As the notification popped up on students’ screens on April 15, 2026, “CBSE Class 10th Results Released,” their hearts began to beat faster. The moment was marked by a mixture of hope and apprehension. In countless homes, students were hovering over result portals, hearts racing, minds replaying every exam they had written.For Arham Jain, a student of VIBGYOR High, Gurugram, that moment became an unforgettable one. He scored 99% in his best five subjects, a near-perfect result that felt real to him too.“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” he says. “I was completely overwhelmed by my emotions.”What followed was not just relief, but recognition, an understanding of what it meant to reach a milestone after months of hidden effort. “I understand how every athlete, athlete or any other big name feels when they achieve something in life.”
A year that was about control, not chaos.
A few minutes of conversation with Arham makes one thing clear, his journey was not driven by panic or pressure but by a determined strategy.“I don’t believe in studying too long,” he says, almost matter-of-factly. “I’ve always preferred quality over quantity.”In a system where long study hours are often worn like a badge of honor, this approach stands out. Arham chose focus over fatigue, clarity over chaos.“I would just study for a few hours with full concentration, keep things clear in my mind. Don’t overcomplicate the whole learning process.”By the end of the summer, while many were still navigating their curriculum, he had already completed his curriculum. “I completed my course around August to September,” he says, a decision that allowed him to shift gears early, moving toward revision with a sense of ease rather than urgency.
Grinding after comfort
If the philosophy was simple, the execution was anything but. Arham immersed himself in the practical, tireless, organized, and purposeful. “I think I gave 50 to 70 sample papers,” he says. Each was reviewed, corrected and internalized.“It helped me understand where I was really lacking, and fix things step by step.”As it is a well-established fact that guidance plays an important and decisive role in success. . “He checked every answer, gave honest feedback, which informed me how I could improve.”
More than just books
Arham’s year was not limited to textbooks. From Model United Nations to the Indian Youth Parliament, he was active in extracurricular activities. Generally, students shy away from participating in extracurricular activities during board season, but here Arham stands as an unusual example.Extracurricular education was essential for him. “They helped me build my profile, develop my personality,” he said.What made it work was balance. Between study sessions, he turned to badminton and guitar, short breaks that carried significant weight. “I made sure I took short breaks, which helped me de-stress, and avoid too much burnout.”In a year that will test not only sanity but endurance, these moments of release can often be the difference between persistence and exhaustion.
The strength of a pressure-free environment
Perhaps the least rewarding part of Arham’s journey was his surroundings.“At home and at school, there wasn’t a lot of pressure,” he says. “My parents told me that both the exams are just like the normal exams that I have been taking since childhood.” In a culture where board exams are often elevated into life-defining events, this perspective made it groundbreaking.“The atmosphere around me was so calm, I was constantly inspired.” This allowed him to approach exams not as a burden, but as a continuation of a process he already understood.
The days that didn’t go as planned.
Even the near-perfect journey had its cracks, days when motivation waned, focus waned. “Yes, there were many days when I didn’t feel like studying,” he admits. “I used to sit with my books many times, but I didn’t feel like studying.”Instead of forcing productivity, he chose honesty. “I will pursue hobbies like guitar, badminton, going out and walking.”In exam preparation, we cannot forget to be human. There is something deeply human about choosing to walk away when the going gets overwhelming.There is something profoundly human about this choice, to walk away rather than go through exhaustion. This reflects the understanding that many students come in too late: this rest is not a distraction, but a necessity.
Facing vulnerability without fear
99% of mercy does not come from avoiding hardship. It came from facing it. “Initially… there were some subjects that scared me a lot, like Hindi,” he says.But he refused to let it remain a weakness. “I didn’t ignore it; instead, I worked harder on those subjects, so that it wouldn’t become a point that pulled me down.”By the end, there were no weak subjects left, only areas that he had strengthened through effort and perseverance.
When the result finally came
Despite consistently performing well in tests and practice papers, Arham had a realistic expectation for himself. “I was expecting more than 95 percent result,” he says. But 99% was something else entirely.Numbers embellished the moment. And like many students who achieve something extraordinary, his first reaction was disbelief, followed by a wave of emotions that words can only partially capture.
Did it really matter?
When asked to break down his success into a few principles, Arham doesn’t overcomplicate it. “Quality over quantity, a balanced routine, faith in my teachers, and a relaxed environment.”But there’s something deeper beneath those words, a consistency that doesn’t demand perfection, just perseverance. He also takes a moment to acknowledge those who stood by him.“I am extremely grateful to the teachers, my parents, my younger sister. Everyone played a very important role.”
A message that cuts through the noise.
For students now embarking on the same cycle of preparation, his advice is refreshingly grounded. “Don’t study for long hours, break it up into small shifts. Be consistent even if you don’t want to study and don’t overcomplicate the whole board process, try to stay calm.”In a landscape full of strategies and shortcuts, his words carry a certain clarity, almost an assurance.
Beyond the conclusion
With the board exams behind him, Arham is already looking ahead. “I aspire to be an environmental engineer and earth scientist.” For now, he has opted for PCM with Computer Science, a step towards a bigger goal that he describes as something he is “slowly” working towards.There is no haste in his tone, no urgency to declare victory. Just a steady, deliberate forward movement.
More than a score
As the results season continues, stories like Arham Jain’s presentation cannot but score, a glimpse into the emotional and mental landscape of a board exam student.Because behind every 99% is not just hard work, but doubt, discipline, small breaks, moments of inspiration, and the courage to keep going, even on days when nothing moves.And perhaps that’s what truly defines success, not just the mark on the screen, but the journey it took to get there.
