Science is a three-pronged subject and therefore a significant component of the Class 10 syllabus. Since students are expected to learn Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as part of the same subject, their workload can become overwhelming at times. However, if students are willing to start studying early, most of them can prepare well for the final assessment. How can one do it? We are here with basic yet effective tips that can help you out! Read ahead.

Divide your time and focus equitably

Students must remember that they are required to learn five different units revolving around the three major branches of science. It is important that they dedicate a sufficient amount of time to each component in order to increase their chances of scoring well during exams. While some students might understand this to mean that they should spend an equal amount of time studying each unit, this may not be the best strategy. According to the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus, each unit is given different weightage by marks, and by the number of hours that teachers should spend teaching it. This means that units such as ‘Chemical Substances’ and ‘World of Living’ should be prioritized by students over a unit like ‘Natural Resources’, since the former is worth 25 and 23 marks, while the latter is worth only 7 marks. However, this does not mean that students are justified in skipping over a unit, just because it holds less weightage in the exam. In fact, a student struggling to understand a low weightage topic is encouraged to spend more time studying it.

Be prepared for everything

Even students who typically do well in the classroom find themselves surprised by the Class 10 board exam papers. It is therefore important for students to be prepared for all kinds of questions, in terms of both format and difficulty level. While studying, students should ensure that they are equipping themselves to answer everything from Multiple Choice Questions and other objective questions to case-based and passage-based questions that require longer answers. Additionally, students should try not to skip reading information that they consider to be obvious, as this could potentially result in over-confidence, and they may end up losing marks on questions that they previously deemed too easy to study for. Instead, students should study all the information they are provided with an unassuming attitude. 

Don’t forget about the internal assessment

Many students, especially class 10 students are so focused on the final exams that they tend to perform poorly in internal assessments. Schools are expected to conduct this assessment throughout the year, and students are required to maintain a lab manual for the practical experiments they are introduced to. Students often forget about filling in this lab manual until the last minute, which could disrupt their revision period before the exams. Students should ensure that their lab manuals are being routinely updated in order to avoid any reprimands. Similarly, Class 10 Science students are also expected to put together a portfolio. Making sure that this portfolio is completed well in advance can help the student secure each and every internal assessment mark. 

Start memorizing early

The Class 10 Science syllabus involves quite a bit of unavoidable memorization. Students are expected to know the periodic table of elements, different chemical reactions, as well as several physics formulae. Learning all this can seem like a daunting task, which is why it is important to start early and have a strategy for memorization. It is helpful to have all the chemical reactions and formulae listed together in one notebook, as this creates a separate space for them. Students should go through this dedicated notebook at least once a week in order to familiarize themselves with what they need to know. Similarly, students should test themselves on the periodic table on a weekly basis, so that they will be able to easily recall its structure and elements by the end of the academic year. 

Tackle the sesquipedalia

A sesquipedalia is a very long word and is something that is often seen in science textbooks, especially in the biology section. These words can be intimidating for many students when they are initially taught. One of the best ways for students to get around confusing terminology is to make a personal glossary of words that they have trouble understanding or remembering. Having a compiled list of all those complex words will make knowing them a much simpler endeavor. Another reason why CBSE students struggle with longer terms is that their medium of instruction is Hindi, while the reference material they are given is entirely in English. Students who are faced with this issue should refer to the NCERT Books for Class 10 Science in Hindi as these will provide them with the reliable study material in their preferred language, and eliminate the problem of comprehending and translating difficult English terminology.  

Practice the diagrams

Diagrams are something many students tend to overlook while studying Class 10 Science. Without a doubt, diagrams are an integral component of the syllabus and exam, which means that students need to be careful while drawing and labeling them. As against that, it is also important for students to keep an eye on the clock when they are drawing diagrams. While neat and tidy diagrams are essential, some students tend to lose track of time while drawing and labeling, which then results in them running out of time for answering the rest of the paper. Therefore, students must remember to not neglect practicing diagrams at home while studying. Only rigorous practice will allow students to manage their time properly while attempting the final exam. 

Read the question paper carefully

Science is a subject in which a simple oversight while reading could potentially result in the student writing an entirely incorrect answer. It is crucial that students pay close attention to what each question is, and how they are supposed to answer it. Any kind of mix-up between two similar terms or symbols could cost the student their marks. Students are advised to go through the paper once before writing anything, once while writing, and once before turning it in. This will keep them from misunderstanding questions, and help them complete their exam in time.