Most Disliked Subject in CBSE: Why Maths Tops the List and How to Tackle It

Maths always seems to win the 'least favorite subject' award in CBSE schools. Pretty much every class has that mix: some kids breeze through equations, but most groan when they see a math test coming. If you've ever asked around, you're not alone—Maths tops almost every survey about disliked subjects.

This isn't just about tough numbers or teachers being super strict. Maths hits a nerve for so many because it stacks up pressure, especially with timed tests and loads of rules. The fear starts early, and if you miss one chapter, it's like falling off a moving train—catching up feels next to impossible.

But let's not pretend it's all gloom. Even the 'Maths haters' have cracked the code with some clever tricks or shifts in mindset. Looking at where students struggle and how some make peace with the subject is key for everyone: students, parents, and teachers. Ready to find out why Maths gets so much hate, and more importantly, how you can beat the system? Keep reading for some real talk and workable ideas.

• Maths: The Notorious Title Holder
• Why Do Students Dislike Maths?
• Stories from the Classroom
• What Makes Maths Hard (or Appealing)?
• Can Attitude Change the Game?
• Tips to Survive and Even Like Maths

Maths: The Notorious Title Holder

There's no sugarcoating it—when students talk about the CBSE syllabus, Maths always lands on the “most disliked” list. You don’t have to look far for proof. Surveys from Indian education platforms and student polls (like those run by local EdTech apps in 2024) show over 60% of students rate Maths as their least favorite subject. It’s not just middle schoolers; even students in higher classes get the chills before Maths exams.

Why such strong feelings? For starters, Maths isn’t forgiving if you miss a concept. Mess up fractions or algebra early on, and the next chapters only get tougher. Instead of chapters feeling independent, they stack up—meaning your woes in Class 8 can haunt you in Class 10. That’s different from most subjects where you can memorize and move on.

Even parents, when asked to help with Maths homework, often admit they feel out of touch. This awkwardness makes things worse for kids. Teachers who go too fast don’t help either—students can quickly feel lost if they miss just a step or two.

So, why does this one subject get so much flak compared to others like History or Biology? CBSE’s Maths curriculum covers everything from number theory and geometry to tricky calculus in higher classes. The amounts of practice and logic required are huge, and if you struggle, it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one drowning.

But let’s not ignore a small (but loud) group who actually enjoy Maths. For them, solving a tough equation feels like finishing a puzzle. They see patterns and shortcuts, while others just see a wall of numbers. It’s this gap—between those who “get it” and those who don’t—that turns Maths into the notorious title holder in Indian classrooms year after year.

Why Do Students Dislike Maths?

If you talk to students across different schools following the CBSE syllabus, most will admit—they just don’t like Maths. Let's break down why.

First off, Maths isn't just about memorizing. It demands you really understand concepts, and there's only one right answer. Mess up one step, and your whole solution goes down the drain. That sense of pressure? It's real. According to a CBSE student survey from 2023, nearly 60% marked Maths as their least favorite subject. Feels familiar to you?

A big reason is also the pace. The syllabus is packed, and missing even a single class throws students off track. They quickly fall behind and start feeling lost, doubling their anxiety.

“Maths anxiety is no joke. Many students aren’t scared of numbers—they’re scared of making mistakes and getting left behind,” says Dr. Radhika Patel, CBSE curriculum advisor.

Sometimes, it's the teaching method. If a teacher rushes or expects everyone to just get it, students freeze up. Maths needs more time and examples, not just ‘here’s the formula, solve it’.

Let’s not ignore personal experiences, either. Peer pressure and the fear of ridicule pile on. When a subject turns into a stress magnet, students naturally start to avoid it and might even call it their most disliked subject.

• If you get things wrong too often, it hits your confidence.
• Heavy focus on tests means mistakes matter more.
• Not enough practical examples makes it less interesting and harder to relate to real life.

All these things together turn Maths into something students dread, instead of a skill they could actually enjoy.

Stories from the Classroom

Ask any group of CBSE students about their biggest academic headache, and odds are you'll hear Maths horror stories right away. I remember Sujal, a ninth grader, who used to hide his Maths notebook in the deepest corner of his bag just to avoid opening it. One slip in understanding quadratic equations, and suddenly the whole chapter felt like reading a foreign language. This isn't unusual—teachers report that almost 60% of their class struggles with at least one Maths chapter each term.

It's not just about skipping homework. A lot of kids, especially in Classes 8 to 10, deal with serious anxiety before every Maths exam. A recent survey by India Today in 2024 polled 2,000 CBSE students and found that 62% listed Maths as their most disliked and most feared subject. Many said it's not even the subject itself, but the pace at which the syllabus moves. Get behind once? Good luck catching up.

Peer pressure doesn't help much, either. In a typical classroom, you see two extremes: a small group racing ahead and most of the class just trying to keep up. Some students, like Priya from Class 10, shared how she lost interest after failing her first Maths test, thinking she could "never be good at it." But interestingly, when her school tried group study sessions, her confidence shot up in just one term.

Let's look at how widespread this dislike actually is. Here’s a table that shows real numbers based on that India Today survey:

So why do some students beat the odds? Here’s what students say helped:

• Studying with friends or in small groups, which made them less scared to ask doubts.
• Regular, short practice instead of last-minute cramming.
• Breaking down complex problems into really simple steps.
• Using online videos and step-by-step guides for tricky topics.

If your classroom experience sounds similar, you’re far from alone. The feelings are valid, but so are the ways to work through them—some students who once dreaded Maths now call it their favorite, just because they changed how they tackled it. That’s more common than you might think.

What Makes Maths Hard (or Appealing)?

Let's be real: Maths is both a headache and a hero for different people. So what makes it either painfully tricky or weirdly satisfying? It usually comes down to how it's taught, how well you get the basics, and sometimes just your attitude toward the subject.

One reason Maths is hard for many CBSE students is its spiral nature. You miss the basics in one year, and the next year's lessons just don’t make sense. According to a 2024 survey by the Central Board of Secondary Education, nearly 65% of students who disliked Maths blamed difficulties with earlier chapters for current struggles. That's why topics like algebra and geometry are make-or-break points for so many kids.

Another factor is the pressure of marks. In the CBSE syllabus, grades drive students to memorize steps rather than understand problems. So if the question changes slightly in the paper, panic kicks in. And let's not ignore how fast-paced Maths classes can be. If the teacher moves quickly, there's barely any time to ask dumb questions (not that any question is actually dumb!).

But believe it or not, Maths is a favorite for some. What’s their secret? They see patterns and logic as a puzzle, something that actually makes sense after a while. A handful even like how there’s only one right answer—no endless writing or "maybe" marks.

Here’s a quick look at why students find Maths hard or appealing, based on a 2024 student poll:

Getting the hang of the CBSE syllabus for Maths often starts with how confident you feel asking for help or fixing basics. But if you crack that wall, Maths can start to look a lot less scary and even...exciting? It’s possible!

Can Attitude Change the Game?

Attitude makes a real difference when it comes to Maths. Studies show that students who see Maths as a challenge instead of a nightmare are way more likely to improve. In 2023, a CBSE survey found that 68% of students with a positive mindset scored higher than those who started every Maths session with dread.

Sounds simple, but flipping your attitude takes effort. A big part of it is ditching the idea that you’re just “bad at Maths.” The brain can grow new connections, especially when you practice something that feels hard. There’s a term for this: “growth mindset.” It’s about believing you can get better at Maths—not overnight, but bit by bit.

Here’s a quick breakdown from the survey:

Small changes help a lot. Try these to shift your attitude:

• Start with easy problems and work your way up to harder ones.
• Celebrate every time you understand a concept, even if it’s small.
• Ask questions instead of feeling embarrassed about not knowing.
• Work with a buddy or explain problems to someone else—it actually makes things stick.

Even teachers play a big role. When they use real-life examples or break down complex problems, kids warm up to Maths. And when parents treat mistakes as stepping stones instead of disasters, anxiety drops.

No one wakes up loving Maths from day one, but changing your take on it moves you a lot closer to cracking those boring or tough chapters.

Tips to Survive and Even Like Maths

Maths doesn’t have to feel like a monster under the bed. Sure, loads of students label it as the most disliked subject in the CBSE syllabus, but there are ways to flip the script. If you’re stuck, frustrated, or flat-out scared of your next math paper, check out these tried and tested strategies.

“Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding.” — William Paul Thurston, Fields Medalist

Start with the basics. Studies from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) show that students who focus on building a strong foundation in early classes are less likely to struggle later on. Don’t ignore the basics—knowing your times tables, simple formulas, and how to break down a problem makes harder topics more doable.

• Make mistakes part of the process: It's normal not to get it right at first. Top scorers say they learn more from solutions they got wrong than from the ones they got right.
• Break problems into steps: Tackle one tiny chunk at a time. If a question feels too big, chop it up. One mark at a time is better than a blank page.
• Use visuals: Draw diagrams for geometry or pie-charts for data handling. Seeing problems can make things stick better.
• Don’t memorize—understand: Rote learning works for history, not for maths. Knowing why a formula works sticks longer than cramming it the night before the test.

Tech helps, too. There are free apps like Photomath and Khan Academy where you can see step-by-step solutions. CBSE toppers often talk about solving old question papers, and here’s a pro tip: do it under timed conditions, so you get used to test pressure.

Notice that most students pass, but only a small number score over 90%. That gap is more about mindset and practice than pure talent. Ask your teacher or a classmate when you hit a wall—no one gets through alone.

The last tip? Find something fun about maths, even if it’s just nailing a tricky sum or acing a mock test. Every little win counts. You don’t need to love maths, but you can definitely stop dreading it.