With the Class 12 Chemistry board exam around the corner, anxiety levels are peaking in homes across the country. From organic reactions to electrochemistry numericals, students often feel there’s too much to revise and too little time.
If your Chemistry exam is just days or hours away, here’s a practical, no-panic guide to help you stay focused and maximise your marks.
1. STICK TO NCERT — IT’S YOUR SAFEST BET
At this stage, don’t experiment with new books or extra material. A large portion of CBSE board questions are directly based on NCERT examples, in-text questions, and back exercises. Revise highlighted lines, definitions, and solved numericals carefully.
2. ORGANIC CHEMISTRY CAN BE A GAME-CHANGER
Organic carries significant weightage and can be highly scoring if revised smartly.
Focus on:
- Named reactions and their reagents
- Conversions (A B type questions)
- Distinction-based questions (aldehyde vs ketone tests)
- Basic reaction mechanisms (SN1/SN2, electrophilic substitution)
- Instead of cramming, understand the pattern of reactions.
3. REVISE KEY FORMULAS IN PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
Keep a one-page formula sheet handy. Quickly revise:
- Nernst equation
- First-order reaction formula
- Molarity, molality, mole fraction
- Conductivity and half-life formulas
- Practice at least 3–4 numericals before the exam to stay confident with calculations.
4. DON’T IGNORE INORGANIC “REASONING” QUESTIONS
Inorganic Chemistry often appears theory-heavy, but it is scoring if revised properly.
Common board-style questions include:
- Why do transition metals show variable oxidation states?
- Why is phenol more acidic than alcohol?
- Why are haloarenes less reactive than haloalkanes?
- Short, crisp answers with keywords can fetch full marks.
5. PRACTICE IUPAC NAMING CAREFULLY
Coordination compounds and naming rules are frequently tested. Revise:
- Oxidation number calculation
- Order of ligands
- Anionic and neutral ligands
- Even small spelling errors can cost marks here.
6. ATTEMPT THE PAPER STRATEGICALLY
- Start with the section you are most confident about.
- Write steps clearly in numericals — step marking is often given.
- Underline important terms in theory answers.
- Draw neat diagrams wherever required.
- Avoid spending too much time on one difficult question.
7. LEAVE TIME FOR REVISION
Keep the last 10–15 minutes to:
- Recheck calculations
- Verify units
- Complete unfinished reactions
- Correct silly mistakes
Many marks are lost in haste, not ignorance.
8. SLEEP MATTERS MORE THAN LAST-MINUTE PANIC
A well-rested brain recalls reactions faster. Instead of staying up all night, aim for at least six hours of sleep before the exam.
Chemistry is not about memorising everything, it’s about revising smartly and writing answers clearly. Focus on NCERT, keep your concepts steady, and stay calm.
Boards test clarity more than complexity.
