Classes 9 to 12 are crucial stages in a student's academic journey, as they help shape career choices. These years play a vital role in deciding whether a student wants to pursue medicine, engineering, or any other field. A strong foundation built during this time sets the stage for success in board exams and competitive tests.
To achieve good academic results, students need a thorough understanding of the syllabus and concepts. While textbooks provide the basics, reference books offer detailed explanations and simplified concepts, making it easier to excel. Below, you'll find a curated list of subject-wise reference books for CBSE students in classes 9 to 12. These books are highly recommended for enhancing your preparation.
Class 9 is the foundation year for board exams. The topics covered here form the base for Class 10 and beyond.
| Subject | Best Books for Learning | Best Books for Practice |
| English | Together With, NCERT Textbook | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Arihant All-in-One |
| Mathematics | R.S. Aggarwal & V. Aggarwal, R.D. Sharma, NCERT | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Arihant All-in-One |
| Science | Foundation Science Physics by H.C. Verma, Oswaal | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Arihant All-in-One |
Class 10 board exams are the first major milestone for students. Scoring well here can influence the stream selection for higher classes.
| Subject | Best Books for Learning | Best Books for Practice |
| English | Together With, NCERT Textbook | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Educart, Arihant All-in-One |
| Mathematics | R.S. Aggarwal & V. Aggarwal, R.D. Sharma, NCERT | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Educart, Arihant All-in-One |
| Science | Foundation Science Physics by H.C. Verma, Oswaal | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Educart, Arihant All-in-One |
Class 11 introduces advanced topics that are essential for competitive exams like NEET and JEE. Building a strong foundation here is important.
| Subject | Best Books for Learning | Best Books for Practice |
| English | Together With, NCERT Textbook | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Arihant All-in-One |
| Mathematics | R.S. Aggarwal & V. Aggarwal, R.D. Sharma, NCERT | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Arihant All-in-One |
| Physics | H.C. Verma Part 1, Pradeep, Disha Publications | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Arihant All-in-One |
| Chemistry | NCERT Textbook | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, NCERT at Your Fingertips, Arihant All-in-One |
| Biology | Trueman’s Biology, MTG Biology, Arihant All-in-One | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Arihant All-in-One |
Class 12 marks the final step in school education, and its results are key for college admissions and government job eligibility.
| Subject | Best Books for Learning | Best Books for Practice |
| English | Together With, NCERT Textbook | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Educart, Arihant All-in-One |
| Mathematics | R.S. Aggarwal & V. Aggarwal, R.D. Sharma, NCERT | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Educart, Arihant All-in-One |
| Physics | H.C. Verma Part 2, Pradeep, Disha Publications | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Educart, Arihant All-in-One |
| Chemistry | NCERT Textbook | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, NCERT at Your Fingertips, Arihant All-in-One |
| Biology | Trueman’s Biology, MTG Biology, Arihant All-in-One | Oswaal, NCERT Exemplar, Educart, Arihant All-in-One |
Books like Foundation Science by H.C. Verma, Oswaal, and Arihant All-in-One are highly recommended.
H.C. Verma Part 2 and Pradeep’s Publications are excellent choices.
Focus on books with clear explanations, sufficient practice questions, and alignment with the CBSE syllabus.