Biology as it is known is a very important subject when it comes to the science stream. The students study it as a part of Science during their earlier classes. While in the eleventh class it is made a separate subject, elucidating the subject for the students to dwell into the subject more deeply.

The 12th class marks of Biology are considered the most important for higher studies in fields such as medicine, biotechnology, etc. Therefore the students need to give the subject more time and dedication, especially for the students who aspire to do their higher studies in the above-mentioned fields. 

The division of marks for the subject is 30 for practicals and 70 for the written exams. It is important to prepare for both giving equal importance. It is recommended to start the proper preparation with the onset of pre-boards itself. This will provide the students with an ample amount of time for their preparation. Here are some tips that should be taken care of while preparing for the exam.

• Syllabus and Weightage of Marks

The students should have a proper understanding of their syllabus and the weightage of marks for each topic. This will give them an overall introduction to what they are going to study. It will also make them understand the important chapters that need to focus more on. 

• Study Timetable

Make a study timetable for the subject alone devoting almost two hours each day. Make sure to take breaks in between as studying for long hours in a single stretch might make you feel bored. 

It is recommended to start studying with the easy chapters. Because this will give the students the confidence to study the rest as they have covered much of the portions. Most start studying with the hard chapters but this can make the students worry about their exams more leading to a lack of confidence which will affect their further studies. Thus the order recommended to study is – first the easy and important chapters, then easy and unimportant chapters, the hard and important ones and at last the hard and unimportant chapters. This way the students can cover the whole syllabus with confidence. 

• Practical Exam

The practical exam is for 30 marks. Comparatively the scoring is less but that doesn’t make it any less important. Make sure you study for the practical exams also with much importance. To score well in the practical exams use the below-mentioned tips.

• Study the theory part as it forms the base for every experiment.
• The steps for conducting each experiment must be studied very well. Different experiments have different steps, don’t get confused between them.
• Proper diagrams and labeling can help you score more
• Studying in groups can be of great help in the practical exam.
• Diagrams

Diagrams are very important when it comes to Biology. The diagrams should be drawn and studied. The students should also know how to label them properly. Diagrams can help the students score well in the exam. Diagrams don’t just mean the ones with different body organs, the flowcharts, tables, etc. given in the textbook are also important. Make sure you study all the diagrams thoroughly. 

• Choose the Right Books

The most important textbook for the 12th class Biology board exam is the Class 12 Biology NCERT Book. NCERT is very important, thus make sure that you have studied the text properly. It is recommended to refer to other texts or books only after studying from the NCERT as most of the questions for the exam are from this book. A thorough read of the NCERT can help you score good marks. If it seems important to study any topic, even more, then refer to other books or guides.

While studying from NCERT, mark the important points in the first read. While reading the text for the second or more times you can skip the other content and just focus on the important points.

• Making Notes

You will have a set of notebooks with you by the time you get to the end of the syllabus. There will be lecture notes from class, notes provided by the teachers, self-written notes by you, maybe some digital notes, and even extra notes from other sources. 

So while you study for the exam make concise and compact notes for each topic by referring to all of these notes you already have. This set of notes you make can help a great deal in your revision. So the next time you study any topic there won’t be a need to go through all of these notes rather you can refer to the quick notes you made.

• Study with your Peers

Studying in groups is also suggested. This way you will be able to learn more through discussions with the group. Also, teaching the content you learned to someone else will make the content more grounded in your brain. This way it will help you to remember the topic for a longer time. 

• Evaluate yourself

After two or three days of studying a topic, practice questions related to that particular topic. This way you can evaluate yourself. While studying in groups constant evaluations can be done by asking questions to one another. 

Through evaluations, you will understand which topics you need lack knowledge in and need to focus more on. With this method, you can prepare further revisions. 

• Revise

Revise every topic properly. You can use the quick notes you made for this purpose. It is also recommended to practice up to 3 to 5 years’ previous question paper. This will help you know the type of questions asked, and also help you manage your time accordingly for the exam. It is also recommended to check the answer keys provided in the CBSE Portal. This will give you an idea about which points can help you score more.

• Writing the Exam

First of all, make sure you are relaxed because if you are over tensed it can affect your answers negatively. Write answers to the point and draw diagrams neatly with a pencil. It is recommended to draw diagrams even though the question doesn’t specify. Make sure you label the diagrams properly. Write neatly and start each section on a new page. Make sure you read the questions two or three times before answering them for proper understanding. Always leave 10 to 15 minutes at last and revise the paper thoroughly during this time.