With a score of 1,590 (out of a maximum possible 1,600) in SAT (formerly known as Scholastic Assessment Test), Lucknow-based Shubh Agrawal is India’s new SAT topper (for the test administered on January 21). The 16-year-old maxed the math section and scored 790 out of 800 in the SAT English paper. Students’ scores in SAT of the US-based College Board determine admissions into undergrad programmes of universities across America and in several other countries. Remarkably, Shubh scored the near max score of 1,590 in his very first attempt while a class XI student of the top-ranked City Montessori School, Gomti Nagar (CMS), Lucknow. An academic topper who averaged 97.6 percent in the class X ICSE board exam, Shubh is a National Talent Search scholar, a KVPY awardee of IISc, Bangalore and an astronomy buff. The elder child of medical practitioners Shailesh and Mridula Agrawal, Shubh moved to CMS last June (2016) after writing the class X exam as a student of the city’s reputed St. Francis’ College, to enroll in CMS’ optional FIIT-JEE integrated classes. “While the CMS Plus Two and FIIT-JEE programmes are excellent, SAT is a totally different type of exam which tests the English and maths proficiency of higher secondary students. I am very grateful to CMS’ excellent career counsellors who helped me identify my interests, future goals and write university admission applications. I am especially grateful to my personal counsellor Nina Ramchandani,” says Shubh. Commenting on the young achiever, CMS president Geeta Kingdon says: “Three years ago when CMS became the only SAT exam centre in Uttar Pradesh, we were confident that given a chance, our students would be well prepared to excel in this test. Shubh has exceeded our expectations. We are very proud of him.” Currently in class XII, Shubh is preparing for his school-leaving ISC board exam scheduled for next March, after which he will write IIT-JEE. “I am simultaneously exploring undergraduate study and research options in astrophysics. Writing JEE is my plan B,” says this precocious teenager set to go places. Wind in your sails! Paromita Sengupta (Bangalore)
