Scoring a top mark in biology class 12 might seem daunting, especially knowing that there is so much theory involved.
But there are a few steps and strategies that can be used to make a study schedule that makes sure your score is boosted up.
Let’s take a look at how it’s done.
Study NCERT Thoroughly
The textbook forms the most important part of the study material. In most cases, learning the textbook, line by line understanding and repeating will guarantee a very good performance over 90 marks in the board exams. The textbook also has definitions, important terms and tabular columns which form a huge part of the subject.
Attempt to read a reference book only after completion of NCERT biology class 12. This will strengthen the foundation for other competitive exams as well.
Making Notes
While studying any chapter, make sure you have a pencil or a pen in your hand to mark all that you think is vital and important from an exam point of view. Keep marking them as you read and when you read for the second time, you can make notes for these points in your own words.
Not only does this improve your memory and strengthen the basics, but also helps at the time of revision. Some of the most important things that need to be noted are important dates, facts, terms and examples. These can also be learnt in the form of cue cards or flash cards.
Start with an Easy Chapter
While looking at the syllabus, make a mental note of all chapters that are easy according to you. Also, note the chapters that have a higher weightage in the exam. Now, select one such topic which is both easy and important so that the very first chapter does not discourage you but at the same time you have covered an important topic.
This will also help in moving faster to other topics. Then, move to the easy and less important chapters. These can be covered fast and do not require much attention, and by the end of it, a significant number of topics will be done.
Lastly, attempt the topics that are difficult and important. By this time, you will have enough time on your hands to complete these topics at a reasonable pace. Also, if they are difficult to remember, they would still be fresh in your memory if studied later.
Diagrams and Flowcharts
It cannot be stressed enough as to how important these diagrams are for a biology exam. Many questions demand diagrams in the question itself. Some long questions and even short ones may not specifically ask for a diagram but if the textbook has a relevant one, it is always better to draw them in the examination.
This gives an added edge in the examination. Practice all the diagrams with their labels and flowcharts that are there in the textbook.
Revision Cycles
Revision forms an important part of studying any subject. With a subject like a biology, there is plenty of material that needs to be learnt and memorized continuously. If you keep reading new material without revising the old text, there is a very high probability that you forget the old chapters. Keep a day for revision.
This could be either once a week or once in 10 days, where all the topics learnt in that week are revised. Familiarize yourself with the notes that were made so that the final revision becomes easy.
Test Yourself
Tests and evaluations are very important in the process of preparation. Of course, while studying the topic, it would be easy to answer the relevant questions, but you need to test yourself at the end of the week or month to make sure that these concepts and chapters are still well-registered for the examination. The periodic evaluation also plays an important role in judging what your weaknesses are.
Now, tests can be attempted in two ways: chapter-wise and as mock papers. Chapter-wise question banks and tests are available by various authors for this and can greatly help in fine-tuning and polishing the answers. Mock papers prove better use when attempted at the end of preparation, or at least when a good chunk of the syllabus is completed.
Solving Previous Year Papers
There are many different authors that provide previous year question papers for 5, 10 and even 20 years. These papers are best attempted in the last month or two of the preparation.
By this time, the majority of the syllabus is completed and attempting the paper serves as a good form of revision as well as self-evaluation. Many times, these questions get repeated verbatim, which gives a great advantage if you solve them beforehand.
While attempting them, you can choose to do them chapter-wise during revision days and then attempt them as a complete paper at the end of the preparation. Sit in a quiet room and write the papers just as a normal examination is conducted.
Completing the paper in this manner will boost your confidence and also help identify the weaker concepts. Make sure you look at the answers given at the end of the paper as well. There may be a few additional points mentioned that may fetch some bonus marks.
Adequate Rest
Last but not the least, make sure you get adequate rest and sleep. Do not compromise on sleep to complete the syllabus at the last minute. Instead, plan the schedule in such a way that the syllabus is completed well ahead of time. This does not mean that you oversleep either.
An optimum of 6 hours of sleep is advisable. With this, we have a very well-crafted schedule to score a top mark in the CBSE class 12 board exams that are followed by most toppers. Study confidently and progress at a good pace. Work consistently and success shall be yours.