Section-A (Reading)
Try and cover as much of the Reading section (Section-A) as you can in the reading time itself – underline/mark the answers to the one-word and one-line questions (Caution: Mark/Underline on the paper only if the invigilator allows you to do so. On requesting, the invigilator might allow you to mark slightly considering that it is an English paper.)
Covering both the passages in the reading time is tough, but feasible. Thus, the total time given to the Reading Section should ideally not exceed 45-50 minutes. (Nothing better if you get it done in 40 minutes)
However, this is something that can vary from student to student, since one may not have not very good reading skills but very good writing skills and quick at pondering on new points. Yet, considering how relatively easy and not so time-consuming the Reading Section usually is, it is advisable that unnecessarily extra time isn’t spent on the same. Students usually end up wasting time in this section due to overwriting in the 1-2 marker subjective questions of the passage (which don’t demand more than 2-4 sentences generally), and in Note-Making too. (Kindly refer to the Note-Making tips in the coming points)
Keep the answers to the point and brief (for the 1 and 2 marker subjective questions), and do not waste much time here.
A point from the marking scheme used by teachers for checking the papers: IF A STUDENT LITERALLY LIFTS A PORTION OF THE GIVEN PASSAGE / EXTRACT FROM THE QUESTION PAPER AS AN ANSWER TO A QUESTION, NO MARK(S) TO BE DEDUCTED ON THIS COUNT AS LONG AS IT IS RELEVANT AND INDICATIVE OF THE DESIRED UNDERSTANDING ON THE PART OF THE STUDENT.
For Note-Making:
Be brief and concise
3-5 major and relevant points are sufficient
Do not use full sentences
Use phrases instead
Do not forget to write the title
Do not forget to make the table of abbreviations
Do not forget to write the summary (unless the question does not ask you to. It usually does though) within the word limit.
Refer to this for an ideal Note Making answer, this shows that if you cover all the major points of the passage aptly, following the correct format etc., this is how concise you CAN be, still scoring full in Note Making.
English Topper's Answer Sheet: http://cbse.nic.in/curric~1/model2017/12/12_eng%20core_301.pdf
Section-B (Writing)
Firstly, and most importantly, this section carries 30 marks, i.e.- almost a third of your paper. Thus, it must not be taken lightly. Writing skills define the margin which differentiates high scorers from the average or above average scorers.
Do not assume that full marks are not awarded in writing skills. People do score 100 in English too, though it’s not a cake walk.
This section comprises of the following, with a choice in each question:
Short Writing Skill (4 Marks) – advertisement and notices, designing or drafting posters, writing formal and informal invitations and replies.
Long Writing Skill (6 Marks) – Letter Writing
2 Long Writing Skills (10 Marks) – Article, Speech, Debate, Report Writing
For a general format of the paper, refer to this link: https://m.jagranjosh.com/articles/amp/cbse-class-12-english-core-syllabus-2017-2018-1493199604-1
Kindly follow the formats strictly. Do go through the formats of every type of writing skill thoroughly before the exam.
Do not break a notice, classifieds, etc. across two pages. Don’t forget to put the short (4-marker) writing skills in a box. (where ever applicable)
Remember to write the enclosure lines in formal letters (if applicable).
It is advisable to practise each writing skill (and their types within too, say business letters and advertisements have a broad horizon) at least once few days before the exam keeping the timer in mind.
Kindly adhere to the word limit for short answers as much as possible. Say, for a 4-marker question (short writing skills – notice, advertisement) with the word limit as 50, try and stay in the range of 47-53. Kindly do not go beyond the same. Further, for long writing skills (6 and 10 markers) you may push the limit to a certain extent, say if the word limit is 150-200 words, you can ideally go upto 250 words (including conjunctions and articles). But try not to write less than 180 words, else you might lose marks for your answer being short. (good to be in the 200-250 bracket)
Use good, but not extraordinary vocabulary. This is advised since poor vocabulary always leaves a poor impression of the student on the examiner. However, in case most of the words used turn out to be unfamiliar to the examiner, causing her/him to refer to the dictionary again and again, s/he might get irritated/restless, leading to slightly careless checking of the paper (generally in a negative manner).
Section-C (Literature: Textbooks and LRT)
Go through the proses and poems thoroughly in both the books and do give the back questions a glance. Remember the names of the chapters and the authors/ poets.
One must be able to explain the important incidents from the proses and be able to answer the significant theme-based, character-based, moral-basedand other important questions from the proses.
(You may go through the past year papers, different sets for this purpose: https://www.vedantu.com/previous-year-question-paper/cbse-english-question-paper-class-12 or
Use good keywords and phrases from the chapters while writing the answers, especially in case of poetry. This shows how well and deeply you have read the chapters and prepared for the exam. (If you don’t remember them, don’t worry)
Give the LRT a quick read once, at least the summary if not the entire novel. Also, go through all the major character sketches (6-7 of them) and important incident-based questions of the LRT. (Generally, the pattern of giving one incident-based and one character-based question is followed by CBSE with respect to LRT.)
For long answers, you may choose to begin with 1 or 2 lines about the chapter, mentioning the name of the author/poet, it makes the answer more presentable.
Cover the main and relevant points in an answer. Do not overwrite beyond an acceptable limit since it leads to important points and keywords getting lost. Do underline the keywords
Novels:
Answer in paragraphs.
Substantiate your answers with examples from the text. (They needn’t be written word for word but relevant instances should be mentioned).
Begin with a short, general description of the novel and then contextualise as required by the question.
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ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR EXAM!
You got this mates, you’ll do well. Give your best!
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