Students Make Common Mistakes in Class 10 Exams & How to Avoid Them
Alright, we’ve all been there—heart pounding, mind racing, staring at the question paper wondering, “Why did I cram physics formulas until 2 AM last night?” Board exams are a big deal—Class 10 can feel like a turning point. But the good news? Many major Common Mistakes in Class 10 Exams students make are totally avoidable. With a little awareness, some planning, and smart habits, you can go from stress mode to confidence mode.
Table of Contents
1. Waiting Until the Last Minute
Mistake: “Eh, I’ll start tomorrow.” That tomorrow arrives, and you’re overwhelmed, stuck with a mountain of chapters and no idea where to begin. It’s chaotic common mistakes in Class 10 Exams.
Better: Start early—ideally months before the exams. Break down the syllabus into bite-sized chunks, and treat a chapter like a game level—beat one each week. Real talk: if you’re studying for 25–30 minutes then taking a break, you’ll burn out less and retain more.
2. Ignoring the Syllabus & NCERT
Mistake: Jumping into fancy reference books or YouTube lectures before nailing the NCERT chapters.
Reality check: CBSE (and many boards) design papers around NCERT—and this year, half the questions are competency‑based, not mere recall .
Better: Treat NCERT as your basecamp. Know what chapters and concepts are in the syllabus, map them out on a tracker, and tick them off as you go .
3. Poor Time Management
Mistake: Spending hours on your favourite subject (say Chemistry) and leaving Maths to the last week—or losing 90 minutes on a single tough question during the exam.
Better: Prepare and practice with time limits. For each study session and mock test, structure it:
- 25 minutes focus
- 5 minutes break
- Repeat
- After four rounds, take a longer break of 15–20 minutes.
During the actual paper, use the reading time well: underline keywords and build a mini-strategy—like attempting easy questions first and flagging tougher ones to revisit.
4. Rote-Only Studying & Surface Learning
Mistake: Sticking to memorization—eg: listing definitions or dumping formulas—without truly understanding their “why” or “how.”
Reality: With up to 50% of questions designed to test higher‑order thinking, application is key .
Better: Use NCERT exemplars, understand derivations, do “why” questions. Toppers credit conceptual clarity for their success—keep self-studying NCERT till you understand each concept deeply .
5. Letting Writing Practice Slide
Mistake: Knowing what to write but freezing in the actual exam because your handwriting is messy, answers are poorly structured, or you run out of time.
Better: Treat answer-writing like a sport. Practice last year’s questions and mock tests within time limits. Learn formatting:
- Underline keywords
- Use bullet points for clarity
- Keep diagrams clean and labeled
- Stick to word limits — if English answers go on too long, you may lose marks.
6. Stress, Panic, Losing Confidence
Mistake: Most common Mistakes in Class 10 Exams are Feeling nervous, overwhelmed, or convinced you’re underprepared—especially on exam day when you’re waiting outside the hall.
Better: Build calm habits into your routine:
- 7–8 hours of sleep (no all-nighters!)
- Balanced meals and water
- Short walks, light stretches, music breaks
- Quick breathing exercises before entering the exam hall.
7. Overloading with Too Many Resources
Mistake: Jumping between five reference books, YouTube channels, notes from everyone—this leads to confusion and delays.
Reality: Many toppers succeed with just NCERT + 1 good reference book—and constant revision .
Better: Use NCERT + one chosen reference book. Teachers, sample papers, and mocks are your second line—only dive into more sources if you genuinely need clarity.
8. Not Practicing Past Papers or Mocks
Mistake: Thinking studying is enough without doing exam-like questions.
Better: Practice old papers, especially under timed conditions. That teaches you exam rhythm, spotting repeating patterns, managing time, and dealing with tricky questions. Most coaching and toppers swear by mocks for layered improvement .
9. Skipping Easy & Difficult Topics Alike
Mistake: Avoiding “boring” or “difficult” parts like practicals, labelling, proofs—thinking they won’t be asked.
Reality: These chapters often carry easy marks or are compulsory. Neglecting them is like leaving money on the table.
Better: Mix your schedule—dedicate time to both your favorite and least liked chapters. Use short daily quotas to chip away gradually, and revisit regularly.
10. Not Following Instructions in the Paper
Mistake: Most common Mistakes in Class 10 Exams are not ticking the “preferred” question, missing word limits, failing to label answers or skipping section instructions.
Better: Read the instructions slowly. Circle & highlight them. For example:
- Write “Ans.” and correct option label for MCQs
- Stick to prescribed word counts—avoid verbose English answers
- Label diagrams, list multiple-choice options carefully.
Bonus: Tips from Toppers & Experts
- NCERT + Self‑Study + Consistency = board success.
- Follow a calm daily rhythm—study, break, exercise, sleep, repeat.
- Tackle exams one question at a time; don’t compare yourself with classmates or social media.
Reference Table: Common Mistakes in Class 10 Exams
| Mistake | Smart Move |
|---|---|
| Procrastination | Start early; break syllabus into weekly chunks |
| Skipping syllabus/NCERT | Map out & master NCERT; track topics |
| Poor time management | Use Pomodoro; plan tests and exam time |
| Rote learning | Engage with concepts; practice application questions |
| No writing practice | Solve past papers & format answers neatly |
| Health neglect | Sleep, eat, hydrate, move—don’t burn out |
| Overwhelm from too many resources | Cut to NCERT + one reference book |
| Ignoring mocks | Daily/weekly exams under time for progress tracking |
| Evading easy or hard topics | Mix your routine; daily short practice on weak areas |
| Skipping question instructions | Read carefully; follow formats, labels, word limits |
Wrap-Up: You’ve Got This!
Exams aren’t just about what you study—they’re about how you study. Avoiding these Common Mistakes in Class 10 Exams can gain you precious marks and calm confidence. Plan ahead, study smart with NCERT and mocks, write clearly, and make sure to rest and reset along the way.
Remember: focus on your own preparation. Your score isn’t defined by anyone else’s, only by your consistency. Here’s wishing you smooth boards—cheers to showing them what you’ve got!