Planning and preparation for Class 10 Board exams can feel overwhelming when you think about going through the entire syllabus meticulously. In such a scenario, we look for ways to learn the concepts faster to cover more portions of the syllabus in lesser time. A subject like Maths, in particular, has quite a lot that needs to be understood as well as practiced within the given time.
We often look for clever strategies to be able to memorize the formulas and practice all the chapters effectively in a short time. This is also necessary to be able to get ample time for revision.
Therefore we have crafted a list of simple strategies and hacks that can help you save time during the learning process. These tips will also help you learn more effectively in less amount of time.
1. Pay attention during class
Learning Mathematics begins in class. Make use of this time. When your teacher is teaching you a particular topic, pay close attention. Teachers are experts in their subjects and they often have several tricks up their sleeves for simplifying complicated Maths problems. So do not miss classes especially closer to examination as teachers often hint at important questions and easy ways to solve them.
2. Start early
If you start practicing every chapter as and when it is taught in the class, you will be able to study it more effectively. When you study a topic in class and then go home and go over it again, you will strengthen retention and understanding of the concept. Another benefit of this is that if you get any doubts at home, you can ask it the next day in the class while the chapter is still being taught. Starting Math practice early will also give you a good amount of time for revision saving you unnecessary stress later.
3. Read
Students often directly jump at solving exercise questions. Take some time out to read the explanations given in the NCERT textbook. Also, try to go over the example questions before attempting the exercise questions. This will give a good conceptual idea about the chapter. You can also refer to some video explanations of the concepts before delving into the exercise questions. This will strengthen your foundational understanding of the concept making the exercise questions easier to solve.
4. Maintain a record book
Develop a habit of maintaining a Math record book. This notebook must contain all the important formulas, theorems, and derivations that you learned from Grade 1 up till now. You need to have a strong base to conquer mathematics. Since you will always need to use something that you learned in the past, having a record book will be very beneficial. As you go on progress to higher grades, keep on adding the new formulas to this notebook. Also, make an index of the notebook. This way you can easily refer to any formula that you need. One might argue that we can find these formulas in books or the internet as well. Although this is true when something is written by you and you refer to your handwriting you will remember it much better. Plus, going over a huge list of formulas over and over again at regular intervals will drill them strongly into your brain.
5. Master Numbers
The reason why Maths seems difficult and time-consuming is that many students get stuck in long calculations. If you know a few easy tips and tricks to calculate using shortcuts, you will save yourself a lot of time and also increase your accuracy. For instance, adding two-digit numbers can be time-consuming if you go through the traditional way. The following example will help you understand this with more clarity. If you are adding 38 + 93 you may use unnecessary extra time by moving 1 to the tens place. Instead, if you round up 93 to 100, the calculation will be much easier. So 100 + 38 = 138. Then subtract the extra 7 (93+ 7=100). The answer is 131. You’ll arrive at the answer more quickly this way.
You can similarly use shortcuts for multiplication, division, subtraction, etc. Go on the internet and you will find several tips and tricks to make your daily calculations easier. However, to really master this, you will need to practice every day.
6. Master Problems
Word problems form a major part of Mathematics. But students spend a lot of time-solving these seemingly confusing word problems. You need to work on a few things to be able to quickly solve the word problems:
- Clarity of concepts: make sure you are thorough with the concepts required to solve the problem.
- A careful reading of the question: read the question twice with complete focus and analyze what principle you need to apply for its solution.
- Faster calculations: practice calculating faster as mentioned earlier.
- Puzzles and riddles: Mathematical problems are about problem-solving skills. Solving puzzles and numerical riddles can help you increase your comprehension of questions and problem-solving skills.
7. Keep Solutions handy
It will also be beneficial to keep a solution manual of your coursebook nearby. Once you solve a question, see how it is solved in the manual. Could you have solved the questions more easily and quickly? Keeping solutions closeby also helps when you find a problem hard. Instead of keeping the problem to solve later, refer to its solution then and there. But make sure you only use the solutions when you have tried a lot to solve it yourself first. Reference books can also help you go through different types of solutions using quicker methods. You can even download chapter-wise solutions for these reference books instead of looking through a thick book to save time. For instance, you can easily download RS Aggarwal Class 10 Solutions Chapter 16.
8. Keep a solution cheat sheet
Make a cheat sheet where you mention concept-wise easier solutions and tips. This way when you come across a concept, you will know instantaneously which quicker step-by-step method to use for the particular problem.
9. Befriend previous years’ question papers
You must have been told that Mathematics is all about practice and past papers are your best friends for getting complete and thorough practice. The more question papers you solve, the quicker you will get at comprehending the questions as well as doing fast-track calculations. Set a timer when you begin solving a question paper. Aim to solve it in the exact time you would get in the exam. This will enhance both your speed as well as accuracy.
Everyone often has this misconception that only overly genius students can perform mathematical calculations faster and score perfect marks in exams. However, anyone with rigorous practice, determination, and correct guidance can perform equally well. So follow these tips regularly and improve your performance for the Class 10 board exam. Remember this can come naturally only after regular practice.