24 hours to exam? This page tells you exactly what to focus on, what to skip, and how to manage your time tomorrow.
CBSE Class 10 English
24 Hours Before the Exam
No time for everything. This guide tells you exactly what to revise, which topics almost certainly appear, what mistakes to avoid, and how to manage your 3 hours in the exam hall.
Focus on These Chapters First
- Reading Comprehension — practise reading quickly and identifying main idea
- Analytical Paragraph — data interpretation, describing a chart/graph clearly
- Letter Writing — formal complaint or inquiry letter format
- First Flight — Nelson Mandela, A Letter to God, Tea from Assam, The Necklace
- First Flight Poetry — Fire and Ice, A Tiger in the Zoo, Dust of Snow
- Footprints Without Feet — A Triumph of Surgery, The Thief's Story
- Grammar — tense correction, active/passive voice, reported speech
Key Formulas & Facts to Memorise Right Now
- Formal letter format: Sender's address → Date → Receiver's address → Subject → Body → Yours faithfully → Name
- Analytical paragraph: Introduction → Data description → Comparison → Conclusion
- Active to Passive: Object becomes subject + is/are/was/were + past participle
- Direct to Indirect: reporting verb changes, pronouns shift, tense backshifts
- Nelson Mandela — theme: freedom, sacrifice, democracy, struggle against apartheid
- The Necklace — theme: materialism, pride, irony of fate (Maupassant)
- Amanda — theme: freedom vs constraints imposed by parents (Robin Klein)
Timing Strategy for 3 hours Exam
- 10–45 min: Reading section — both passages carefully, answer all questions
- 245–75 min: Writing section — letter and analytical paragraph (plan before writing)
- 375–115 min: Grammar section — do not overthink, go with your instinct
- 4115–150 min: Literature — prose + poetry extracts, then long answer questions
- 5150–170 min: Supplementary reader questions
- 6Last 10 min: Proofread writing tasks for grammar and spelling
Common Mistakes — Avoid These Tomorrow
- ✕Starting the letter without the proper format — format itself carries marks
- ✕Writing too much in comprehension answers — keep answers direct and concise
- ✕Not mentioning the chapter/author name in literature questions
- ✕Using informal language in formal writing tasks
- ✕Leaving grammar questions blank — even a guess is better than no answer
- ✕Not proofreading — spelling mistakes in English carry marks deduction
Must Attempt — Never Leave These Blank
- ✓Reading comprehension — all questions, answers are in the passage
- ✓Grammar questions — pattern is fixed every year, predictable
- ✓Extract-based questions — look for clues in the extract itself
- ✓Letter writing — even a partial letter with correct format gets marks
Skip If Unsure (Return If Time Permits)
- →Long answer questions you haven't revised — attempt the ones you know first
Remember: Partial marks exist. Attempt and leave if stuck — come back if time allows. Never spend more than 8 minutes on a single 5-mark question.
English rewards clarity and structure, not memorisation. Write clearly, follow formats, and don't overthink literature answers — your interpretation matters as much as the 'correct' answer.
Night Before — Non-Academic Checklist
Pack your bag
Admit card, 2 pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, geometry box (if needed)
Sleep by 10 PM
Your brain consolidates memory during sleep. Late-night cramming hurts more than it helps
Stop studying at 9 PM
Whatever you don't know by tonight won't be learnt in an hour. Trust your preparation
Set two alarms
One to wake up, one as a backup. Arrive at the centre 30 minutes before the exam
More resources for Class 10 English
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