NCERT vs Reference Books — Do You Really Need Both?
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NCERT vs Reference Books — Do You Really Need Both?
This is one of the most common questions students and parents ask at the start of every school year.
Some people say NCERT is enough for everything. Others say you can't survive without reference books. Teachers give different opinions. Seniors give different opinions. And by the end of it, most students are more confused than when they started.
So let's settle this properly — in plain, simple language, without any confusion.
First, what exactly is NCERT?
NCERT stands for National Council of Educational Research and Training. They publish the official textbooks that CBSE schools follow — from Class 1 all the way to Class 12.
When your teacher says "read the chapter from your textbook," that textbook is most likely an NCERT book.
NCERT books cover the exact syllabus that CBSE has set. Nothing extra, nothing missing. They are written clearly, the concepts are explained properly, and the questions at the end of each chapter are the kind that directly appear in board exams.
In short — NCERT is the foundation. Everything else sits on top of it.
Then what is a reference book?
A reference book is any book written by an author or publisher that is not part of the official NCERT set.
RD Sharma for Maths. HC Verma for Physics. OP Tandon for Chemistry. Lakhmir Singh for Science. Arihant guides. S. Chand publications. These are all reference books.
Reference books usually have:
- More practice questions than NCERT
- Extra explanations for concepts that students find difficult
- Different types of questions — multiple choice, assertion-reason, case-based — that help with exam preparation
- Sometimes, shortcuts and tricks for solving problems faster
They are not a replacement for NCERT. They are an addition to it.
So do you need both?
The honest answer is — it depends on what you are studying for and which subject we are talking about.
Let's break it down subject by subject, because the answer is different for each one.
Maths
This is where the NCERT vs reference book debate is most heated.
NCERT Maths books are genuinely good. The concepts are explained well, and the exercises cover the important topics. If a student solves all NCERT exercises properly — not just copies them, but actually solves them — they will have a solid base.
But here is the catch. NCERT Maths has limited practice questions. For a subject like Maths, practice is everything. The more problems you solve, the better you get. NCERT alone does not give you enough variety.
This is where RD Sharma or RS Aggarwal comes in. These books have hundreds of extra practice problems at every difficulty level. Students who want to score 90+ in Maths almost always use one of these alongside NCERT.
So for Maths — yes, you need both. NCERT to understand concepts clearly, and RD Sharma or RS Aggarwal to practice enough.
Science (Class 9 and 10)
NCERT Science is excellent for boards. Most of the questions that come in Class 9 and 10 board exams are directly from NCERT — the diagrams, the definitions, the in-text questions, the back-exercise questions.
If a student studies NCERT Science thoroughly, they can score very well in boards without any reference book.
However — and this is important — if your school or coaching also tests you on MCQs, extra numerical problems, or additional questions beyond NCERT, then a reference book like Lakhmir Singh helps a lot.
So for Science in Class 9 and 10 — NCERT is enough for board exams. A reference book helps if you want extra practice or your school tests beyond NCERT.
Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Class 11 and 12)
This is where things change significantly.
NCERT is absolutely essential for Class 11 and 12 — especially for board exams. In fact, for Biology particularly, NCERT is the most important book. Almost every board question in Biology comes directly from NCERT text, diagrams, and tables.
But NCERT alone is not enough for students who are also preparing for JEE or NEET alongside boards.
For JEE Physics — HC Verma is considered the go-to reference book. The problems in HC Verma are much harder than NCERT and prepare students for the kind of thinking JEE requires.
For JEE Chemistry — OP Tandon or NCERT Exemplar problems are commonly used alongside NCERT.
For NEET Biology — NCERT is the primary book, but students often use a question bank or guide book for extra MCQ practice.
So for Class 11 and 12 — NCERT is the base for everyone. Reference books become necessary if you are also targeting JEE or NEET.
Social Science and History
For Social Science in Class 9 and 10, and History, Geography, Political Science in Class 11 and 12 — NCERT is king.
These subjects are almost entirely NCERT-based in board exams. Questions are directly lifted from NCERT text. Maps are from NCERT. Even the language of the answers that examiners expect is NCERT language.
You do not need a reference book for these subjects if your goal is board exams. A good set of notes made from NCERT, regular revision, and previous year question papers is all you need.
Some students use guide books or question answer books for these subjects — that is fine as a supplement, but do not let it replace your NCERT reading.
English
NCERT English textbooks — Beehive, Honeydew, First Flight, Flamingo, Vistas — are the only books you need for board exams.
The questions in board exams come entirely from these textbooks. Grammar sections are covered in NCERT. Writing sections — letters, articles, notices — are standard formats that do not need a reference book.
What students actually need for English is not a reference book. They need to read the NCERT chapters properly, understand the stories and poems, and practice writing answers in their own words.
No reference book needed for English.
The one mistake students make
Many students buy reference books at the start of the year, feel good about it, and then barely open them — while also not finishing their NCERT properly.
This is the worst of both worlds.
An unfinished NCERT is a much bigger problem than not having a reference book. If you have to choose between finishing NCERT properly and buying a reference book you won't fully use — finish NCERT.
The right order is always: NCERT first, reference book second.
A simple guide to help you decide
Here is a quick summary so you don't have to re-read the whole post every time:
| Subject | NCERT enough for boards? | Reference book needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Maths (all classes) | Partially — needs more practice | Yes — RD Sharma or RS Aggarwal |
| Science (Class 9–10) | Yes — mostly | Only for extra MCQ practice |
| Physics (Class 11–12) | For boards, yes. For JEE, no | HC Verma for JEE prep |
| Chemistry (Class 11–12) | For boards, yes. For JEE, no | OP Tandon or Exemplar for JEE |
| Biology (Class 11–12) | Yes — especially for NEET | Question bank for NEET MCQ practice |
| Social Science / History | Yes — completely | Not needed |
| English | Yes — completely | Not needed |
What if you can't afford both?
This is a real concern for many families, and it deserves a straight answer.
If budget is tight — prioritise NCERT. Always. Buy NCERT first for every subject. Then, if there is money left, buy a reference book only for the subjects where your child struggles the most. Usually that is Maths.
You do not need to buy reference books for every subject. A focused purchase — NCERT for everything, RD Sharma only for Maths — will serve most students very well.
At KitabKopy, we carry both NCERT textbooks and all the popular reference books — RD Sharma, RS Aggarwal, HC Verma, Lakhmir Singh, and more. If you are not sure which edition or which book to pick, just WhatsApp us and we will help you sort it in a few minutes.
The bottom line
NCERT is not optional. For any student in a CBSE school, NCERT is the most important set of books they own. No reference book can replace it.
Reference books are useful — but only when NCERT is already being studied properly. Think of reference books as extra practice, not a shortcut or a substitute.
For most students targeting board exams: NCERT is enough for most subjects, with a reference book only for Maths.
For students also targeting JEE or NEET: NCERT plus one good reference book per core science subject.
That is the honest answer. Now go study.
Ab Sab Padhega.
Need help picking the right books for your class and board? Message us on WhatsApp — we will help you put together the right list without overbuying.