CSC: For NCERTs we would recommend you:

1. Give a quick (novel like) reading to the chapters.
2. Read it again and this time underline what seems important.
3. Now note down only what seems important even out of the underlined ones.

Now what you will have is summed up notes and when you revise them just highlight the facts with highlighter which you forget again and again.

Detailed Explanation:

• You should move to reference books only after reading NCERTs. But it’s not any hard and fast rule. But it helps a lot in grasping the content of reference books when you're done with NCERTs.

Pre-Reading Work:

• With a stop watch, note down how much time you take to read 5 pages of any NCERT book. Find the average time and keep a note of it. Now when you start reading any new class NCERT, just note down the number of pages and multiply your average time and have an idea of time to complete the NCERT.

1st Reading:

• Skip all the stuff written in image along the sides or cartoon characters speaking.
• Keep a pencil in your hand while reading (if reading from hard copy) OR just highlight (in case of soft copy) and mark all difficult/new words as you read. Later, once the 1st reading is done then find the meanings and keep note of them. If you want to save the meanings of the new words then please make separate sections for Economy, Geography, etc. It can be applied while reading ‘The Hindu’. Vocabulary is important, so don't ignore on this one. But don't do research work, do it in minimum time. Use Word Web software, its free and best.
• For now, only answer the fill in the blanks or match the column questions orally and move ahead. It can help in tracking whether you remember or not.

2nd Reading:

• To be done after a preferred gap of 2 days and at max 4 days after 1st reading.
• Before reading, try to recollect what all you remember from that chapter, talk it out to yourself as if you are telling someone sitting in front of you. Mark the important areas or underline the lines which you feel are important.
• Do make a note of words which still bother you. Once reading is done, find the meanings and keep a note of it in the respective section and revise it regularly.
• Now, after reading the entire NCERT of that particular standard, if you feel you know the contents of it well, then no need for 3rd reading. But if you want to read it once more then,

3rd Reading:

• To be done again with gap of 2-4 days after 2nd reading.
• Time required for third reading will be very less, as you have already read the NCERT twice. So just do the skimming of the chapters and finish it off.
• Underline, if you find some new, important stuff.

We hope, this will help you in your studies and you make the most of the NCERTs. Best of luck.