CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2019: Important Tips to Finish Maths Paper on Time

Being good at a subject is not the only thing to fetch high scores. However, one needs to be equally prepared to write the exam in an appropriate way so as to attempt all the questions correctly that too within the prescribed time constraints.

Especially in case of Maths, students generally panic while solving questions in exam due to which they face problem in finishing the paper before time. Just because they run out of time, they leave a few questions unwillingly and quite often it has been observed that the questions they leave are those which they could do very easily. Such situation becomes very disappointing.

In this article, we have summed up some important tips on how to attempt Maths paper correctly and finish it before time nonetheless the overwhelming pressure which makes the student forget what they have learned.

1. Know the examination pattern and question paper design

In order to write the Maths exam smoothly, the most important thing is to understand the examination pattern/ question paper design which will make you familiarised with the structure of question paper you will get in the board exam.

Moreover, you will also get to know the different formats in which questions will be asked along with their mark wise breakup.

If you will be having an idea about the pattern of questions then you won’t find it difficult to understand the exam structure on the final day and save some of your crucial time.

2. Prepare a strategy for the exam before you take it

After understanding the examination pattern, next job is to deeply analyse the exam pattern and prepare a strategy for the final exam. Check the number of questions, their types and marks breakup to be followed in the CBSE board question paper.

Following table states the questions’ structure for CBSE Board Mathematics Exam 2018:

Thus, you will have to solve a total of 30 questions in 3 hours, i,e., 180 minutes. So, you must make a proper time division so that you are able to attempt all questions well on time.

A moderate time division can be done as below:

Following the above time division plan, you will still have 20 minutes which can be utilised in revising the whole paper, checking the complex calculations and attempting the left questions. Remember one thing, there is no negative marking in board exams, so students must try to attempt all questions. 

3. Use the first 15 minutes effectively

The best thing that CBSE offers its students is the 15 minutes reading time before they start writing their exam. -

These, 15 minutes can be of great help to prepare a strategy for writing the exam proprly. You must read all 30 questions properly and mark them into categories viz easy, manageable and tough.

This is done to have an overall idea about the questions and make a rough plan to attempt all of them smoothly and appropriately.

4. Don't worry about the tough problems

While going through the paper, when you find some questions that seem to be tough or complex to you, you need not to worry about it as this anxiety will only harm your performance.

So, you just start with the easier problems and as you will proceed further solving each question with correct answer, you will gain confidence for the complex problems as well.

This way, when you will actually work on them, you will find most of them to be much easier than they seemed earlier to you.

5. Understand the worth of each question

Now when you are going to attempt the paper, you must have an idea that how much each question is worth and estimate the time you should spend working on each one, so that you don’t waste much time on a question which won’t fetch you enough marks otherwise you will lose some important marks for other questions which might be left unsolved due to the time lack.

6. Maintain speed and accuracy hand in hand

Maintain accuracy while you are solving quickly. Make sure you don't get confused between two different topics.

Try to implement quicker methods in calculations to save your precious time. Be careful with the signs and terms used in a problem, otherwise it will take a lot of time to solve a problem leading to an incorrect answer.Be even more careful while copying a question from the question paper.

7. Keep a close watch on the time

Keeping an eye on your watch will help you keep a track of the time and know how many questions are still left.

Moreover, it will help you check that you are strictly adhering to the time allocation you have decided in the beginning.

However, a minor variation in the time allotted to each section or question, is not at all a reason to worry. 

Along with preparing hard for an exam it’s very important to make a strategy to write that exam in a proper way and in time as well so that your hard work gets reflected in your answer sheet. So, study hard and prepare smart, you will definitely succeed.

All the Very Best!