A computer science degree is among the top choices for Hong Kong's brightest achievers in the International Baccalaureate examinations, with one standout hoping to forge his path into the city's booming tech and fintech sectors.
Among the 15 perfect scorers from the English Schools Foundation (ESF) —Hong Kong's largest English-medium international school group—Isaac Hung Man-hei is set to study computer science at the prestigious Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States.
Startup dreams in self-driving cars, fintech
Isaac Hung, ESF IB perfect scorer
While excited about the opportunity, Hung expressed some concern about recent US policies affecting international students, prompting him to also secure admission to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as a backup option.
"Studying at a major public university like Georgia Tech will connect me with more like-minded peers in engineering and computer science." Hung said.
Hung intends to return to Hong Kong after graduation to launch his own startup. potentially in autonomous vehicles. He noted Hong Kong's strong fintech sector presents another promising area for exploration.
Medicine still top choice for IB high achievers
Programs from the city's two medical schools, however, have not lost their popularity among top scorers as 11 of ESF's 15 perfect scorers selected programs at local universities as their top or potential choice.
Zhu Baihan, ESF IB perfect scorer
Zhu Baihan has chosen to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree at either the University of Hong Kong or the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
His passion for medicine developed through early exposure to biology. chemistry and STEM subjects, combined with valuable volunteer experience at hospitals where he gained firsthand clinical exposure.
Why stay in Hong Kong? “The value,”says IB top scorer
When asked why he opted to stay in Hong Kong for his medical studies. Zhu simply answered: "the value."
He noted that overseas universities are significantly more expensive and Hong Kong's medical education could offer a more systematic approach with well-defined career pathways.
Yashasvini Agarwal, ESF IB top scorer.
Yashasvini Agarwal, an Indian student who moved to Hong Kong with her parents at a very young age, also opted to study medicine in the city. "I just love this city. It's very convenient, safe and I'm familiar with it," Agarwal said.
ESF saw 15 perfect scorers in IB this year.
Singapore International School celebrates top IB scores
Separately, Singapore International School (Hong Kong) saw one student achieve the perfect score of 45 points in this year's exams.
The school, established in 1991 with support from Singapore's Ministry of Education, reported three students scoring 44 points and six earning 43 points.
Graduates gained admission to prestigious universities worldwide, including University of Hong Kong, Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Chicago, University of Toronto and the University of Melbourne, as well as dual-degree programs like HKU-UBC and UCL-HKU.
Singapore International School (Hong Kong) had one student getting full marks in IB this year.
Christian Alliance International School hits new milestone
Christian Alliance International School of Hong Kong achieved a 100 percent IB pass rate with 13 candidates and an average score of 37.3.
Two students scored perfect 45s—the school's first-ever top scorers in the exam.
(Ayra Wang)
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HK students shine with 29 perfect IB scores
