The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is one of the most prominent boards in the Indian Education system. It’s well-known for its wide coverage across different topics relating to numerous subjects and emphasizes rote learning and application-based learning. Students appearing for board examinations require student material, which is normally provided by schools. However, in addition to this, a student reference book for each subject is also recommended to cover various aspects from different parts of each chapter. Before we delve deeper into the reference books which are held as a holy grail to scoring well, let’s understand a little more about the CBSE curriculum.
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Understanding The CBSE Curriculum
The CBSE curriculum is designed to make learners independent and unique in their approaches to solving problems. The curriculum focuses on activity-based learning aided by textbooks to mould young minds and transform them into well-recognised adults. The secondary levels of the CBSE curriculum include English, other languages, Mathematics, the Science group of subjects, Commerce and Social Sciences.
Why Do Children Need Reference Books?
Reference books provide a structured approach; breaking up the content under relevant categories, reinforcing key ideas, and offering sample papers for students to practice. These papers are specifically designed for the CBSE board examinations and change with the change in paper format every year.
Where To Start?
If you’re a concerned parent or a worried student, wondering where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Before perusing through any quality reference books or study material for students, it’s best to have a look at the source. The source refers to the NCERT books prescribed by the CBSE board.
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Why Are NCERT Books Indispensable?
- They are very detailed and provide comprehensive content on every topic across various subjects. They are designed by highly skilled academicians who pay close attention to accuracy and relevance.
- The books provide conceptual clarity, making the topics easy to understand, keeping in mind the mental age of the children.
- They are well-aligned with the examination paper format. The content included in these books is geared to teach students keeping in mind the CBSE board format. This means children will be studying as per the paper format.
- They provide an abundant supply of practice papers that are highly beneficial to the learners.
Essential Student Reference Books For CBSE
While the foundation is set by the NCERT books, supplementary books, known as reference books are also essential as they provide a deeper understanding of concepts, have a wide selection of practice papers and outline certain tips and tricks.
Mathematics :
- One of the best reference books for Mathematics for Class X is a book called “Mathematics for Class 10” by R.D Sharma. It is well-known and reputed for its extensive understanding of mathematical concepts and a plethora of solved examples.
- Another popular choice among teachers and students is “Secondary School Mathematics for Class 10” by R.S Aggarwal. This book is most famously known for its detailed solutions to problems, providing a breakdown of step-by-step instructions.
- For students appearing for their Class XII Mathematics examination, a book called “Problems in Mathematics” by V. Govorov will benefit students of the senior school. The book contains complex problems that test the conceptual knowledge of children.
Science :
- To study Science one requires a reference book that’s comprehensive and outlines the important concepts. Thankfully, a book by Modern Publishers entitled “Modern’s ABC of Chemistry for Class 10” is widely available.
- Another noteworthy book that has established itself as a reliable reference book is “Pradeep’s Fundamental Physics/Chemistry/Biology” It is well-known for its detailed explanation of theory, sufficient examples and numerous sample question papers.
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Social Science :
- A Rachna Sagar publication, “Together With Social Science” offers a chapter-wise analysis, along with a summary and detailed specimen papers, guiding children on how to attempt the board examination.
- Of late a question bank on Social Sciences has been making the rounds. The Oswaal CBSE Question Bank Class 10 Social Science” is a comprehensive question bank that gives children a good idea of how to study smartly.
English :
- One of the books that most grammar nazis swear by and hold as God’s truth is a High School English Grammar book by Wren and Martin. It serves as a classic example of mastering the various aspects of English Grammar alongside providing a very good outline of how a composition or essay should be written.
- “The Essentials of English Grammar” by Sultan Chand is a grammar book that is on the rise for its attention to all aspects of grammar and its creative inclusion of numerous examples to simplify the rules of grammar for students.
Other Languages :
- Other languages like Hindi, Sanskrit and French are considered as Second Languages and may not require too much of research. The primary texts provided by NCERT are usually the go-to books when it comes to these languages. While there are numerous reference books for second languages available, it’s hard to pinpoint a book.
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