From Pre-Board Tears to 99.6%: CBSE Topper Gunnika Khurana’s Story of Grit

 CBSE Class 10 topper Gunnika Khurana turned anxiety into success through discipline, smart study, and support.

When the Central Board of Secondary Education declared the Class 10 results on April 15, 2026, thousands of students refreshed their screens with racing hearts. Among them was Gunnika Khurana, who would soon emerge as one of the top scorers with an impressive 99.6%. But her journey was not without moments of doubt and vulnerability.

Just a day before her pre-board exams, Gunnika found herself overwhelmed. “I started crying,” she recalled, describing a moment that resonates with countless students facing academic pressure. It was her parents’ reassurance that helped her regain composure—a reminder that emotional support can be as critical as academic preparation.

Unlike the stereotype of toppers studying endlessly, Gunnika focused on consistency rather than clocking hours. Starting her preparation in Grade 9, she built a disciplined routine centred on to-do lists and efficient study sessions. “I did not count hours,” she said. “Discipline and staying calm under pressure matter more.”

Her strategy was simple yet effective—thorough reading of NCERT textbooks, making mind maps and flowcharts, and practising past-year papers. For challenging subjects like Social Science, she relied on active recall techniques, often engaging in rapid-fire questioning sessions with her father.

Importantly, Gunnika did not ignore burnout. When overwhelmed, she took breaks, spending time with family to recharge. “Stepping away helped me come back with fresh energy,” she shared, emphasising the importance of balance.

Her story highlights a crucial lesson: success is not built on perfection, but on persistence. Beyond her marks, Gunnika advocates emotional honesty—encouraging students to seek help and express their struggles rather than suppress them.

Now aiming to pursue engineering and prepare for JEE, her journey continues. But her story already stands as a powerful reminder—behind every high score lies discipline, resilience, and the courage to push through moments of doubt.