Exam Preparation Tips and Tricks for Student 

NCERT developed an integrated curriculum for class IX & X. Social Science syllabus appears quite lengthy for most of the students; however it is not lengthy but a comprehensive syllabus. Students score very high marks in CBSE board examination. Wise students complete CBSE prescribed syllabus on time. Intensive reading, better comprehension and better expression are keys for getting the highest score in Social Science.

How to score good marks in Social Science

Let first understand the objective of Social Science Curriculum for class IX & X 

The main objective of Social Science Curriculum is to

  1. Develop an understanding of the process of change and latest development
  2. View different life perspectives in a wider context of time , space and place
  3. Develop a comprehensive understanding of Indian and World Cultural, Historical, Economical and Societal development over a period of time (from ancient, medieval and modern time)
  4. Develop a comprehensive understanding of its surrounding systems i.e. Function of Government, Elections, etc

A better understanding of question paper pattern and nature of questions lead to get high score in board exam.  Social Science question paper consist four types of questions for evaluating different level of understanding.  Social Science Question Paper has 27 questions in all. 

  1. Questions from serial number 1 to7 are very short answer type questions. Each question carries one mark. (1x 7=7)
  2. Questions from serial number 8 to18 are 3 marks questions. ( words limit -80) (11x 3=33)
  3. Questions from serial number 19 to 25 are 5 marks questions. ( words limit -100) (7x 5=35)
  4. Question numbers 26 & 27 are map questions from History with 1 mark each. Question number 28 is map question of 3 marks from Geography. (2x 1=2)
  5. For Q. Nos. 26, 27 and 28 (map based questions) one outline political map of India is provided. (3x 1=3)
  6. Questions at Serial Number – 20, 22, 24 & 25 have Internal Choice. Students must attempt “any one option” out of the given in each of these questions.

Assessment & Evaluation Facts to Remember for Developing Better Understanding ,and  Planning for Scoring High in Board Examination

Road Map of Social Questions-Typology of Questions (Secondary School Curriculum)

  1. Remembering (Knowledge based simple recall questions, to know specific facts, terms, concepts, principles, or theories; identify, define or recite information)- {20 %}
  2. Understanding (Comprehension – to be familiar with meaning and to understand conceptually, interpret, compare, contrast, explain, paraphrase, or interpret information)-{20 %}
  3. Application (Use abstract information in concrete situation, to apply knowledge to new situations, use given content to interpret a situation, provide an example, or solve a problem) -{26 %}
  4. High Order Thinking Skills (Analysis & Synthesis – Classify, compare, contrast, or differentiate between different pieces of information, Organize and/or integrate unique pieces of information from a variety of sources) {20 %}
  5. Creating, Evaluation and Multi-Disciplinary (Generating new ideas, product or ways of viewing things, appraise, judge, and/or justify) – {8 %}
  6. Map Skill -{06 %}

Tips and Tricks for Scoring High in Social Science  

Hard work is keys to success. Scoring high in board examination solely depends on student’s understanding of different topics in his own language. Most of the key terms and concepts can be correlated to daily life circumstances. Wise students correlate textual knowledge with worldly knowledge.

Read the chapter thoroughly

Intensive reading helps students in developing a better understanding of the subjects. Contextual reading helps student to remember something for a long time, because key terms, definition, date and differentiation mentioned in the textbook with proper examples. Isolated learning of key terms and different crucial date confuse student at exam time.

Preparing own notes

Since, Social science is vast subject. Students need to develop a comprehensive understanding of complete syllabus. Wise students prepare own notes. It helps student to remember Social Science facts and figure, i.e. mind map, flow chart, pie chart, key points and key terms in simple way.

Practice board based question paper

Generally, it has been observed that students learn key terms but when it comes to solve questions mentioned it question paper. They become confuse. A better understanding of question paper helps student to right specific content for specific question. Usually, board question paper evaluates students’ skill to remember facts, figure and dates (factual understanding), comprehension skill to interpret, compare, contrast, explain, paraphrase, or interpret information, question based on application evaluates students to use appropriate content for interpret a given situation, provide an example, or solve a problem, question based on HOTS to classify, compare, contrast, or differentiate between different pieces of information in unique way, generating new ideas based on given context/ correlating given context/integrating new ideas in developing good context with appropriate examples.

Write Appropriate Answer with Relevant Key Words and Illustrations

Wise students develop own quality content in terms of writing appropriate words, relevant sentences and interpret a given situation with justifiable illustration. Learning is not enough if we could not express with suitable key words and keys points. The writing skill will develop only when student practices short questions, very long questions and HOTS question, shows his/her answer to the teachers and peers, takes real feedback, and correct his/her weak points in a next attempt. It is continuous process because (a) application based questions (b) long questions and (c) HOTS question demand appropriate precise content, fluency of ideas and accuracy of sentence.

Proper Practice of Maps

Map consists of 5 marks in paper. Proper knowledge of “Political as well as Physical Map” helps students to score high marks in Social Science. General students may or may not attempt Map questions; wise students learn properly the skill of “Location Identification and Labelling” different place, i.e.  Major countries of First World War/ Nantes, Paris/ Allied Powers – France, England, (Russia), America (History) and India-States with Capitals, Tropic of Cancer, Standard Meridian National Parks : Corbett, Kaziranga, Ranthambor, Shivpuri, Kanha, Simlipal & Manas (Geography) on Map. It is quite technical. Practice location identification and lebelling it on proper map lead towards better understanding of different locations.

Deep understanding with appropriate expression on Paper

Learning “Important Terms and Concepts”, “Important Days & Dates”, “Definitions and Descriptions of an Event and Its Impact on Society, Nation and at World Level, “Characteristics of an historical, cultural and economic event/incident/decision”, “Classification & Differences between two events/incidents/social issues/issues related to different systems in Social Science is essential needs but expressing facts, figure, data, data interpretation precisely and appropriately in another most crucial thing. Getting high score in Social Science is integration of understanding of facts and figure and expressing them appropriately.

Rajeev Ranjan

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