A targeted approach to answering your 12th CBSE Board Question Paper can ensure good marks. Given below are a few tips, tricks, and strategies for scoring well in your Chemistry Board Exam.
Before the Exam
- Have a good, restful night of sleep the day before the exam. A calm, relaxed mind eases the anxiety and helps you think clearly.
- On the exam day, keep all the relevant documents (hall ticket, school ID proof, etc.) required for the exam center, handy.
- Carry an extra pen and pencil, in addition to the eraser, pencil sharpener and a scale for drawing the diagrams.
- Use only a black or a blue ink pen for writing the examination.
- Carry a water bottle to avoid water breaks during the test.
- Reach the exam venue at least 45 min before the exam starts.
- Go to the restroom before the exam starts.
- Have a chocolate before the exam begins to give you the extra sugar kick and to calm your overworked nerves.
- Breathe deep and relax.
During the Examination
- You will be provided with the answering sheets 15-20 min before the exam commences. You must fill in your details (Roll No, Centre Code, etc.) correctly.
- Number each page of the answering sheet.
- If you wish to enhance your paper presentation and have time for the same, you may draw borders and margins with the pencil and scale.
- Assign the last page of the sheet for rough work. Write the title as ‘For Rough Work Only.’ All rough work should be done here and nowhere else. In some schools, an additional paper is provided for Rough Work.
- The question paper will be handed out 5-10 min before the exam begins. Read the question paper and mark a small dot with a pencil against the questions that would require more of your time or for which you don’t have an immediate answer.
- Time your question paper and spend only the necessary amount of time on answering it. Skip and go to the next question if the answer requires too much of your time. The length of the answer depends on the allotted marks.
- Answer in bullet points, write what is relevant and important. Underline important phrases and keywords.
- Leave sufficient gap between two answers. It should not look muddled.
- Begin by answering those questions which you are most confident. Preferably, start by answering the questions that carry the highest weightage. Start with the last 5- mark questions and arrive at the easy 1-mark questions in the end.
- The questions carrying the maximum mark require more time and focus. Also, if you are unable to finish your paper on time, it is better to have lost a 1-mark question than on a 5-mark one. Do let the examiner know of your decision by writing a statement at the start by mentioning, ‘the questions are answered from the last to the first, in that order.’
- Think clearly before you write the answers. Write an outline in the rough work section, inserting the keywords and short points, before writing the actual answers.
- Write clearly, legibly and preferably in print handwriting. Scratch neatly and rewrite for any wrong answers. Do not overwrite.
- Assign correct numbers to your answers. Do not mix up the order. Also, if you do not know the answer to a question, mark it as dash against the question number on your answer sheet. If you have attempted the question later at the end, don’t forget to mention it by writing ‘the question number X has been attempted on page Y.’
- For questions where you must differentiate or write a comparison, it is preferable to write the answer by making two columns and showing clear differentiating points with relevant examples.
- If you run out of time and are unable to write lengthy answers or statements, try answering it by drawing a flowchart carrying all the important keywords.
- For questions, you have no clue about, guess the answers as the correction method involves no negative marking. Try and attempt such questions only at the end.
- Look out for synonyms in a question. For example, outline/ briefly discuss/ explain, all mean the same thing.
- Do no rough work on your writing table, wall or the clipboard.
Physical Chemistry Questions
a) Always write the statement/laws or the principle involved in a process.
b) Draw neatly labeled diagrams wherever expected and necessary.
c) Give at least one example for all the definitions and the short note type of questions.
d) For the numerical problems, start by writing the given data, the formula to be used and convert the units wherever required (Example, o C to K). Put the values in the working formula correctly. Express the final answer in scientific notation and in correct SI units. Underline and highlight the final answer.
e) For the answers requiring graphical presentation, mention the X and the Y-axis variables. Write the information that is obtained from the graph, the equation of a straight line, the slope and the intercept.
Value Based Question
- Use the correct adjectives in displaying a behavior and try not to be overly wordy. Be precise and concise.
Organic Chemistry Questions
a) Write the statement that is followed by the chemical reaction or vice-versa. Do not write blank statements or just a reaction.
b) Mention the type of the reaction taking place. Example, electrophilic or nucleophilic addition reaction, displacement reaction, etc.
c) The chemical reaction must be written as one line and should be balanced. Use the correct reaction and electron transfer curly arrows.
d) Preferably, write the reagents or any catalysts taking part in the reaction above the reaction arrow and the reaction conditions (time, temp.) below the arrow.
e) All the substrates and the products should be named according to the IUPAC nomenclature.
f) The proper suffix should be assigned to the parent chain.
Eg. CH3-CH2-CHO is a propanal and not propanol
g) The specific reagents used in a Name Reaction should be mentioned correctly.
Inorganic Chemistry Questions
a) The Inorganic reaction equations should be balanced. If you find it hard to memorize the complete reaction, try to learn at least the change in the oxidation state of the metal involved in the reaction.
b) In addition to the balanced chemical equation, the observations of a reaction and its conclusion must be mentioned.
c) Always write the name of the reagents and substrates taking part in the reaction.
d) If the question asks for the geometry of a compound/ co-ordination number/ shape of the molecule, always draw its structure.
Reasoning Questions
The ‘cause’ and the ‘effect’ of any observed anomaly must be mentioned specifically as two separate points.
Final Revision
- The last 13 min must be allotted for the answer revision.
- Check for spelling mistakes.
- Look out for the Carbon valency in all the organic chemistry structures. There should be no Pentavalent Carbon.
- The charge or the lone pair in an atom must be correctly displayed.
- Recheck all the numerical problem calculations for any errors. The answer must be expressed in scientific notation with the correct SI unit.
After the Examination
- Grade yourself for each answer and find your expected score. If you find a huge difference in the expected and the obtained marks, submit for re-evaluation.
