'I didn't even think I would top Mumbai'

Mritika scored a full 100 in mathematics, 99 in physics and chemistry, 96 in biology and 98 in English taking her grand total to 492. That's 98.4 per cent.

Her triumph was unexpected and her family -- her dad works for Tata AIG; her mom worked at National Insurance until recently -- is delighted. "They are very proud of me though none of us expected that I would top the boards. Let alone at the all-India level. I didn't even think I would top Mumbai or even my school for that matter."

Having scored 94.8 percent in her Class X exam, Mritika took science with biology, thinking she would have wider options. Having topped the CBSE exam, those options are huge indeed.

When asked about the kind of effort that helped her top the exam, she says, "I cannot study in the nights nor can I get up too early in the morning. So whatever I had to study, I had to make the maximum use of the day. I wanted to give my best so that I didn't regret later for not having prepared enough. I started doing my daily studies from the beginning, but when the school exams came up, the preparation time was extended."

People say students need to put in at least 12 to 14 hours of study time during the run-up to exams, but Mritika differs, saying, "The amount of study time varies from person to person but if I can understand something, I can concentrate and study for about three to four hours. But I keep taking regular breaks as and when I please."

Schools do their part to prepare students for board exams -- preliminary exams and regular tests to help the students. Children tend to put in less effort during the year and pile up all preparation for the last minute, but Mritika says, "I tried my best to be updated from the very beginning to avoid pressure building up at the last minute. But, of course, when your prelims are round the corner and the boards are just a few weeks away, your efforts soar sky high."

"I've sat for the AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Examination), IIT (Indian Institute of Technology entrance exam) and CET (Common Entrance Test). Depending on their results I will decide on what to do further. Since I had biology as a subject I did sit for few medical exams, but I didn't study too well."

She doesn't seem sure about what she wants to do, but may study chemistry further. "I was scared for all the exams, but a little more about physics. I didn't find any of the subjects easy."

We couldn't let the topper go without asking for some exam tips. "Be regular in your studies rather than keeping it for the last minute. It is sometimes very difficult to study on a daily basis but try as much as you can to be regular. I personally tend to get tense if I haven't studied something and that is left for the last minute."