CBSE 10th Topper Interview 2026: Mili Rajesh (98.8%) Shares Preparation Strategy & Tips

CBSE 10th Topper Interview 2026 - CBSE has released the CBSE Class 10 result 2026 on April 15, 2026. Mili Rajesh, a student of National Public School, Indira Nagar, Bangalore KK (45004) scored 494 marks (98.8%) and got a position among the CBSE Class 10 top performers 2026. She scored 100 marks in English and French, 99 in SST, 99 in maths standard and 97 marks in Science. In this interview, she shared her preparation strategy and academic journey during the year.

Q: First of all, congratulations on your performance in the CBSE Class 10 results 2026. Can you tell us something about yourself?

A: Thank you so much! I come from a family that truly values education. Both my parents are engineers, so there was always a supportive environment for learning at home. My older sister, Maya Rajesh, was also a board topper with a 99.2%, and she has been my biggest inspiration. I am currently a JEE aspirant and take my academics very seriously, but I also believe it is important to have hobbies. I am a classical dancer, and I love to paint as well.

Q: What was your reaction after seeing the result?

A: I was very happy with my results; they are a culmination of everything I have worked towards over the past year. To be honest, I was hoping for a slightly higher score, but I am still grateful for what I achieved.

Marksheet image of Mili Rajesh (CBSE Class 10 Top Performer 2026)

Q: Can you share your daily schedule and exam preparation strategy?

A: My exam strategy was not about studying for long hours, but about making sure the hours I put in were meaningful. I made sure I didn't cut corners and simply worked hard.

Q: Which books did you use during your exam preparation?

A: NCERT is the go-to prep material for CBSE. Everything you need for the exams is right there in those pages. However, once I felt confident with the concepts, I used Previous Year Question (PYQ) papers as a primary resource. This helped me understand which sub-topics featured prominently in previous exams from each chapter. They are essential for learning how to frame answers effectively within the time limit.

Q: Did you face any difficulties during your preparation journey?

A: Science was probably my biggest challenge because of the conceptual understanding required. I had also begun preparing for my engineering entrance exams, so balancing that with board preparation was quite challenging.

Q: Did you feel stressed sometimes during the preparation? If yes, how did you de-stress yourself?

A: Of course. This was the first public exam of my life, so there was certainly some pressure. However, I dealt with it through my hobbies. I am a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, which is an art form that teaches you balance, discipline, stamina, and time management.

Q: How was your experience while appearing for the board exams?

A: There was a bit of nervousness going in, but my school, NPS Indiranagar, Bangalore, had prepared us extremely well with mock exams and internal resources. I am very grateful to my teachers for making this happen.

Q: What were your subjects, and among them, which is your favourite subject?

A: Mathematics, definitely! I love that it’s tricky and requires constant focus. It forces you to stay on your toes and provides a great sense of satisfaction when a difficult problem finally clicks.

Q: Did you appear for any competitive or entrance examination, and how was your performance in it?

A: Not yet, but I am preparing for that next challenge in 2028.

Q: What are your future goals? And are you also planning to appear for the Phase 2 exams in May?

A: I want to have a career that combines science and creativity. I hope to be studying in a top engineering college in two years, pursuing my dreams. I’m excited about the challenge ahead! I will not be appearing for the Phase 2 exam.

Q: Did you take coaching for the exam? What are the benefits of coaching, according to you?

A: No, I found that my teachers at school were more than enough.

Q: Any tips for the students who are going to appear in exams next year?

A: My biggest advice is to dream big and don't wait for the end of the year to start working toward it! Another piece of advice is that details matter. Don’t cut corners, and take your school labs, projects, and internal exams seriously—they build the foundation for your final performance.