How To Prepare For Class 8 English Exam

Rohan Mathew

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English is the primary and compulsory language for several students across CBSE. Both the literary and grammatical evaluation of the subject gives a glimpse into the student’s grasp over the language and their fluency in written and comprehensive skills. English is one of the most important subjects cause it is generally the medium of communication for a huge number of students.

The English language and literature are taught at the school level to ensure students develop a proper grasp of both the literary and the linguistic aspects of the language. The contents are designed by experts in a way such that the students can develop an excellent understanding of the language and grow proficient in their fluency. Students must study the subject with genuine dedication such that they can score the best and develop a firm grasp of the basics of the language.

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English requires utmost dedication for mastery. Students who want to master the subject are required to put in smart efforts. When studied diligently, English can be easy to master. If not, students might suffer a great deal. Grade eight English is comparatively a bit more challenging, considering the introduction of several new concepts and attributes.

Being worried about the dreaded English board exam is quite explanatory but this article might just be the perfect aid. We have got you covered with some excellent tips:

  1. Understanding the Material

We can’t stress enough how important it is to understand the material. Without a proper understanding of the text, it is impossible to prepare in a foolproof manner.

For Prose

We suggest reading every line of the text carefully and then paraphrasing it in your own words. Make three columns in a notebook. In the column towards the farthest left, mention the line numbers from the text. In the next column, paraphrase those lines in your own words. Keep the column to the farthest right for analysis. In that column write notes, inner meanings, or synonyms of difficult/unknown words. The format could be something like this:

Line no.s Paraphrase Analysis

 

A comprehensive understanding of the prose will develop once the student has understood every single statement of the prose. They will then be able to answer all sorts of questions related to the text and even develop their own critical analysis. This is very important in developing a clear understanding of the English language and its linguistics.

For Poetry

For poems, the students must provide an in-depth analysis. Poetry is one of the most important aspects of English literature. A fine understanding of literature only comes when one knows how to read and understand poetry properly.

For an excellent understanding of poetry, the first step is reading the poetry thoroughly. Read the entire poem at least twice. Right afterwards, pen down your immediate response and feelings towards the poem. Take a note of the structure and form of the poetry, and also study the mood and tone. Next, analyze the title and why it fits the poem. Then, analyze the theme of the poetry.

After this, make sure to paraphrase and analyze each line of the poetry in the same way as we did for prose.

  1. Practising Questions From the Textbook

You will find that the NCERT provides “for practice” and reference questions after every chapter. It is suggested that every student must try their hands at these questions. These questions are developed by the best educational experts of the country to test the knowledge and understanding of the pupils regarding the same. Students must study these questions carefully and write the answers to them once they are done studying and analyzing the prose thoroughly. 

The questions are a good source for students to test their understanding of the prose and help the students. It is important to practice each of them diligently. 

The books, ‘Honeydew’ and ‘It so happened’, have comprehensive exercises to help students practice.

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  1. Focus on Grammar

Grammar is a very important aspect of learning a language. This forms an important part of the curriculum. Thus, is extremely necessary that students have a concrete understanding of the basic concepts of grammar. Topics provided in the school curriculum must be studied with utmost focus. Make sure you go through all the rules and structures of the topics. Refer to books suggested by your school and complete all the exercises once you have a good understanding of the main concepts. Solving and attempting these exercises will give you an insight into the levels of your understanding of the subject. Rigorous practice is needed for attaining perfection in grammar. So we suggest you make it a daily habit to practice grammar.

Also, make sure you practice questions in a timed manner. This will help you with your accuracy and efficiency in the exam.

  1. Practice Sample Papers

If possible, get a hold of the previous year’s papers from your school library. There is no better way to prepare for an exam than to have solved the previous year’s papers. They give a pinpointed view into how the examiners might present the questionnaire.

One can also seem to find a large array of sample question papers online and thus use it to enhance their preparation for the finals. In English, it is heavily recommended that one follows a strict regime as recommended by the school. The previous year’s papers will give students an understanding of the same.

Several sample papers such as CBSE Sample Papers for Class 8 English Mock Paper 1 are also available for download on the internet. You can practice them to test your knowledge and use them to prepare for your finals. 

  1. Focus On Reading and Writing Skills

In general, the pattern that CBSE school’s follow for English (1st language) papers is that they divide it into three sections, namely:

-Reading

-Writing and Grammar

-Literature

Thus, focusing on comprehension and writing is extremely important if you want to prepare well for the exam. Try attempting three writing assignments and comprehensions each week.

If a student prepares for their exam, keeping these tips in mind, they are sure to shine. We hope you do your best.