Arihant vs Oswaal: Which Is Better for Class 10 and 12? (2027 Boards)

If you are preparing for the 2027 CBSE board exams, Arihant and Oswaal are probably the two names you see most in your bookshop. Both cover Classes 9 to 12, both are revised for the 2026-27 session, and both are good books. They just do different jobs.

Quick answer: pick Arihant (its All In One series) if you want one book that teaches the chapter and then gives you practice. Pick Oswaal (its Question Bank) if you have already studied from NCERT and want the biggest set of solved past board questions to practise. For Class 10, many students use Arihant during the year and Oswaal for revision. For Class 12, Oswaal is usually the better revision book, and Arihant helps with subjects where you need the theory explained again.

What changes for the 2027 board exams

Your book should match the exam you are actually going to write. Two things matter for 2027:

• Two board exams for Class 10. Since 2026, Class 10 students take a compulsory first exam in February and can take an optional second exam in May to improve their scores. That means you need to be fully prepared by February, not March.

• About half the paper is competency-based. Theory papers now carry roughly 50% competency-based questions (case studies, source-based and application questions), about 20% MCQs and about 30% short and long answers.

So the right book is one that teaches you to apply a concept, not only to memorise an answer. Both publishers have added case-based and assertion-reason questions in their 2026-27 editions, but they still approach the exam differently.

Also read: Educart vs Oswaal: Which Is Better for Class 10 and 12? (2027 Boards)

Arihant vs Oswaal at a glance

Arihant: strengths and weaknesses

Arihant's All In One books for the 2027 exams combine NCERT-based theory, practice exercises, case-based questions (CBQs), assertion-reason questions, sample papers and mind maps in one volume. If you have missed classes or your school notes are thin, this is the book that fills the gap.

Why students like it

• You can learn the chapter and practise it from the same book.

• Theory is detailed, which helps in Social Science, English and Hindi where you have to write explanations.

• It includes sample papers, so you get some full-paper practice without buying another book.

• Arihant's i-Succeed sample paper books are a good add-on for the last month.

Where it falls short

• The books are thick. Finishing them once, let alone twice, takes discipline.

• It has fewer previous-year board questions than an Oswaal Question Bank.

Oswaal: strengths and weaknesses

Oswaal's CBSE Question Banks for the 2027 exams collect chapter-wise and topic-wise solved board papers from 2017 to 2026, including the 2026 papers fully solved, along with mind maps and revision notes. Its strength is volume: you see how CBSE has asked each topic over the years.

Why students like it

• Lots of real board questions, so there are few surprises in the exam hall.

• Answers are written in the format examiners expect, which helps you learn keywords and presentation.

• Mind maps and revision notes are handy in the last few weeks.

Where it falls short

• It does not teach the chapter in depth. You need NCERT (or Arihant) first.

• Older board questions are less competency-based than today's papers, so pair it with the latest official CBSE sample papers.

Arihant or Oswaal: which is best for Class 10?

For Class 10, the February first exam means you need concepts and practice both done early.

• If you can buy only one book per subject: choose Arihant All In One for Social Science, English and Hindi (theory-heavy), and Oswaal Question Bank for Maths and Science (practice-heavy).

• If you can buy two: study each chapter from NCERT and Arihant during the year, then switch to Oswaal from December for previous-year questions.

• If you are already strong in a subject: skip the guide and go straight to Oswaal's question bank plus the CBSE sample papers.

Arihant or Oswaal: which is best for Class 12?

Class 12 students are usually also preparing for JEE, NEET or CUET, so time is short.

• Oswaal is usually the better choice for Class 12 board revision. Its solved past papers show the depth CBSE expects in long answers, especially in Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Accountancy and Economics.

• Arihant All In One is better when you need a chapter explained again, for example in Business Studies, History or Political Science, where you have to write long, structured answers.

• If you are using coaching material for JEE or NEET, you rarely need a board guide for theory. A question bank for board-style practice is enough.

Best book by subject

These are general patterns, not rules. If one book's explanations simply make more sense to you, that is the better book for you.

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A simple plan that uses both

Whatever you buy, solve the official CBSE sample papers as well. Both publishers base their books on them.

How to choose in two minutes

1. Open the same chapter in both books, in a shop or in the publisher's free sample pages.

2. Read the explanation and try five questions from each. Which one do you understand faster?

3. Check the cover says it is for the 2027 exams (2026-27 session). Older editions miss the latest pattern.

4. Compare prices on the day you buy. Both publishers change prices and discounts with every edition.

Final verdict

There is no single winner in the Arihant vs Oswaal debate. Arihant is better for learning a chapter; Oswaal is better for practising board questions. For most Class 10 students, Arihant for theory-heavy subjects and Oswaal for Maths and Science is the best split. For Class 12, Oswaal is the stronger revision book. Writing good answers matters as much as the book you choose, so also read our paper presentation tips for board exams.

Comparing other publishers too? See our guides to Educart vs Oswaal and Arihant vs Educart.

FAQs

Which is better, Arihant or Oswaal?

Neither is better for everyone. Arihant All In One is better for learning chapters with full theory, while Oswaal Question Bank is better for practising solved previous-year board questions.

Which is better for Class 10, Oswaal or Arihant?

For Maths and Science, Oswaal is usually better because of its large set of past board questions. For Social Science, English and Hindi, Arihant All In One is usually better because of its detailed theory.

Arihant or Oswaal: which is best for Class 12?

Oswaal is generally preferred for Class 12 board revision. Arihant is useful when you need a subject's theory explained again, especially in Humanities and Commerce.

Is Oswaal better than Arihant for the board exam?

For the final months before the board exam, Oswaal is often more useful because it is built around solved board papers. Earlier in the year, Arihant helps more because it teaches the chapter first.

Should I buy the 2026-27 edition?

Yes. If you are writing the board exams in 2027, buy the edition marked for the 2027 exams so the book matches the current syllabus and question pattern.

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