Top Mistakes Students Make During CBSE 10th, 12th Board Exam Preparation
Here are top mistakes students often make during their CBSE board exam preparation. Also, read the article below to know how to avoid them...
CBSE Board Exam Preparation 2026: The CBSE Board Exams 2026 Class 10, 12 will begin on February 17, 2026. CBSE 10th exams 2026 will conclude on March 11, 2026 while the last exam of CBSE 12th 2026 will be held on April 10, 2026. One must know that it is important to understand what not to do to stop wasting their time and effort on unimportant tasks. Avoiding these mistakes can improve their CBSE preparation and reduce stress.
ย Here are some mistakes students often make during their CBSE board exam preparation. Read the article below to know how to avoid them.
- Students should not begin their CBSE 10th, 12th preparation without making a proper study plan. Divide chapters into topics and spend time covering every topic.ย
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CBSE Class 12 Board exams are usually on the moderate side of the spectrum but it totally depends on your preparation level and how the board is going to set the paper. It also depends on the checking. You have to prepare well in your board exams for scoring well.
It is advised that you complete the CBSE 12th syllabus and know the exam pattern well. You must also solve the previous years' question papers for better preparation of the exam.
To score 100 percent in CBSE Class 10 board exams, you must complete all the topics mentioned in the syllabus and be thorough with the concepts. You can follow the points below that will help you score cent per cent-
- Study Plan to Complete the Syllabus on Time.
- Manage Time for Revision.
- Keep One Sample Paper & Mock Test To Solve Each Day
- Identify Mistakes & Rectify Them
- List Down Important Topics
- Master Good Writing Skills
- Stop Cramming, Understand the Concept
- Students must refer to the updated syllabus to know chapters and units that are required to be studied. This way, students will not waste time on reading topics that are not coming in exam. It is seen that students actually start studying without checking the syllabus. They spend hours on topics that might not even appear in the exam. Thus, going through syllabus and exam pattern is very important. Understand which chapters carry more weight. Focus on important chapters first and then move on to rest.
- It is advisable to begin early and distribute syllabus over months. Early starters have advantage of multiple revisions, better confidence, and less stress.
- Preparing only from guides: Guidebooks can be helpful for students, but NCERT textbooks are a must. These books carry all the topics and chapters that are included in the syllabus.ย
- Not solving past years papers: Students must understand that it is very important that they download and practice the CBSE sample papers and past year's question papers for better preparation. These will make them familiar with the exam pattern, marking scheme, kind of questions asked in exam, difficulty level and more.ย
- Poor Time Management: Studying without a plan often leaves topics unfinished. Make a timetable. Divide the day into different subjects and give extra time to difficult chapters. Most importantly, stick to it.ย
- Students are advised to have a healthy routine. They must get 7โ8 hours of sleep, eat nutritious food, and take short breaks to relax. A healthy body supports an alert and focused mind.
CBSE released the CBSE date sheet 2026 in November 2025 on Board's website. The CBSE Board exams 2026 will be conducted between February 17 and April 10, 2026.ย
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For Class 12th, it is considered to be strict. However, it is said that the checking done by evaluators is linient in comparison to the checking done by them in Class 9, 11 in their schools.
So, if u have covered the entire CBSE 12th syllabus and your preparation is on point, then you must not worry about the strict checking. Also, you can click on the link below to check the CBSE 12th important preparation points.
Top tips to score high in CBSE board exams
Top mistakes students make while preparing for CBSE 12th board exams
To score 100 percent in CBSE board exams, you must complete all the topics mentioned in the syllabus and be thorough with the concepts. You can follow the points below that will help you score cent per cent-
- Study Plan to Complete the Syllabus on Time.
- Manage Time for Revision.
- Keep One Sample Paper & Mock Test To Solve Each Day
- Identify Mistakes & Rectify Them
- List Down Important Topics
- Master Good Writing Skills
- Stop Cramming, Understand the Concept
Jasleen Kaur Taneja is an education editorial expert at Shiksha.com. She prepares content for school board exams. She has written 1,800+ articles with 2.8 crore reads.
She has more than 10 years of working in the edu

No, you can easily clear the CBSE 10th board exams with hardwork and smart studying. Study effectively and remain attentive in classes. Be regular with your work. Divide the CBSE 10th syllabus in parts and work towards achieving the daily goal set by you.
And when there are 2-3 months left for the exams to begin, practice solving sample papers. Stick to NCERT and DO IT WELL. NCERT is enough to fetch you good marks.
And last but not the least the most important thing is have faith and confidence on yourself. Don't take these exams too seriously. No, I'm not denying the fact that โboards are important", boards are definitely important but don't pressurise yourself.