This year’s HKDSE top scorers share their tips for success and spill the beans on their goals for the future
Thomas Wong Tsz-hang from La Salle College attained the highest level of 5** in nine subjects, a first ever for Hong Kong. La Salle College
Thomas Wong Tsz-hang, 18, is the first ever super top scorer in the HKDSE exam, achieving full marks in all nine papers, including the M2 paper, physics, chemistry, biology, and music. Thomas plans to study medicine in Hong Kong, although he’s still deciding whether to study at the University of Hong Kong or Chinese University.
“Now humans are living longer and there are more diseases being discovered,” he said of the new knowledge there is to explore in the medical field. “I like to help people, and I like to interact with people … so I really hope to become a doctor,” he said. He hopes to stay in Hong Kong for his future career. “I really like Hong Kong and I am born and bred [here]. I will stay in Hong Kong and serve this society,” he said.
HKDSE 2018 LIVE REPORT: here are this year’s exam results from across Hong Kong
St. Paul’s Co-Educational College
Wong Ching-ho, 16, scored 5** in seven subjects, including physics, chemistry, M1, and economics; his success is all the more impressive given that he opted not to have any private tuition or tutors. He said he believes good grades shouldn’t come at the expense of your mental health.
“Pressure is inevitable … but Hong Kong can try to adopt a more friendly learning environment,” he said.
Luk Hei, 17, scored 5** in seven subjects including physics, chemistry, and biology. He said that the key to his studying is good time management and self-discipline. Without time management, he wouldn’t have the time to do activities like running and playing the piano and harmonica, which he said help him to relax in the midst of stressful studying.
He highlighted the advantages of studying in the 21st century – “people can connect to online tutors all around the world” – but points out that making the most of these resources comes down to you.
Michael Lam Ching Wang, 18 from St. Paul Co-educational College said he hopes to pursue a law degree to advocate for environmental and cultural issues.Lam said he felt lucky to receive such marks and that his biggest challenge along the way was dealing with pressure.
Diocesan Girls’ School
Stephanie Leung Tsz-kiu, 18, scored 5** in seven subjects. While her grades have earned her a conditional offer from the University of Oxford to study philosophy, politics, and economics, she believes that there is no single way to be successful.
“The notion of a ‘good’ career path is rather restricting … less capable students may take other degrees such as vocational training and associate degrees and they will be treated as a subclass, while high achievers are usually confined to professional subjects.”
Lam Yuet-yee, 17, who also scored 5** in 7 subjects, wants to become a doctor. She wants to see reform in hospital waiting times; “especially for some specialities, [patients] have to wait for a very long time, and during their waiting time, their conditions may have already deteriorated.”
Good Hope School
Cheris Lee Cheuk-ying, 17, scored full marks in seven examinations, including the extended maths paper M1, physics, biology, and chemistry. She has chosen to pursue a joint degree in business and law at HKU so that she can one day help Hong Kong’s underprivileged groups.
“We need to tackle social injustice, and becoming a lawyer is one way to do that.”
Though she was uncertain about how well she had done in the exam, having missed out on the top marks in her mock exam, she puts her success this time around down to drilling through past papers.
HKDSE results prep: How to calm your nerves and talk to your parents about your scores
Diocesan Boys’ School
Andy Sum Ka-ho, 17, is the top scorer from Diocesan Boys’ School; he achieved eight 5** in the core papers as well as accounting, chemistry, and physics. He credits his good results to careful time management and prioritising important subjects, but admits that studying is a “very hard process”. Andy plans to study dentistry, which he was inspired to pursue after he suffered a jaw injury while playing football.
Queen’s College
Yuen Wai-him, 18, achieved 5** in seven subjects, including Chinese language, English language, mathematics, liberal studies, biology, physics, chemistry, as well as a perfect score in maths (M2: algebra and calculus). Hoping to become a doctor one day, Yuen says he is thankful for his parents’ support; especially for the lovely soup his mother would make him.