ICSE History & Civics Preparation Tips: Check Last Moment Expert Advice For Students

With the board examinations around the corner, students are busy with their last-minute preparations. As the students take the first big examination of their lives, The Telegraph Online Edugraph spoke with educators and experts to help the students with their last-minute preparations.

The Telegraph Online Edugraph spoke with educator Lopamudra Dutta, Mentor and Senior Teacher from Future Foundation School, Kolkata who provided valuable guidance in History & Civics for the students.

The theory paper of History & Civics will consist of two parts. Part 1 will consist of 30 marks, while Part 2 will consist of 50 marks.

"Part 1 (30 marks) comprises of compulsory questions where Question 1 consists of 16 MCQs, each carrying one mark while Question 2 has seven questions, each carrying two marks," said teacher Lopamudra Dutta.

"Part 2, on the other, have two sections. While Section A consists of questions from Civics (20 marks), Section B will consist of questions from Indian History and World History (30 marks)." she added.

In Section A of Part 2, students will have to answer two questions each carrying 10 marks out of three questions. On the other hand in Section B, students will have to answer three questions out of five, each question carrying 10 marks.

Commenting on the marking scheme adopted by the board, she said that it is detailed and inclusive and student-friendly.

"To improve their marks, students must write neatly in points leaving some space between the points. No extra details should be included. Students should avoid overwriting, particularly on the dates," said teacher Lopamudra.

"Students should complete one Section or part and then move on to the next one. They should also take care of the keywords. These are very important," she advised.

Commenting on the learning process to be adopted by the students, teacher Lopamudra advised students against mugging up the entire syllabus and focus more on analytical learning.

"Rote learning should be avoided in history. It is important to understand the WHY and HOW of events and situations. It is important to analyse the past and understand it in the light of the present," she said.

"In civics, understanding the various concepts are of utmost importance. Students also need to know how our democratic polity functions," she added.

Teacher Lopamudra Dutta also advised students not to leave anything for the last moment and prepare steadily to avoid unnecessary burden.

"As soon as a chapter is completed, a synopsis of the important points should be made. Apart from that, diagrammatic representations (flow charts, mind mapping etc.) also help students in remembering and recollecting details very easily," she said.