Biprodas Bhattacharya Senior teacher, Rama Krishna Mission School, Narendrapur

Q: I am a student of Class VIII (ICSE board). I wish to change over to the CBSE board. I am good in my studies. Will it be difficult for me to get through the CBSE board exam and cope with math and science?

S. Jennifer

A: The syllabi of ICSE and CBSE are not very different in form or content. So you must not worry too much about adjusting to the other syllabus. The important thing is to ensure that the fundamentals of your knowledge, such as the basic rules of math or English grammar, are strong. In science subjects, too, make sure that you know the reasons behind all the phenomena you study. You will get two full years to prepare for the board exam.

Q: I am a student of Class VII studying in an English medium school in Tripura. I suffer from a stammering problem. There is a group of seniors who keep on teasing me. How do I deal with them?

Name Withheld

A: It is very insensitive on the part of your seniors to tease you about your stammering problem. You must not get unnerved by their behaviour. It is a good idea to form a whole sentence in your mind before you start speaking. Do not try to speak very fast, or gesticulate too much.

In class, if you have too much difficulty in speaking, tell your teacher that you would like to write the answer on the board or on a piece of paper. Try to find friends who are more sympathetic and try to speak with them in a relaxed way. Do not be embarrassed.