CBSE Class 10 Social Science: Important Tips and Topics for SA2

a) Since studying History involves memorising a lot of information, it is necessary that you test your knowledge before facing the real exam. Bearing this in mind, multiple choice tests are a simple yet effective way to check if you have memorised specific info correctly. Ask your friends and classmates to share their quizzes with you and this way you’ll benefit from their perspective too.

b) Many history exams include specific questions relating to key dates and names. This means that some memorisation skills are required and should be part of your learning process when studying history. Flashcards are a great tool in such cases as they allow you to quickly test your levels of retention and quickly recap.

c) Books and notes often cover events in a lot of detail. In most cases, it’s not necessary to memorise a large catalogue of notes on a topic. Instead, it’s best to establish a connection between the facts. The events should follow a logical order to help you understand and memorise them, so the use of mind maps can be quite helpful when visualising all this information at a glance and whenever you’re recapping for an exam.

d) While reading the chapter search for what is and isn’t important. Also if you know how to link facts, studies can be much easier. Three ways of remembering events are as follows:
1) Temporal (this event happened after that other event)
2) Causal (this event happened because of that other event)
3) Spatial (this event happened near that other event)

e) You should also remember that history is never possible without geography. You need to have a good grasp of where the event has happened. Keep a map opened while studying history. try to locate the places on the map. In this way not not will your studies be more interesting but you base too would be stronger.

f) At the end of every chapter try to summarise the chapter. This will not only help you to recollect what you have studied but also it will help you to remember the chapter as per your understanding.

g) While writing history answers in your papers, do not write too long answers. Try to answer to the point. Avoid writing answers in paragraph. Write as many points as the marks dedicated for the answer demands. This means if it is three marker question , simply write three points and explain them .

h) Videos can help students to visualize an era or event.They may stimulate an interest but unless students engage in some questioning of the experience we have to ask ourselves what the students are learning and if this is really an effective way of learning history. Movies such as Modern Times and The Boy in Striped pajamas will help students to understand the situation during the Industrial Revolution and Nazi rule , respectively.

i) History is nothing but elaborate stories. SO take no stress read as if it is an epic tale with multiple characters.

a) Take notes in every geography class and revise them once at home.

b) Set one day of the week only for practising maps. Study the map for a short period, then try marking the areas on a blank map repeatedly until you fill the entire map on your own.

c) Group studying can help a lot. Sit with your friends and organise quiz covering questions based on all the key terms in the chapter.

d) Practice by writing all your answers in points as writing in points makes your answer presentable and easy to remember.

e) Use of diagrams for explaining concepts can fetch a lot of marks.

f) Note down all your doubts and take your teachers help in resolving them.

g) Study the chapter before it is done in the class so that you develop a better understanding in class.

h) Write down all the possible one word answer questions from the chapter and read them once before the exam.

i) Conduct a test for yourself with your parents help. Ask your parents to frame a question paper for you and find out where you stand.

j) Do not forget to practice the past 10 years’ question paper as they give an idea about the pattern of question paper and the type of questions frequently asked.

k) Flashcards can be of great help to learn all the key terms in geography. Write down the term on one side with a brief explanation of the same on the other side.

l) Try to create a link between the physical features, climate and culture of a place. This will give you a better understanding of the topic.

m) Make it a habit to watch news and read newspaper whenever you get time. Make a file and keep all the newspaper cuttings of the topics related to your course.

a) Study and revise regularly whatever is taught in the civics class or devote one day of the week for doing the same.

b) Try to relate and understand the concepts of civics with everyday facts of life. For example- the concept of Diversity. Observe how many diverse students are there in your class, etc.

c) Group studies also help to recall and understand the chapters easily. For example- One of your friend might know a chapter thoroughly. This will enable her or him to clarify your doubts and add extra information to your knowledge.

d) Have discussions with your parents and friends on present topics like- politics, government’s efficiency, rights of the citizens, etc. This will help you to enhance your knowledge and opinion apart from textbook studying.

e) Watch news on television and read newspapers on currents events. Think creatively where you can come up with your own country and its governance; how will the government function differently then your government, etc.

f) Organise activities in your class where you can have a discussions or debates with your teachers and classmates on the chapter or short drama where you can enact out the chapter.

g) Class participation and taking down notes in the class is also very important and helpful. Make a summary of the chapter.

h) While writing answers in your papers, do not write too long answers. Try to answer to the point and avoid writing answers in paragraph. Write as many points as the marks dedicated for the answer demands. For example- If it is a three mark question, simply answer by writing three points and explain them.

a) Being a practical subject and a subject based on real life situations, there is a lot scope to ask questions such as “if” and “but”? So play with the facts. This will help you to expand the scope of your understanding.

b) Test Yourself Frequently. The key to learning is active engagement in the material. If you read a textbook, you will think – yes I understand that. But, the real test is to close all books and just put a question on a blank sheet of paper. Write what you can, but then go back and check.

c) Do a certain amount of written work. This is the best test to make sure you are on the right track. Don’t count the number of hours sitting at a desk, but count papers written or topics where you have improved your learning.

d) Believe it or not , play a board game called “Monopoly”. No game can be as useful to make you understand the basic concept of economics as this one.

e)Watch some movies to understand some economics concepts:

1. Death of a Salesman (Arthur Miller, 1949) – Choice of profession, sense of self worth based on economic performance;
2. Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck, 1939) – Property rights, migration, trade unions;
3. Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens, 1838) – Economics of crime, economics of charities;
4. Rogue Trader (James Dearden, 1999) /Wall Street (Oliver Stone, 1987) – Psychology of financial markets;
5. Balkanizateur (Sotiris Goritsas, 1998) – Efficiency of capital markets;
6. La Terra Trema (Luchino Visconti, 1948) – Poverty, risks of entrepreneurship;
7. Mother India (Mehboob Khan, 1957) – Rural financial markets in poor countries;
8. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813) – Economics of dowries, economics of inheritance.

Important Resources

> 5 Common Exam Mistakes Students Make

> Things To Do In Your 5-Minute Break

> 10 Tips to Study Smart and Save Time

> Gearing Up For SA 2

> Creating An Ideal Time Table For Your Board Exam

Other Important Resources: