Most city-based CBSE schools have started admission procedures for the senior secondary section and announced cut-off marks for all the streams.

Loyola High School has set different cut-offs for ICSE and CBSE students and for school students and those from other schools. School principal Brother Satheesh K. Don said application forms and necessary documents can be collected from the school for Rs 700. "ICSE students who want to apply for the science stream must have 85 in mathematics and science and 80 in English. For applying in commerce, a student must have a minimum of 85 and 80 in social studies and English respectively," he said.

The principal added: "For Loyolaites who want to take up science, having a CGPA (cumulative grade point average) score of 9 in science and mathematics is a must while others have to bag a perfect 10 in the two subjects."

St Michael's High School principal Father Armstrong Edison said: "Students can get all admission-related information, including online forms, on the school website (stmichaelspatna.edu.in). Students will be selected on the basis of the cut-off marks and entrance exam results."

He added: "CBSE students who are applying for the science stream must have A1 or A2 grades in mathematics and science. For applying in commerce, students must have an overall grade of A2 and B1 in mathematics. For Bihar board students, 80 per cent in mathematics and science is required for those applying in science while a minimum of 75 per cent in mathematics is required to apply for commerce."

St Joseph's Convent High School will not take new students, as the seats are already full.

Mount Carmel High School principal Sister Sujata said: "Only a few seats are available for CBSE students who will be selected on the basis of their board examination results. There won't be any entrance or interview tests. Students can seek necessary information from the school counter."

Uttam Kumar, who has a CGPA score of 9.6, said: "I am only applying in Loyola High School as a few of my best friends have taken admission here two years back. Now, it's only about how I perform in the entrance examination and counselling."

Shubham Raj, who has a CGPA score of 9.4, has applied to five schools - St Dominic Savio's High School, St Karen's High School, Radiant International School, Loyola High School and St Michael's High School. He said he wants a school that will provide him opportunities both in academics and co-curricular activities. "These activities help one get admitted in top universities in US and UK," he added.