GSIS graduates excel in final exams

Also important is the “one school, two streams” system, which offers opportunities to draw on the best aspects of two models of education. It allows students to come together for sports, arts and social events, creating a shared identity while also celebrating diversity.

“Education is about teaching and developing the whole person,” says Simon Misso-Veness, GSIS deputy principal and EIS head, who notes  the value of learning about oneself through teamwork and working towards shared goals. “Academic subjects are part of this, but we also offer more than 100 extracurricular activities for students to test themselves and develop passions and interests beyond the classroom. Senior students can run societies that focus on specific areas of the curriculum or explore subjects, such as law and architecture, which are not offered at IB or Abitur level.’

For Samuel Cheung, who got the perfect score in the DIA, a couple of strategies helped during the build-up to the exams. One was a methodical approach to revision, with clear priorities and careful time management. Another was to read more German newspapers and magazines to refine his language skills and broaden his knowledge of current affairs, which proved useful in writing the required analytical essay.

Especially for chemistry, he did further research on relevant topics in his spare time. And for the physics presentation, he made a point of seeking out credible peer-reviewed sources, as well as recording himself and then watching the video to spot mistakes and areas that needed improvement.

“On hearing the results, I was proud and amazed that every bit of effort I put in had paid off,” Cheung says. “I must say, though, that the support and dedication of my teachers played a significant part in my success.”

After a well-deserved rest, his next step will be to complete the paperwork necessary to pursue a bachelor’s degree at ETH Zurich. But before heading there, Cheung also plans to compose a Neo-classical music piece and do charitable work.

Edith Chan, who achieved a maximum 45 points in the IBDP, felt a mixture of relief and excitement when the results were announced and she saw that her structured study scheduled, a balance of breadth and depth for six different subjects, had definitely worked.

This summer, she plans to travel and volunteer before starting her freshman year at Brown University in the United States, where she expects to focus on environmental studies and economics.

“However, I value the freedom to discover new interests during the first two years before committing to a specific path,” Chan says. “The international perspective I gained at GSIS and the inspiring classroom discussions have prepared me for the challenges ahead.”
 
Also a top scorer with 45 points in the IBDP, Emily Chen is keeping her options open about further studies and is happy to let things take their course. This outlook mirrors her advice to students in other grades, which is that everyone studies and lives their life differently, and there is no need to feel too stressed.

“My motivation for now is to discover what I truly love and want to pursue, while hopefully contributing to the community or the world along the way,” Chen says.

Fellow IBDP top scorer Maxwell Leung had to conquer a tendency to procrastinate when preparing for the exams and was never that confident after completing a paper, so he felt surprised and lucky on receiving the good news.

“I guess everything happens for a reason,” says Leung, who will soon be off to Shanghai for a month-long internship in financial quantitative analysis before heading to Warwick University for a four-year master’s course in mathematics. “Later on, I want to work as a quant analyst at a hedge fund, where I can help develop models to optimise investment portfolios and minimise risk.”

With her 45 IB points, Nadia Venetz is now all set to study medicine in Hong Kong after first doing some part-time work as a tutor.
  
“Medicine is a field that combines my love for science with my desire to interact with people and patients,” says Venetz, who got her exam results while hiking in the Swiss Alps with family and friends. “Every case presents unique challenges and opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life.”

Michael Tay also has plans now to attend medical school, following what he believes is a special vocation where science combined with the art of caring for patients can have a real and lasting impact.

“I am so happy that my efforts paid off in the exams,” he says. “I will be forever grateful for the support from the teachers at GSIS and for the many friendships formed along the way.”

For Rachael Ng, the key to scoring 45 IB points was spending revision time in the Central Library, where she felt alert and focused, before going home to relax. Her target now is to pursue a career in public health in Hong Kong, but the summer will be spent reading fiction, hiking, and spending quality time with friends.
   
“I was proud to make my parents proud with my results,” Ng says. “Looking ahead, I hope to shift perceptions of healthcare towards preventive care and community awareness.”