Secrets of the Class 10 CBSE English Exam: What Toppers Do That Most Students Don’t

Although thousands attempt the Class 10 CBSE English exam annually, only a fraction cross the 95+ mark. According to teachers and exam evaluators, toppers aren’t necessarily “better at English.” Instead, they understand how the paper is designed, how answers are evaluated, and how to present responses in the most examiner-friendly way. In short, they are exam-smart—not just language-smart.

They Study the Paper Pattern, Not Just the Syllabus

Toppers break the paper into clear scoring segments and prepare strategically for each. They begin with the **writing formats**—letters, notices, analytical paragraphs—because these fetch guaranteed marks when executed correctly.

Delhi-based English teacher S. Arora explains, “Format is half the battle won in the writing section. A correct format paired with simple language is enough for full marks.”

This is why top scorers memorize and practise templates well in advance instead of improvising during the exam.

Reading Section: They Scan the Questions First

One of the smartest habits toppers follow is reading the questions before reading the passage. This helps them identify the answer quickly and avoid copying long lines directly from the text.

Chennai teacher R. Meenakshi says, “Most students lose marks because they copy the entire sentence. CBSE awards marks for understanding, not copying.”

Toppers paraphrase precisely and express answers in short, clear sentences that show comprehension.

Writing Section: Simple, Structured, and Error-Free

High scorers believe that writing isn’t about showcasing big vocabulary—it’s about presenting ideas logically. Their answers follow a clean structure: a crisp introduction, a logically developed middle section, and a neat conclusion.

They highlight key points, avoid grammar mistakes by using shorter sentences, and strictly follow the word limit to stay relevant to the topic.

Literature Section: They Avoid Retelling the Story

The literature section is often the highest-scoring—but only if students answer the question directly instead of narrating the entire chapter.

Bengaluru evaluator V. Sen emphasizes, “Don’t retell the story. Answer the question. Quote a line, explain it briefly, and move on.”

Toppers follow a simple three-step flow: present the point, add textual evidence, explain it in one or two lines, then conclude.

They Avoid the High-Cost Mistakes Most Students Make

Teachers say that examiners commonly deduct marks for three major issues—not long lists of errors, just these few:

• Writing excessively and going off-topic
• Frequent grammar mistakes
• Poor presentation—no underlining, untidy handwriting

Toppers consciously avoid these mistakes and maintain a clean, well-presented answer sheet throughout.

The Last Ten Minutes: The Real Toppers’ Secret

Almost all toppers finish the paper early and use the final ten to fifteen minutes exclusively for revision. During this time, they underline key points, fix minor grammatical slips, and make formatting corrections.

These small adjustments often elevate borderline answers into top-band responses—and this is a major reason they stand out.

The final result is a structured, confident, and examiner-friendly answer sheet. The Class 10 English exam rewards clarity, organization, and strategic writing. High scorers excel not because they “know more English,” but because they know how to present it effectively.

As one experienced teacher summed it up beautifully:

“The student who writes the cleanest and clearest paper almost always scores the highest.”