The challenge of Economics

 


How prepared are you to face the CBSE exam on this application-oriented subject?

After all the rigorous coaching in school throughout the year, it is that time of the year when students are preparing for their CBSE Board Examination. Teachers pull out all the stops to help their students with strategies to tackle the exams. Parents too join in to help. Here are some useful tips which could additionally guide them while preparing for Economics and face the examination with confidence.

Going by the past trends in the question paper pattern, it is noticed that a large number of application-based questions appear in Economics. This, often forces students to think that Economics is a dull, difficult and challenging subject. There are, however, those handful of students who find Economics interesting and enjoyable and are able to answer these very challenging questions skillfully and with ease.

Pondering over these different viewpoints, it is certain that there are some nuances in the subject which should be clearly understood, and if they are carefully and systematically worked out it will help students in securing high marks or scoring upto 100 per cent.
Curriculum

To begin with, during revision, students would hugely benefit by going through the latest CBSE curriculum 2016 which contains the new pattern of question paper along with a blueprint and chapterwise allotment of marks. This is important because minor changes have been introduced in the present curriculum. The question paper for 2016 has 30 questions — 15 questions each in Section A and Section B, respectively. It also contains 5 one-mark questions in both the sections which will be multiple choice questions or statement questions or both. The CBSE has incorporated these changes along with the new pattern of questions in the sample question paper 2016 which is available at the CBSE website. It is important for students to solve these sample papers and familiarise themselves with the new pattern. The curriculum also contains detailed unitwise chapters and concepts. While revising, it is advisable for students to note down all the concepts in a separate slip/sticky note which can be used as a checklist after a complete and thorough revision of each unit.
Follow one book

Students should remember that there is no hard and fast rule for learning the content material from one particular book. However it would be wise to follow one prescribed book which contains all the concepts listed in the CBSE curriculum. Other books could be referred to for gaining clarity in concepts and exposure to the different types of numerical-type question.

Going through and solving previous years’ question papers will help students familiarise themselves with the different types of questions that can possibly be asked from a given concept. The CBSE website (www.cbse.nic.in) has a question bank containing previous years’ papers in four different sets along with the scoring key which can be a good source of guidance for writing answers as expected by the evaluators. Students can use these question papers to take up mock tests at their personal level for Section A and Section B, separately. This will not only help students develop the skill in writing correct answers but also help them gain confidence. They also get trained in time management in the process. The website also has the Best Answer Paper of the student who scored the highest marks in the subject in the previous year as model answers.
Develop HOTS

The introduction of multidisciplinary questions is integrated into the application and HOTS type (High Order Thinking Skills) of questions to the extent of 15 to 20 marks. The objective is to assess students’ understanding, analytical ability and interpretation capabilities. The student is required to connect the learnt concept to the practical situations in life. Memorising these concepts and their relationship will not help in understanding the economic laws and principles. These have to be understood in totality by asking questions such as why and how and going a step further by applying them to various situations.

For instance, in the chapter on market equilibrium, students ought to know the impact of the government policy of giving subsidies or imposing taxes on market price of commodities and also the chain effect on demand and supply situations. In this regard, a few situational examples from the recent past can be taken and studied, for example, the hike in the price of dal, LPG cylinder or other essential commodities and the consequent government policy of providing them at lower price, its impact on producers and reaction by consumers until the situation of a new equilibrium position is arrived at.

Similarly, students should also be well-acquainted with the government policies which are intended to increase the production to the potential capacity of the country. For example, schemes like Make in India, Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan, Startup India, Skill India and the like. It should be clearly understood that only schemes which will increase the country’s existing or given resources or that which will improve the technique of production will shift PPC (production possibility curve) to the right.
How to explain

There are certain aspects which are not quite explicitly mentioned in the question paper but about which the student should be careful while answering question:

In ‘Explain’ type of questions, separate marks are allotted for specific points and their explanation. Hence, a brief explanation is expected along with the main points.

In questions where diagrams and schedules are specifically asked, marks are separately allotted for this. Students should take care to provide these.

Formulae in numerical questions carry separate marks. They are therefore to be clearly written before doing any calculations.

Components in the calculation of national income are awarded separate marks. They are to be mentioned clearly.

Now, a word of caution to students who do not find time to complete the question paper within the stipulated time. Students should clearly bear in mind that writing more than required will in no way help in scoring more than the maximum mark allotted for the question. Therefore restricting the answer to the word limit will help them complete the paper and score more. The student should also bear in mind that no question can be asked beyond the prescribed syllabus. When a question appears to be difficult, they should take time to understand from which unit and chapter the question is being asked. Then they must try to decipher the exact concept and anlayse the various aspects to arrive at the exact answer. The ‘reading time’ at the start of the examination is best suited for this. This way, the complexity of the question can be cracked down easily.

The writer is PGT Economics, Kendriya Vidyalaya DGQA, Chennai, and has received

the 2015 National Award for Innovation and Experimentation and the the 2015 Regional Incentive Award. Email: suganthisolomon21@gmail.com
 
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