Where am I? Anxious students scan a result sheet on display at Cotton College on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, May 22: A topper with 90 per cent and an overall pass percentage of 72.52 in the higher secondary science examination ? both the highest ever ? today took the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council closer to the CBSE?s level of evaluation and success record.

The increase of 4.84 per cent over last year?s pass percentage was consistent with the graph over the past five years. The percentages since 2002 have been 58.61 per cent, 63.94, 66.79 and 67.68. The average success rate in the CBSE-conducted plus-two science examination is 81 per cent.

Of the 14,373 science students who sat for the examination conducted by the AHSEC this year, as many as 3,242 got first-division marks. There were 5,863 and 1,318 candidates in the second and third divisions.

The list of students who earned star marks ? 75 per cent and above ? totalled 449. All of them have been promised Rs 1,000 and a certificate each by the AHSEC.

For Cotton College, arguably the state?s premier educational institution, the top-10 list was a source of disappointment.

Although six of the 14 students sharing the first 10 positions are from the 100-year-old institution, it still is a comedown from the 2005 results. As many as 13 Cottonians were in the merit list last year.

Anjanmoni Mudoi of Dibrugarh-based Salt Brook Academy, a consistent performer in recent years, topped the merit list with an aggregate that not many would have even aspired to under the old AHSEC evaluation system.

Mudoi, who had finished 17th in the matric examination, is from an economically disadvantaged family. He thanked everyone who helped him continue his education.

Two more students from Salt Brook Academy, Seujee Goswami and Himangshu Kaushik, secured the seventh and 10th positions.

Students from Lumding College, Darrang College and Dhing College, too, figured among the top 10. Dhing and Lumding had one candidate each, while Darrang College had two.

An elated Dilip Kumar Kakati, the AHSEC chairman, attributed the soaring pass percentage to ?minor innovations? in the face of ?competition? from the CBSE.

?We are slowly but steadily moving up. This is because of the change in the pattern of question papers. Now that one of our toppers has touched 90 per cent, we will plan some more innovations so that a topper can reach 95 per cent. The success rate has given us the confidence to try new things,? Kakati, who took over the council in 2002, said.

Although the AHSEC chairman declined to comment on the council?s competition with the CBSE, he did admit that parents had a tendency to opt for the central board because of its high pass percentage in examinations.

?This year?s results will force parents and guardians to at least think beyond the CBSE,? Kakati said.

The results of the arts and commerce examinations will be declared in the first week of June.