Is NCERT sufficient for 90+ in all subjects?

Every CBSE student dreams of scoring 90+ in Class 10 board exams. This becomes the most important milestone in deciding their academic stream and future career, as the results will help them choose arts, science, or commerce. The journey to this milestone often brings forth a question that most students ask: Is NCERT enough for 90+ in all subjects, or do we need reference books? 

Since CBSE Class 12 Exam strictly follows NCERT books, it gives rise to an assumption that many teachers or toppers of these exams would agree with; that is, students just need to “study and understand” the NCERT books to perform well/to get a good grade. However, today’s competitive exam environment, where question papers have become more challenging, requiring higher-order thinking or application of knowledge, proves that NCERT may not be sufficient.

According to CBSE Toppers, NCERTs are not sufficient for practice-intensive subjects like science and math. The difference is often how elaborately the student has gone through the NCERT and what they have supplemented it with in their learning cycle. 

This article will discuss how much importance students should give to completing NCERT textbooks and if they require reference books at all. We will also provide Topper’s tips along with CBSE books link so that you can score 90+ in the Class 10 CBSE board exams confidently.

Is NCERT sufficient for the CBSE board?

The answer is partially yes. It is possible to get 90 or above in the CBSE Final Exam by only reading NCERT books, practicing, and solving NCERT Exemplar questions. Generally, the question papers of board exams are based on the concepts given in the NCERT textbooks. So it seems that the NCERT books and solutions are enough. But does it mean you should not refer to any other books? No, reference books will expose you to many questions. You can solve many math problems by RD Sharma. The CBSE Science books by Manjit Kaur and Lakhmir Singh will help students understand a subject better. These also provide important questions.

Also read: Tips for Board Exam Preparation

CBSE Class 12 NCERT Books: Download Books PDF

NCERT books offer in-depth information in simple terms. The language of NCERT books is simpler to comprehend and retain than that of large books and complex guides. NCERTs must never be skipped, but one can read other books in addition to them if they wish to increase their knowledge. In order to make it easier for students to remember and attempt, questions such as fill-in-the-blanks and one-word answers are occasionally asked directly in the language of the NCERT books. It assists students in achieving high scores on their CBSE Board exams.  The NCERT textbooks can be downloaded for free from the links below, along with the book titles. These CBSE class 12 books for 2026 are essential reading for students because they cover everything from the foundational to advanced levels.

Read More: Best Reference Books for CBSE Class 12th

Topper’s Tips on CBSE Class 12 NCERT Books

NCERT textbooks should be the main source of preparation, according to CBSE top scorers. Understanding these books guarantees conceptual accuracy and clarity because the board exams are solely based on NCERT content. For additional practice or a deeper comprehension of subjects like mathematics, science, and social science, reference books can be used selectively.

1. Spend 70–80% of your time studying NCERT; only use reference materials to boost your areas of weakness.
2. Consistent practice and review matter more than studying last minute or cramming.
3. Create mind maps, explain topics to someone else, or work through questions without looking at the real or memorized solutions.
4. Work on CBSE sample and last year's exam question papers so you can see the pattern of questions and enhance answer presentation with time.
5. Set up a timetable and monthly or weekly goals, and do a self-assessment to identify weak points 
6. Write neatly with appropriate titles on diagrams or charts or headings

Toppers generally conclude by saying while the skill of asking good questions in practice books is essential when exam day comes, mastering NCERT is the important skill and activity to score 90 out of 100 or above for Class 10 Board Exams. 

How to Get 90+ in Class 12 CBSE Board?

Candidates should focus on the NCERT syllabus to understand How to Score 95 in CBSE Exam? Below are the preparation tips through which you can get a score of 90+ in the CBSE Boards: 

• Ensure that you understand the entire syllabus and the pattern of questions so that you can focus your preparation in the right direction. 
• Give priority to NCERT books and reference books if required. 
• For highly theoretical subjects, prepare formula sheets and make short notes for quick revision. As calculus, algebra, and vectors are important, they should be given top priority in mathematics. 
• Practice all NCERT examples and previous years' problems regularly. 
• While preparing for the physics paper, focus on concepts, formulas, and derivations from the NCERT book. 
• Practice solving numerical problems from optics and electrostatics. 
• Be careful with diagrams and labels. Focus on theory, equations, and reactions from NCERT. Prepare quick notes on important points; practice chemical equations and numbers. 
• Memorize important accounting formulas and concepts. Pay attention to ledgers, financial statements, and journal entries.