CBSE 12th Board Exams 2020: Tips from Preeti Dhaiya, 2019 Commerce Topper

Preeti Dhaiya is doing BCom (honours) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University. She was a Commerce student; she scored 98.6% in her Class XII exams from DCM Presidency School in Jamalpur Colony. She received a merit certificate from Central Board of Secondary Education for being among top 0.1% students in accountancy stream in XII Class.

Did you do anything in specific to prepare yourself?

I always stayed positive and did not think much about the end results. The most important thing for me were the parents and teachers blessings and guidance. I would say luck also played an essential role to some extent.

Any tips and tricks for the students who are appearing for exams?

Revise essential topics and start immediately; don't wait for tomorrow. For me, early mornings time worked best. Find out which time is the best for you. Every day in the morning time I used to study for 2 hours; during this time, I find myself more focused. In classes and coaching centre, I used to make notes religiously. Highlighting essential points works well. NCERT books are also a must.

How did you manage to be relaxed before and during exams?

I did not let myself feel overburdened by my studies. I ensured that I sleep for seven to eight hours every night, what may come. To concentrate during exams, proper sleep is crucial. I also used to solve sample papers within three hours. It gives an exam-like atmosphere and helps in keeping pace during exams. Every day I also used to eat a balanced meal. I feel this is also very important.

What did you do to avoid feeling 'overburdened'?

To relax during breaks, I used to listen to music, read novels and visit social media for a limited period. It worked well for me. I also used to go for morning and evening walks.

How was the experience of writing the exams?

My experience was excellent, as I got adequate time to prepare for all the subjects. I focused on completing the paper within the specified duration. I followed what I called 'backward paper solving' -- I solved the last questions first and then progressively continued. It will help in answering maximum problems of highest weightage.