Serious Self Study Is My Key to Success: Says one of CBSE Top Scorers
Recently when CBSE declared its 10th class results, students across 
the nation eagerly anticipated their fate with a potpourri of charged emotions. Neha Wali, 15, too wasn't different. Born to an advocate father and homemaker mother, Neha too like any other child of her age was anxious about her marks. Browsing through the net and biting her nails for the deciding moment. And when her moment came, she was one of the CBSE top scorers with a perfect CGPA of 10!
A student of DPS Noida, Neha has always been a focused and hardworking student. With computer screen flashing her marks, the atmosphere at her home turned into a jolly festive season. Neha had nailed the CCE with the perfect scores in Xth!
According to her parents, this perfect result was a product of her hard slog. Consistency, focus and uphill struggle, all went into churning this outcome.
Shiksha undertook a brief conversation with her in which she shared her experiences and her hard toil journey.
Shiksha: How do you assess the difficulty level of CBSE this year?
Neha: CBSE's new scheme CCE (Comprehensive Continuous Evaluation) for class 10th students has been pretty difficult as compared to the history of CBSE boards because other than exams, focus has also been directed towards a child's overall development and behavior. This time around, a student's attitude towards his/her teachers and other classmates too has been taken into account. The continuous test series, project works and surprise tests have played a key role in CCE's evaluation pattern. The myth that syllabus load has decreased isn't true as this format of evaluation has proven to be immensely hectic and convoluted for students.
Shiksha: How did you prepare for it?
Neha: I basically had a Maths tutor, who guided me through thick and thin. Apart from this, I didn't take any other form of coaching. I basically practiced self study. I regularly used to study at home for 3 hours sincerely. I used to finish my homework in school itself during substitution periods.
Shiksha: Since you are only one of the CBSE top scorers, even with the perfect CGPA, does that tamper your spirit?
Neha: Yes, because grading system has been unkind to students scoring upper bracket marks.
Shiksha: Do you think DU admissions will have higher cutoffs this year?
Neha: Definitely, because the result of class 12th has been exceptionally good and top line colleges with less number of seats will want to place only crème of the crop students into their institutes.
Shiksha: What are your career goals?
Neha: I want to become a successful computer engineer with specialization in software.
Shiksha: Which institute would you like to go for?
Neha: IIT has been a dream and I'm working towards it. If by any chance I don't clear it then, I will prefer studying abroad.
Shiksha: Do you think grading system that has been adopted in 10th this year is better than mark sheet system employed previously?
Neha: No. I don't think so because grading system is vague. Since I don't know where I actually stand, I solely have to rely on estimates.
Shiksha: Are you happy with late declaration of results this year?
Neha: No. The delay in result has been very frustrating. Each day I used to sit before the monitor screen hoping to see my result but every time it turned out to be a false call. Since ours was the first experimental batch, the delay in results has been a cause of great inconvenience.
Shiksha: Do you think CCE has any brighter side to it?
Neha: Yes. Students who weren't exactly academically bright but good in co-curricular activities didn't had a chance of proving their caliber earlier. But with coming of CCE their talent received its due share and credit. The most evident example of this fact is that there have been no compartments or failures in my school.
Source: Priyanka Wali (Shiksha Team)
Date: 6th June, 2011
