Maharashtra achieves 100% pass success in ICSE, Pune girl among 4 all-India toppers

MUMBAI: A year with two board exams-each a different format-saw Maharashtra emerging with a joint national topper and 100% success in the ICSE (class X exams of CISCE). The national success rate was at 99.97%.
Hargun Matharu of Pune's St Mary's School (499 out of 500-99.8%) shared the top rank with three UP students. The second rank was shared by 34 students (99.6%), with nine of them from Mumbai.
The merit list saw a three-fold jump with 110 students bagging the top three ranks, compared to 2019 when only 36 made it to the list. In Maharashtra, 37 students secured the top three ranks, more than double than 2019's 16. And 32 of them are from MMR. No merit list was announced in 2020 and 2021.
The high scoring results come as a worry for SSC students seeking admissions in Mumbai's top junior colleges as the state board saw its elite club of 90%ers shrink.
ICSE students shine, many schools in city record high number of 90%-plus scorers
Many ICSE schools in the city have recorded a high number of 90%+ scorers. Hiranandani School in Powai had 60% of their students scoring above 90%. In the merit list, a total of 110 students bagged the all-India top three ranks in the results declared by the Council For the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Sunday. While four shared the top rank, the second rank was shared by 34 and the third by 74 students across the country.
Hargun Matharu of Pune’s St Mary’s School, who secured the top rank with three others, said, “I was expecting good marks, but never expected to be sharing the all-India top rank.” Hargun (16) plans to take up science and pursue engineering or pure science research. The school head girl lost one mark in English. Atotal of 2.31 lakh students took and passed ICSE exams.
In Maharashtra, 26,083 students from 245 schools wrote both the board exams. Though more boys appeared for the exams, girls outperformed with a near 100% pass percentage. Across regions, West—in which Maharashtra falls—and South saw the best performance with 99.99% success rate. Principals praised students braving the pandemic-induced lockdown, online classes and two board exams. “Despite it being a difficult year when students were being taught online for several months...they have performed marvellously,”
ICSE chairman Gerry Arathoon said. Dhirubhai Ambani International School recorded the best results ever with an average score of 97.5%. Of the 33 students who gave the exams, 32 scored 95% and above and one below 90%. “...this time also our ICSE students have done exceptionally well... We are delighted that one of our students is placed second in merit at an all-India level,” said Nita Ambani, founder-chairperson.