Language is an important tool by which a person creates its individual identity. It matters a great deal as this is what distinguishes one individual from the other. Being adept in own language is important. English being a Global Language-is a mandatory paper in CBSE Board Examination. It is well said, ‘English paper either makes you or breaks you!’ Students generally keep the revision of English paper for the last moment and eventually score low. This results in pulling down their aggregate. If they bring good marks in this paper, it helps building their aggregate and many possibilities make way for them. The idea here is to share a Manav Rachna International School’s Expert’s expertise to help students prepare for their 12^th Grade CBSE Board Exam better and be stress-free. ~Editor

FROM THE EXPERT’S DESK

Preparing well for your CBSE Board Exam in a smart manner can always ensure less of stress and anxiety for any student. Sweaty palms and anxious grins are signs of pressure and lack of confidence at times. Needless to say, that inadequate preparation is a sure-shot recipe for disaster. The key to this problem is systematic and smart preparation for the same.

English is not only a global language but it is a mandatory subject to be taken into consideration to calculate the aggregate percentage of Grade XII board of any child. Keeping this in mind, let’s decipher the easy ways to crack the paper of English Core (Code 301) for forthcoming Board Exams Session 2022-2023.

The paper is divided into three parts

Section A- 20 Marks

Section B- 20 Marks

Section C- 40 Marks

Let’s go step by step-

Section A is primarily the Reading Section which assesses the comprehension capabilities of a student. The given passage in question 1 is either a factual or discursive or literary piece. Question 2 is case based with the aids of graphs, pie charts, tables, venn diagrams etc.

The process of solving the Reading Section is as follows:

Comprehension of the text doesn’t depend only on understanding or decoding of the words of a given text. The time a text will take to be read, depends on the coherence and number of ‘sense units’ in the text. These ‘sense units’ are easier to understand than isolated words because ‘sense units’ are contextualised.

Skimming is used to obtain the gist or the overall sense of a text. For skimming, a text is read gradually and in more details.

Scanning is a fast-reading technique used to look for specific information in a text.

Summarizing refers to the technique of shortening a longer text. It is employed to extract the main points in order to make a decision, and then give opinion or draw conclusions.

Section B comprises of the writing section with each question having equal weightage as per the board syllabus.

What marks a good writer in a board paper?

1. Always thinks of the audience.
2. Does not deviate from the main purpose.

• Spends proper time to plan (ideas and arguments).

1. Makes good use of reliable sources of knowledge.
2. Allows ideas flow smoothly (coherence and cohesion).
3. Follows a rough organisation plan.

• Seeks and makes use of feedback.
• Gives a lot of attention to the choice of words(lexis).

1. Willingly (re) revises (accuracy etc.).
2. Looks back at the writing at long intervals.

Section C includes the literature section which contributes to 50% percentage weightage of the board paper, i.e.  40 marks.

The two textbooks, Flamingo and Vistas should be treated as the Gospel for all textual references, R.T.C.’s along with all short and long answer questions.

The main focus should be on the following points-

1. justification of the title (poem/prose)
2. critical analysis (poem/prose)

• characterization (poem/prose)

1. background setting and locale (poem/prose)
2. factual description (poem/prose)
3. value/ theme/message (poem/prose)

• Figure of Speeches/Poetic Devices
• All poetic devices must be learnt thoroughly with examples from the poems.

1. Try and remember the poems so that Figure of Speeches/Poetic Devices, RTC can go smoothly

Therefore, to score high in English in CBSE class XII board class papers one should adhere to the following points.

1. Read your comprehension passages thoroughly. Utilize the format of skimming, scanning and summarizing to find the exact answers from the given text. Please write the full options in all MCQ’s. Time allotted should not exceed more than 25 -30 minutes.
2. Be very sure of the formats of all the writing skills given in the prescribed syllabus. One should be very well versed with the dos and don’ts of specific writing skills to avoid deduction of marks in any form.
3. The marking scheme is based on the content, fluency and accuracy of language for the examiner to give appropriate marks to the student. Time allotted should not exceed more than 55-60 minutes.

4. Literature section should be well read with a thorough comprehension of the text. Both the literature books have equal weightage, so it’s highly important to understand the significance of the same. Make rational choices in the question paper to attempt the questions as per the choices given. Read the questions thoroughly before making any choice. Please stick to the word limit for each question to save time for the next. The marking scheme is based on content, fluency and accuracy of language and expressions. Brevity and precision are the keys to success. Time allotted should not exceed more than 1 hour 15 minutes.

5. The last 15 minutes should be engaged in a thorough revision of the answer script before final submission. This is a mandatory task.

6. Attempt the paper section wise. Attempt any section but complete that section, then only attempt the next section.
7. Do Sequence wise. This is important. Leave space for the question, after marking if you do not know the answer and move ahead. This manages time. Come back to it in the last.

8. Underline important points in your answers.
9. Leave a line after every Ques-Answer.

Please find the blue print of the paper for reference.

Section A- 20 marks (10×2=20)

Section B- 20 marks (5X4 =20)

• Short writing skills include Notice writing, Invitations and Replies.
• Long writing skill includes a letter to the Editor, Job Application, Articles and Report writing.
• Internal choices are given where each question is of 5 marks.

Section C- 40 marks

• R.T.C’s from poem/prose internal choices.
• Short answer questions from both the textbooks (word limit 40 to 50 words)
• Long answer questions from both the textbooks (word limit 120 to 50 words)
• Internal choices are given in all questions.

The Board Exam is an important milestone for every student. It surely lays the foundation of his/her future academic pursuits. Hence, it’s highly recommended to go well prepared to score the best.

Author: Ms. Malabika Chattopadhyay, Headmistress, Middle School, and HOD English.