Preparing for Class 12 CBSE boards can feel heavy, but picking the right books makes everything clearer. This guide lists the Best Reference Books for Class 12 (subject-wise) & explains why each book helps, and tells you how to use them with the NCERT. I’ve checked trusted education sites and NCERT resources to give you a practical, exam-focused list.
Quick rule: NCERT first, reference books second
Always start with NCERT textbooks & exemplar problems. CBSE sets exams from the NCERT syllabus, so a strong NCERT foundation is the best way to score better board marks. Use reference books only to practice more questions and check different explanations.
How to use this list
- Read NCERT thoroughly (theory + examples).
- Use the recommended reference book to practise chapter-wise questions and tougher problems.
- Solve previous years’ board papers and sample papers (from CBSE/Oswaal/MTG).
- Make short notes and revise formulas/definitions weekly.
Subject-wise: Best Reference Books for Class 12
Best Reference Books for Class 12 Physics
- H.C. Verma — Concepts of Physics (Vol. 1 & 2) — Best for building core concepts and clear derivations. Great for conceptual clarity and numerical practice.
- D.C. Pandey / Arihant (Objective + Subjective) — Good for additional practice and board-style questions.
- Pradeep’s Fundamental Physics — Class 12 — Useful for concise theory and solved examples.
Why these? They explain steps clearly and give many solved problems that mimic board patterns.
Best Reference Books for Class 12 Chemistry
- NCERT Chemistry (Part 1 & 2) — Must-read. Clear theory and examples.
- O.P. Tandon — Physical, Organic & Inorganic Chemistry — Excellent for deeper practice and understanding reaction mechanisms.
- Pradeep’s Chemistry for Class XII — Good mix of theory + practice sets aligned to CBSE needs.
Tip: Use NCERT for theory, exemplar for tricky questions, and Tandon/Pradeep for abundant practice.
Best Reference Books for Class 12 Mathematics
- RD Sharma — Mathematics for Class 12 — Very strong for topic-wise practice and step-by-step methods.
- R.S. Aggarwal / ML Khanna (select chapters) — For extra practice problems and quick drills.
- A. Das Gupta — Problems Plus in IIT Mathematics — Optional: for students aiming at competitive exams (helps deepen problem skills).
For Maths, finishing one good reference (RD Sharma) and solving CBSE previous papers often gives top marks.
Best Reference Books for Class 12 Biology
- NCERT Biology (Class 12) — Primary book for diagrams, definitions and board questions.
- Trueman’s Objective Biology / Pradeep’s Biology — Great for additional practice and longer answers.
Use NCERT diagrams and labelled figures — they are frequently used in exams.
Best Reference Books for Class 12 Accountancy / Commerce
- T.S. Grewal — Accountancy for Class 12 — Clear theory and excellent practice questions.
- DK Goel — Accountancy (Class 12) — Popular for step-by-step solution style and sample problems.
- S. Chand / Arihant question banks — For quick revision and model answers.
Best Reference Books for Class 12 English (Core)
- NCERT Flamingo & Vistas — Read and annotate every chapter. NCERT questions often repeat in exams.
- Wren & Martin (grammar) / Oswaal literature guides — For practice in grammar and long-answer writing.
Books for board practice & previous year papers
- Oswaal CBSE Sample Papers / MTG 100% Series / Arihant All-in-One — Use these for timed practice, full-length papers and marking scheme familiarity. Doing 5–10 timed papers before boards builds speed and confidence.
Choosing Books based on your Study Goals
- Target: Score in board exams (90% +) — NCERT + one subject-wise reference (RD Sharma for Maths, H.C. Verma for Physics, O.P. Tandon/Pradeep for Chemistry) + 6–8 solved sample papers.
- Target: Boards + Competitive exams (NEET/IIT-JEE/CUET) — Add advanced books (Problems Plus, HC Verma, extra NCERT practice) and previous competitive papers.
- If you’re weak in a subject — Pick a simple concept book (Pradeep/MTG simplified series) and practice incremental problems daily.
Buy the latest editions – CBSE updates syllabi and sometimes books get revised. Always buy the latest edition/reprint of any reference book and check that it follows the current CBSE syllabus. For NCERT e-books, use the NCERT official portal.
Practical study schedule
- Week 1–8: Finish NCERT theory + examples for each chapter.
- Week 9–14: Solve chapter-wise questions from a reference book.
- Week 15–20: Solve 1 full sample paper weekly + revise weak chapters.
- Final 2 weeks: Quick revision notes + 2 timed papers + formula list review.
Final Tips
- NCERT is non-negotiable — read it twice.
- Pick one good reference per subject — don’t collect too many books.
- Focus on previous years’ board questions; CBSE repeats themes.
- Use exemplar and sample papers for higher-order thinking problems.