A review helped Nalanda boy Abhinav Suman jump from the seventh position in the district to the state topper in science stream in the Intermediate exam conducted in May.

Education minister Brishen Patel and board chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh felicitated Abhinav and other intermediate and matriculation toppers at a function to mark the birth anniversary of country's first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad. With Abinav's ascent, Ravish Kumar, who was state topper in science, slipped to second position with 425 marks out of 500. Abhinav's score is now 432.

The Bihar School Examination Board conducts the exam. The results were declared on May 27. Abhinav had secured 395 marks out of 500 (96 out of 100 in biology, 90 in physics, 78 in Language Paper I, 80 in Language Paper II but just 51 in chemistry - 21 out of 70 in theory and full 30 in practical). His aggregate was 395.

After his Intermediate from Mahabodhi College in Nalanda, he took admission into the science stream there. He was ranked 8,000 in the last All India Pre-Medical Test exam, but did not take admission. He is preparing again for medical entrance tests at the Allen Career Institute in Kota.

Abhinav, who came all the way from Kota for the function on Wednesday, said: 'When the Intermediate results were announced, I was shocked. I had got marks as per expectations in all subjects except chemistry. I applied for scrutiny after consulting my parents.'

After scrutiny, Abhinav got 37 more marks in chemistry, his aggregate rising to 88. His total marks also jumped to 432.

Ritesh Kumar, now second, could not attend the function as he is doing mechanical engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. His mother Pinky Devi attended the function. She asked: 'How can the board commit such mistakes and play with students' future?'

Told about the discontent, board chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh said: 'The matter has been sorted out as based on students complaint we scrutinised papers of over two lakh students.'