At least 38 students in Hong Kong scored the maximum 45 points in the IB diploma last year. How important is that in the long run? We asked four young people who earned the top score in the last few years.

Brian Wong earned perfect marks at Island School in 2015, while juggling extracurricular activities such as debating and helping the school’s academic reforms committee. He went on to sit a degree in philosophy, politics and economics at Britain’s Oxford University, and is now pursuing a master’s degree in political theory after graduating last year.

“In truth, 45/45 didn’t open any doors directly,” Wong, 21, says. “It was the training I received through the IB that did, allowing me to perform successfully at Oxford interviews, and enabling me to become the confident and efficient writer and thinker that I am today.”

More Hong Kong students taking their own lives, study by Jockey Club finds

Asked if too much pressure is placed on IB students to get a perfect store, Wong says, “absolutely, yes”. “At the end of the day, no one at university – or in society – cares if you scored a 38/45 or 45/45. That Oxford sets their offer conditions for most subjects at 38 suggests that beyond a cut-off, one’s score has no bearing on how intelligent or ready one is for university.”

Wong also says that it is unclear if striving for a 45 reaps a reward proportional to the excessive stress heaped on students.

“Education is there to facilitate and nurture, not to stifle by rendering children mere tokens and cogs in a machine that churns out number-chasers. Ultimately, students should pursue happiness over numbers, which may well involve the pursuit of excellence,” he says.

Wong believes that beyond the IB score, many factors influence prospective employers, from soft skills, critical thinking skills and not being afraid to speak up for yourself, to being willing to work with a wide range of individuals with different ideas.

Alina Bharwani graduated from Canadian International School of Hong Kong in 2016 with the top IB score, and had been so anxious that she “fell to the ground and cried” when she heard the news.

Bharwani, now 20 and a third-year medical student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), is volunteering at a Nepalese NGO for children with autism in Kathmandu. She was inspired to challenge herself when her sister scored 44 in her IB diploma, and her ability to study “smart” instead of “hard” helped, she says.

“Rather than study countless hours a day, it’s about making the most of the hours you spend doing active studying such as self-testing, teaching someone else or summarising key concepts.”

Using her time wisely, Bharwani was still able to engage in extracurricular activities such as the swim team and school plays, while committing to volunteer work. Maintaining this work-life balance is a life skill she will forever value, she says.

In hindsight, she feels her IB score was not as important as it seemed at the time. She has also learned that even if you cannot get the university offer you’d like, it doesn’t mean you can never study the programme of your choice in the school of your choice.

“Many of my peers are postgraduate students who completed a first degree overseas before applying to HKU medicine, and for them doing well in their undergraduate programme was the requirement, rather than high school scores,” she says.

Nevertheless Bharwani says the rigour of the IB that was extremely helpful, as skills she learned through verbal presentations, writing long reports, and critical thinking are what she will take forward.

As for the future, she doesn’t believe the 45 will make a difference to her career opportunities.

“Employers would be more impressed by your university GPA [grade point average], an interesting project you carried out, glowing references from previous employers during internships or summer jobs, or by how genuine you come across in your interview,” she says.

Her advice is to study smart, but remember that the IB score doesn’t define you or your education path.

Leo Kim Kyu-jung graduated from South Island School with a 45 score last year, and is now studying information science at Cornell University in the US. Kim, 18, believes his study habits and balanced school-hobby lifestyle guided his IB success.

“I was never scared to ask questions. My friends and I also did a great job in motivating each other and studying together. Additionally, I am a strong believer in the ‘law of diminishing returns’ … so was never at my desk for longer than needed.”

Kim says his top score has provided opportunities for scholarships and internships at several firms, and offers to join selective clubs. The IB also helped forge his learning journey because students are required to thrive within a set system, yet also design their own studies through internal assessments and extended essays.

“I wholeheartedly understand the rigour of the programme, but would encourage students to take the IB for its valuable lessons that may not be found in other programmes,” he says.

However, Kim agrees there is too much stress placed on academic achievement, especially in Hong Kong and South Korea – two places he calls home. Instead, he believes students should be encouraged to look beyond, explore the kind of person they want to be, and discover where their passions lie.

“When I look back, it’s the memories of performing rap battles, taking part in Indian cultural dance and playing football that I will always cherish, not my time spent in the library,” he says.

Kim also believes that an IB score paints only part of the picture for prospective employers, showing the student’s motivation to strive within a given system and their ability to memorise formulas and words.

“If I were to choose people to work with, I would want to know about their values, hobbies and personality. Someone’s personal story can only be told through valuable, unique experiences that were pursued not for recognition, but genuine passion and drive.”

As for the long-term impact of scoring that magic number, he says his IB score is not something he’ll cling to.

“If anything, I’ll try to forget about it because I’d rather define myself by the unique stories that I hope to write as I continue my journey in life,” he says.

Cherrie Liu achieved her 45 at Hong Kong’s Victoria Shanghai Academy last year and credits her well-organised study timetable. Allocating time for leisure activities such as badminton, computer games with friends, and family meals also served as a medium for stress relief, she says.

Liu, 18, is now pursuing a degree in medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and says her parents’ continual support was also invaluable.

“My parents never gave me any pressure concerning grades. They were there when I needed to talk or felt stressed. This served as a motivation whenever I felt like giving up,” she says.

Preventing suicide among Hong Kong’s youth will take a collective effort

Liu believes that society is placing an increasing emphasis on academic qualifications, causing unnecessary pressure. This, she says, is evident from the rapid escalation in student suicides – especially in Hong Kong.

“Achieving a good score in exams will increase one’s chances of attending a top-tier university. However, parents forget that not every child is built for such academic work and might be better suited to something vocational. Happiness is the true key to success, and this should be the ultimate goal,” Liu says.

She believes there are more important factors than an IB score of 45 on a résumé, and likens it to the spice in a meal – a good additive, but not sufficient if served alone.

“Achieving a 45 is a memory I’ll forever take pride in, but now it’s in the past,” she says. “As I strive to become a doctor, skills like empathy, communication and effective decision-making will serve me better through the test of time.”