Buy Used School Books Online in India — Class 9, 10, IGCSE and Cambridge Guide 2026

Every year, millions of Indian families spend tens of thousands of rupees on school textbooks. For families with children in CBSE schools, IGCSE schools, or Cambridge Lower Secondary programmes, the annual textbook bill is one of the larger education expenses outside of tuition fees themselves.

Used school books are one of the most rational purchases in Indian education. The content of a Class 9 Mathematics textbook does not change from year to year. The NCERT syllabus and the Cambridge IGCSE syllabus are stable. A textbook used by a student two years ago is fully valid for a student today in most subjects.

How Much Do Used School Books Cost Compared to New?

Savings vary by subject and board but are consistently significant:

• CBSE NCERT books: These are officially priced low, but school-mandated supplementary publishers (S. Chand, R.D. Sharma, H.C. Verma) can be expensive. Used H.C. Verma typically costs ₹200–400 versus ₹600–900 new
• Cambridge IGCSE textbooks (OUP, CUP): New ₹1,800–₹3,500. Used from ₹600–₹1,800
• Cambridge Lower Secondary books (Collins, OUP): New ₹1,500–₹2,200. Used from ₹700–₹1,100
• IB MYP textbooks: New ₹3,500–₹7,000. Used from ₹1,200–₹3,000

Which School Books Are Safe to Buy Used?

Always safe

• Core textbooks for stable subjects: Mathematics, English Language, Literature, Geography, History, Economics
• Any textbook edition published within the past 3 years for most boards
• Reference books that are not written into (H.C. Verma, R.D. Sharma, S. Chand supplementaries)

Check carefully before buying

• Computer Science textbooks — technology syllabus updates more frequently
• Any book published more than 4 years ago — cross-check against current syllabus

Always buy new

• Workbooks and activity books that students write in
• Past paper compilations — download these free from official board websites

Cambridge IGCSE School Books Available Used in India

The most commonly available Cambridge titles in Indian used bookstores include:

• Complete Mathematics for Cambridge IGCSE (OUP)
• Complete First Language English (OUP)
• Complete Geography for Cambridge IGCSE (OUP)
• Cambridge IGCSE Additional Mathematics by Sue Pemberton
• Cambridge Lower Secondary Complete Global Perspectives
• Collins Cambridge Lower Secondary Mathematics Stage 9
• Cambridge Lower Secondary English Learner’s Book

Browse the School Books collection at The Chapter Room for current availability.

Where to Buy Used School Books Online in India

The Chapter Room

Mumbai-based, ships pan India. Specialises in Cambridge IGCSE, Lower Secondary, and IB textbooks alongside fiction and non-fiction. All books graded and described honestly. Free shipping above ₹500. Browse: thechapterroom.in/collections/school-books

School Networks

Most schools have informal textbook exchange networks through parent WhatsApp groups. This can produce the cheapest prices but requires being in the right network at the right time.

OLX and Local Marketplaces

For NCERT and CBSE books specifically, OLX has reasonable local listings in most cities. Prices are low but quality is unverified and most transactions require in-person pickup.

Tips for Buying Used School Books

• Buy the textbook, not the answer key: Some sellers bundle answer keys that are heavily annotated. The textbook itself is what you need
• Check the school’s specific edition requirement: Some schools mandate a specific publisher edition. Confirm with your school before ordering
• Order early: July and August are peak demand months for school books. Order in May or June before stock depletes
• Buy multiple books from one store: Free shipping thresholds (like The Chapter Room’s ₹500 minimum) reward buying multiple titles at once

How to Order Used School Books with Home Delivery in India

The Chapter Room dispatches within 24 hours and delivers across India in 3 to 5 business days. Orders above ₹500 ship free. Cash on Delivery is available with a ₹30 handling fee.

Browse all used school and IGCSE books with pan India delivery →