With board exams barely a few days away, students are in revision mode, and help is at hand. Education websites and coaching classes have begun offering a plethora of study support services, from revision packages, access to inventive and interesting knowledge resources like mindmaps and online tests, to solved model and previous years' board papers.

Take the case of Shivani Karu, a Std X student of Dr S Radhakrishna Vidyalaya in Malad, who dreads History lessons and finds them boring and confusing. As her board exams draw close, she has been worried about performing poorly. But that was until her father told her about the education website www.Iken.in. Shivani signed up for the revision package the site was offering. It couldn't have been more timely help as she found her lessons were made easier by use of videos, animation and presentations.

The site has been created by Axiom Education, formed by three young IITians — Rohit Jain, Saurabh Saxena and Kunal Sharma — and aims at making learning easier for students. The website currently offers support tools only for CBSE curriculum, but plans to extend them for other boards are afoot. "We wanted to create an entertaining model for students, where they can learn effectively and where experts can share their knowledge," said Saxena. Students can also take an online test and have it evaluated. They have to register using an online transaction coupon, which is being made available at schools.

Extramarks.com, another Delhi-based website, also offers revision packages, and a fast-track pack. Some of the packages come with an additional feature of unlimited access to previous years' board papers. The revision packages cost anywhere from Rs900 to Rs4,000.

Coaching classes are also cashing in on the exam frenzy. Classes across the city have begun offering test series to their students, as well as to those not enrolled with them. The registration fee for a test series at Mahesh Tutorials costs Rs3,000.

However, not everyone vouches for the efficacy of these tools. Carl Laurie, principal of Christ Church School, said, "If students see their peers getting into something, it becomes a must for them. These tools, most of the times, end up confusing the students. They might undo all the work the child has put in though the year. The best thing is to rely on your teachers."

Yogita Rao/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication