My Odyssey to 10th ICSE Board Results: A Journey Bridging Hope and Determination

For many students around the world, the 10th grade marks a significant milestone in their academic journey. This year, I embarked on a personal odyssey towards my ICSE board results for 2020. Here are my personal reflections on how I navigated through the highs and lows to achieve respectable results.

10th ICSE Board Results

Here are the individual subject scores and their respective pass marks:

Science: 88/100 vs 70/80 Maths: 93/100 vs 73/80 English: 94/100 vs 75/80 Hindi: 95/100 vs 76/80 Social Studies: 95/100 vs 75/80

Total: 93

Background and Initial Challenges

My journey in 9th class was marked with an average performance, with percentages between 80-83. However, I was a shy student, rarely putting in significant effort. My shyness and lack of engagement led to undervaluing my academic achievements. Nevertheless, my parents always encouraged me to strive harder, reminding me that consistent effort and hard work could change the course of my academic journey.

The Turning Point

The beginning of my 10th grade was met with high hopes and positive dreams. However, after the Pre-Midterm results, which were about 79, my dreams seemed shattered as I was not even in the top 20 of a class of 40 students. My performance, coupled with procrastination, caused my classmates to go far ahead of me. I became increasingly depressed and anxious about my academic performance.

Revamping My Approach

November 2019 marked a pivotal moment in my life when I decided to act. I aimed to eliminate negativity and distractions from my life. I started formulating daily schedules and followed them diligently for the next three months. Instead of listening to my inner critic, I focused on positive affirmations and visualized success. I gave up my capacity to become discouraged and stuck in the past, instead deciding to move forward.

Preparation Strategy: Made handwritten notes for revisions Practiced questions from question banks, particularly the Educart Question Bank, which contains the latest typology of questions based on the paper pattern Completed sample papers from Educart, particularly those that included case and assertion-based questions and NCERT previous year questions with comprehensive solutions to ensure overall preparation

I put in significant time working through these resources and slowly began to see my hard work paying off.

The Exam Period

The final examinations were approaching, and I felt confident in my preparations. However, my English and Science papers presented challenges. The English paper went well, but Science was marred by nervousness. I had to deal with the impact of the Coronavirus on the examination schedule and results. The results were delayed due to lockdowns and riots in various parts of the country, causing a lot of uncertainty and anxiety.

The Results

On 15th July, the results were finally announced. My scores were:

English: 88 Maths: 97 (expected more but no regrets) FIT: 98 (as expected) Social Studies: 95 (very happy) Sanskrit: 90 (not happy at all) Science: 88 (messed the paper as expected)

I was ecstatic, scoring well above the average mark in the best 5 subjects. The support from my friends and family only added to my joy and pride.

Suggestions for Future Board Candidates

Based on my experience, here are some life-changing tips for future board candidates:

Your school marks do not matter at all; only hard work and belief in yourself count Focus on the last three months of pre-boards; your board marks largely depend on your preparation Time management is crucial; avoid last-minute cramming and ensure adequate rest Always prioritize NCERT books and practice previous year papers Ensure neat handwriting in your exam papers to avoid deductions

Conclusion

Without a doubt, my ICSE board results reflect a long process of self-determination and planning. While challenges were inevitable, consistent effort and positive mindset proved to be invaluable. I encourage all students to seek improvement, regardless of their current performance. With hard work and dedication, every student can achieve great success.

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Signing off,
Swadhin Kishan