KOCHI: An unusual honour came the way of Ernakulam district on Wednesday when the CBSE Class X results were declared. While Sreelakshmi G of Bhavan’s Varuna Vidyalaya, Thrikkakara, emerged topper at the national level with 499 marks out of 500, she was closely followed by Theresa Soni of Rajagiri Christu Jayanti Public School, Kakkanad, in second place with 498 marks and Ammu Mariam Anil of Rajagiri Public School, Kalamasserry, in third place with 497 marks. Interestingly, all are taking medical entrance coaching now.
In place of school-based and board-based dual exam pattern, the board exam alone was brought back this year after a long time. The rule of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) for almost nine years also is over this year. Hence topper Sreelakshmi had no clue about how the marks would be. “I had no clear expectation about marks since I was not used to the pattern for long. I was sure that I would get good marks but had no clear idea how I would do in social science and English,” she said.
Sreelakshmi plans to opt for bio-maths and plans to be a doctor after graduating from her preferred institution JIPMER, Puducherry. She also loves to be part of the Army after graduating from AFMC. There are still two more years before she has to make her final decision. Her father S Gopinathan is a senior government pleader in the Kerala High Court and mother Rema L T is an associate professor in Maharaja’s College from where she is being transferred to Government College, Pattambi. Her only brother Sreehari G is studying for MSc Life Sciences at Bharatidasan University, Trichy.
“Since we shifted from CCE to the old pattern, I made it a point to study portions on that day itself as advised by the teachers. When portions increased after each school exam, I could tackle them with this strategy. The teachers along with my parents ensured my big success,” Sreelakshmi said. She lost one mark in maths while Theresa lost two marks in English and Ammu lost one mark in English and two in maths. Theresa said that the board exams were easier than her school model exam and she also made it a point to finish portions on the day it was taught. Ammu also was studious which enabled her to score high marks easily.
