Preparing for Success: Best Approaches and Strategies for Pre Board Exam

What do board exams remind you of?

Exam jitters?

Performance anxiety?

Fatigue or sleepless nights?

Well!

As school pass-outs, most of us can easily connect with these terms. These are almost synonymous with the public examinations in classes X and XII. And the real anxiety peaks at the initial knock-out stage THE INTERNAL PRE BOARD EXAMINATION!

Before we get down to the preboard exam meaning, let’s take a look at some statistics in the Indian context.

81% of Indian students feel anxious due to board exams, studies, and results.
37% of students reported a high level of anxiety at the secondary school level (classes 9 to 12).
In class X, only 5% of students fail in the CBSE and CISCE Boards. While the failure rate of State Board students in the same class is around 16%.

For students, pre board exam and final board exams are crucial for long-term academic success. Here’s a detailed overview of the best practices that can help students prepare better!

Read on.

What are Pre Board Exams?

In India, students appear for public examinations when they complete the secondary and senior secondary school stages (classes X and XII respectively). These public exams are popularly known as ‘Board’ exams. And schools replicate the pattern and marking scheme of these public exams internally through pre board exams. Through these traditional/K12 online schools test the academic standing of their students before appearing for the final Board exams.

Every year secondary and higher secondary schools prepare students through different strategies, pedagogies, and assignments for pre boards. The scores obtained in these exams show the student’s mastery and understanding levels. And in this way, these exams bring teachers and students on the same page.

All in all, pre board examination sets the momentum for the final preparation before the public exams. These exams also play a crucial role in instilling confidence in students as they learn about their readiness to appear for Board exams.

When are Pre Board Exams Held?

Traditional and online schools have their individual pre board exam schedules. These schedules are often laid in the academic calendar. However, the timing to conduct these exams varies from school to school. Some institutions prefer to conduct these examinations well in advance while others hold these until the end of the academic year.

Both ways schools promote rigorous preparation to work on academic gaps.

How Important are a Student’s Pre-Board Scores?

Predict Final Performance

For students, preboard exam meaning is often different from reality. Internal exams held before the real board exams are not added to the final grades/marks obtained in the Board examination. However, this does not belittle the importance of pre boards for students at the crucial secondary stage.

The scores of the pre board examination do affect the final results (in Board exams) as these depict the student’s preparedness. And highlight the gaps thereby indicating/predicting a rough estimate of the student’s final scores.

Promote Rigorous Preparation

Board preparation tools are excellent support for students. Use mock tests, sample papers, practice books, and extra assignments. Always look for extra practice material. And get the hang of the exam pattern to know the exact weightage of questions to allocate time wisely during preparations.

Replicates the Composition of Board Question Papers

Before students appear for their Board exams, their pre boards give them a fair idea of the exam paper and question-wise score divisions. Very recently, in the academic year 2024-25, the CBSE made major changes in the question marking composition for class XII. The board increased the weightage of ‘Competency Focused Questions’ by 10%, and decreased the weightage of short/long questions by 10%.

Here’s a look at the recent CBSE marking pattern as per the official Board circular for both classes X and XII:

How to Succeed in Pre Board Examination (For Students)

Be Thorough with the Course/Syllabus

The easiest way to understand the preboard exam meaning is to know the topics, pattern, formats, weightage, etc. thoroughly. Mark the important points with colored pens, use highlighters, and stick short notes to identify key information. If you are confident about the course, you can also create an internal ranking for topics. But do not consider it final until you get it validated by the respective subject teachers.

Stick to the Board Curriculum & Publishers

It is true that the market is flooded with books, but there is nothing as beneficial as the authorized publisher’s study material. For instance, the only publisher for the CBSE board is the NCERT. The initial step is to cover the curriculum (for pre board examination preparation) with these books. And any additional practice with supplementary study material can follow in the second stage.

Use Strategies

Peer learning, group study, revision strategies (jotting key points), and attempting varied practice tests are always helpful. Follow the lines of top online schools for pre boards and use the best virtual resources available for free (or purchase subscriptions as per your requirement)

Look for Support

Asking for help at the right time is always better than regretting a delay. Your teachers and parents share the same academic goals. So be open to asking for help if there is a need for it.

Are Pre-Board Exams Harder than Board Exams?

In most institutions, the marking scheme of pre boards communicates the strengths and weaknesses of students. Hence, institutions follow a strict marking pattern on purpose. These exams are a serious warm-up for the final Board exams for students. So technically, pre boards are neither hard nor easy if the students prepare well.

Generally, stakeholders believe that a student can score slightly better in the final Board exams if he/she does well in pre board examination. However, most institutions do not allow too much leverage in these exams as it helps students maintain a serious approach towards their Board exams.

Tips for Students to Perform Well in Pre-Board Exams

Be regular with studies and avoid burning the midnight oil in the last days.
Eat light and healthy food (without too many carbs and caffeine) to avoid dizziness during the daytime.
Sleep enough. Your mind performs best when the body gets enough rest.
Understand concepts and create mind connections to avoid cramming at the last minute.
Cross-check the curriculum before you start with pre board exam
Pay attention to your writing speed and practice with word limits for long questions.
Maintain slim revision notebooks with key points to revise faster.

Final Thoughts

As the exam season takes over, it is normal to feel anxious. However, students can achieve the milestones of academic success with consistency and preparedness. Pre board examination gives a great head start to a final round of well-planned preparations. So gear up for your pre board exam, and gain the much-needed confidence before unfolding a new chapter of SUCCESS in your educational journey!

Thanks for Reading!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Pre-Board Marks Important?
Yes! Pre boards are important as they prepare you for final exams and reveal the areas that need more attention.
Are Pre-Board Exams Harder than Board Exams?
Mostly, these exams give a clear picture of the student’s learning levels. Hence, most schools keep these on the difficult side.
Share some best tips for students appearing for pre-board exams.
Know the pre board exam meaning and consider these as important as board exams. Prepare with all available tools including online resources.