Bengaluru: From a science high scorer who took up the subject accidentally to a commerce topper who loves pressure and learning, the cohort of high scorers in ICSE/ISC examinations is an interesting mix. TOI caught up with a few of them after the results were announced.ISCScience streamSt. Joseph’s Boys High School – Victor Manoj – 99.5% The science high scorer in class 12 chose Science by accident. For Victor Manoj, his real passion lies in business. “I like science, but my passion lies in business,” he said. “Whatever I do, I make sure I give it my best. That matters more than just interest and has helped me score the good marks.”Interestingly, Victor’s journey into science was unplanned. Initially inclined towards commerce, he switched streams early on after he found the initial days in Commerce classes boring. “It was accidental, but I found Science interesting,” he admitted, adding that he chose to continue and excel in science regardless of his eventual career plans.Victor’s larger goal is independence and creative freedom. “I don’t want to work under someone. I want to build something of my own, make decisions, and enjoy the freedom,” he added.Coming from a family that runs an educational publishing and distribution business, Victor plans to build on this foundation rather than start from scratch. “I want to expand our business and bring innovation into education—maybe integrate AI, improve content, and change teaching process,” he said. While he enjoyed the extracurriculars, he put all his effort during the gap days between exams to score well.St Patrick’s Academy, Keerthana Rajesh– 99.5%Keerthana has decided to take a gap year and is headed to Pala, kerala, where Brilliant coaching centre is situated for intensive NEET preparation. “My main focus this year was on Class 12 boards. I did attend coaching, but couldn’t fully balance both. So I’ve decided to dedicate a year entirely to NEET,” she said.Keerthana said her interest in medicine was shaped early in life. “I’ve always wanted to become a doctor. My grandmother played a big role in instilling the interest in me,” she shared.Reflecting on her academic journey, she credited consistent study habits and extensive practice for her success. “I wasn’t someone who studied for very long hours every day, but I followed a steady schedule. Practising question papers regularly, especially in chemistry and physics, helped a lot,” she noted.Beyond academics, Kirtana has been actively involved in cultural activities, serving as a cultural head in her school and participating in dance. “Dance has always been a big part of my life,” she said. She is daughter of a teacher and an IT professional.Commerce streamVibgyor High, Haralur Road– Vidhita Dhamija– 98.75%With a CLAT score of 25, Vidhita is eagerly waiting for her NLSIU (National Law School of India University) stint.Vidhita chose the commerce stream early on with a clear goal in mind. “I was always interested in economics and knew I wanted to pursue law. Commerce seemed like the right path as it allowed me to prepare for law entrances alongside,” she said.Her interest in law was sparked during her school years through participation in Model United Nations (MUN) conferences, particularly in committees dealing with political and legal discussions. “That’s when I realised I enjoy studying judgments and understanding how legal systems work,” she said.Vidhita managed to balance board exam preparation with CLAT coaching, a challenge she navigated through disciplined planning. “I focused on making the most of school hours by paying attention in class, and then dedicated time at home for CLAT preparation. After December, I shifted full focus to board exams,” she explained.Vidhita believes that preparing for competitive exams helped build endurance and discipline. “It gives you the habit of studying consistently for long hours. That really helped during board exams,” she noted.Greenwood High, Bannerghatta – Harshil Praveen – 98.30% Harshil took after his father, who was a chartered accountant, in many ways. Interested in his work, Harshil took the decision to drop Science and take up Economics in class 9. After learning Economics for two years, he realised that was his passion as well.Not only was he influenced by his course work in school, he also took interest in the way finance shaped the world. Harshil has applied to for a BBA (Honours) with a specialisation in Finance in National University of Singapore (NUS) and double degree in Accountancy and Business Nanyang Technological University (NTU). While the conventional CA route remains an option, Harshil is keen on exploring broader opportunities. “I didn’t want to limit myself to the usual path. Universities like NUS and NTU offer global exposure, diversity, and a learning environment that goes beyond textbooks,” he said.A basketball player, Harshil balanced academics with sports and adopted an unconventional preparation strategy. “I focused on paying full attention in class—that covered most of my preparation. I didn’t study every day, but revised a week before exams. It helped me avoid burnout and stay fresh,” he explained.Humanities streamBethany High School, Koramangala – Aarohi Prasanna Oke – 99.5% Aarohi is set to join Ashoka university in Sonipat for a programme entailing economics and international relations. “I’m not entirely sure about the future yet, but I’m keen on exploring economics, foreign affairs, and possibly diplomacy,” she said.Her interest in the field was shaped early on through a combination of academic exposure and discussions at home. “Reading newspapers and following global events helped me connect what I was learning with real-world issues. We often discuss geopolitics at home, and that played a big role,” she added. Her father, an engineer and MBA by training, shares a keen interest in geopolitics, further influencing her curiosity.Unlike many of her peers, Arohi consciously chose the humanities stream after Class 10. “I didn’t want to follow the conventional path of engineering or medicine. My school offered humanities with subjects like psychology, sociology, and economics, which I found very engaging,” she said.She credits her success to consistent and systematic preparation,.ICSEVibgyor High, Kadugodi– Sragvi Bhagavan– 99.8%For Sragvi, space is what fascinates her. “I’ve always been intrigued by how vast the universe is and how small we are in comparison. That curiosity drew me towards astrophysics,” she said. She credits her father, a software engineer with a keen interest in astronomy, for nurturing this interest through discussions at home. She continues to explore her interest in space through books, videos, and by following developments from organisations like ISRO. Having taken PCMC in NPS Whitefiled, she prepares for JEE and hopes to pursue astrophysics. Reflecting on her preparation strategy, she emphasised the importance of conceptual clarity and consistency. “I focused on understanding concepts from the beginning and later worked on my weak areas while practising as many papers as possible. Maintaining a balanced routine across subjects was important,” she said.SSM Public School, Nagasandra – Ruchika K R – 99.6% Ruchika has a lot of tips for students who want to score well. There is no point in learning just the readers, unless you have conceptual clarity. With the changing pattern of exams, which now focus more on competency and application-based questions, it would require students to go beyond textbooks. For languages, she pointed out that consistent writing practice is essential. “English can be tricky. I used to write essays regularly to avoid small errors that can cost marks,” she said, adding that Kannada preparation was more straightforward with a thorough reading of the prescribed text.Daughter of a private employee and a homemaker, Ruchika has opted for the PCMC stream for Class 11 and enrolled in a coaching programme to prepare for JEE, with aspirations of pursuing engineering in fields such as aerospace, aeronautical, or artificial intelligence.“I have a chill vibe.I dont take stress at all,” she said.Bethesda International School, Kengeri Satellite Town – Tanishka B Majage – 99.6% Currently pursuing the PCMB stream at RV Integrated PU College, Tanishka has set her sights on a career in medicine. “Medicine has always interested me since a young age, and the idea of helping people makes it even more meaningful,” she said.Tanishka believes staying consistent throughout the academic year played a crucial role in her performance. “Consistency is key. There were times when I didn’t meet my own expectations in some subjects, but it’s important to not get demotivated and to keep working hard,” she noted.Beyond academics, she enjoys painting, drawing, and reading novels, with interests spanning both fiction and non-fiction.
