CBSE Class 10 Exam Day Tips 2025

The Night Before the Exam

What to do the night before each board exam:

Light revision only: Don't start new material the night before. Review your formula sheets, key dates, definitions, or diagrams — material you already know. Reading new content the night before creates anxiety and confusion.

Set everything out: Keep your hall ticket, school ID, pens (2–3 black/blue ballpoint or gel pens), pencil (for diagrams and rough work), ruler, geometry set (if needed), and eraser ready in a bag. CBSE exams begin at 10:30 AM — plan to reach the exam centre by 10:00 AM.

Sleep by 10:00–10:30 PM: This is not negotiable. Sleep deprivation reduces memory recall, calculation speed, and reading comprehension — all of which you need. 7–8 hours of sleep before an exam is worth more than 2 hours of additional studying.

Light dinner: Eat a nutritious but light dinner. Heavy meals can cause drowsiness the next morning.

What NOT to do: Don't discuss the exam with friends after school — hearing that others have studied 'more' creates unnecessary anxiety. Don't stay up late for 'last minute' studying.

Morning of the Exam

On the morning of each exam:

Wake up with time to spare: Set 2 alarms. Have at least 1.5–2 hours before you leave for the exam centre. Rushing in the morning increases anxiety and can cause forgotten items.

Eat a good breakfast: Glucose fuels the brain. A proper breakfast with carbohydrates (chapati, idli, bread) and protein (egg, dal, curd) prevents hunger and energy dips during the 3-hour exam. Avoid very heavy or oily food.

Brief revision: 20–30 minutes of revision only. Go through key formulas, important dates/events, diagrams, or summary notes. Stop by 9:00 AM — after that, trust your preparation.

Arrive early: Reach the exam centre 30 minutes before the exam time. Settling into your seat, calming down, and re-reading your admit card (which section you're in) take time. Late arrivals are denied entry after the first 30 minutes.

What to bring: Hall ticket (mandatory), school ID, 2–3 pens (black/dark blue), pencil, eraser, ruler, geometry set, and water bottle (clear/transparent, label removed). Calculators, mobile phones, and electronic devices are strictly prohibited.

Inside the Exam Hall

Once seated and after papers are distributed:

Fill in the details carefully: Write your roll number and exam details correctly on the answer book. Mistakes here can cause administrative issues with your result.

Read the full question paper (first 15 minutes): CBSE provides a 15-minute reading time before writing begins. Use this fully. Read every question. Mark which are easy, which are medium, and which you find hard. Plan your order of answering.

Start with what you know best: Don't follow paper order strictly. If the first question is hard and the last section is easy, do the easy section first. This builds confidence and secures marks early.

Time management (3-hour exam, typically 80–100 marks): - Roughly 1.5–2 minutes per mark is a good guideline. - For a 2-mark question: spend about 3–4 minutes. - For a 5-mark question: 8–10 minutes. - Keep 15–20 minutes at the end to check your answers.

Don't panic if you can't answer a question: Skip it, mark it, and return at the end. Many students lose marks on 5 easy questions because they spent too long on 1 hard question.

Answer Writing Tips

How you write your answers affects marks significantly:

Write legibly: Examiners check hundreds of papers under time pressure. Clear handwriting gets full marks; difficult handwriting loses marks even when content is correct. Write slightly larger than your usual size.

Structure multi-mark answers: For 3-mark and 5-mark answers: - 1-mark: One line. - 2-mark: 2–3 key points or a brief explanation. - 3-mark: 3 points or a step-by-step solution. - 5-mark: Introduction → main content (3–4 points) → conclusion/summary.

Diagrams: Draw diagrams where the question says 'with the help of a diagram' or when diagrams clearly add value. Label all parts. Use pencil for diagrams. Well-drawn diagrams score full marks.

Map questions (Social Science): Practice marking locations on outline maps. Marks are given for correct location, not artistic ability — be accurate.

Don't repeat the question: Some students copy the question before answering, which wastes time and space. Answer directly.

Never leave blanks: Attempt every question, even if partially. Partial attempts earn partial marks. A blank earns zero.

After the Exam — What to Do

After each exam during the board season:

Don't discuss answers immediately: Comparing answers after the exam with friends creates unnecessary anxiety. You cannot change what you wrote — focus on the next exam.

Take a short break: After each exam, rest for 1–2 hours. Walk, eat, nap briefly. This mental reset improves retention for the next subject's revision.

Start revision for the next exam the same evening: Board exams are usually spaced 1–3 days apart. Use the gaps effectively. Don't wait for 'tomorrow' to start.

Self-care throughout the exam season: Eat properly, sleep 7–8 hours, exercise briefly (even a 15-minute walk), and limit phone use. The board exam period is 4–6 weeks — it is a marathon, not a sprint.

After all exams are done: Wait for results calmly. Avoid calculating scores from memory — your perception of how you did is often inaccurate (both overestimates and underestimates are common). CBSE Class 10 results typically come in May.