The CBSE exams have started! And while the pattern may have changed and many years have gone by, anyone who has suffered through the Indian schooling system, will always remember the hype, the harried late night revisions and the general feeling of dread which accompanies the board exams. Before we go any further, here are the numbers the students are being measured up against.

8. Don't forget the stationery but don't buy the store.

The boards always begin with a light shopping spree for multi-coloured pens, shiny new exam boards, a box full of sharpened pencils, erasers and sharpeners. One plastic ruler and one steel ruler too, just in case. Having back-up pens and pencils is important but spending more than 5 minutes on packing them for the exam is quite pointless.

They are not getting any less colourful or any less smooth even if you keep wondering which one to buy. Pick one, start writing.

9. On exam day.

Don't encourage conversations with people who 'haven't read anything' but know all the answers anyway and don't dwell on last minute tips from ANYONE. Tab batane pe yaad kaun rakhega?

Relax, revise what you can, walk in for battle.

And don't even bother thinking about that guy who takes an extra sheet 30 minutes after the exam starts. As far as you are concerned, he is probably just wasting paper.