Not every one has an aptitude for science or mathematics. Similarly, not every one thinks languages and social studies are easily tackled. Yet, manage all our subjects we must. So if we cannot change the system, we must learn ways to make it work for us.

	Nita Ganguly

Tricks of studying
1. Your NCERT textbook is your Bible. Read that first and thoroughly. Follow these guidelines:
1) Practise drawing neatly-labelled diagrams. Keep an eye on the time you take. Make a list of the diagrams in the NCERT textbook, chapter-wise, and draw them. Accuracy is far more important than artistic flourish. Accuracy of structure and complete labeling is your aim.
2) In every chapter, the key words are highlighted, make sure you are familiar with them.

2. In Science, 60 marks is for theory, 20 for practical and 20 for MCQ. Pocket the 20 marks of the practical by completing and submitting a neat file and preparing well for the practical exams. Do not delay finalising this. Again, accuracy is always rewarded. This will also help for MCQ.

3. In theory paper, time management is very important.

Tackling the question paper
1. Science paper has two parts: Section A is Physics and Chemistry and Section B is Biology. Start with the section you know BEST, this saves time.
2. Read and mark the question and sub-questions first then answer according to the marks allotted. Stick to word limits to save time. Remember ½ mark is for each point written. So calculate accordingly.
3. The layout and presentation of answers is important. Underline keywords. Write each point in a separate line. It is easier for the examiner to correct.
4. For a 5-mark question that needs a diagram, ALWAYS draw a labelled diagram first and then write. Note: it is advisable to draw whether asked or not and then write. It helps you to visualise the answer and guide.
5. If you do not know an answer, leave space and attempt the next question. Come back to it in the end. Attempt what you know first. Every second counts.

How to prepare the course
Figure out the course layout and which areas to emphasise. The most important step is to read every chapter of the NCERT textbook and be familiar with all the highlighted words. Here is a checklist of what to focus on.

The chapter on Nutrition focuses on three topics:
1. Plants
a. Definition of photosynthesis and the equation. Be familiar with the raw materials required and the products formed.
b. Structure of the chloroplast and its labeling.
c. Mechanism of photosynthesis. For those who find it difficult to learn this, need to understand basic points.
It involves two main stages: i) Light reaction followed by ii) Dark reaction
i. Light reaction is light dependent
1. Light activates
2. Water splits to release O2
3. Produces raw material for dark reaction
ii. Dark reaction: (independent of light)
1. A series of chemical reaction takes place using the products of light reaction, CO2 and RuBP to produce food in the form of glucose
d. One needs to be familiar with the four factors affecting photosynthesis. For instance, in high light intensities, photosynthesis retards due to bleaching of chloroplast, or increased temperature denatures the enzyme. This information is suitable for application-based questions.

2. Lower animals
a. Amoeba and the Grasshopper are the two animals to be learned here
b. In Amoeba: phagocytosis is important and the best way to learn is through its diagram. Remember this involves the food vacuole of the amoeba showing all the stages of holozoic nutrition, starting from engulfing to egestion. But when we show excretion in amoeba, the focus is on its contractile vacuole
c. The grasshopper's digestive system is very simple but in many ways is similar to the human digestive system. Be familiar with the diagram, its parts and the function of each part

3. Humans
a. Elaborate on the various steps involved in holozoic mode of nutrition i.e. ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and egestion. Emphasise on digestion
b. Be familiar with the human digestive system diagram, its parts, the enzymes it secretes in each part and the digestive function of the enzymes
c. One needs to be careful about bile juice and not confuse it with enzymes. Bile only brings about a physical change in fats called emulsification

Respiration chapter focuses on three aspects:
1. Breathing
a. It is a physical process involving only a mechanical procedure based on the principle of pressure and volume
b. Takes place in the respiratory structure (the diagram must be learnt)
c. Involves no exchange of energy.
d. Aids in respiration

2. Exchange of gases
a. Takes place in the lungs and in the tissue level
b. It follows the principle of diffusion
c. It links breathing and respiration
d. Be familiar with the examples of various structures involved in plants and animals

3. Oxidative process i.e. respiration
a. Like photosynthesis, it is important to know the definition and equation to answer many questions. REMEMBER Photosynthesis and respiration are opposite to each other
b. Be familiar with the types of respiration
c. Focus on comparative questions like difference between breathing and respiration, aerobic and anaerobic respiration etc.

Transportation chapter focuses on:
1. Plants:
a. Be familiar with the structures (diagrams) and the procedure involved in transpiration and translocation
b. The principle involved in the ascent of water and minerals is the same when we put a wick in an oil lamp

2. Blood:
a. Be familiar with the composition of blood, its components and the function
b. Blood clotting is important. Must know well to draw the flow chart explaining the steps involved
c. Blood grouping is based on the reaction between the antigens (the foreigner) and the antibodies (the protector). Be familiar with the four groups. Must know that the identity of the group (eg. Group A) is because of the antigen present on the plasma membrane (i.e. antigen A) and it contains the opposite antibody (i.e. antibody B). To tackle any application-based problem, always work on the simple formula that the conflict is always between Donor's antigen with the Recipient's antibody

3. Circulatory system:
a. Three types of blood vessels i.e. artery, vein and capillary. Be familiar with the comparative studies of the blood vessels and blood and lymph
b. Structure of the human heart, which can be well understood using a box diagram
c. Use the same box diagram to understand how the blood flows from the heart twice carrying oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. It is important to explain the double circulation question by first drawing the labeled diagram

Excretion chapter focuses on two aspects: excretion and osmoregulation:
1. The chapter focuses on the various degrees of excretory structures evolving from a simple amoeba to a complex human.
2. Focus on the contractile vacuole while dealing with excretion in amoeba. Though the food vacuole shows egestion.
3. Be familiar with the diagram of the nephridia of an earthworm which is a convoluted tubular structure consisting of a ciliated funnel-shaped nephrostome on one side, and a nephridiopore on the other.
4. Be familiar with the structure of the urinary system and the nephron, the unit structure of a kidney.
(Do not confuse between a nephron and a neuron (nerve cell))
5. To understand the mechanism of urine formation, be familiar with the three steps involved:
a. Filtration involving dialysis of the waste and some useful components from blood to the nephron
b. Re-absorption of the useful components back into the blood
c. Secretion - addition of other waste to form urine
6. Be familiar with what is dialysis, when is it given and how it is given.

Control and coordination chapter focuses on three topics:
1. Plants:
a. Controlled by phytohormones showing two types of movements
i. Tropism
ii. Nastic movements
b. Photoperiodism governed by phytochrome pigment
2. Lower animals like hydra and insects which show the evolvement of nervous system from simple nerve cells to mass of nerve cells to a complex human nervous system.
3. The human system is controlled and coordinated by the following:
a. Sense organs, which are the various receptors of stimuli
b. Central nervous system: its two parts
i. Brain
1. Need to be familiar with the three regions of the brain and their sub parts along with their respective functions
2. Diagram is important
3. Make a flow chart and incorporate all the details of the brain
ii. Spinal cord
1. The best way to explain reflex action is with the help of an example in the form of a flow chart or a diagram
c. Peripheral nervous system: Be familiar with the effect of the autonomic nervous system on various organs. Memorising is required here. If you learn one system, you can apply the opposite effect for the other system
d. Hormones: the chemical controllers. So one needs to understand what are hormones? Where are they produced? Where they act? And what is their function?

Reproduction basically covers three aspects:
1. Asexual reproduction
One needs to be familiar with the various types of natural and artificial asexual reproduction with examples and diagram
2. Sexual reproduction in flower and humans
It is important to be familiar with all the terms, their definitions (highlighted words), the sequence of the events during fertilisation in both flower and humans and well-labeled diagrams
3. Population and health: be familiar with the methods of contraception and various STDs

Hereditary
1. Be familiar with all the terms their definitions (highlighted words) and examples.
2. Facts and names should be memorised.
3. Important to understand and learn DNA structure.
4. Comparative study of Lamark's and Darwin's work is important.

Environment and Environmental problems
Know all the terms and their definitions (highlighted words), examples, effects of pollution and the methods adopted to treat various types of pollutants.