There are plenty of synonyms for the phrase "takes ten", which refers to an action that requires approximately ten units of time or effort. Some potential alternatives include "takes a while", "takes some time", "takes longer than expected", "takes a bit", or "takes up to ten minutes". Depending on the context, other options might include "takes too long", "takes forever", or "takes no time at all". These synonyms can help to vary your language and avoid repetition in your writing, especially when discussing processes or tasks that involve a measurable amount of time.