CBSE Class 10 toppers reveal preparation strategy, tips to score high in term 2 exams

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the Class 10 term 1 results, and 55,368 students have scored 95% or above. Most of those Careers360 spoke to are planning to study science in Class 11 and eventually appear in the Joint Entrance Exam for engineering. Some of them will appear in the session 2 exam to improve overall scores. While the board does not release a merit list, several schools and individual students have shared their stories with Careers360, as well as tips for future batches

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‘Understand why behind concept’

Sarthak Ghosh, a 16-year-old student of National Public School, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, scored 98.6% in the CBSE Class 10 board examinations. He attributes his performance to strong conceptual clarity and consistent revision. “I focused on understanding concepts rather than rote learning and made sure I had a clear grasp of all subjects,” he told Careers360. He also highlighted the importance of paying attention to information boxes in textbooks, noting that many MCQs are often picked from these sections.

Ghosh followed a flexible study routine, usually targeting around three chapters a day and focusing on one subject at a time. For Science, he ensured balanced preparation across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. He says students should focus on understanding the ‘why’ behind concepts.

He will be appearing in CBSE class 10 session 2 exam for Mathematics to improve overall percentage. One thing that he learnt from session 1 is ‘time management’, which he will use for the next session. He plans to pursue PCM with Computer Science and aims for a career in engineering.

‘Hard work triumphs over intelligence’

Swanti Goel of National Public School, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, scored 497 out of 500 (99.4%) in the CBSE Class 10 exams. She topped her school and secured the second position in the Bengaluru region. Goal began her preparation early, starting around September, and practised extensively using sample papers and reference books. “Closer to the board exams, I would sit for full three-hour mock tests and analyse my mistakes after each paper,” she told Careers360.

She credited her school and teachers for their constant support, adding that regular practice and self-assessment played a key role in her success. Swanti has already started preparing for JEE and aspires to study at NIT Surathkal.

On CBSE two-phase exam system, she said it can help reduce stress by offering a second chance, though some students may take it lightly. “It’s important to understand the concept and be yourself—hard work triumphs over intelligence any day,” she added.

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‘Solve PYQs to understand exam pattern’

Ahaan Dondilkar, a 16-year-old student from Rainbow International School, Thane, scored 493 out of 500 (98.6%) in his best five subjects. He prepared independently without enrolling in any coaching institute, relying on self-study, handwritten notes, and online resources. “I made detailed notes for each chapter and analysed previous years’ questions to understand the exam pattern,” he said.

Dondilkar also practised sample papers regularly to improve answer-writing skills and ensured thorough revision of topics. He studied for about 6–7 hours daily on average, focusing on completing and revising targets effectively.

For stress management, he turned to meditation and playing guitar. He believes self-study and concept clarity are crucial, adding that simply solving papers without understanding the syllabus is not effective. He does not plan to appear for term two exams and is now focused on Class 11 and JEE preparation.

'AI helped in complex topics'

Pulkit Goyal, a student of VIBGYOR High, Magarpatta, scored 98.4% in his best five subjects. He maintained consistent preparation throughout the year, avoiding last-minute studying, and extensively practised previous years’ question papers. “Regular timed practice sessions helped me build confidence and assess my performance,” he said. Goyal referred to multiple books for past exam papers and used AI tools to identify weak areas, strengthen conceptual clarity, and practise additional questions. He studied with a structured approach, focusing on steady improvement. For stress management, he took regular breaks and stayed active through jogging and cycling.

He believes the CBSE two-part examination system is beneficial as it offers a second chance to improve scores. He does not plan to appear for Session 2 and is now focused on pursuing engineering and preparing for JEE, with an aim to secure admission to Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Bombay.

Students from several other schools have scored above 95% in all subjects. Among them, EuroSchool stood out with a 100% pass rate across all its campuses. The highest score of 99.20% was achieved by two toppers from the Whitefield campus. Additionally, over 80 students secured full marks in various subjects, while the overall average across campuses was 85.64%