Thursday, 12 March 2026

Can we really predict board exam questions?

Many people say it is impossible.

Sometimes it may just be coincidence.
But over the past few years, while preparing my students for the CBSE Grade 10 Board Examinations, I have had a few interesting experiences.

Whenever I prepare class tests, term assessments, or pre-board papers, I try to think like a question paper setter. I ask myself:
If I were preparing the CBSE board paper, what would I ask from this chapter?
Instead of simply repeating questions from previous years, I try to analyse:
-What concepts are most important in the chapter
-What patterns appear in previous board papers
-Which areas have not been tested recently

Based on this analysis, I frame questions for my students.
Sometimes students answer them perfectly.
Sometimes they make small mistakes.
But even those mistakes are valuable — because they get a chance to revisit the concept, identify gaps, and strengthen their understanding before the final examination.

After analysing this year’s CBSE Grade 10 Social Science board paper, I noticed something very interesting.
A few of the questions that I had prepared for our pre-board examination appeared in a very similar form in the board paper. In some cases, especially in the long-answer questions, even the internal choices were almost the same.
As a teacher, that was a very proud and satisfying moment.
This experience reminds me that assessment design is a powerful teaching tool.

Preparing thoughtful questions may take more time, but it helps students practise the right concepts and build confidence before the board exams.
I am sharing a few of those questions here that later appeared in the CBSE board paper.
Sometimes teaching also gives us small moments that remind us we are on the right path.