How to Get Good Marks in Class 10 Maths
Practical ways to score well in CBSE Class 10 Maths: unit weightage, a daily practice routine, the mistakes that cost the most marks and how to present answers.
To get good marks in Class 10 Maths, practise every day rather than in long weekend sessions, finish all NCERT exercises and examples, focus on high-weight units such as Algebra and Geometry, show every step clearly, and solve full sample papers under time. Keep an error notebook of your own mistakes and revise it weekly; most lost marks come from repeated slips.
Maths is the subject where good marks feel most within reach and most easily slip away. Students who understand the concepts still lose 10 to 15 marks to missed steps, sign errors and running out of time. This guide covers where the marks are, how to practise, the mistakes that cost the most and how to present answers so you get full credit.
Know where the marks are
CBSE gives each unit of Class 10 Maths a fixed share of the 80-mark theory paper. The weightage has been steady in recent years:
| Unit | Chapters | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Number Systems | Real Numbers | 6 |
| Algebra | Polynomials, Pair of Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Arithmetic Progressions | 20 |
| Coordinate Geometry | Coordinate Geometry | 6 |
| Geometry | Triangles, Circles | 15 |
| Trigonometry | Introduction to Trigonometry, Some Applications of Trigonometry | 12 |
| Mensuration | Areas Related to Circles, Surface Areas and Volumes | 10 |
| Statistics and Probability | Statistics, Probability | 11 |
| Total | 80 | |
Confirm the figures in the current CBSE curriculum before you plan. Algebra alone is a quarter of the paper, so weakness there is expensive.
Practise every day, not every weekend
Maths methods fade quickly if you do not use them. One to two hours every day beats a five-hour session on Sunday. A good daily hour:
- 10 minutes: revise yesterday's formulas from memory.
- 35 minutes: solve questions from one chapter, mixing easy and hard.
- 10 minutes: 3 or 4 questions from an older chapter.
- 5 minutes: write any mistake in your error notebook.
Mixing older chapters into daily practice is called spaced practice, and it is one of the most reliable ways to remember methods. Our guide on studying without forgetting explains why.
Finish NCERT first, then go further
- NCERT examples and exercises: solve every one. Board questions are often close to them. Get the book from NCERT.
- NCERT Exemplar: harder questions for the same chapters, free on the NCERT Exemplar page.
- Case study and assertion-reason practice: try our case study questions and assertion-reason questions for every chapter.
- Sample papers: CBSE's 2025-26 sample papers with marking schemes show how marks are given for each step.
The mistakes that cost the most marks
| Mistake | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Skipping steps | Write each step on a new line; marks are given for steps, not just answers. |
| Sign errors | Circle negative signs as you copy; check them at every step. |
| Wrong formula | Write the formula first, then substitute. |
| Missing units | Add units to every final answer in mensuration and trigonometry. |
| Not rejecting impossible roots | A length or time cannot be negative; say so in the answer. |
| Untidy diagrams | Use a pencil and ruler; label every point. |
| Running out of time | Practise full papers under time; don't get stuck on one question. |
Keep an error notebook
This is the single most useful habit. Every time you get a question wrong, write:
- the question (or its page number);
- what you did wrong, in one line;
- the correct method.
Read the notebook every Sunday. Most students find they make the same three or four mistakes again and again. Once you see them, they stop. On Intellicamp, every test shows which chapters and question types you lost marks on in your results breakdown, so the notebook almost writes itself. See how it works for students.
Present answers for full marks
- Write "Given", "To find" and "Solution" in word problems.
- Draw a neat diagram for geometry and trigonometry questions.
- Box or underline the final answer.
- For proofs, give a reason for every statement.
- Leave a little space between questions so the examiner can follow your work.
More on this in our guide to how to write answers in board exams.
Exam-day strategy
- Use the reading time to plan which questions you will attempt first.
- Do the questions you are sure of first to build confidence.
- Give each question roughly its share of time (about 2 minutes per mark).
- Leave the last 10 minutes to check signs, units and unanswered parts.
Want a full revision schedule? Follow our 8-week plan for the Class 10 board exam.
- Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry carry the most marks; plan around them.
- Practise daily, finish NCERT, then exemplar and sample papers.
- Keep an error notebook and show every step to protect your marks.
Frequently asked questions
Is NCERT enough for Class 10 Maths?
For most students, thoroughly solving every NCERT example and exercise is the foundation. Add the NCERT Exemplar and sample papers for harder and competency-based practice.
Which chapters carry the most marks in Class 10 Maths?
In CBSE's unit weightage, Algebra (polynomials, linear equations, quadratic equations and AP) carries the most marks, followed by Geometry and Trigonometry. Check the current curriculum for exact figures.
How many hours should I practise Maths daily?
One to two focused hours every day is better than five hours once a week. Daily practice keeps methods fresh.
How do I stop making silly mistakes in Maths?
Keep an error notebook, write each step on a new line, check signs and units at each step, and leave five minutes at the end to recheck answers.
Should I choose Maths Standard or Maths Basic?
CBSE offers both in Class 10. Choose Standard if you plan to take Maths in Class 11; Basic is for students who do not. Discuss it with your teacher.
Practise this chapter free
Take a short practice test on any chapter, get it marked instantly, and see exactly which topics are costing you marks.