9 Mistakes to Avoid During Board Exam Preparation

Board exams feel like this massive mountain you have to climb, and everyone around you keeps saying, "These exams will decide your future!" That pressure? It's real. Most students mess up not because they're not smart enough, but because they're following the wrong strategies.

If you've already given your 10th boards, congratulations! But don't make the mistake of thinking 12th will be the same. It won't.

In the 10th, you could honestly get away with studying everything a month before exams. The syllabus is smaller, and the concepts are more straightforward. But 12th? That's a completely different game. The syllabus is huge, concepts go deeper, and you need actual understanding, not just memorization.

For 10th students: You're doing this for the first time. Unlike your 9th exams that happened in your own school, boards are standardized. Start preparing at least 2-3 months before. Don't wait for the "one-month magic" to happen.

For 12th students: You already know how boards work, but don't get overconfident. Start your preparation right after your syllabus is done, around November or December. You need more time now.

This is probably the most expensive mistake you can make. Students buy five different reference books and ignore their NCERT completely. Please don't.

NCERT is literally what your question paper is based on. Especially for subjects like Biology, History, Political Science, and Economics, your answers should come straight from NCERT. Even for Maths and Science, the basic concepts and question patterns start here.

Readthe  NCERT properly. Underline important parts. Make notes from it. Then move to reference books if you need extra practice.

We've seen students with folders full of sample papers, 10 different PYQ collections, notes from five different teachers, and YouTube playlists with 100+ videos. But when exams come? They've barely touched any of it.

Stop hoarding. Start using.

Pick ONE good sample paper book. Solve it properly. Pick ONE set of previous year questions and actually practice them. Quality over quantity, always.

Students study the entire syllabus, and then in the last week, they try giving mock tests. By then, it's panic time.

Start giving mock tests at least a month before your exams. Set a three-hour timer. Sit in one place. No phone. No breaks. Write the full paper.

This builds your speed and shows you exactly where you're losing marks. Maybe you know the answers, but you're running out of time. Maybe you're making silly mistakes. You won't know until you practice in real exam conditions.

You don't need to study 12 hours a day. Seriously, you don't.

What you need is focused study time. If you can genuinely concentrate for 6-7 hours with breaks, that's more than enough. Quality matters more than sitting with your books open while scrolling Instagram.

Make a realistic timetable. Give more time to subjects you're weak in, but don't completely ignore the ones you're good at. And please, schedule breaks. Your brain needs them.

This works until a point. Then it crashes.

Especially in 12th, if you're just memorizing Maths formulas or Physics derivations without understanding the logic, you'll freeze when the question is even slightly twisted.

Understand the concept first. Then practice. Then it automatically stays in your memory. For subjects that do need memorization (like dates, definitions, diagrams), use techniques like flashcards, mnemonics, or teaching it to someone else.

PYQs aren't just for checking what questions came before. They show you patterns, important topics, and the exact way questions are asked.

Solve PYQs subject-wise and chapter-wise. Notice which chapters have more weightage. See what type of questions repeat. This isn't about gambling on questions; it's about smart preparation.

Pro Tip: After solving PYQs, check the marking scheme. Board examiners have specific points they're looking for. Write your answers accordingly.

Some topics will confuse you. Some concepts won't click. That's completely normal.

Don't waste three days trying to figure out one derivation on your own when you can ask your teacher or a friend who gets it. Use your resources, like teachers, classmates, and online tutorials. There's no medal for struggling alone.

But also, know the difference between "getting help" and "depending completely on others." Understand it yourself after someone explains.

We all know someone who's going to read this and think, "I'll sleep after boards."

Please don't be that person.

Your brain retains information when you sleep. You can focus better when you're not exhausted. Skipping meals, surviving on tea and coffee, pulling all-nighters; these might feel productive, but they'll wreck your performance when it actually matters.

Sleep at least 6-7 hours. Eat proper meals. Take a 20-minute walk. Your mental health during boards is just as important as your preparation.

Board exams are important, yes. But they're not impossible. You don't need to be a genius. You need to be consistent, smart with your strategy, and kind to yourself.

Start early. Use the right resources. Practice properly. Take care of yourself. That's literally it.

You've got this. Good luck!