How to Prepare for Class 10 Mathematics? | Mathematics (Maths) Class 10 PDF Download

Maths can be intimidating for many, especially when it comes to important exams like CBSE Class 10. But with the right guidance, you can conquer your maths exam with ease. This ultimate guide prepared by EduRev experts will provide you with all the necessary steps that need to be followed to ace the Class 10 exam. By religiously following the steps outlined in this guide, you will be fully prepared to approach each question with confidence and accuracy. From basic formulas to revision tips and strategies, this guide will provide all the information you need to ace your maths exam. So don't worry, and prepare to conquer your maths exam with this ultimate guide!

Why did EduRev make this guide for Class 10 Mathematics?

• We intended to provide the best/perfect answer to the question "How to Prepare for Class 10 mathematics" once and for all.
• This guide was created to teach in a guided manner so that you can do well in Class 10 by only studying What Actually Matters for the Boards preparation.

How was this guide made for Class 10 Students?

• This guide was created by EduRev experts based on the toppers' strategies and interviews.
• While preparing this document, the toppers' study patterns, schedules, and strategies were carefully examined so that students might follow in their footsteps.

So, let's start with preparation tips for mathematics for class 10 .

Step 0: Pre-Preparation Checks for Class 10 Students

1. Limit Distractions: To stay focused and achieve your desired Class 10 grade, it's important to limit distractions such as social media.
   
2. Be Consistent: Consistency is key to success. Set specific goals for each day and make an effort to complete them, even if it takes longer than expected.
3. Have a Study Plan: Studying for your exam is important, but it is important to do so in a planned way. A study plan will give you a clear idea of how to study for your exam. You can create a study plan based on your exam date and syllabus. You can also create a study plan based on the number of hours that you want to study every day. You can choose the best method that suits you. 
4. Take Appropriate Breaks: Taking breaks at regular intervals can help to reduce stress, improve your overall health, and enhance your ability to retain information. This is especially important if you find yourself studying for long periods of time without a break.
5. Have a Healthy Sleep Pattern: A healthy sleep pattern is essential for both your physical and mental well-being. Getting enough rest can help to improve your concentration and memory. On the other hand, neglecting sleep can have negative effects on your health and hinder your preparation for the exam.

Also read:
Class 10 Guide by National Toppers: 8 Steps to Score 95% above
7 Secret Habits of a Topper: How to Ace Your Class 10 Exams

Understand the Syllabus and Pattern for CBSE Class 10 Maths Exam

Before you start preparing for your exam, you need to understand what exactly is going to be covered in your exam. Knowing the syllabus and pattern is going to help you to study what actually matters without wasting time on things that are not important. 

By following steps given below you can get the most out of these two tools that are provided to you by the CBSE. 

• The first and foremost thing is to study the pattern of the exam. The exam will have 5 sections. 
• The pattern is the same for both basic and standard mathematics. 
• The exam will be of 80 marks. Internal assessment will be of 20 marks. 
• The internal assessment is divided into 3 parts as follows:
  1. Pen Paper Test and Multiple Assessment (5+5)
  2. Lab Practical - 05 marks  
  3. Portfolio - 05 mark
• From the table given below it has become clear that you’ll have to study multiple choice questions, short answer type questions, long answer type questions and Case-based type questions.
  EduRev has got your back if you want to practise all the different types of questions mentioned above. EduRev Course for Class 10 Mathematics provides MCQ questions, Short and Long answer questions and Assertion-Reason type questions. 
• You will have to base your practice on these types of questions.
• An internal choice in 2 Questions of 2 marks, 2 Questions of 3 marks and 2 Questions of 5 marks has been provided. An internal choice has been provided in the 2 marks questions of Section E.

The following table briefly discusses the 5 sections of the exam.

The weightage of different chapters is given below:

The deleted topics are given in the table below.

If you want a complete syllabus for Class 10 subjects, then you can head over to the link CBSE Class 10 Syllabus - All Subjects 

Difference between Basic Mathematics and Standard Mathematics

• The syllabus will be the same for both types of examinations. 
• The difference is in the level of the examination - basic mathematics is easier as compared to standard mathematics. 
• Maths Basic is for students who do not want to pursue Maths in Class 11 and 12. While Maths Standard is compulsory for students who want to take up Maths in Class 11, 12 and College.

The CBSE has extended the relaxation in allowing students who passed 10th with Basic Mathematics to opt for Mathematics in Class 11 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. "As the current session has also been adversely affected by Covid, hence, it has been decided to further extend this relaxation for one year ie. 2022-23," the CBSE notice mentioned.

Step 2: Strategy to cover the Syllabus

1. Cover your syllabus from NCERT - NCERT is the most important book that you need to study to get the maximum score in the Class 10 Mathematics Exam. Solve all the examples and exercise questions multiple times. Click here to check the NCERT solutions for Class 10. 
2. Solve questions from NCERT Exemplar - After solving a chapter from NCERT, solve it from NCERT Exemplar. Exemplar consists of a good number of MCQs, which will definitely help you in attempting MCQs in the final exam. Remember MCQs will be of 20 marks, so practising MCQs is crucial.
3. Reference Books for preparation - Although NCERT Textbook and NCERT Exemplar are enough for Class 10 preparation, you can follow RD Sharma for practising different types of questions as it consists of hundreds of questions of different types.
   
   
4. Practise a variety of questions - While studying for your exam, it is important to know the types of questions that you might be asked. Different types of questions will be asked in the exam, as discussed in the section on exam pattern. Knowing different types of questions is important because it helps you solve them correctly. You can figure out the type of question by looking at the instructions. This will show you the best way to answer the question. So, make sure you practise all the type of questions. 
5. Make a Formula Book - Class 10 students should have mathematical formulas on tips in order to save time in the examination. Having a formula book is very helpful for students in Class 10, as it allows you to quickly reference important formulas and equations when solving problems. It can also be a useful study aid when reviewing for exams. So, maintain a formula book while studying new concepts. 
6. Time Management is crucial - A Class 10 student has to juggle between homework, tests and self-study, so time management becomes crucial. When you are feeling productive, do self-study. Read new concepts and practise problems at that time. Whenever you are feeling unproductive and lazy, do the homework like completing notebooks etc.
7. Practise important topics/chapters 3-4 times - Practise important topics multiple times so that your chances of getting those questions increase as there is always a probability that important questions will be asked in the exam. The summary of important chapters is given below:
   • The first step is to recognise the chapters that are high priority. Make those chapters high priority that have more weightage and are easy. 
   • Although geometry has the highest weightage, focus more on algebra as it has the second highest weightage and it has only 2 chapters. Algebra consists of 2 chapters - Polynomials and Linear Equations in Two Variables. The chapter polynomials was already done in class 9 so it will be easy to perform in this chapter as its base is already clear. 
   • The next chapter/unit that should be studied is the number system as the number system is of 06 marks and it is very easy to predict questions from this chapter. By solving previous year's questions, you can easily guess the type of questions that will come in the exam from this chapter.
   • The choice of the next units/chapters lies with the students. For some students geometry is easy and for others, mensuration may be the easier unit. The thing with geometry is that the variety of questions is a lot so students may decide to only do the easier chapters of geometry first.

The Infinity Course for Mathematics is a one-stop solution for Class 10 that offers a variety of resources such as videos, chapter notes, tests, and NCERT solutions for Class 10 Maths. Not only that it offers practise for the different types of questions in abundance. 

Step 3: Practice, Practice & Practice!

You must have heard a lot that maths is all about practice. While studying different concepts of mathematics, make sure that you are practising the questions side-by-side.  It's important to practice so you can become familiar with the different types of questions that will be on the test. Also, make sure to solve a variety of questions, including ones from the NCERT textbook and the NCERT Exemplar for Class 10 Maths. 

Analysing your performance after the tests is equally important. EduRev offers analysis and insights into a student's performance. It provides various metrics that give a comprehensive view of how you are doing on the platform. These metrics include the average percentile, which shows a student's performance relative to other students, the average rank, which shows a student's standing among other students, the total number of tests attempted, the total number of correct answers, and much more. These metrics give users a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses and help you track your progress and improvement over time.

Step 4: Focus on Practising the Structure of the Answer

One point that was emphasised by all the toppers is that the structure of the answer in the exam matters a lot. In mathematics, marks are given for steps, so the answer should be written in proper steps.
So that it becomes easier to write answers in the correct format in the exam, it is essential to practise writing answers from the start of the preparation. 

• A part of the sheet of the topper is provided below. Clearly observe the answer sheet given below to see the structure of the answer. The answer is written in proper steps like mention "given" first then "To prove" and then the proof is mentioned.
  
• Now, let’s see the answers provided by CBSE for the sample paper.
• In the answer provided above it is clear that the marks are given for steps, so answers should be written in proper steps.
• More tips regarding the format of the answer are provided in the section - ‘Exam Day tips and tricks’ of this guide.

You should check out the latest CBSE sample paper for Basic mathematics and Standard mathematics and the marking scheme for Basic mathematics and Standard mathematics to understand how answers will be marked on the basis of steps. You can also check out the answer sheets of toppers here.

Step 5: Strategy for 3 Months before the Exam Day

Now you have hopefully covered your syllabus and you are wondering “How to fully utilise the last 3 months of preparation to score 95+” marks in the exam”. You don’t have to wonder anymore as we have the perfect answer. During this time your focus should be only on two things- solving sample papers and past year papers. Now, this step has also to be done in an efficient manner. Check out the points given below to make the most of this time

1. Solve sample papers in exam setting - While solving sample papers and past year papers solve this under exam conditions so that you are fully prepared about attempting the exam. You will learn the pattern of the exam and the level of questions asked in the exam. You can check out Sample papers and Past year papers here.
2. Identify the sequence in which to attempt the exam - When you are solving sample papers and past year papers, you’ll be able to judge in which sequence you should attempt the exam. Should you attempt the section with long answers first or should you attempt MCQs first?
3. Get your answers checked by experienced teachers - When you are solving sample papers, get your answers checked by experienced teachers and ask them to point out your mistakes. In this way, you’ll get to know your weak points and you can improve them.
4. Revise your weak chapters first to become confident - While revision practise your weak chapters first so that you gain confidence in them. It will make you more confident in your preparation.
5. Use mind maps to revise topics - Mind maps are really helpful in revising the formulas and topics. Check them out here. 

If by any chance you are behind in your preparation and need to speed it up, EduRev has a complete crash course for Class 10. Check it out here. 

Important Things to Remember the Day Before the Exam

What you do on the day before the exam is equally important as what you do on the day of the exam. So to make sure that you don’t ruin your hard work by making any rookie mistakes follow the steps given below:

1. Do not study new topics - Studying new topics before the day of the exam can cause confusion. You are already feeling the pressure of the exam and sometimes when you try new topics under pressure you may not understand them, which will result in confusion and it will cause a dip in your confidence. That’s why it is important that you only revise the topics that you have already done. This will build your confidence.
2. Stay relaxed - It is very important to stay stress-free before an exam because stress can negatively impact your ability to perform at your best. 
   • When you are stressed, you may have difficulty focusing, retaining information, and recalling what you have learned. 
   • Additionally, stress can lead to physical symptoms such as headache, stomachache, and difficulty sleeping, which can further impact your performance. 
   • By staying stress-free, you can improve your chances of performing well on the exam. 
   • There are several ways you can try to stay stress-free before an exam, including getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and managing your time effectively to allow for adequate study and review. Additionally, engaging in activities that you find relaxing, such as meditation or yoga, can help reduce stress.
3. Have proper sleep - Getting enough sleep before an exam is important for a number of reasons. 
   • Sleep helps to combine your memories and process the information you have learned. 
   • It also helps to refresh and restore your body and mind, leaving you feeling more alert and energised. 
   • Lack of sleep can lead to a number of problems, including difficulty concentrating, impaired memory, and decreased ability to problem-solve. 
   • It can also lead to physical symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and decreased immune function. All of these things can negatively impact your performance on an exam. 
   • It is recommended to get 7-9 hours of sleep per night, but the exact amount of sleep you need may vary depending on your individual needs. 
   • In the days leading up to an exam, it is important to prioritise getting enough sleep to ensure that you are well-rested and ready to perform at your best.

Step 6: Do's and Don'ts for the Exam Day

It's exam day for Class 10 Mathematics! If you're feeling nervous, don't worry. Here are a few tips to help you ace the exam:

• Start your day with a healthy breakfast -  Eat a healthy breakfast the morning of the exam. A healthy breakfast will give you the energy you need to focus and do your best. 
• Review your notes(optional) - You can revise your notes if you want. You don't need to memorise every page, but going over the main points will help you on the exam. EduRev also provides tons of notes, click here.
• Use your reading time wisely - You’ll be given 15 minutes to read the question paper before the exam. During that time read the questions with choices and decide which question you will choose to avoid confusion later. Decide which section you are most confident about and attempt that at first. You can also underline units in numerical questions because then you’ll remember that these questions have units in them and you may have to convert the units. Sometimes students forget unit conversion in questions where it is required, so it is important to pay attention to this. 
• Write answers in proper format - As already discussed the writing format is crucial to get full marks for any question. Write answers in steps and draw a box around the answer at the end. In this way, the examiner can easily find the answer. While writing answers in steps, provide a reason for each step. If you are applying a formula, mention the formula. Leave proper space after each question. If time permits, draw lines after each question. 
• Write a formula if you can't solve the question - Sometimes you are not able to do calculations in a question because of a time crunch or some other reason. Do mention the formula that will be applied and you’ll get marks for the formula.
• Read the questions properly - While attempting a question, read it carefully. Do not use wrong figures, otherwise, you’ll have to solve the whole question again. It is a good habit to rationalise the terms in the end but it is not compulsory.
• Lastly, Remember to stay calm - The best way to do well is to stay focused and confident. These tips should help you make the most of your exam day. 

Tips for Parents: Provide Study Assistance to Your Kid

• It is important for parents to help their children stay organised when studying for different subjects, especially when they are also participating in extracurricular activities. 
• Grades are particularly important in Class 10, so it is necessary to plan ahead and manage time effectively to ensure that all subjects receive adequate attention. 
• One way to do this is by encouraging your child to break their work down into smaller, more manageable chunks and to create and follow a study schedule to avoid trying to cram all of their studying into one evening. 
• Taking detailed notes in class, organising those notes by subject, and reviewing them with you when you get home can also be helpful. 
• Practice tests, such as those offered through EduRev, can be a useful tool for reinforcing knowledge and identifying areas for improvement.
• After completing practice tests, it is important for your child to carefully review their results and use the assessment features offered by EduRev to identify their weaknesses and track their progress. 
• Additionally, it is essential to understand and consider your child's interests and learning style when developing their study plan. By having conversations with your child and working together to reach a mutual agreement based on their interests and preferences, you can help them feel more motivated and engaged in their studies.
• If you need guidance about how your child can prepare for Class 10, EduRev has a course dedicated to this. Check out the course How to prepare for Class 10.

If you need guidance about how you can help your child to prepare for Class 10, make sure to check out the document 9 Tips for Parents of Students Appearing for Class 10 Exams 

What is Your Future in Mathematics?

Mathematics is a field that is highly valued in a wide range of industries and can lead to a variety of rewarding career paths. From finance and technology to education and research, the skills and knowledge obtained through a mathematics degree are in high demand. Mathematics can lead to many different careers. 

• Mathematicians: A mathematician is someone who uses math to solve problems and find solutions. They use advanced mathematical theories and techniques to help in fields like science, engineering, and business.
• Statisticians: A statistician is someone who uses statistics to study data and find answers to real-world problems. They collect and analyze information to make sense of it. Statisticians may work in industries like healthcare, finance, or marketing and be involved in projects related to quality control, market research, or policy evaluation
• Data scientists and machine learning engineers: They use math and statistics to work with large amounts of data. Data scientists use these skills to extract insights from data and find answers to problems. They work in industries like healthcare, finance, or technology. Machine learning engineers, on the other hand, design and create systems that can learn and change based on data inputs. They work in a variety of industries and are employed by companies.
  

The carrer opportunities after studying matgematics are not only limited to the jobs mentioned above. These jobs can be found in industries like universities, government, healthcare, finance, and technology. Overall, a degree in mathematics can lead to a wide range of exciting and rewarding career paths and is highly valued in a variety of industries. From traditional roles such as mathematician or statistician to more emerging fields such as data science and machine learning, the possibilities are endless for those with a passion for maths.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Preparation Tips for Class 10 Maths

How should the questions be attempted in the Class 10th Maths Exam 2024-25?

If students are taking an offline subjective exam, breaking the problems down into steps can help them achieve higher grades. For example, in the CBSE Class 10th Maths Exam, step marking is applied when a question is partially solved. In such instances, marks will be awarded up until the point where the procedure is wrong. Thus, even if the answer is incorrect, students can still receive up to 3 out of 4 marks. For an in-depth answer to this question, check out the link - Strategies for Answering Different Types of Questions in Class 10 Board Exams.

What are the passing criteria for the CBSE Class 10th Maths exam 2022-23? 

33% of total marks are the minimum CBSE Class 10 passing marks. The theory part of the exam will be of 80 marks and the internal assessment will be of 20 marks.

Is NCERT enough for the Class 10 Maths exam?

To get the best score in the Class 10 Maths Exam, NCERT is the most vital book to study from. Make sure to work through the examples and exercise questions multiple times. For added assistance, you can check out the NCERT solutions for Class 10. Once finished, move on to the NCERT Exemplar for more practice - it contains numerous MCQs, which will be helpful when it comes to the final exam. Since MCQs make up 20 marks of the exam, it is vital to practise them. If you want to further hone your skills, you can also use the RD Sharma book, which is packed with various types of questions.

What is the role of the formula book for Class 10 maths?

Class 10 students should make use of a formula book in order to save time during examinations. It will enable them to quickly look up key equations and formulas when tackling questions. Additionally, it can be a useful tool when revising for exams. Therefore, it is important to keep this book with you when learning new material.