CBSE 12th Board Exams 2026: 10 most effective prep tips to score above 90% in 12th board exams
In this article we have compiled a few tips and tricks suggested by experienced CBSE teachers and board exam toppers, to help students conduct CBSE 12th board exam preparation in an effective and organised manner.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is expected to release the CBSE 12th Board Exams 2026 date sheet in November 2025. While the Board is yet to release the official CBSE Date Sheet 2026 Class 12, the Board has already released CBSE 12th Sample Papers 2026 online. Students must note that the CBSE 12th exams are in less than 6 months and preparing for such crucial examinations is definitely not a walk in the park. This year, CBSE has asked students to prepare the complete CBSE Class 12 syllabus, which is released on the official website. Shiksha.com has compiled some most effective prep tips to help students score above 90%.
With the school and coaching for CBSE Class 12 board exams 2026 ongoing, students must be finding it difficult to make a schedule and concentrate on studies. Since not many days are left until the CBSE 10th and CBSE 12th Board Exams to begin, students are advised to adopt the smarter way to begin the CBSE 12th board exam preparation.
Hard work, self-study and practice should be your 3 mantras to score 95% or above in class 10th. Follow the steps below to score well in CBSE 10th board exams 2026-
Creating a Proper Study Plan.
If you haven’t made a proper study plan yet, you need to do it right now. Because that is considered basic and yet very important to plan out how you are going to prepare for your exam. And it is very important if you’re preparing for the 10th or 12th CBSE board exam. To achieve something, you need to set a goal daily so that you can work on it every day. Without any proper planning, you might just end up being confused about what you need to study, it happens right? When exams are near, you just want to study everything at once. But if you have everything planned out, it will become easy for you.
Know CBSE Exam Syllabus and Pattern
First, you need to thoroughly go through the CBSE exam syllabus. You need to keep these things in the back of your mind as to which kind of chapters and which kind of pattern you will be needed to follow for the CBSE exam preparation. By doing that you’ll get to know the kind of questions you need to focus on the most. What kind of questions are being repeated and what is the marking scheme while they check the papers? To get satisfactory results you need to do smart work along with hard work and that’s exactly what we are trying to explain at this point.
Listing Out Important Topics
In every subject some topics need special attention, sometimes it’s because we don’t get it well enough like the other topic, and sometimes because we get to see questions from those topics frequently in the question pattern. So, that topic should be jotted down, and you should be paying special attention to it and take out separate time for it when you plan for the studying schedule so that you do not miss those topics. In situations like this CBSE online coaching could be of significant help.
Brush Up Your Handwriting Skills
When you prepared hard for your examination and made sure everything goes well you don’t want anything minor to be the deal breaker. I am talking about the presentation of your answer sheet. If you keep it neat and tidy you might earn a plus point for that and vice versa. Now how you keep your answer sheet tidy, depends on your handwriting, you should be having clear and easy-to-understand handwriting, so that the examiner finds it easy to check your paper. You need to understand this yours’s will be not the only paper that he will check, so you need to try to stand out a bit, so make sure to work on your Handwriting skills before your exam.
Compete with yourself
In any field, you need to focus on being the better version of yourself instead of comparing yourself with others. Repeatedly you need to put yourself through tests to get better and better at whatever you are doing. So, in studies as well you need to focus on sharpening your own skills. For that what you can do is, solve the previous year’s question paper to put yourself through the test and try to get better than the last time. Compare how many questions you get right every time you take a test. That way you’ll get better and better at it. It will also make you familiar with several types of questions.
Making Short Notes of Every Subjects
Making notes play an important part while preparing for the board exams, especially during revision because you don’t want to read each line while revising, you will just need to get the important points. So, it is important to make notes while you are studying the chapters thoroughly for every subject. Whichever points you feel are important you need to jot them down in your own words; because in books things are not always written in simple language, so writing it in your own words might make it easy for you to read it again.
Focus on NCERT Books
While preparing for exams everybody tends to hop into different books to get a better understanding of the topics but all it does is make you even more confused. You can use the supplementary reader to revise the topics that your learned but reading one topic in different books is not a good decision. Focus on one book and that is the NCERT textbook while you are reading something; because questions might come in a unique way in every exam but the context will always be the same, if you don’t understand the topic well you can take the help of experts or you can take online tuitions to clear your doubts.
Solving Previous Year Question Papers
The best way to revise what you read is by solving the previous year’s question papers. Along with the revision, it will give you a better understanding of the question pattern of the question paper. It is best to look into the question papers from the last 10 years to get a better idea of the questions. You will also overcome the fear of new questions. Remember “Practice makes a man perfect, ” so all you need to do is practice hard.
Good luck!
In this article we have compiled a few tips and tricks suggested by experienced CBSE teachers and board exam toppers, to help students conduct CBSE 12th board exam preparation in an effective and organised manner. These tips will not only help students to cope with examination stress but will also increase their chances to grab more than 90 per cent in upcoming 12th board exams.
10 Most effective tips for CBSE Board Exam Preparation are listed below:
- Identify Strength and Weakness
- Prepare a Study Plan/Schedule
- Stay Connected
- Cover the Prescribed CBSE Syllabus
- Practice Previous Year’s CBSE Question Papers
- Go through CBSE Sample Papers and Marking Scheme
- Take Regular Breaks
- Meditate and Relax
- Decode the Art of Writing Board Exams
Identify Strength and Weakness
Identifying strengths and weakness before beginning with the preparation helps to set goals. Discovering strengths and weaknesses allows students to pick and choose subjects to begin with first. This way, students can begin preparation for the subjects they find difficult to study and try completing the syllabus way before the examinations begin. This method would buy them time to revise the subjects they find difficult. However, this does not mean that they don’t need to study the subjects that they find easy. Students must note that scoring well in CBSE Board Exams is easy only with thorough and smart preparation.
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Prepare a Study Plan/Schedule
Preparing a timetable and sticking to it becomes a task sometimes. However, if a student is dedicated to scoring well in board exams, then s/he must prepare a study schedule and follow it religiously. By planning a study schedule does not mean that one needs to fill each and every hour with studies. Schedule the hours with dedicated subjects as well as leisure time. Keeping mind off the study for some time actually helps to concentrate better. Keep dedicated hours for everything and never postpone the decided schedule.
CBSE board is strictly against the practise of using any unfair means during the examinations. The board is actively working to prevent and discourage any malpractice during board examinations every year.
So, you are advised to go through the CBSE 10th syllabus and solve as many previous years question papers and sample papers to avoid cheating during the CBSE 10th board exams.
You can go through the article below to check the penalties for cheating during board exams:
Students appearing for CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 must understand the strategy to utilize CBSE date sheet 2026 for preparation of CBSE Board Exams 2026. CBSE 10th Phase 1 Board Exam 2026 will commence on February 17 and will conclude on March 9, 2026. Now, let us understand ways to use CBSE date sheet to commence CBSE Class 10 preparation 2026.
Prepare a subject-wise list for CBSE Class 10, 12
List down all the subjects of CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026. Students appearing for CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026 will commonly be appearing for English, Hindi, Science, Social Science and Mathematics.
List down CBSE Class 10, 12 syllabus and list of topics to cover
Students are advised to cover the complete CBSE 10th syllabus 2026. It is important for students to cover the whole syllabus to score well in board exams. Students must also not forget to make note of important topics to cover to avoid last minute hassles.
Know your subject-wise strengths and weakness
Prioritize the subjects you think you are weak in. Try to cover the whole syllabus using time management. It is important to cover weak subjects before the ones you feel confident about. Use the CBSE 10th timetable to know the number of preparatory days allotted to each subject. Try and cover lengthy subjects much prior to any other subjects.
Make Notes for Revision
While preparing for CBSE Board Exams 2025 Class 10, students are advised to make notes for all the subjects. The short notes prepared during the preparation process will help students in last-minute revisions.
Don’t forget to test yourself!
While preparing for CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026, students are advised to keep testing themselves. Practice as many CBSE Class 10 Sample Paper 2026. Use previous year question papers to revise and practice for CBSE board exams 2025. Practicing sample papers will not only help students understand their preparation level but also teach them time management while making under the CBSE 10th exam pattern.
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Stay Connected
Meeting friends, interacting with experts and teachers is quite beneficial to cope up with the learning process. However, students are advised not to compromise over conducting interactive sessions with friends and teachers. Conduct mock tests with friends, exchange study material online and gather as much knowledge as possible. This would not only help to prepare for CBSE Board Exams in a smarter way but will also keep one sane in the midst of these difficult times.
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Cover the Prescribed CBSE Syllabus
Over the years many toppers talked about this secret mantra of excelling in the board exams. Approximately 90 per cent of the CBSE board exam question paper comes from the NCERT books. Students are advised to thoroughly complete the prescribed CBSE syllabus from their books before going overboard in search of outside study material.
Also Read: CBSE 12th Syllabus 2026
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Practice Previous Year’s CBSE Question Papers
The way completing the prescribed CBSE syllabus is important, it is also necessary to go through the questions that appeared in the past. Practicing previous years' CBSE question papers help students prepare a strategy to attempt board exams. Once done with the syllabus and revision, students are advised to start practicing question papers to track their preparation level and know where their preparation for CBSE 12th board exams is lacking. Practicing papers for subjects such as mathematics, physics, accountancy, chemistry, and more helps students track the pattern, style, and type of questions that never change over the years.
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Go through CBSE Sample Papers and Marking Scheme
CBSE Sample papers are released by the board for all subjects for CBSE 10th and CBSE 12th students on the official website. Teachers often recommend practicing CBSE sample papers, when asked about how to prepare for CBSE Board Exams to score well? They also ask students to go through the marking schemes released by the board to understand how their answers would be evaluated in board exams. Knowing the subject-wise weightage prescribed by CBSE helps students formulate their study plan well.
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Take Regular Breaks
Concentration and thorough study is definitely the mantra to get excellent CBSE 12th Results, but taking out some leisure time increases the chances of scoring well the board exams. Taking regular breaks from studies helps to calm the mind. A continuous studying method would result in tired mind and lack of concentration. While preparing for CBSE 12th Board Exams, students are advised to avoid studying for long hours continuously. Instead, they must take regular intervals every 50 to 60 minutes. These intervals are important to relax the brain and retrieve energy to get ready for the next study session. Taking breaks while studying helps to keep the brain focused and alert.
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Meditate and Relax
Experiencing anxiety and stress while preparing for CBSE 12th Board Exams is common. However, students must note that this anxiety and stress can become a reason behind their poor performance in CBSE board exams. While talking about the mantra of achieving success in CBSE Board exams, Hansika Shukla, the CBSE 12th Topper, who scored 99.9 per cent in CBSE 12th Board Exams, stated that the most important thing is to believe in self. No matter how much the student study it will always appear less until s/he appears for the exam. Therefore, student must refrain their brain from playing tricks with them by mediating well. Meditation also improves sleep, brain performance and increases the ability to concentrate for long hours.
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Decode the Art of Writing Board Exams
Board exams are not all about mugging up the syllabus thoroughly. Presentation of what the students have studied matters the most. Decoding the art of expressing and writing answers during the board exams is the most important step to get excellent CBSE 12th results. After preparing hard for the CBSE 12th board exam, the answer sheet must reflect the hard work. Students must learn the proper technique and strategy to write the CBSE Board Exam answers in the best way and complete the exam well on time. Students must make the best use of the 15 minutes reading time allotted before starting writing the exam. Prioritizing the well-prepared questions is a must. Writing brief and to-the-point answers while sticking to the word limits helps score good marks. Choosing the right question from the choice-based question is another wise step to learn. Do not panic, attempt all questions and write clean are some points on which the students must focus while appearing for CBSE Board Exams.
Going by the past trend, CBSE 12th Date Sheet 2026 will be released soon. In line with the conduct of CBSE Board Exams 2026 Class 12, the Board will announce CBSE 10th Results 2026 and CBSE 12th Result 2026 in the month of May. Students still have a lot of time to study well and score excellent 12 board results.
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