NCERT and Exemplar are the two main books for the 10th CBSE board preparations. Both books are equally important. But many students get confused between the books and ask, what’s the real difference between NCERT and Exemplar books? Let’s understand this.
What is the NCERT Book?
The NCERT textbook is the main book issued by CBSE. Every subject has its own NCERT book — for example, Science, Maths, Social Science, English, etc.
What does NCERT include?
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It includes basic concepts and definitions.
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Explanations were simple and easy to understand.
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Every topic covers examples that help understand theory.
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After every chapter, there are questions for practice.
The NCERT book is the first step, which helps you build your basics strong and prepare well for your exams.
Read More: Why Every Class 10 Student Needs This 10-Year Solved Paper Book for 2026 CBSE Board Exams?
What is the Exemplar Book?
The Exemplar book is published by NCERT, but its main focus is to help students think more deeply. It has practical and tricky questions that are a bit harder than NCERT ones.
What does Exemplar include?
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Multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
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Assertion-reason questions.
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Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions.
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Questions based on real-life application.
The Exemplar book is mostly available for Maths and Science and is a great source to prepare better for the exams.
NCERT vs. Exemplar—What’s the Real Difference?
|
Feature |
NCERT Book |
Exemplar Book |
|
Purpose |
Build basic understanding |
Strengthen advanced thinking |
|
Question Level |
Easy to moderate |
Moderate to difficult |
|
Type of Questions |
Theory-Based Exercises |
MCQs, HOTS, tricky application-based |
|
Best Time to Use |
Start of preparation |
After finishing NCERT once |
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Recommended For |
All Class 10 students |
Students aiming for full marks and Olympiads |
How to Use Both Effectively?
In your initial days while preparing for boards, don’t go for the Exemplar. It may seem difficult if the concepts are not clear. Start with the NCERT textbook. Here are some references that you can also use to prepare well after completing your syllabus:
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To practice more, refer to the best question bank for class 10 CBSE, which includes NCERT, Exemplar, and extra questions in one place.
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Many students also use a science question bank class 10 2026 version, which follows the latest exam pattern and includes updated questions for final practice.
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If looking for all subjects in one place, a question bank for class 10 CBSE all subjects can be helpful.
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Conclusion
Both NCERT and Exemplar are equally important — but they serve different goals. One helps in understanding, and the other builds deeper thinking. Use both smartly to score better and feel more confident in exams.
No book alone is enough, so combine them with sample papers and revision papers for best results.
