CBSE 10th Topper 2026 Aadya Sharma: NCERT-First Strategy, CFPQ, Exemplar & Error-Diary Tips
Updated on Apr 16, 2026 at 18:07 IST .
CBSE 10th Topper 2026 Aadya Sharma scored 97.4% in the Class 10 board exams. Her marks: English 98, AI 100, Mathematics 92, Science 97, Social Science 94 . This article breaks down what she did and how you can copy the parts that will work for you.
CBSE 10th Topper 2026 Aadya Sharma — Why her approach matters
Aadya relied on NCERT textbooks as the foundation and used NCERT Exemplar, CFPQ (competency-focused practice questions) and previous year papers to sharpen application skills. She completed her syllabus by October 2025 , kept an error diary, and studied about 5–6 hours a day when exams neared while prioritising 7–8 hours of sleep .
If you are aiming for CBSE Board Exams 2027, her routine and tools — NCERT, Exemplar, CFPQ, RS Aggarwal for Maths and a focused revision plan — are practical and low-cost to adopt.
The Preparation Foundation: NCERT First Approach
Aadya treated NCERT textbooks as the primary study material for every subject. NCERT gives you the exact language and concepts CBSE tests. If you master NCERT, you cover the basics and many direct questions.
She used NCERT Exemplar for higher-order and application questions. Exemplar trains you to answer competency-based and reasoning-style items that appear in CBSE papers and CFPQ sets.
Tip for you: read every NCERT chapter twice. First for concept, second for solving all exercise questions. Then try the corresponding Exemplar questions for depth.
Question Banks & Practice: RS Aggarwal, CFPQ and PYQs
For Mathematics Aadya used RS Aggarwal to build speed and accuracy. RS Aggarwal gives extra practice across difficulty levels — start with medium questions and move to tougher ones.
CFPQ (competency-focused practice questions) released by CBSE helped her adapt to the new exam pattern. These sets focus on understanding and application rather than rote recall. You can download CFPQ from CBSE's official academic pages.
Solving previous year papers (PYQs) from CBSE's website was a key step. PYQs show question framing, marking schemes and time management. Aadya used PYQs to simulate full exams and to spot repeated themes.
Syllabus Management: Finish Early and Revise Strategically
Aadya finished her full syllabus by October 2025 . Completing early gives you time for layered revision — two reads, a deeper practice pass, and final polishing.
Month-by-month timeline (example you can adapt):
- November–December: First full revision of syllabus.
- January–February: Solve PYQs and Exemplar questions; maintain error diary.
- March: Timed full-syllabus mocks and focused correction on weak units.
- April (final weeks): Light revision, formula sheets, and sleep priority.
Avoid last-minute cramming. If you finish the syllabus early, use the remaining months to convert weaknesses into scoring areas with deliberate practice.
Daily Routine & Time Management: Balanced Study, Breaks and Sleep
Aadya woke up around 8 AM during preparation. She studied in focused blocks with breaks and took an afternoon nap. As exams approached she averaged 5–6 hours of effective study daily while ensuring 7–8 hours of sleep .
Quality beats quantity. Short focused sessions (50–60 minutes) followed by 10–15 minute breaks keep your brain sharp. Use a mix of reading, writing long answers, solving problems and timed tests.
How to design your day:
- Morning: quick revision of what you studied the previous day (30–45 minutes).
- Midday: study a difficult topic when you are fresh (1–2 hours).
- Evening: practice questions and PYQs (1–2 hours).
- Night: light reading or flashcards and sleep on time.
Error Diary: Track, Analyse and Eliminate Repeated Mistakes
An error diary was central to Aadya’s revision. She wrote every mistake and reviewed it regularly to make sure she didn't repeat the same errors in exams.
Suggested error-diary template (use a notebook or digital sheet):
| Date | Subject | Topic | Mistake type | Correct method/notes | Next review date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 2026 | Maths | Quadratic eqns | Sign error in factorisation | Rework factorisation steps; practice 10 more eqns | 22 Jan 2026 |
How to use it: mark errors that are conceptual vs careless. Prioritise conceptual mistakes during revision. Re-solve similar problems until the error no longer appears.
Subject-wise Strategy and Study Tips
| Subject | Resources to prioritise | Practical tips for you |
|---|---|---|
| English | NCERT Class 10 texts + practice papers | Learn formats for letters, essays and comprehension. Practice unseen passages and revise grammar rules daily. |
| AI (Artificial Intelligence) | NCERT theory + practical exercises | Master project-based tasks and write clear stepwise answers for practical problems. Revise definitions and flowcharts. |
| Mathematics | NCERT + RS Aggarwal + PYQs | Practice varied problems daily. Use RS Aggarwal for extra practice and timed mock tests to build speed. Revisit mistakes from error diary. |
| Science | NCERT + Exemplar + PYQs | Focus on core concepts, diagrams and numericals. Write neat diagrams and label them. Do experiment-based questions clearly. |
| Social Science | NCERT + map practice sheets | Make timeline charts for history, practice map skills and structure answers for geography and civics. Use headings in answers. |
Use this as a checklist. You can swap resources depending on your strengths.
Subject-wise Marks and Performance Analysis
| Subject | Marks | Quick insight |
|---|---|---|
| English | 98 | Strong language skills; near-perfect answer structuring. |
| AI | 100 | Full marks indicate both theory and practical clarity. |
| Mathematics | 92 | Solid preparation but regionally tough paper affected confidence. Continued practice recovered performance. |
| Science | 97 | Strong concept grasp and numerical accuracy. |
| Social Science | 94 | Good map and answer-writing practice. |
What this tells you: Aadya’s strengths were clear concept knowledge and consistent practice. Maths was her favourite subject, yet a difficult paper showed even best-prepared students can face surprises. The recovery came from steady practice and not panicking.
Dealing with a Tough Paper: Confidence Recovery After a Difficult Exam
Aadya called the regional Mathematics paper unusually difficult. She let her morale dip after the first exam but then followed a deliberate plan: review, talk to teachers, re-focus on rest of syllabus.
When a paper shocks you: pause for a day, avoid speculating about marks, and continue with your planned study. Discuss mistakes with teachers, redo similar questions and use PYQs to regain confidence.
Practical actions: do one timed mock to rebuild time management, revisit error diary entries, and speak with a teacher for clarity on tricky topics.
Resources Checklist and Where to Find Them
Essential official sites and resources you should use:
- NCERT textbooks and Exemplar — available on the NCERT website: https://ncert.nic.in
- CFPQ and CBSE previous year papers — available on CBSE's official pages: https://www.cbse.gov.in and https://cbseacademic.nic.in
- RS Aggarwal (Mathematics practice books) — available at bookstores and major online retailers.
Which NCERT chapters to prioritise? Start with all board-prescribed chapters. If you need to prioritise, focus on chapters that carry more weight in end-of-chapter questions and those frequently seen in PYQs.
How to select PYQs and mock papers: pick official CBSE PYQs first, then reputable school/board-released sample papers and standard mock tests. Time yourself strictly while practicing.
Common Gaps and How to Fill Them (coverage gaps addressed)
Missing details many students ask about — and how to fix them:
1) School name and location: not relevant to the method. Focus on replicable habits instead.
2) Month-by-month study schedule: follow the example timeline earlier and adapt it to your exam month.
3) Error diary template: use the table shown earlier or a simple Google Sheet with columns for date, topic, mistake, correction and next review.
4) Coaching vs self-study: both work. If you can understand NCERT easily, self-study with guided doubt clearing from teachers is fine. Coaching helps if you need structure or faster doubt resolution.
5) Stress management: short breaks, a 20–30 minute walk, breathing exercises before exams and prioritising sleep (7–8 hours) helped Aadya.
6) Cost of resources: NCERT and CFPQ are free on official sites. RS Aggarwal and extra practice books have a one-time cost; choose selective chapters to keep costs low.
Aadya’s Tips for CBSE Board Exams 2027 Aspirants — Actionable Checklist
Daily actions:
- Read and solve NCERT exercises for one chapter per day.
- Note every error in your error diary immediately.
- Do one timed practice set thrice weekly.
Weekly actions:
- Solve one full subject PYQ paper under timed conditions.
- Revise two entries from your error diary deeply.
- Discuss doubts with a teacher or study group.
Monthly actions:
- Complete the syllabus at least six months before exams (Aadya aimed for October completion).
- Take two full-syllabus mock exams.
- Consolidate formula sheets and timelines for Social Science.
Last 2 months before exams:
- Focus on PYQs, Exemplar and CFPQ style competency questions.
- Cut new learning; concentrate on consolidation and error correction.
- Keep sleep and nutrition stable.
Future Plans and Inspiration: Class 11 PCB and Medical Aspirations
Aadya plans to take PCB in Class 11 and aims to become a doctor with a government college like AIIMS in mind. Her Class 10 habits — finishing syllabus early, maintaining an error diary and consistent practice — will help in the tougher Class 11–12 journey as well.
If you plan a similar path, start building strong study routines now. PCB demands deeper conceptual understanding and more practice, and the NCERT-first approach scales well into higher classes.
FAQs (Based on Aadya's Interview)
Q: How did you react after seeing CBSE 10th results?
A: I had mixed feelings — happy about the effort but expected slightly higher marks in some papers.
Q: Tell us about your family background.
A: My father is a lawyer, my mother is a government school principal and I have a brother one year older.
Q: Please share your subject-wise marks.
A: English 98, AI 100, Mathematics 92, Science 97, Social Science 94.
Q: Which subject was most challenging and how did you overcome it?
A: The regional Mathematics paper was very difficult. Regular practice, error-diary review and teacher feedback helped me recover confidence.
Q: How important were NCERT books and other resources?
A: NCERT was essential. I used NCERT Exemplar, CFPQ by CBSE and RS Aggarwal for extra maths practice.
Q: What was your revision strategy in the last 1–2 months?
A: Solve many past-year papers, review the error diary and focus on timed practice.
Q: What did your daily routine look like and how many hours did you study?
A: I woke around 8 AM, took regular breaks and naps, and studied about 5–6 hours a day when exams were close. I prioritised 7–8 hours of sleep.
Q: Any final tips for CBSE Board Exams 2027 aspirants?
A: Stay consistent, use NCERT first, maintain an error diary, solve PYQs and CFPQ sets, and don’t cram at the last minute.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Key takeaways: prioritise NCERT, use Exemplar and CFPQ for higher-order practice, keep an active error diary, and finish your syllabus early. Combine RS Aggarwal for Maths practice with regular PYQ drills.
30-day starter plan you can follow now:
- Week 1: Finish NCERT reading for one subject and start the error diary.
- Week 2: Solve Exemplar questions for that subject and 2 RS Aggarwal sets (if Maths).
- Week 3: Take one timed PYQ paper for the subject and correct all mistakes in the diary.
- Week 4: Consolidate notes, revise error-diary items and practise a mock paper.
Official places to download core materials:
- NCERT textbooks and Exemplar: https://ncert.nic.in
- CBSE CFPQ and previous year papers: https://www.cbse.gov.in and https://cbseacademic.nic.in
Follow Aadya’s NCERT-first, practice-heavy approach and adapt it to your pace. Focus on quality study, track errors, and protect your sleep — those small habits add up to big marks.