A 14 per cent leap in the number of first-division achievers in the Intermediate science examination this year has brought smiles on the faces of 1,76,177 boys and girls.

Declaring the Intermediate science results for 3.43 lakh candidates on Tuesday, Bihar School Examination Board chairman Rajmani Singh said: “Over 51.23 per cent students have secured first division marks in the examination, an increase of nearly 14 per cent from that of last year.”

In 2011, around 37.3 per cent of the total number of students had clinched first division.

Besides, this year the percentage of total successful candidates has also improved than that of last year. The pass percentage of students this year is 91.36 per cent, bypassing last year’s 90.81 per cent.

The board chairman attributed various new steps, such as free telephonic counselling, the board adopted to the improved results this year.

Singh said: “Hundreds of students got inputs/answers for their queries through the free counselling service launched few weeks before the examination.”

On March 14, the Bihar Intermediate Council started telecounselling for Intermediate students, which continued till March 20. Students got to know details about the examination pattern and type of questions set in the examination through the service.

Students from MRJDI College at Bisnupur in Begusarai have clinched the top three positions this year. Piyush Kumar, a student of MRJDI College, Bisnupur, has topped the science stream securing 92 per cent aggregate followed by Ram Prawesh Kumar of the same institution with 90.6 per cent. Their batchmate Illa Kumari stood third securing 90.4 per cent marks.

Around 3.43 lakh students took this year as against 2.67 lakh in 2011 and 2.11 lakh in 2010.

Education principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh said: “This year, there has been a sharp increase in not only the number of first-division achievers but also number of successful examinees.”

Of 19 students who featured among the top 15 ranks, 10 are boys and five are from Patna. From Patna students of College of Commerce, JD Women’s College, St Joseph’s Convent High School and Sir Ganesh Dutta Memorial College College, Bailey Road have secured top positions.

Jagdish Singh, whose son Ravi Kumar of College of Commerce is the Patna district topper with 85.6 per cent marks and has stood 10th in the state, said: “Hard work and self-study are the keys behind my son’s success. He studied eight to 10 hours a day and used to play games and watch television in his leisure time.”