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.
