE exam preparation. Multiple Choice Questions seem a little challenging for the students, especially with close options generally given. Time is another great constraint to add to this tricky situation. Hence, it is very important to plan out smart strategies to solve MCQs and ace the board exam.
Laid out are few tips for our students that will stand them in good stead. Though the best tip is – PRACTISE, PRACTISE AND PRACTISE because practice is the sure-shot way out and the shortest path to crack the Board papers. Nonetheless, some smart little tips will definitely prove helpful.
Let us linger a little longer on the point of practising the sample papers and the papers of the previous year. Research says, psychologically 90% of the time, we find it difficult to tackle and solve a question that is absolutely new to our eyes and mind. When we practice enough, we find most of the questions familiar – seen and known. It is then easier to get to the answers correctly. We get psychologically confident to do it more correctly.
The next strategy is to go through the NCERT books thoroughly, understanding and underlining all the keywords and important points. Make your own personal notebook of very short question and answer subject wise. Take important reading notes, make mind maps convert the heavy chapters to short notes, bullet points, mnemonics and revise your self-made simplified notes rather than the readymade ones available in the market.
Draw rough pictures, and if needed, take pictures of the mnemonics, diagram of difficult concepts and keep it at the place where you will see constantly. It could be pasted on your note book cover, front of your study table or may be even saved as your phone screen. You could change it with another new topic that you need to remember, once it has been imprinted well into your memory.
MCQs are basically of three types. One is stand-alone, the second is MCQ based on assertion and reasoning, third is case-based MCQs. Statements of questions based on assertions and reasoning are to be read very carefully before answering and case based is best solved when practical based knowledge is applied.
While attempting the paper, skim through the entire paper swiftly and smartly. Be mindful not to rush in to encircle the most likely first option. Read all the options once carefully before taking the final call.
Maintain a good pace. You may be yourself and do the way you prefer the most but if you attempt all the easy ones first as you skim through and boost your confidence for the other difficult ones that is still better.
Your time management ought to be really efficient. Do not lose your precious time lingering for too long on questions which seem a hard nut to crack. When you hit a hard block, shift quickly to the easier ones. Move quickly without halting for too long on the questions that are difficult and need more attention. Our brain keeps working subconsciously in the background when left with a half-done work and later may emerge with a solution without you struggling too hard on that.
MCQs do not mean that it will be easy to tick off the correct answer out of the four options given on the sheet. The options laid out usually distract you. Try and eliminate all possible wrong answers, impossible options, options that are least likely to be correct.
Solving maths problems in MCQs is similar to subjective papers; the only difference is that the examiner will not have the steps to check that you have taken to reach the answer. Hence, if the answers can be derived using the faster and shorter methods such as for example using the Vedic method, or other mental ways, it could be a smart way out.
Towards the end poise yourself to crack the hardest ones. Do not leave any question blank however tuft the questions may be. Make a smart, thoughtful move if a wild guess is to be made. Please note the CBSE board has shared a sample of the OMR sheet with the official notice. Update yourselves of the eleven important features of the CBSE OMR sheets as explained in the official circular- Subject- ‘Demystifying OMR to be used in Term-I examination’ dated 06.11.2021.
One final word- there is no short cut to come out with flying colours. Hard work is the shortest route to success. Hence PRACTISE good number of sample papers and read smartly the NCERT textbooks.
Best wishes!