✨ Why Just NCERT Isn’t Always Enough
Let’s be real — NCERT is your backbone when it comes to CBSE exams. But many students feel stuck when they want more clarity, tougher problems, or extra questions for practice.
That’s when reference books come into play. The trick is not to study more books, but to study the right books that match your goals — whether that’s scoring 95+ in Boards or preparing for JEE/NEET side by side.
We’ve put together this simple, no-nonsense list of the best reference books for Class 10, 11, and 12—so you can stop guessing and start studying smart.
📘 Best Reference Books for Class 10 CBSE
🔬 Science
- Book: Lakhmir Singh & Manjit Kaur (S. Chand)
- Why it works: Concepts are explained like a story, with lots of solved examples. Great if you struggle with understanding NCERT directly.
➕ Mathematics
- Book: RD Sharma
- Why it works: Every type of question is covered—from basic to challenging. It’s perfect for strong board prep.
🗺 Social Science
- Book: Together With Social Science
- Why it works: Neat summaries, maps, and case studies. Good for last-minute revisions and writing better answers.
📚 English
- Book: BBC Compacta (Language & Literature)
- Why it works: You’ll get tons of grammar exercises, writing samples, and reading passages. Super helpful for scoring full marks.
📝 Hindi (Course A/B)
- Books: Golden Guide + Manak Hindi Vyakaran
- Why it works: Covers everything—literature, grammar, and format-based answers. Perfect combo for language subjects.
📗 Best Reference Books for Class 11 CBSE – Science Stream
🧲 Physics
- Books:
- HC Verma – Concepts of Physics (Vol 1)
- Pradeep’s Physics
- Why they work: HC Verma builds strong concepts. Pradeep is detailed and helps with board-style questions.
⚗️ Chemistry
- Books:
- Modern ABC Chemistry
- OP Tandon (Physical)
- Why they work: ABC gives great explanations in simple words. OP Tandon helps when you want to go a little deeper (especially for JEE/NEET).
🌱 Biology
- Books:
- Trueman’s Elementary Biology Vol 1
- Why it works: Diagrams, theory, and extra questions all in one. Helps in both board exams and NEET prep.
➗ Mathematics
- Books:
- RD Sharma
- Arihant Skills in Mathematics
- Why they work: RD for strong base and board-level clarity. Arihant for smart practice if you’re aiming for competitive exams.
✍️ English Core
- Books:
- BBC Compacta
- Oswaal Sample Papers
- Why they work: They train you for how to write like a topper—especially for unseen passages, reports, and literature answers.
📘 Best Reference Books for Class 12 CBSE – Science Stream
⚡ Physics
- HC Verma – Vol 2
- Pradeep’s Physics Class 12
- Arihant Chapterwise PYQs
Great mix of concept + board + MCQ practice.
🧪 Chemistry
- OP Tandon (Inorganic & Physical)
- Modern ABC Chemistry
- MS Chauhan (Organic)
Use these based on your target — boards or NEET/JEE.
🌿 Biology
- Trueman’s Biology Vol 2
- MTG NCERT at Your Fingertips – Biology
Adds an extra layer on top of NCERT for NEET-style questions.
📐 Mathematics
- RD Sharma Class 12
- Arihant Objective Math
- Oswaal Sample Papers
Covers theory, MCQs, and board-style questions all together.
📝 English Core
- BBC Compacta
- Xam Idea or Evergreen
- Educart Sample Papers
Practice + format + time management = high scores.
🎯 Quick EEPL Tips on How to Use These Books
- ✅ Start with NCERT first. Always.
- ✅ Choose only 1 reference book per subject to avoid burnout.
- ✅ Focus on quality practice, not quantity.
- ✅ Solve sample papers weekly for Boards.
- ✅ For NEET/JEE – pick books that combine theory + MCQs.
👨🏫 From the EEPL Classroom Desk
We’ve seen it time and again—students jump from book to book and feel lost. The best students stick to a focused strategy with 2–3 core books per subject and weekly mock tests.
At EEPL Classroom, we build our entire teaching system around NCERT + these reference books, so our students are always board- and competition-ready—without confusion.
📞 Still Confused? Let’s Talk!
We offer free counselling for Class 10–12 students to help you create your personalized booklist and study strategy.
📍 Visit us at: EEPL Classroom, Plaza Chowk, Ranchi
📱 Call/WhatsApp: 91- 7499713635
🌐 Website: eepl.me/classes
