IGCSE Top in the World: Meet with Samuel and Joey

In this year's IGCSE examinations, two pupils from South Korea, Samuel and Joey, achieved the highest scores in the world in several subjects. Samuel received Top in the World in both Additional Mathematics and Foreign Language Mandarin Chinese along with his nine A*/A, while his younger brother Joey earned the same honour in Mathematics, which he took one year ahead of schedule. Their accomplishment is not merely a reflection of academic excellence; it is also a vivid demonstration of how they overcame language and cultural barriers to redefine themselves in a brand-new learning environment.

Five years ago, the family moved from Seoul to Hangzhou. Still young, the boys had to confront the unfamiliar - a new language, a new culture and a new education system. In their initial days, they could hardly keep up with the teachers and were too timid to speak with classmates. An electronic translator stayed in their school bags, serving as a bridge between them and the world. They tried to capture key words during lessons, consulted dictionaries and sought help from teachers. Language stood like a high wall, separating them from everything else.

Yet it was on this seemingly challenging ground that they discovered their own strength.

Samuel recalls his life before Wellington College Education (China) - Hangzhou: "In South Korea, every day was the same—school, exams, mock tests, external study, homework and sleep. Studying felt like completing designed tasks; a score was just a number, and I seldom questioned why I was learning."

Joey adds: "My world revolved only around 'scores,' never 'knowledge,' let alone 'interest.' If you asked something creative, the teacher would say, "That's not on the test, don't worry about it." After a while, you stop asking, stop thinking and absorb passively."

Their mother remembers the anxiety at that stage. In South Korea, competition surrounded the children; parents packed their schedules with cramming in subjects like English, science, math and writing. Any break felt like 'lagging behind.' She hoped her sons could preserve their curiosity and passion instead of being overwhelmed by the pressure.

By chance, her husband was working in China every week, so the family decided to move to Hangzhou. It was a leap into the unknown, she admits, but that courageous decision set the boys on an entirely new path.

Their first weeks at Wellington College Education (China) – Hangzhou were both novel and daunting. They feared they would not understand the teachers or lessons, or make any friends. Joey said he was quite nervous for the first few days. He would silently repeat to himself, "I hope I can grasp a little today." At that time, mathematics became their safe harbour, a world where shapes and numbers required no translation.

Fortunately, they realised this school was different from what they were familiar with. Pupils would not be criticised for giving wrong answers; instead, they were encouraged to express themselves. Their classmates, who were from different countries, were kind and inclusive. Teachers slowed their speech and used simpler sentences to help them enhance understanding. Gradually, the brothers began raising their hands in class and exchanging broken English on the playground, their confidence growing with each passing day.

Their language skills grew naturally through daily conversation, and their attitude toward learning quietly shifted. Samuel discovered a genuine love for the Chinese language: he was drawn to the shapes and rhythm of the characters and to the culture embedded in the language. From "I can't read this," he progressed step by step to writing fluent essays, finally clearing a hurdle that had once seemed insurmountable. Nowadays, he chats freely with local people in Chinese and achieved the top score in the world in IGCSE Foreign Language Mandarin Chinese. "I enjoy learning Chinese because it allows me to understand a new way of thinking," he says.

Samuel and his Chinese teacher Helen

Joey's passion lies more in mathematics. He realised for the first time that maths is more than a set of exercises—it is training in logic and creativity. "Here, maths is not about who can get the answer faster; it's about who can ask more interesting questions." The sense of achievement this brings is even more exciting than the score itself.

Their mother has witnessed this transformation. "At first, I worried they would fall behind because of the language challenge, but their adaptability has far exceeded my expectations. Seeing them talk with classmates from all over the world in such a multicultural setting, I feel their horizons have truly broadened."

What she appreciates most about the school is the genuine care the teachers show. In the early days, the boys often stayed after class to ask questions. She thought staff would be too busy, yet every time the children approached them, the teachers patiently explained, repeating the content until everything was clear. "That gentleness and patience let me truly understand the power of education—not pouring facts into pupils but lighting the passion inside them."

At Wellington College Education (China) - Hangzhou, Samuel and Joey have learned to set their own goals instead of waiting to be told what to do. They proactively explored interests, experimented with different learning methods and mapped out possible futures.

Joey explains: "In the past, teachers pushed me to learn, but now my own passion pulls me." He knows exactly what he wants to achieve and which skills he must master to achieve that. Samuel agrees: "Learning is never boring here. When you can apply what you've studied in real life, that sense of achievement is amazing."

Their growth is reflected in their grades, but even more in their mindset. Both brothers balance study and life. Samuel loves music and unwinds by teaching himself piano; Joey likes playing basketball with friends at the court. Music and sports keep them energetic and motivated even amidst their demanding studies.

Their mother says she does not mind which university or course they choose, as long as they follow their genuine passion. "When a child finds something they love and are good at, they will face challenges actively and responsibly. Even if they regret it later, they still learn something from that regret because it was their own decision."

Samuel, Joey and their mother

She believes education must include 'waiting', waiting for the child to develop inner drive and to find the way. "Waiting is hard; it means enduring anxiety, uncertainty and comparison. But if we trust them, refrain from pushing them or comparing them with others, they will walk toward the future they want step by step."

Looking back, the brothers have journeyed from anxious newcomers facing language barriers to confident trilingual young men on a world stage. Their story is living proof of the Wellington educational ethos: learning is no longer a synonym for exams, but a journey to explore the world and oneself; education is no longer mere knowledge transfer, but a shared voyage of heart, culture and growth.

Samuel and Joey embody the true meaning of learning: when a child transitions from passive to active, from imitation to creation, from fearing the unknown to craving challenge, education fulfils its deepest purpose.

Wellington College Education (China) – Hangzhou provides such an environment: every child is seen, respected and encouraged to become the best version of themselves.