ICSE exam results: 99.70% pass in Karnataka, girls outperform boys

Indian Express

01-05-2025

Karnataka achieved a pass percentage of 99.70 per cent in the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) Class 10 exams, surpassing the national pass percentage of 99.09 per cent. As many as 29,745 students appeared for the ICSE exams in Karnataka, with 14,953 boys (50.27 per cent) and 14,792 girls (49.73 per cent).
Girls outperformed boys, securing a pass percentage of 99.82 per cent compared to 99.58 per cent for boys. In ICSE, Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates achieved a 99.41 per cent pass rate (1,919 students), Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates 99.37 per cent(479 students), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates 99.56 per cent (13,238 students).
Pragati Girish Athreya from Greenwood High School in Bengaluru scored 99.80 per cent while earning a high distinction in grade 3 piano. She said she prepared by thoroughly researching topics, consulting teachers and friends, and solving past exam papers to understand the patterns.
'When I felt overwhelmed, my family, friends, and teachers supported me and helped reduce stress,' she said. Pragati enjoys piano, ballet, and drawing and uses these activities to manage anxiety. She appreciated the supervisors and invigilators for their support in lightening the mood and reducing exam nerves.
Ridhima Piyush Goswami, 16, from Vydehi School in Bengaluru, scored an impressive 99.20 per cent in the ICSE exams, surpassing her expectations of 95 per cent. She dedicated 6 to 8 hours daily to her studies, balancing her academics with kathak, her passion for classical dance, which served as a stress-buster between study sessions.
'Balancing kathak and studies was key to my success. Dancing between study sessions relieved stress, while I dedicated six to eight hours to focused preparation,' she told The Indian Express.
Although history and geography presented some challenges during her preparations, she achieved perfect scores in both subjects. 'I credit this success to consistent revision and effective note-taking,' she said.
Since the beginning of Class 10, she has maintained a regular study routine. She performed well in her pre-board exams by focusing on understanding concepts, revising previous question papers, and learning from her mistakes.
'I used to work on previous years' papers consistently. I identified mistakes and worked on them accordingly every time I practised a paper,' she said.
Aspiring to pursue PCM in Class 11, Ridhima aims for a computer science engineering degree through JEE Mains, driven by her inclination toward coding. Her tip for success? 'Keep concepts clear from day one—don't let them pile up,' she said.
Aarefa Nakhoda, 16, from Bethany High School in Bengaluru, achieved 98.6 per cent. An author of The Art of Artifice, Aarefa focused on mastering her textbooks. 'I avoided extra question banks and spent my time understanding the textbook, studying five hours daily across multiple subjects to grasp concepts better,' she explained.
She engaged in extracurricular activities such as singing, debating, reading, and writing, which initially consumed much of her time. As exams neared, she prioritised studies but turned to singing, poetry, or TV to ease anxiety.
'Extracurriculars taught me time management, which helped during exams,' she said.
Aarefa found the board exam experience interesting and felt minimal anxiety, reflecting her effective preparation strategy.
-Brinda Srinivasa is an intern with The Indian Express.