Online Studies, the New Way to Study

As a student have you ever considered the option of pursuing online studies? It is not unusual for your parents to frown each time you log on to the internet, as you likely to spend far too much time networking with your friends on the various social networking sites. But I am certain that this will not be the case the next time you log on to the internet, ‘coz this time you will use the internet for improving your grades and not only for connecting with your friends online. Online Studies as an alternative, has been around for sometime in India, but it is only slowly gaining momentum with increasing internet penetration and broadband connectivity. 

Did you know that you can complete an ‘International Degree’ over the internet? Startled? Don’t be. You will get to know many more facts like this further in the article. So let me list down the advantages of Online Studies for you. Picture the following scenarios: 

• Scenario I:- Your body clock allows you to concentrate during the night time the best, but alas! There is no tutor available for help during that hour! There’s no point getting depressed as you can take recourse to Online Studies and learn at your own convenience anytime of the day. 
• Scenario II:- You shy away from asking questions in your class of superlatively intelligent students who sometimes grasp concepts far too fast! Don’t you worry. Seek help from online studies; understand and master concepts at your own pace. 
• Scenario III:- You spend hours at your tuition centre after your school and you wish you were left with some time after school hours to relax. Online studies can grant you your wish! You can complement your school studies with online study modules and learn all that you would in your tuition class, right inside the comforts of your own home and in a more time efficient manner.
• Scenario IV:- You continue to have some doubts on a particular topic even after an hour-long grueling class on the same.  You want to ask the teacher to explain again. Could you possibly risk doing so? The answer is sadly a ‘no’, unless you want to invite the ire of the entire class! However, in the world of online studies you can rewind and replay your entire online study class in any order and as many number of times as you choose to. This flexibility and ease of access to relevant study material helps in immediate clarification and better understanding of concepts.
• Scenario V:- After witnessing your bad grades despite several tuitions, your parents are likely to consider spending any more money on your coaching classes as a complete and utter waste.  Don’t lose heart.  With online studies you can amaze your parents with outstanding grades. And that too without burning a hole in their pockets! 
• Scenario VI:- You wished that you had some videos and animations to help simplify those difficult concepts for you in sciences and other subjects. Viola! Online studies come loaded with multimedia-rich content for a better understanding and that too at a nominal cost, if any.

I am positive that you now have enough reasons to want to experience the benefits of Online Studies for yourself. So what are you waiting for, start surfing!

How to study using previous years’ CBSE papers?

With board exams a few weeks away, it is time to get over with all your final preparations and start testing your knowledge using previous years’ CBSE Papers. Practicing using previous years’ CBSE papers not only acquaints students with the overall examination pattern but also helps them assess their current levels of preparation. 

In view of the benefits of using previous years’ CBSE papers for revision, students should keep in mind the following steps for using the previous years’ CBSE papers effectively:

• The first and foremost step is to finish all conceptual understanding. Before starting to practice from the previous years’ CBSE papers, students should have all their study material and revision notes in place. Students should only plan to practice from these previous years’ CBSE papers once they are confident about their preparation and they think they are cent percent ready to write the final CBSE papers.
• While organizing the previous years’ CBSE papers, students should also simultaneously look out for their respective solution sheets along with the official marking scheme.  At this stage creating a pool of such solution sheets is important. However, students should restrain themselves from reading the solutions at this stage.
• Before starting to practice from the previous years’ CBSE papers, students should aim to create a simulated exam atmosphere around them. Choosing a study corner that is free of any disturbance and well-lit. Students can also choose to ask their parents and friends not to disturb them while writing an ‘exam’. Students should also keep a stop-watch handy, so as to keep a track of the time left to complete the mock CBSE paper.
• With all the required things in place, students can now start attempting their CBSE papers. Students should make sure that once they start writing their mock CBSE paper, they should resist any temptation to look into the solution sheet. Students should focus on completing their mock CBSE papers in time and write quality answers that can fetch them a good score.
• Once students are through with their mock CBSE papers, it is time to evaluate their performance and calculate their score. With the help of the solution sheet and the official marking scheme students can appropriately rate their performance. While evaluating the answer sheet, students should try to act as a strict examiner and not reward marks generously. Doing so will help them raise their own standards of performance.
• Once through with checking the CBSE papers, students can highlight or identify all the topics or areas where they performed poorly. Students should then get back to their CBSE study material and revise those particular topics to strengthen their conceptual base.
• After a few days, students should once again go back to those questions and revise them all over again. They should also ensure that they are cent percent accurate this time around.

Now that all you students out there know how to use previous years’ CBSE papers, scoring good marks will not be that difficult.

Maharashtra State Board

Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has been tirelessly working for over 43 years with the aim to continuously improve the educational standard in the state of Maharashtra. Established under Maharashtra Secondary Boards Act, 1965, Maharashtra State Board primarily conducts two exams i.e. Class 10 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam for +2 level.

In the last three decades Maharashtra State Board has grown manifold both in terms of quality and quantity of affiliated schools and students studying therein. Through innovations in the syllabus, curriculum and its structure, Maharashtra State Board is continuously striving to provide high quality academic support to all the students in the state of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra State Board conducts the SSC and HSC exams twice in an academic year, i.e. in the months of March and October. Curriculum for the SSC examinations generally include six subjects i.e. three languages (Marathi, English and Hindi), Maths, Science and Social Sciences. After clearing the SSC examination, students need to obtain the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) from the Maharashtra State Board in order to gain admission into junior colleges for pursuing higher secondary studies. 

Students appearing for the HSC examinations under Maharashtra State Board need to choose their area of specialization. Broadly, specializations in the fields of science, commerce and arts are offered to students. While pursuing any specialization, a student is required to study atleast six subjects English is mandatory and a common subject for all specializations. 

The course curriculum for both SSC and HSC examination is based on the guidelines by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT). 70% of the syllabus under Maharashtra State Board exams is as per the NCERT guidelines and the remaining 30% is as per the regional requirements and situations. 

With an aim to reduce the number of drop-outs after class 10, the education ministry of Maharashtra had proposed a 90% reservation policy for SSC students in junior colleges. Under this proposal, the students who clear class 10 examinations under the Maharashtra State Board will have a better chance of securing seats over the students from other boards. The rationale behind such a proposal is the general perception that the marking scheme under the CBSE and ICSE board is more liberal than the marking scheme adopted by Maharashtra State Board. However, after a strong rebuff from the non-SSC students and parents, this proposal was shelved by the Bombay High Court on the grounds of being unfair and discriminatory as per the   Constitution of India.

With the shelving of this proposal all Maharashtra State Board students who were hoping to have a considerable edge in college admissions over their counterparts from other states will have to contend with a level playing ground for all.

Karnataka SSLC Papers

One of the most crucial examinations that every student studying under the Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala State Boards appears for is the SSLC Papers.  Typically, the final examinations conducted at the end of class X are called the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations after which students obtain their School Leaving Certificates.

Now the question is, why should students take their Karnataka SSLC papers seriously and not treat it as just another set of examinations? The answer to this question lies in the fact that it is the scores obtained by students in these Karnataka SSLC papers that determine their future to a large extent! This is because their admissions to junior colleges or schools for pursuing higher secondary studies are based on these scores. The higher secondary admissions are made on the basis of the results obtained by all the students who have applied for a seat in a particular college. Based on the overall results of the applicants a preference list is prepared and the cut off lists are released by each college. Therefore, it is important for all the students to understand that their Karnataka SSLC results are a major determiner for their prospective career decisions. So you see, all you students out— there are enough reasons for you to take your SSLC papers seriously!

Usually the Karnataka SSLC papers are conducted once in a year, commencing from the first week of April; the supplementary examinations for the same are conducted in the month of July. The Karnataka SSLC examinations generally follow the three-language scheme, wherein apart from the vernacular language, a student has to opt for two other languages in addition to Maths, Science and Social Sciences.

Students who are to appear for their Karnataka SSLC Papers in 2010 better gear up, ’coz the date sheet is out. The exams are scheduled from April 1-9, 2010. With the Karnataka SSLC papers approaching it is high time, that all Karnataka State Board students get over with their last minute preparation for all the subjects and have their final revision schedules in place.

The ideal way to begin a revision exercise is to start practicing from the previous years’ Karnataka SSLC papers or the sample papers. An exercise like this will help students assess their preparation levels for their final examinations. It will also help them identify the topics that need some more preparation in order to score better.  Students are also advised not to forget to practice using full length model tests so as to check their real time score before their final Karnataka SSLC papers. Karnataka State Board students can also try their hand at model tests and practice tests available online. A few websites provide curriculum-aligned study content in the form of test papers and revision notes for the students of Karnataka State Board.

While practicing from these model tests, students should try to restrict their answers to the prescribed word limit as it will help them prepare better for their final Karnataka SSLC papers. Ever since the Karnataka State Board has introduced the Question Paper cum Answer Booklet, students get puzzled on how to structure their answers to fit into the available space. Therefore, in order to write complete answers it is always advisable to mentally rehearse the key points to be included in each question and write the answers accordingly.

Once through with the revision exercise from the sample papers, students should keep their revision notes handy for the last minute glances before the Karnataka SSLC papers. Students should make sure that their revision notes are in easy to read language, brief and factually correct. If supplemented with well-labeled illustrations the revision notes can make learning very effective. Along with the model tests and practice tests, various websites also provide Karnataka SSLC curriculum aligned revision notes. The revision notes by these websites keep all the important guidelines in mind to facilitate effective learning.

With all these study tips, studying for Karnataka SSLC papers can be more a smooth and enjoyable activity. Wishing you all, best of luck for your upcoming exams!

A Guide to Preparing Study Material

It is often said that to acquire knowledge one must read. And the credibility of this ‘reading material’ cannot be undermined in the entire knowledge acquisition process. Thus, any material that helps you gain knowledge or helps you understand a concept better falls under the purview of ‘study material’. For example, for a CBSE student all NCERT books, notes taken during classes, CBSE study material on online educational sites are all very important sources of study material. There are a lot of other non-conventional and potentially important sources of study material that we may sometimes tend to overlook. These are  encyclopedias, diagrams, aids developed during study to help memory, and other innovative methods of organizing information such as flash cards, concept maps etc. All of these can be very useful resources along with CBSE study material.

Students often find studying a cumbersome exercise and try to keep away from it. One of the major reasons for this is unavailability of effective CBSE study material. Effective study material is the one that not only enables a student to understand a concept better but also makes learning fun and rewarding.

Effective study material can help students channelize their energies in the right direction to achieve their goals. It motivates students to take charge of their studies and makes them effective task and time managers. Apart from the fact that availability of good study material is a prerequisite, the manner in which the student uses the study material and gains from it defines the level of success he/she achieves. CBSE students can study smart by following these simple steps and transform their existing CBSE study material into an effective one.

The first step is to collect all relevant CBSE study material from various sources. It is of utmost importance to thoroughly go through the prescribed NCERT text books, which introduces and explains all important points about the concept. Apart from the prescribed books, a student should also refer to books and articles both in the library and those available online for additional information and related concepts.  Having thus generated an exhaustive pool of information a student can pick and use relevant material any time in the future. Once such a pool of CBSE study material is created, the second step is to go through the accumulated material and highlight the key points. An important rule to remember while highlighting any study material is to not engage in excessive highlighting! The idea is to highlight sparingly and only the important words and key points. Third and one of the most crucial steps thereafter is to make notes. Self made notes act as a handy tool for effective understanding. Remember to stick to the topic. Here, it is important to use a lot of ‘headings’ and ‘sub-headings’ while making notes. Well organized and logically structured notes or study material are often easy to remember. The fourth and concluding step should include activities such explaining the concept in own words, supporting it with illustrations and diagrams and simple flow charts to explain the process, preparing summaries etc. Re-stating concepts from the study material in your own words and devising your own unique methods to remember difficult terms and concepts is a sure-shot way to mastering the CBSE study material.

So go ahead students; follow these guidelines and organize your CBSE study material in a manner that helps you fare well in exams this time.

K-12 Education

K-12 education refers to the primary and secondary education that a student obtains during his schooling. K-12 education is an abbreviated term used for education from kindergarten to twelfth. The term K-12 education per se is relatively new to India and is generally more commonly used in western countries like United States of America, Canada etc and in parts of Australia. With technology transcending borders, the term K-12 education is fast gaining popularity in other parts of the world as well, with minor/ no modifications. In some countries the term has been replaced with PK-12 or P-12 that means prekindergarten to twelfth or preschool to twelfth. Whatever nomenclature any country adopts, the concept of K-12 education primarily revolves around the education imparted in the school.

K-12 education scenario in India
The constitution of India guarantees a free and compulsory education to all till the age of 14 years.  Imparting quality K-12 education to the largest possible student population across the country has always been a ‘top of mind’ issue for the government. A step forward in this direction has been the amendment of the Right to Education act that make this right stricter than before. Under the Right to Education act, 2009 private schools shall admit at least 25% students from poor families and no seats under this quota shall be left vacant. Through this amendment, government has attempted to ensure that the ideal of free and compulsory education is achieved in the true sense.

Online content provider for K-12 students

Students studying in schools can enrich their studies with the help of curriculum aligned videos and animations made available on he internet by a lot of websites. These videos and animations not only add the much required zing to the monotonous study regime followed by students, but also help them learn beyond what is taught in the books. These videos and animations are supported with quality study material and a variety of tests that help make learning thorough and effective.

The study material available at such websites is in easy-to -read language that makes understanding of concepts easy and quick. After going through the study material, students can also try their hands at curriculum-based interactive puzzles. These interactive puzzles not only raise the involvement of students in their learning process but also help assess their understanding of concepts in the chapter/subject. After going through the chapter, students can check their knowledge levels by practicing from chapter-wise and full-course model tests. This will help students get a clear picture of their weak and strong areas and will allow them to channelize their efforts in topics that require more attention. Once through with preparing for exams, students can also refer to end-of-chapter revision notes for those quick revision sessions before exams.
 

Conclusion
Studying in the right manner and using the correct tools to prepare for exams determines the extent to which students can achieve success during the K-12 years. It is also advisable for students to have a concrete understanding of core concepts so as to be sure of a high scoring academic ride.

Face the challenges of exams with CBSE Sample Papers

When we talk about the dreadful 12th board exams, the anxiety of students and parents remains the same as years back. Boards are the only thing that horrifies students as well as their parents. Due to the cut-throat competition amongst the students, exam pressure has increased manifold in the recent few years. CBSE examinations of standard 12th are one of the most crucial examinations in a student's career. Marks obtained in these exams serve as a parameter for admission in many colleges and are sometimes used as a selection criterion in interviews.

For students, CBSE sample papers can be looked upon as the simplest way to help students get a clear idea about the types of questions, marking schemes etc that can help them to perform well in board examinations.
 

Benefits of solving CBSE sample papers:

Learn to manage your time with CBSE sample papers

Time bound writing skill is the key factor to perform well in CBSE exams.  The students of CBSE board should be proficient in completing the question papers within the allocated time. The students can increase their speed by solving more and more sample questions listed in CBSE sample papers.

Due to poor time management, many students are unable to complete the paper within the given time. The best way to overcome this problem is to solve the CBSE sample papers in a specified time frame. If the students are able to solve the sample papers within the given time interval, they can surely outperform in their exams. Proper time management attained through solving sample papers, boosts confidence levels of the students and also reduces nervousness inside examination hall.

Know your weaker sections and re-test your performance

CBSE sample papers are designed as per the latest question patterns and marking schemes issued by CBSE. Hence, these sample papers also help the students to identify the important chapters and recognize their weaker sections that require more attention. They can find out the weaker areas and can re-test their performance by solving similar questions in the sample papers.

Fight examination phobia

Most of the students in India are nervous during their exams and suffer from examination phobia. This is one of the main reasons for not performing well in exams. Those students who have solved enough sample questions can easily fight back the fears and apprehension and answer the questions with confidence.

Learn smartly with online CBSE Sample Papers and solutions

CBSE sample papers, which are available online, have become the best way to lift up knowledge and leaning ability of a student in an effective manner. Online CBSE sample papers are the digital learning resources which are preferred for their easy accessibility and ample benefit.

These are developed as per CBSE curriculum; mainly for class 10th and 12th. Online sample papers and their solutions are enriched with audio, video, graphics, animations and other multimedia presentations. These help to enhance the interest of students towards learning by creating a fun-filled environment.  Further, since these are available 24x7, students can access the CBSE sample papers and refer to the solutions as per their convenience anytime, anywhere.

Study without stress and perform well in exams with CBSE sample papers.

How to Study Online

If you wish to add some zing to your monotonous study schedule, start studying online. Studying from textbooks has always been the norm for school students; however the concept of online studies is catching up fast. Innovative and multimedia enriched learning tools available online make the entire learning experience interesting and engaging. There are a lot of websites that equip students with the right online study tools that help make studying easy and scoring great marks easier. To ensure effective learning students are advised to refer to only those websites that focus on learning in the correct sequence. Students who are new to the world of e-learning, the following information focuses on the right sequence that is to be followed while planning to study online.

• Before starting to study online, the first step is to take a test that is geared to test your level of understanding of the chapters that have already been covered in school. Such diagnostic tests will help you assess your knowledge of related concepts that are important to obtain a complete understanding of the topic concerned. Such tests will also help you arrive at an understanding of your extent of mastery of the said chapter will enable you to plan your studies for that chapter.
• After taking a diagnostic test, the next step is to go through the multimedia enriched study material available at such websites. To obtain complete conceptual clarity, students should make it a point to go through the study material supported with relevant videos, 2D/ 3D animations etc. Such an extensive exercise at this step will help students solidify their conceptual understanding of the subject and will make them better equipped to take exams head-on.
• To make the most of your online study sessions, after going through the study material the next step is to try your hand at the chapter-wise practice tests. Try to seek help from websites that provide both MCQ and descriptive practice tests. Such an extensive testing exercise will help you test your learning at various levels. Also such chapter-wise tests will help you identify the learning gaps and will provide you ample opportunity to take remedial action to fill those gaps. While taking tests on such e-learning/ online study websites, students should try to resist the temptation of looking into the study material for answers beforehand in order to ensure that the assessment process is thorough.
• After taking all the chapter-wise practice tests, the next step is to take full-length model tests. Such model tests available at e-learning/online study websites help students gain the much required confidence to beat exam-related stress. While preparing for final examinations, students usually witness high anxiety levels thinking about their performance in final examinations. Such model tests will help students gauge their preparation levels and will also allow them to take remediation steps to ensure a high score.
• An ideal online study session should end with a sturdy revision exercise. Students should refer to websites that provide crisp revision notes in printable format that make it possible for student to refer anytime.

Now that all you students know the right approach to online studies, make a note of it to be sure of an enriching study experience.

Get dream marks in Physics in CBSE 12th board

CBSE 12th board exams are one of the most important exams in a student’s entire academic life. Good scores in this exam are often a pre-requisite to securing admission into a good college or course and poor marks may lead to a blemished career. Getting 90%+ in 12th board exams is a matter of prestige for all but getting high marks in PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Maths) group is really a tough nut to crack. The tips to score good marks in Physics are as follows:

Study NCERT books for clearer basics

Students should give maximum importance to Physics NCERT books for a clear understanding of concepts. A thorough understanding of concepts would allow the students to tailor conceptually correct and complete answers. Students should read the Physics chapters thoroughly and highlight or list important points in bullet form. Listing points in bullets would help the students in quick revision before exams. After thorough reading, students should attempt all the end-of-chapter questions listed in Physics NCERT textbooks. Students can also support their answers with neat & well labeled diagrams or illustrations for extraordinary marks.

Students can seek help from various web portals offering free NCERT solutions for Physics.  Before referring to online solutions, students should make sure that the answers are relevant to the NCERT chapters and have no grammatical or spelling errors.

Practice and revision using Physics CBSE sample papers

A complete practice session using Physics CBSE sample papers, model papers and previous years question papers can help the students in scoring exceptionally well in Physics CBSE exams. CBSE sample papers and practice papers for physics are designed as per the latest CBSE syllabus and marking schemes. These sample papers can help the students assess their preparation levels and give them a clear idea about the extent of effort required to solidify the weaker zones in Physics.

After the students are through with the chapters in Physics NCERT, they can solve chapter wise sample questions listed in sample papers. This would assist the students in handling various kinds of questions, customizing answering styles as per the requirements of the question and completing the questions within the specified time frame. Solving a variety of sample papers and model test papers would boost their confidence and they would surely be able to beat exam related nervous tension and anxiety.

Students can find online sample papers and test papers with MCQ and interactive quizzes for complete revision sessions. Effective online revision sessions would help the students to improve their time management skills. 

If the students follow the above mentioned tips, they would surely be able to outperform in their Physics 12th board exam.

Quality NCERT Solutions for an excellent performance

Studying from the right kind of NCERT book solutions and rigorous practice sessions can guarantee students a great performance in their final examinations. Students often commit a common mistake of referring to poorly drafted solutions to NCERT book questions that usually results in their poor performance in school exams. Therefore, students who wish to do well in their school exams and want to be sure of complete conceptual clarity should only refer to good quality NCERT book solutions. These end-of-chapter solutions to NCERT book questions not only test students understanding of important concepts in the chapter but also help them build on techniques related to answering different types of questions. 

How to write solutions to NCERT book questions?

While planning to attempt end-of-chapter NCERT questions it is of utter importance for students to first give the chapter a thorough read. After getting acquainted with the concepts that have been covered in the chapter, students should then tackle all the concepts one-by-one. While going through the concepts, students can then choose to highlight important information and/ or make their own notes for quick revision. After doing so, now comes the time to tackle end-of-chapter NCERT questions. While arriving at NCERT book solutions, students should make a mental note of all the important instructions that have been mentioned. Instructions related to word limit for the answers and marks allotted are important instructions that need to be kept in mind while writing the answers. Students should customize their answer as per the requirements of the question. While writing a solution for NCERT book question, students should make sure that all important points related to the question have been covered in the answer. 

This will not only help students arrive at a complete answer but will also help them fetch good marks. Students should support their NCERT book solutions with explanatory diagrams wherever required.

Free solutions for NCERT book questions!

If students choose not to invest so much time and effort in preparing solutions to NCERT book questions and want to seek help from readymade solutions, the following information might cheer them up. There are a few websites that offer NCERT solutions to end-of-chapter questions absolutely free of cost! These websites offer solutions for Maths, Science, English, Hindi, Social Sciences and Sanskrit. These detailed end-of-chapter solutions are accompanied by explanatory videos that use audio and visual cues to help students understand the concept easily. Apart from the quality NCERT solutions, students can also seek help from other learning and assessment resources available at such websites. The learning and assessment solutions available at such website include study material, interactive puzzles, chapter-wise tests, full-course tests, revision notes and lots more. 

After reading this article, I hope that arriving at good quality NCERT book solutions will not be very difficult. Take cues from the article and try your hand at end-of-chapter questions.

Good luck!

Formative Assessment - The holistic method of evaluation

With the recent initiatives in the area of education reforms Formative Assessments has become the buzzword among teachers and students alike. Under CBSE’s guidelines for a Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation policy for students it has become necessary that teachers build in formative assessments into their evaluation methods.  

The term Formative Assessments refers to an approach to evaluation in which assessment is built into the teaching-learning process wherein evaluation is suitably used to tailor instruction or teaching. This allows teachers to adapt to the needs of different students. Thus, in simple terms it is not evaluation at the end of learning (Summative Assessment) but rather evaluation during the process of learning.  Formative Assessment thus is assessment that is carried out throughout the year by the teacher, either formally or informally. Yet another point of difference between formative and summative assessments lies in its purpose. The purpose of formative assessments ideally should not end in the allocation of grades, unlike the purpose of summative assessments; the goal of formative assessments is to ‘improve’ a student’s performance. 

The key to a good formative assessment system is constant feedback about a student’s progress along with modification of teacher’s instructions in line with students’ learning needs. CBSE in its guidelines for implementation of CCE has listed down a variety of formative assessment tools that teachers may use for evaluating the students in the various subjects both inside and outside the classrooms.  Some of these are – class work, homework, oral questions, quizzes, projects, assignments/tests.  As per the CCE guidelines there will be four formative assessments in a year- two in each term. A total of 40% weightage has been accorded to formative assessments under the new CCE guidelines by CBSE.  

There is a flip side to the manner in which the term ‘formative assessments’ is sometimes interpreted in the schools. Some teachers interpret it as having to conduct weekly tests. This is not a correct interpretation. Formative assessments are meant to aid in the diagnostic or remedial function of assessment rather than evaluating what a child knows. Through effective use of formative assessments it should become possible for teachers and students to modify or re-set their goals in specific subjects. Specifically, a well designed formative assessment system can help the teachers and the students in the following ways:

• It guides the teacher to where the problem lies
• It helps students to identify their own conceptual problem areas
• It provide students with timely feedback and  scope for intervention for improving in the weak areas
• It allows teachers to tailor their instructions to adapt to the needs of different students
• It enables teachers to give specific inputs and feedback to the students and parents.

A lot of businesses have mushroomed overnight that claim to offer formative assessment solutions for students and schools. It is important that as students you exercise caution and discretion in using the same. Companies that have a proven track-record in the education sector and have successfully delivered quality learning solutions to students can be rightfully trusted to deliver a comprehensive assessment solution.

Cracking ICSE Maths Exam

As a student studying ICSE Maths, if you often get worked up at the thought of attempting an ICSE Maths paper, this article could be of use to you!  It is not uncommon for students studying ICSE Maths to feel stressed out due to the vastness of the ICSE curriculum. Owing to the expansive nature of the syllabus, the number of questions and the time available for completing the ICSE Maths exam, it usually gets difficult for students to manage their time.

Students who are preparing for ICSE Maths examinations or for that matter any other exam can follow these quick tips to prepare well and excel.

• Practice! The more you practice your maths problems, the better are your chances of scoring well in your exams. There is no shortcut to excelling in the ICSE Maths exam other than regular and consistent practice. So what are you waiting for, pick up a pen and paper and start working away at your Maths problem.
• Mental Math can be handy! To speed up your Maths skills, try using Mental Maths. All you need is basic knowledge about fundamental mathematical skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Start first with practicing simple one-step problems without pen and paper, and then gradually move on to complex multi-stage problems. Compare your results thus obtained with at each step with the results in the solution table. Mental Maths helps students arrive at solutions faster by increasing their concentration levels and allowing them with practice to speed up the processing time required for most simple calculations.  Don’t get hassled if you fail the first time you try mental Maths; it can take you some time to be 100% accurate in your results.
• Read carefully! While in the examination hall, first read the instructions printed on top of the ICSE Maths exam paper well and then go on to read the entire paper. Mark the questions that you find difficult and do start with the easier ones. Allocate time per question based on the marks allotted and make sure that you are able to stick to this limit.
• Mark out the rough space! To make your paper look neat, tidy and well organized clearly demarcate space for calculations on the right hand side of the answer sheet . This will make the calculations less messy and the answer sheet more ‘reader friendly’.
• Steps do fetch you marks! While attempting the problem, write down all the necessary steps in the answer. Many students who attempt their ICSE Maths paper miss out on writing these steps and in the process may lose marks even if the answer is correct.  
• Keep an eye on your watch! Constantly keep a check on the time left and accordingly approach the other questions. Once you come across the difficult questions, don’t panic but simply try sticking to the time allotted.

So keep these tips in mind this time as you prepare and attempt your ICSE Maths exam and I am  positive that you will score better than your previous exams.

How and when to study from CBSE guess papers

Robust practice sessions using CBSE guess papers can help students fetch their dream score in exams. Students often consider a thorough read of the chapter enough for the final examinations. Undeniably it is important for students to go through the chapter and understand all important concepts in it, but it is also imperative for them to test their understanding of the concepts that they have learned so far. Apart from practicing using the exercises available at the end of each chapter, students can also test their knowledge by trying their hands at CBSE guess papers. CBSE guess paper is a loose prototype of the final CBSE paper and is also considered a sure-shot way to excel in exams. However, it is important for students to know when and how to seek help from CBSE guess papers.

It’s important to go through the chapter first

To start with, students should only start referring to the CBSE guess papers once they are through with giving the entire chapter a thorough read. It is important to first understand and memorise all important concepts in the chapter/s and then start evaluating their understanding levels. A thorough preparation like this before attempting CBSE guess papers will enable students to truly assess their preparation levels for their exams and place them in a better position to identify gaps in their learning.

Follow it up with adaptive/formative assessments

After going through a chapter, students should follow it up by taking adaptive assessments that are geared to assess students’ understanding of concepts in that chapter along with other related concepts. There are a few websites that offer such dynamic adaptive/formative assessments in Maths and Science for CBSE class VI-X. These adaptive/formative assessments are then followed by elaborate performance reports that highlight areas that the student is weak in and also include a custom study plan to fortify learning to every individual student.

Chapter-wise practice tests are important

After going through the chapter, students are advised take chapter-wise practice tests or chapter-wise CBSE guess papers. MCQ and descriptive chapter-wise tests will not only add variety to their learning but will also ensure that students have not missed out on any important concept/ topic in the chapter. Such chapter-wise tests will help students attain a thorough understanding of all concepts in the chapter.

Now is the time to take full course model tests/ CBSE guess papers

After taking chapter-wise practice tests, students should then evaluate their skills related to tackling individual questions, time management etc by practicing using full course CBSE guess papers. Rigorous practice sessions from such CBSE guess papers will help students solidify their preparation for their final exams and will also help them identify flaws in the strategies adopted by them. It will enable students to take timely corrective action so as to be sure of a great score in the final CBSE paper.

I hope that this article will help you learn how to effectively study from the CBSE guess papers for a high scoring academic ride. Following these steps will instil in you the required confidence to help beat exam related stress.

All the best!