Preetham G. Poojary, a student from Udupi district, has attained a flawless 625 out of 625 marks in the recent Karnataka SSLC examination. This accomplishment places him among a group of 22 students across the state who have achieved the maximum possible score this year. The results, declared on April 23, 2026, highlight a significant number of high-achievers, with Dakshina Kannada district reporting the highest pass percentage at 91.12%.
Preetham, who attends Mother Theresa Memorial School in Shankaranarayana, Kundapura Taluk, attributed his success to a combination of encouragement from his teachers and support from his parents, Ganapathy Poojary, a bus conductor, and Nagaratna, a homemaker. He emphasized a disciplined yet balanced approach to his studies, which included breaking down the syllabus into manageable chapter-wise goals with set deadlines. Managing stress was identified as a crucial element in his preparation, allowing him to retain concepts more effectively.
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Other students also shared their strategies for achieving top marks. Dhanush Sudhir Mysore, from Bengaluru, credited his performance, in part, to assisting classmates with their studies. Another topper, Brunda, who scored 625/625, spent approximately seven hours daily studying and specifically mentioned her Kannada teacher’s advice on improving handwriting since Class 7.
A Pattern of Perfect Scores
The phenomenon of students achieving perfect scores is not new. In 2021, 11 students from Udupi and nine from Dakshina Kannada were among 157 state-wide recipients of the full 625 marks in the SSLC examination. This year's results also reveal a stark contrast: while 22 students secured full marks, a different report highlighted a boy who failed all subjects, with his parents choosing to celebrate his effort with cake rather than reprimand him, framing it as a moment to boost morale and encourage perseverance.
Examination Context
The Karnataka SSLC examination results were made available online on May 2, 2025, following weeks of anticipation. The announcement also noted that 144 institutions registered zero pass results, a detail that Minister Bangarappa apparently shared, alongside concerns over the performance of certain schools. The KSEAB (Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board) oversees these examinations.
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