CBSE 10th topper Sanvi Agarwal: How she scored 99.4% using NCERT, PYQs and timed mocks
CBSE 10th topper Sanvi Agarwal scored 99.4% in the Class 10 boards in 2026 . Her marks: English 97 , French 100 , Mathematics 99 , Science 99 and Social Science 99 .
Below are clean, tested takeaways you can use — from the books she picked to the exact daily routine she followed before exams.
Key dates and quick facts
| Event | Date / Detail |
|---|---|
| CBSE 10th Topper Interview year | 2026 |
| Board exam year referenced as “this year” | 2026 |
| Overall score | 99.4% |
| Study time close to exams | 7–9 hours daily |
Introduction: Meet CBSE 10th topper Sanvi Agarwal
Sanvi comes across as steady and methodical. She built her score on constant practice of NCERT books, PYQs and timed mock tests. Her routine included late-night study sessions, balanced with afternoon naps and evening walks to avoid burnout.
Her win matters because it shows a replicable mix: NCERT-first reading, targeted reference books like RD Sharma and Exemplar for problem practice, and disciplined timed practice to boost speed and accuracy.
About CBSE 10th topper Sanvi Agarwal — background and motivation
Sanvi’s family gave her quiet but firm support. Her father is a software engineer and an NIT Trichy alumnus working in the semiconductor field. Her mother is a homemaker and her primary support at home.
From early on Sanvi decided to aim for the PCM stream in Class 11 and eventually sit for JEE. That goal shaped how she practised numerical subjects and managed time. The combination of ambition and simple, steady habits powered her preparation.
Subject-wise marks and quick analysis
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| English | 97 |
| French | 100 |
| Mathematics | 99 |
| Science | 99 |
| Social Science | 99 |
Full marks in French shows focused practise with school worksheets and the Get Ready French textbook. The uniform high scores in Maths, Science and Social Science point to strong NCERT grounding plus daily practice of numericals and PYQs.
What to learn from the marks: aim for NCERT mastery first, then use one reliable reference for extra practice in numericals.
Books and resources she relied on
Sanvi built her prep around NCERT books. She treated NCERT as the base across subjects and then added targeted references for practice.
- Maths: RD Sharma and NCERT Exemplar for numerical variety and conceptual depth.
- Science: NCERT Exemplar and Educart for practice and revision.
- English: teacher notes — she relied on class material and revision rather than many reference books.
- French: Get Ready French plus school worksheets and regular classroom practice.
NCERT books answered most board questions. The reference texts (RD Sharma, Exemplar, Educart) provided the extra practice you need for achieving 99.4% level accuracy.
Daily study routine: a practical, replicable schedule
Sanvi changed study hours across the year. Routine intensity rose near boards to 7–9 hours daily. She mixed topics so she didn’t burn out and allowed short naps and walks.
Here’s a sample weekly routine you can copy. Adjust timings to fit your school hours.
| Time | Non-exam period (typical day) | Pre-exam peak (closer to boards) |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30–7:30 AM | Light reading / revision of one subject (quick notes) | Quick concept revision + one short PYQ (30–40 mins) |
| 8:00–2:00 PM | School hours (use free periods for revision) | School; use breaks for flashcards / quick PYQs |
| 3:00–4:00 PM | Nap / rest / light snack | Short nap (20–40 mins) or breathing break |
| 4:00–6:00 PM | Focused study (Maths / Science practice) | Timed mock test or deep practice (Maths/Physics numericals) |
| 6:00–6:30 PM | Evening walk with family / stretch | Evening walk (stress break) |
| 7:00–9:00 PM | Theory study (English / Social Science / French) | Revision block (PYQs + NCERT lines) |
| 9:30–10:30 PM | Light reading / prepare next day’s plan | Last short revision (flashcards / teacher notes) |
Sanvi often shifted to late-night study when needed, but she kept a consistent sleep window most days and used afternoon naps to recharge.
Study techniques Sanvi used: consistency, PYQs and timed mocks
Consistency was Sanvi’s core technique. She revised concepts regularly instead of cramming. That steady approach is the single biggest lever for score improvement.
Three techniques she leaned on:
- PYQs (Previous Year Questions): She solved many PYQs to learn question patterns and frequently tested topics. PYQs also helped her prioritise what to memorise from NCERT lines and what to practise.
- Timed mock tests: She did timed mock tests at home to build speed and accuracy. That reduced exam-day nervousness and improved time management.
- Daily numerical practice: For Maths and Physics numericals she practiced problems daily. RD Sharma and Exemplar were her go-to books for this.
If you want similar results, schedule PYQs and at least one timed mock per week. Increase frequency to 2–3 mocks per week in the last month.
Revision plan for the last 1–2 months
Sanvi finished the syllabus well before the last two months. That let her reserve the final stretch for focused revision, PYQs and mocks.
Use this subject-wise sequence for the final months:
- Quick concept pass: skim NCERT for every chapter and mark weak spots.
- PYQ drill: solve all PYQs chapter-wise and note recurring questions.
- Mock test + analysis: do a timed mock, then spend double the mock time analysing errors.
- Targeted fixes: work on the top 5 weak topics in each subject for the next week.
Checklist to cover before boards: every NCERT question answered, common Exemplar problems practiced, all PYQs attempted at least once, and a set of 6–8 timed mocks done in exam conditions.
Stress management and study-life balance
Sanvi used simple tools to stay balanced: short naps, evening walks with her mother and steady sleep. That kept stress low and focus high.
Add these low-effort stress tools to your routine:
- 5-minute breathing breaks after every 45–60 minutes of study.
- Fixed sleep window — even on late-night study days, try to get 6.5–7 hours total with naps.
- Short daily physical activity — a 20–30 minute walk or stretching.
When to rest vs push: if your accuracy drops during a session, take a 20-minute break. If you’re completing planned tasks with calm focus, keep going.
Preparing for Class 11 PCM and JEE: transition plan
Sanvi plans to join Class 11 PCM and begin JEE preparation. Her board strategy gives a clear early advantage: NCERT mastery makes school concepts firm, which is crucial for JEE basics.
How to transition without losing board-level mastery:
- First 2–3 weeks of Class 11: consolidate Class 10 fundamentals (algebra basics, basic physics formulas, strong NCERT grounding).
- Next 3–6 months: start Class 11 syllabus while including short JEE foundation topics (basic coordinate geometry, limits, dimensional analysis).
- Keep weekly PYQs and timed tests for board topics to avoid slippage.
Remember: JEE needs depth and speed. Use school time for concept clarity and reserve coaching or self-study hours for problem-solving practice using JEE-style books later.
Actionable 30-day plan for board score improvement
If you have 30 days to improve, follow this tight routine used by high scorers like Sanvi:
Week 1: Syllabus audit and NCERT finish - Day 1–3: Make a chapter-wise checklist for all subjects. Mark topics you’ve not fully revised. - Day 4–7: Finish quick NCERT read for the marked topics. Do one chapter PYQ set per day.
Week 2: Focused practice and weak-topic fixes - Solve Exemplar or RD Sharma problems for weak chapters (Maths and Science). - Do 2 timed mock tests across the week; analyse mistakes immediately.
Week 3: Mixed PYQs and consolidation - Solve full-topic PYQ papers (cover all past years available). - Do 2–3 full-length timed mocks. Review wrong answers and make short error notes.
Week 4: Final polishing and confidence - Repeat top 10 PYQs for each subject from your error notes. - One every-other-day full-length mock. On non-mock days, revise teacher notes and NCERT lines.
Daily micro-goals: 30–40 mins of Maths numericals, 40–50 mins of Science practice, 30 mins of Social Science revision and 20–30 mins of English/French daily. Include one short relaxation window per day.
How to track progress: maintain a simple spreadsheet with mock scores and topics missed. If a topic appears in mistakes >2 times, add it to a weekly fix list.
FAQs based on Sanvi’s interview
Q: How did you react after seeing results? A: Sanvi was overwhelmed and very happy. She was at a coaching class when results came and had hoped for above 98% .
Q: What was your preparation strategy? A: Consistency. Regular revision, practising PYQs and timed mock tests, and daily numericals for Maths and Physics.
Q: Which books and resources did you use? A: NCERT books as the base. RD Sharma and Exemplar for Maths. Exemplar and Educart for Science. Teacher notes for English. Get Ready French and school worksheets for French.
Q: Which subject was most challenging? A: She didn’t single out one subject as hardest. Maths and Physics numericals needed daily practice.
Q: What did your daily study routine look like and how many hours did you study? A: She mixed subjects each day, took afternoon naps and evening walks, and studied about 7–9 hours daily closer to exams.
Q: Did you follow a specific revision strategy for the last 1–2 months? A: Yes. Syllabus finished early, then she focused on PYQs and timed mock tests in the last 1–2 months.
Q: What are your future plans? A: Join Class 11 PCM and prepare for JEE with the aim of pursuing computer engineering.
Key takeaways and final tips for aspirants
- Make NCERT books your base. Read every line and solve all NCERT questions.
- Use one reference book per subject for extra practice: RD Sharma for Maths, Exemplar/ Educart for Science.
- Solve PYQs religiously and do timed mock tests to build speed and exam temperament.
- Keep study hours steady and raise them to 7–9 hours only closer to exams. Balance with naps and short walks.
- Track weak topics and fix them with focused practice. If a mistake repeats, that topic needs daily attention.
If you copy Sanvi’s approach — NCERT-first, daily numericals, PYQs and disciplined timed mocks — you raise your odds of hitting 95%+. Start small, be consistent, and measure progress with weekly mock tests.