I have been teaching Class 10 and 12 students for the past 10 years. I teach mathematics at a school in Noida and also take evening classes. And every year, as board exams approach, I brace myself, not for the students, but for the parents. This, honestly, is the most exhausting time of the year. Through most of the academic session, I watch a familiar pattern where classes are missed for weddings, vacations, birthday parties, family functions, festivals and sometimes simply because 'they were tired.' I adjust, I reschedule, I re-explain concepts, I send notes and I try my best to ensure no child is left behind. And then February arrives and suddenly, there is urgency. Hyper panicked, hyper focused parents who were relaxed about attendance now want marathon revision sessions. Extra cups of tea and nimbu pani appear, snacks are offered generously and I am gently encouraged to 'stay just a little longer.' WhatsApp groups are created overnight and I am expected to send daily assignments, mock tests, answer keys, revision plans and to be available at all hours for doubts. Let me say this clearly: I am committed to my students and I want them to do well. I understand the anxiety that board exams bring but what I struggle with is the knee-jerk reaction. Mathematics is not a subject that rewards last-minute panic, it rewards consistency. You cannot skip months of steady practice and expect miracles in the final 30 days. Algebra does not suddenly make sense because the calendar says 'Boards.' Trigonometry does not become friendly because the exam date is near. Parents fail to understand that math is built like a muscle, it only strengthens with daily use and weakens with neglect. Every year, after the first paper, I receive calls. Mathematics Teacher Explains the Right Strategy for CBSE 12th Boards “The paper was lengthy.” “It was tricky.” “My child couldn’t attempt two questions.” “But we hired you. How did this happen?” I listen, I stay calm and I absorb the frustration. But here is what I wish I could say openly: hiring a tutor is not insurance against inconsistency. If a child misses classes repeatedly, does not revise regularly, postpones homework and studies in bursts instead of building routine, no teacher regardless of how skilled he is can undo that pattern in a few weeks. ALSO READ: CBSE Class 10 Maths Questions Paper 2026 Analysis OUT; Experts Rate It 'Tricky and Lengthy' Board exams have unfortunately become a pressure cooker. Parents panic and children internalise that panic. Homes turn tense and every conversation revolves around marks, percentages, ranks. Sleep cycles are disturbed, meals are rushed and suddenly phones are snatched and social media is banned. This discipline is enforced suddenly but only because fear has entered the room. True discipline does not begin in February. It begins in April. I have seen students who were never the 'toppers' outperform high scorers simply because they were consistent. They showed up and they practiced daily. They asked doubts without shame and revised weekly. They treated math as a routine, not an emergency. And I have seen brilliant students underperform because they relied on last-minute acceleration. Parents, your involvement matters deeply but involvement should not look like surveillance in the final month. It should look like structure through the year by means of fixed study hours, limited distractions, respect for routine and encouraging effort over marks. Teaching children that missing classes has consequences. When exams become a family crisis, children feel that weight. When exams are treated as a milestone in a year of steady work, children feel prepared. I understand your fear. I understand that you want the best for your child. I want that too. But let us work together in the right direction. Board exams do not test just memory, they actually test habits built over months. And these habits cannot be brewed overnight, no matter how many cups of tea you offer your math teacher. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Education, CBSE, JEE, UPSC and around the world. Professionals & enthusiasts who write about politics to science, from economy to education, from local issues to national events and global affairs, t... View More