Beyond the 40+: CSS IB Top Scorers Unfiltered

CSS proudly announces that seven Form 6 students achieved 40 + points in the 2025 International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) exams. To uncover the stories behind these stellar results, we invited six of the scorers to a relaxed yet revealing interview in which they shared their most absurd study hacks, exam-day mishaps, sources of support, and future aspirations.

Aaliyah Anit—who will read International Business & Global Management at the University of Hong Kong before pursuing a master’s at LSE—confessed, “I used acronyms and acrostics, and even pretended to teach a class to solidify concepts.” Chow Ching Kei—headed to Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow or Biomedical Science at HKU—described his letter-association trick: “In hypertonic, ‘E’ stands for exit—water leaves the cell.”

Jack Xu, weighing offers from HKU, UST and PolyU, explained how he revisits his physics textbook beside a skatepark after skateboarding: “A change of scene helps me rediscover the joy of learning.” Praise Lau Sze Ching—also holding offers from HKU, UST and PolyU—admitted, “I rewrote my notes over and over. It’s not efficient, but writing is the only way I truly retain information.”

Neo Wong Cheuk—bound for HKU—recounted a mid-exam mishap when a pen in his pocket stabbed his finger: “I was bleeding but I just powered through.” Lotta Ma Yat Yu—choosing among HKU, Bath, Edinburgh, and UWE Bristol—laughed about forgetting her physics calculator and borrowing one at the last minute.

Through these candid conversations, every moment of challenge and laughter came into view—tears in the park, makeshift mnemonic rap battles, marathon note-rewrites and last-second calculator rescues. And it’s these anecdotes that piece together the vibrant campus lives that lie behind the gleaming “40+” badge.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Aaliyah, Chow, Jack, Praise, Neo and Lotta, and to every CSS student who has embraced the rigours of the IB Diploma. May their stories inspire creativity, confidence and perseverance in all our learners as they embark on their next academic adventures.

Watch the interview video below: