CBSE Board Exam 2021 : Importance of word limit in exam writing

Every question in the board exams has a preset word limit that a student should not cross. This article will let you know the importance of adhering to the prescribed word limit in CBSE board exams. You will know how to write answers according to the prescribed word limit and how it can help you secure good marks.

Writing answers appropriately in CBSE Board Exams requires proper planning. Each word in an answer should convey precise information. Some students believe in the myth that the longer the answers, the more you score in the exam. However, long and irrelevant sentences included in the answers not only waste your time during the exam but also brings your score down. We have discussed below a few important points on adhering to the proper word limit for short and long answer type questions in CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 Board Exams.

Q. Is it important to adhere to the word limit that is prescribed in the CBSE exam papers?

Ans. There is a reason why the word limit has been assigned to every question in the CBSE board exams. Actually, they want you to write a crisp and precise answer, but not the meaningless stories. Try to stay as close to it as it's all subjective. I mean, if you have finished your word limit, you can still continue for another 4-5 lines to reflect the extent of your knowledge of the topic. Though the examiner is not going to count the number of words and penalize you for crossing the word limit. But sometimes crossing it with a few more words can bring your marks down if these words do not meet the requirement of the question. The same may happen in case if you write too little. It is all subjective and is up to the teacher. The teacher/examiner always looks for the right keywords in context with the question. 

It’s still okay if you overshoot the word limit or are short of a few words, just make sure it isn't noticeable enough. Thus, as per the official guidelines outlined by CBSE for teachers checking the answer copies of board exams, no marks should be deducted for crossing the word limit. The only things to be emphasized while checking the answer scripts are concise, logical, and organized answers.

In addition to this, it’s important for you not to cross the word limit as writing more words will take away more of the time allotted for writing the exam. Thus, you would be left with insufficient time to complete the remaining questions, losing those important marks for you.

Thanks!