ICSE

Anurag Sahu 

Aggregate: 97.8%

School: Salt Lake School

Stays at: AB 262

Marksheet: Mathematics 99, computer science 99, history-civics-geography 99, science 98, English 94, Bengali 92

Moment of reckoning: I wanted to see my results alone, so my parents waited in another room when I logged in. I expected maximum 95 per cent. They came in on hearing me shout. Then I informed my grandmother who is bed-ridden.
Baba took us out for a Chinese meal at Heka. Since then, I have been given treats at Ocean Grill, Chowman and Honey da Dhaba as well. He has also gifted me an electric guitar. We also went on a trip to the Andamans after my exams.

Preparation time: I have never studied for more than four-five hours a day, not even during study leave. I had four tutors — one for mathematics and physics and one each for English, chemistry and computer science. My father, a chartered accountant, helped with math and physics too. My mother’s contribution is immense in helping me memorise lessons. And I must mention Sekhar (Pal) sir and Shreya (Sarkar) ma’am for making chemistry easy to understand.

Future plans: I am studying in my own school. It’s my second home. My childhood dream was to become a pilot. But because of myopia, possibly that won’t happen. So I want to study aeronautical engineering instead. I love aeroplanes. My second option is forensic science.

Hobbies & interests: I love thrillers. I have read up all Byomkesh Bakshi and Feluda stories. But my first love is playing football. Since I can’t stay up late, I can’t follow the European league matches live, so I stay content watching the goals on YouTube. My favourite player is Kaka. Someday I want to watch a match at the stadium. These days, I am spending time playing the new electric guitar. All this while I used to play an acoustic guitar. I also play computer games like Fifa 2013, all the Harry Potter games and Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. I also love building with Lego blocks.
 

ISC

Pratyasha Chakraborty 

Aggregate: 97.75%

School: Salt Lake School

Stays in: Jyangra, Baguiati

Marksheet: Mathematics 100, physics 99, chemistry 98, biology 98, English 94

Moment of reckoning: My mother was away in office and my sister was in college so my father and I checked the results together at home. 

Preparation time: I studied for the Board exams only for the last one month. I put in around six hours a day and had three tutors for math and English. I was attending FIITJEE classes for physics, chemistry and math.

Future plans: I have already made the cut at IISc, Bangalore and will be leaving for the counselling on Friday. But my father wants me to take the WBJEE (medical) too when it happens. My elder sister is studying to be a doctor at Nilratan Sirkar Medical College and my father,  uncle and grandmother want me to follow in her footsteps. But frankly, I am not too keen on medicine. I am seeing how hard my sister is having to toil!

Hobbies & interests: I love watching TV and reading books. Right now, I am into Jeffrey Archer.
 

CBSE

Akansha Rai

Aggregate: 97%

School: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Stays in: Kendriya Vihar, off VIP Road, near Haldiram’s

Marksheet: Economics 100, mathematics 98, English 97, physics 95, chemistry 95

Moment of reckoning: Our results were uploaded before time and it was a friend who alerted me. I didn’t tell my parents and quietly logged in alone. I didn’t expect full marks in economics but am disappointed with my chemistry marks. Our principal called me to say I had come second in school. My mother got busy on the phone informing relatives as I left for school. There was no celebration as my JEE (Advanced) exam was the very next day. You could say I celebrated with books. Even now, I am occupied in comparing my JEE answers with the answer keys put up on the FITJEE website and trying to figure out what kind of rank I’d get. 

Preparation time: I have been topping my class since Class I so when I got just 85 per cent in the pre-boards I got confused. My teachers consoled  me and asked me to focus on the text books. It is true that till then I was more geared towards competitive exams. I saw the past year’s question papers and the model answer sheet on the CBSE website to understand what the examiners want us to write. Every question has a word limit and especially in English, half a mark is deducted for every extra five words. I used to study for 9-10 hours and had a tutor each for physics, chemistry and mathematics. I also attended FIITJEE classes.

Future plans: Depending on how I fare in my JEE (Advanced) exam, I hope to crack IIT Kharagpur. After BTech, I want to sit for civil service exam. My grandfather was with the CBI, my uncle is with WBCS. I want to become an IAS officer.
Hobbies & interests: I love chatting with friends over phone. I also spend time surfing music and cartoon channels on TV. I am not on social media as I prefer personal interaction.

Do you know anyone in our neighbourhood who deserves to be on this list? 
Write to saltlake@abpmail.com