On the day the IGCSE examination results were released, Yew Wah Beijing witnessed a historic moment: the first cohort of IGCSE students achieved an outstanding 100% A*/A in the Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics exam (71.43% of students earned A*, and 28.57% earned A), completing the challenge one year ahead of the standard schedule and marking a remarkable milestone in the school’s history. Among the students is a “veteran team” rooted in Yew Wah Beijing Campus since Year 1 in 2016, whose nine years of growth and transformation have demonstrated to the world the perfect integration of “academic excellence” and “holistic education.”

Voice of Student Representatives: From Nervousness to Calmness, Breaking Through Challenges

Facing their first international examination, the students’ feelings were genuine and profound. Coco candidly shared, “I was constantly on edge during the preparation, but the full support from the principal and teachers helped us gradually find our rhythm.” She especially mentioned how, after the exam, classmates gathered to check answers and estimate scores, “This atmosphere of mutual sharing and growing together gave us great confidence in the results.”

Jessica focused on mindset adjustment: “The biggest challenge wasn’t the difficulty of the questions, but how to handle the first formal exam in our lives.” She recalled moving from initial anxiety to pre-exam ease, “The psychological support from the teachers was crucial; they helped us understand that the exam is just one way to assess our learning achievements.”

MiuMiu was deeply impressed by the exam reform: “I heard from the teachers that this year is the first year of the CIE IGCSE curriculum reform, with changes in exam centres and timing. We all felt quite anxious.” However, the long-term support and encouragement from Ms. Gong, the Head of the Mathematics Department, gradually helped her overcome her fear. “From inside to outside the classroom, Ms. Gong sacrificed a lot of her rest time to help us prepare and train for the exams, answering our questions. No matter how late it was, we could always see Ms. Gong explaining problems to us on Teams.”

Ray summarized his exam preparation strategy based on “practical experience”: “Be diligent in reviewing, familiarize yourself with question types and procedures; during the exam, manage time wisely and start with the questions you know.” He particularly mentioned Ms. Gong’s “mock exam tactics”: “After doing three or four mock exams, the real exam felt very natural.”

Teacher Perspectives: Supporting Student Growth with Professionalism and Passion

Ms. Gong, Mathematics Subject Leader, and Mr. Slabbert, Assessment and Reporting Coordinator, praised the students’ performance highly: “This was the first exam under the new curriculum standards, with little prior experience to draw upon, yet the students not only worked hard but also demonstrated strong mutual support.” They fondly recalled how students often took the initiative to organize study groups and share problem-solving approaches. “Such scenes are touching and truly reflect the power of Yew Wah’s ‘Learning Community’ philosophy.” Ms. Gong further added that the IGCSE Mathematics exam consists of two papers, each lasting two hours. It not only assesses students’ mastery of mathematical knowledge and problem-solving skills but also places greater emphasis on their ability to analyse, explain, and communicate using mathematics. This sets very high demands on students’ comprehensive application of mathematical skills.

In response, teachers paid close attention to students’ mental health. For those who felt some exam anxiety, they communicated with them from the perspectives of actual academic ability and exam preparation mindset adjustment strategies, helping students to relieve their mental burdens and approach the exam with confidence. Academically, the school also added specialized extracurricular classes for exam simulation to help students better adapt to the exam pace.

CUGO Mr. Liu offered blessings from a long-term planning perspective: “High scores in IGCSE Mathematics lay a cornerstone for advancing in international curricula. In the new academic year, the University Guidance Office will tailor course selection, competition planning, and profile enhancement programs to support students in reaching their dream schools.”

Principal’s Message: Starting from Excellence, Advancing to the Global Stage

Western Co-Principal Mr. Harrison highly praised the performance of the first cohort of candidates: “Taking on the IGCSE Mathematics challenge a year early and achieving A*/A grades fully demonstrates the students’ academic potential and the outstanding teaching capabilities of our faculty. This achievement not only validates the effectiveness of the Yew Wah learning pathway but also empowers students to confidently embrace future international curricula.” He emphasized, “At Yew Wah, we nurture not only academic ability but also cultivate students’ global vision and resilience. Our pioneer students have embodied the ‘Pioneer Spirit’ through their actions, and their stories will inspire more students to bravely pursue their dreams.”

Outlook for the New Academic Year: Setting Sail Again, Aiming Higher Across Seven Subjects

It is reported that this “top student team” has already set their sights on the full IGCSE examinations in May 2026. By then, they will be tackling seven subjects, including Further Mathematics, Science, and Economics. The academic team has jointly pledged: “We will provide full support throughout the journey, from academic planning to psychological assistance, ensuring every student can reach their fullest potential.”

Yew Wah Beijing consistently upholds the educational philosophy of “Inspiring Minds, Nurturing Futures.” Through bilingual and bicultural immersion, personalized guidance, and a rich variety of enrichment courses, the school helps students grow into global citizens equipped with both academic strength and social responsibility. The outstanding performance in this IGCSE Mathematics exam is a vivid testament to this philosophy.