This study aimed to investigate and compare the problem-solving ability and academic achievement of 500 senior secondary school students (250 males and 250 females) in Gwalior, using stratified random sampling to ensure demographic representation. The Problem Solving Ability Test (PSAT) by Dr. L.N. Dubey and Dr. C.P. Mathur (2011) was used to assess cognitive skills, while academic achievement was determined from official records of the past two years. Findings revealed that male students, on average, exhibited higher problem-solving ability than female students, with a statistically significant difference observed in both mean scores and distribution across categories. A greater proportion of males demonstrated extremely high problem-solving skills, whereas more females were found in the high category. Notably, only female students fell into the extremely low problem-solving category. In contrast, female students significantly outperformed males in academic achievement, securing a higher percentage of top grades (A and B), while males were more commonly represented in lower grade ranges. The difference in academic performance between genders was also statistically significant. These results highlight the complex relationship between cognitive abilities and academic outcomes, suggesting that while males may excel in problem-solving, females demonstrate superior academic performance.