Strategy Over Stress – How to Ace Your Board Exams

Varanasi | Education Desk Hard work is the foundation, but strategy is the blueprint for success. As the Class 10th and 12th Board Exams approach, the atmosphere is thick with tension. However, educators at DALIMSS Sunbeam are pointing out a startling reality: 90% of students lose marks not because of a lack of knowledge, but because of preventable tactical errors.If you are aiming for that 90%+ bracket, it’s time to shift from "studying hard" to "studying smart." Here is a breakdown of the biggest blunders and how you can flip the script.1. The 'NCERT' OversightMany students get lured by heavy, expensive reference books and ignore the "Bible" of board exams: the NCERT.The Mistake: Treating NCERT as too basic.The Fix: 95% of the question paper is derived directly from NCERT concepts and back-exercises. Master every line, diagram, and table in your textbook before touching any other material.2. The 'Last-Night' BurnoutCramming 10 chapters the night before the exam is a recipe for disaster.The Mistake: Depriving yourself of sleep to "cover everything."The Fix: Your brain needs $7-8$ hours of sleep to process and retrieve information. Use the last 24 hours only for lightweight revision of formula sheets and summaries.3. Misreading the Question PaperIn the rush of adrenaline, students often solve what they think the question is, rather than what it actually is.The Mistake: Missing keywords like "Not," "Explain," or "Compare."The Fix: Utilize the 15-minute reading time effectively. Underline the core requirement of each question before you pick up the pen.4. Poor Presentation & LayoutYou might have the right answer, but if the examiner can't read it, you won't get the marks.The Mistake: Writing long, messy paragraphs without structure.The Fix: * Use bullet points for long answers.Draw diagrams with a sharp pencil.Highlight or underline key terms and final values in numerical problems.5. The Time Management TrapSpending 30 minutes on a 2-mark question leaves you with no time for the 5-mark section.The Mistake: Not tracking time per section.The Fix: Divide your 3 hours strictly. Aim to finish the paper 15 minutes early to allow for a final "sanity check" of your roll number and answer sequences."Boards mein top karna sirf intelligence ka game nahi hai, strategy ka game hai."The Winning FormulaSmart Revision + Proper Presentation + Time Control = 90%+ Score.Don't just be a student who studies; be a candidate who performs. Consistency in these small habits will make the difference between an average result and a merit list placement.