CBSE 10th Topper Interview: "NCERT is Enough," Says 99.2% Scorer Ananya Bhutada

CBSE 10th topper Ananya Bhutada, who scored 99.2%, shares her success secrets in an exclusive interview with shiksha.com. Know why she thinks NCERT textbooks are key to score good marks in CBSE board results and her study tips to score 99%+ marks in board examination. 

CBSE 10th topper 2026 Ananya Bhutada has scored 99.2% marks without coaching. She studied from NCERT textbooks for CBSE board exam 2026. Despite coming from a high-achieving family of doctorates and national-level athletes, Ananya rechecked her results multiple times. She credits her success to her parents and prioritises eight hours of sleep and daily fitness. Read further her success mantra to score 99.2% marks and becoming CBSE class 10th topper. 

1. Congratulations on your result. How was your reaction after seeing the results?
   Thank you very much. I was in complete shock when I first saw my result. It was much higher than I expected. I was overjoyed and couldn’t believe my eyes. I rechecked the result 3–4 times just to be sure.
2. Did you score what you expected?
   I was expecting around 97-98%. It is much higher.
3. Please tell us something about your family background?
   My family has always been very supportive of both my education and my tennis journey. My mother and father are doctorates in Pharmacy. My sister is also a national-level tennis player, and she had scored very well in her Class 10 exams too.
4. Which subject did you find most challenging, and how did you overcome it? 
   I found Marathi the most challenging. I overcame this with the guidance of my Marathi teacher, Mrs. Sujata Jadhav. She was a great mentor throughout the journey and helped me conquer my fear of the subject.
5. How important were NCERT books in your preparation? Did you use any additional resources?
   NCERT is the foundation book for board preparation. I studied NCERT thoroughly and also referred to some additional books, but NCERT was the key.
6. What was your strategy to score above 99.2%?
   play tennis and study NCERT. I love studying NCERT, and I never move on until I fully understand the concept.
7. Did you take any online or offline coaching?
   No. My mother and father were the key to my result. My mother, who is a teacher, managed both her teaching and us mischievous kids (me and my sister)  amazingly well. My father even left his settled job just to manage our playing schedules and accompany us to tennis matches. Their guidance and dedication made all the difference.
8. What was your routine during CBSE board exam preparation?
   My routine included playing tennis, doing fitness training, and ensuring at least 8 hours of sound sleep. The rest of the time was dedicated to studies. I didn’t follow a fixed schedule, but I allowed myself some entertainment like watching TV for about 45 minutes, even during exams.
9. What is your favourite subject?
   Mathematics. I have loved solving problems since childhood, perhaps because of my mother’s influence. Even without pen and paper, I enjoy doing mental math and numerical problems.
10. What are your future plans? Which career path are you aiming for?  
    I am preparing for NEET while continuing to practice tennis.
11. Please share some tips for students preparing to appear in CBSE Board Exams 2027
    Keep it simple. Study NCERT thoroughly and underline important points. My father always emphasises the RRR formula — Read, Revise, Recall. Also, maintain regular physical activity, and the results will follow.