Mumbai Students Shine In HSC Results 2025: Top Achievers Share Secrets Behind Their Success; Read Full Interview Here

As the Maharashtra HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate) results were declared on Monday, elated top achievers across Science, Commerce and Arts streams opened up about the habits, strategies and mindset that helped them excel. For many, a mix of planning, perseverance and personal discipline played a key role, even as they navigated the pressure of exams and competing priorities.

Arushi Sinha from Ruia College, who scored 98.17% in the Science stream, is one of the top achievers this year. With a perfect 100 in Mathematics and 99 each in Physics and Chemistry, Arushi credited her success to careful planning and subject-specific focus. “In Class 12, planning is everything. Each subject in the PCM—Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics—requires a different approach. Physics was the most difficult for me, so I prioritised it early on. But while focusing on one, it’s important not to neglect the others,” said. “I didn’t just study hard—I studied smart. I looked at past papers, identified the types of questions that come up regularly, and structured my preparation accordingly.”

To manage exam-related stress, Arushi said she relied on small, regular breaks. “Even a 15-minute walk or listening to music helped me reset. Those moments made a big difference.” Her twin sister, Ayati Sinha, who also scored a strong 95.61% in the Science stream, said it was equally important to understand the question paper as much as the subject itself. “Sometimes we overdo our preparation, thinking more is better. But I learnt that over-preparing can actually confuse you. Know what’s expected and study with clarity.”

The twin sister Ayati who scored 95.61% (left) and Arushi Sinha scored 98.17% both from Science Stream

Amey Pawar from KC College, who scored 97.33%, is also one of the toppers in the Commerce stream. He took a calm and steady approach to his studies. “I didn’t follow a rigid timetable. I just made it a point to study a little every day. If a topic seemed difficult, I slowed down and gave myself time to really understand it. There’s no point rushing,” he said. For Amey, avoiding pressure and comparison was key. “Go at your own pace. Don’t worry about what others are doing. Stay consistent, and focus on your own improvement.”

Amey Pawar scored 97.33% from Commerce Stream

Adya Kamal from St. Xavier’s College, who scored 97.17%, is also one of the toppers in Commerce. She believes that staying consistent throughout the year is more effective than last-minute preparation. “Be regular. Don’t skip lectures, make proper notes, and keep revising. It’s hard to balance board exams with entrance preparations, but a solid timetable made it manageable. And most importantly, believe in yourself,” she said. Adya found Accountancy particularly challenging but overcame it through regular problem-solving. “It’s not enough to just read theory—you need to practise. I kept solving different types of questions until I was confident. That’s what helped me the most.”

Adya Kamal scored 97.17% from Commerce Stream

Vrinda Pandya from Jai Hind College, who scored an impressive 96.67% in the Humanities stream, said her approach was rooted in discipline and clarity. “Treat your textbooks like your bible. They’re the foundation. Attend your lectures sincerely, pay attention, and focus on really understanding the concepts. That makes revision and exam preparation so much more manageable,” she said. “I also solved previous years’ question papers. It gave me a sense of the paper pattern and helped with time management. Consistency and conceptual clarity—that’s what worked for me.”

Vrinda Pandya scored 96.67% in the Humanities stream

Mihika Joshi, also from Jai Hind College, scored 96.17% in the Arts stream. She stressed the importance of starting early. “I made sure to complete my syllabus well in advance, which really helped reduce stress during the exams. My advice to future board students is not to leave anything for the last minute. Also, make it a point to solve sample papers beforehand—they’re extremely useful for understanding the exam pattern and managing time,” she said.

Mihika Joshi scored 96.17% in the Arts stream

Sarah Manish Bhimte: (96%, Commerce), St Xaviers College

“I focused more on my weak subject, which was Accountancy. I made it a point to attend extra classes and ask for help whenever needed. My advice to future board students is to identify their weak areas early and put in consistent effort to improve them—it really makes a difference.”

Sarah Manish Bhimte scored 96%, Commerce Stream

Soham Bhagunde (93.33%, Science), Khar Education Society
“I prioritised NEET-UG preparation from the beginning and followed a parallel study plan. Since the Physics, Chemistry, and Biology syllabus for NEET overlaps significantly with Class 12, I focused on those subjects throughout the year. For the remaining subjects, I began dedicated preparation only a month before the board exams. With a structured plan, I could balance both effectively.”

Soham Bhagunde from Science Stream scored 93.33%

Aahaan Chawla (92.5%, Science), Prakash College, Kandivali
“I relied heavily on government textbooks—they’re detailed yet manageable. Biology posed a challenge because the Class 12 syllabus differs from that of NEET, but reading the government textbook thoroughly gave me the confidence I needed and I ended up scoring well. My advice to future students: don’t obsess over the final result. Focus on building strong fundamentals. Once your basics are clear, the rest will fall into place.”

Aahaan Chawla from science Stream Scored 92.5%

Out of 154 subjects, 37 subjects saw a 100% result. Moreover, results of 137 students have been withheld, and 130 students have been barred due to various violations this year.