A total of 88.44 per cent students passed the Higher Secondary examinations, the results of which were declared today, with boys outperforming girls and districts recording a higher success rate than the city.

Adisha Debsarma from Dinahata Soni Debi Jain High School in Cooch Behar ranked first in the exam after scoring 498 out of 500 (99.6 per cent) marks.

Sayandip Samanta from Jalchak Nateswari Netaji Vidyayatan in West Midnapore stood second scoring 497 marks (99.4 per cent).

The third position was bagged by four students – Rohin Sen from Patha Bhawan in Kolkata, Soham Das from Hooghly Collegiate School in Hooghly district, Avik Das from Katwa Kashiram Das Institution in East Burdwan district and Parichaya Pari Jalchak Nateswari Netaji Vidyayatan in West Midnapore district – who scored 496 marks (99.2 per cent).

Eight students have ranked fourth with 495 marks (99 per cent) and 11 have bagged the fifth position with 494 marks (98.8 per cent).

A record 272 students featured in the top-10 merit list, out of which 144 are boys and 128 girls. Boys recorded a pass percentage of 90.19 and a success rate of 86.58 per cent was registered by the girls.

A total of 4,97,809 students scored over 60 per cent marks.

Districts yet again came up with an outstanding performance with East Midnapore ranking first in the state. A pass percentage of 90 per cent was recorded by seven districts namely East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, Kalimpong, South 24-Parganas and Bankura.

The pass percentage among students belonging to minority communities was 85.59 per cent while the same for students belonging to SC/ST communities was 88.35 per cent.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated the successful students and rank-holders.

Taking to Twitter she wrote: “Congratulations to our successful students and rank-holders of Higher Secondary examination! Girls and boys of our districts have shown exemplary performance, while city students too make us proud.”

This year, 7,44,655 students enrolled for the exam, of which 7,20,862 (96.8 per cent) appeared in the exam and a total of 6,36,875 students (88.44 per cent) cleared the exam.

This year, the Higher Secondary results were declared in 44 days. “In 2023, the HS exam will be held from 14 to 27 March. Next year, the exam will be on full syllabus and likewise previous years, it will be held in external exam centres and not in home venues,” said West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) president Chiranjib Bhattacharya at a press conference.

The WBCHSE will commence the scrutiny process from 20 June. Students can apply for scrutiny if they are not happy with their results.

Students will be able to collect their HS marksheets from 20 June onwards from their respective schools.