Mumbai topper (95.33%) Rakesh Ukhajirao Patil from Mulund Vidyamandir, Mulund, for example was diplomatic while giving credit to his coaching class. His principal Ramesh Naik however feels that the special class for meritorious students that his school started from this year is the reason for the rich harvest. Patil, who intends to be a doctor, also wants to serve his country men.

Second rank holder Avdhoot Arvind Bane from Balmohan Vidyamandir at Dadar, with 94.26, plans to take up computer engineering. He intends to join the science stream at Ruparel College -- where all toppers go.

``There was a lot of support from my school,'' he says, adding that teachers conducted many practicetests to help them. Nevertheless, he too went for a coaching class for ``more practice''. He says his only hobby is reading -- P L Deshpande is his favourite author.

Sumeet Manohar Panchal from IES Raja Shivaji was the third merit rank holder with 93.73%.

Among girls, Aroskar Ashwini Vishwas of St Teresa's Convent High School in Santacruz stood first with 93.06 per cent, while Patil Kavita Arun from S V Joshi High School in Dombivli followed with 92.8 per cent.

The principal of the St Teresa's since 1987, Sister Marion was thrilled. The school has more or less consistently been on the merit list and the factor behind the success are as much devoted teachers as hardworking students. However what has set this principal apart is her enthusaism for sports. ``I do not subscribe to merit classes, nor studying all the time. There should be room for pursuing some other interests''.

Ashwini would give full marks to it ruing that she could have still got the required marks had she not gone to a coaching classas her teachers are very good. She would like to be a computer or electronics engineer.

Among backward class candidates, Satpute Rashmi Omprakash from New English School, Bandra, topped with 91.46 per cent. Satpute maintained that her teachers were very encouraging and conducted several guidance lectures.

But like everyone else, Rashmi also joined coaching classes, ``because there was a lot of pressure'', she says. Her father Om Prakash Satpute admits that they forced her to join a coaching class. ``Everyone was going to coaching classes, so we sent her there though she was reluctant. I thought that by spending two-three hours there, she'll learn something.''

Rashmi has no fixed hours for studying, which she ``hates'' in any case. ``I study for some time, and then I get bored,'' she says, adding that she then watches TV and reads. With a preference for Jane Austen -- ``strong heroine characters'' being the reason -- Rashmi attributes her spectacles for the long hours spent before TV.

Among nightschool candidate topper, Sachin Narayan Pandit at Kurla Night High School stood first with 75.06 per cent. More Prafullata Balkrishna from Sane Guruji Night High School, Bandra, stood second with 74.93 per cent. Sunita Saryu Patel from Gurunanak English High School in Bhandup stood first among handicapped candidates with 87.6 per cent.

While IES schools altogether has the highest number of rank-holders, Balmohan Vidyamandir in Dadar, with seven rank-holders and Saraswathi Secondary School in Naupada with 5 topped the list.

As far as the district-wise performance among fresh candidates is concerned, Mumbai and Greater Mumbai has topped with an over all pass percentage of 76.21 per cent, followed by Thane with 74.03 and Raigad with 64.15 per cent.

The city's over all pass percentage is the highest in a decade with 74.32. In 1998, the pass percentage was 56.51 percent, while in 1997 it was 55.09 per cent.