Celebrating Our 2025 IGCSE Learners: Shirish

We recently celebrated the outstanding achievements of our Year 12 learners in their 2025 IGCSE Results. Their resilience, determination, and hard work have led to incredible success both in and out of the classroom. Their success reflects the dedication, resilience, and curiosity we strive to nurture at Nexus.

This year, 52% of all Cambridge IGCSE grades were A or A*, and 55% of all Edexcel grades were 9–7, the equivalent of A*–A. Overall, an impressive 54% of all grades achieved were A*–A or 9–7, with the most common grade in English and Mathematics being an A* or 9/8.

One of these learners was Shirish, who achieved 10 A*–A or 9–7 grades in the 2025 IGCSEs. 

Shirish has been part of the Nexus community since Kindergarten and is now in Year 12. Inspired by his teachers, he chose triple science, economics, and computer science, and hopes to pursue a career in medicine. Passionate about STEM and how subjects connect in real-world contexts, he values the friendships and support systems that have shaped his 13-year journey at Nexus.

We caught up with Shirish to talk about his results, how he prepared for his exams, and his journey at Nexus so far.

Could you introduce yourself?

My name is Shirish. I’m in grade 12 now. I’ve been in Nexus for 13 years. I started in Kindergarten. 

Which subjects did you take for your IGCSEs, and why did you choose them?

I chose three electives. I picked triple science because I’ve always wanted to go into medicine. I was inspired by my science teacher in year 9. He was a really great teacher and played a big role in shaping my interest in medicine.

I also chose economics because it seemed really interesting at the time — and now, after studying it, I find it even more engaging.

The third one was computer science. I ended up enjoying it much more than I expected and learned a lot from it.

How did you approach preparing for your exams? Do you have any tips or strategies that might help other learners?

I think the most important strategy for me was doing past papers. If you practise enough of them, you will see a clear pattern in the types of questions and concepts.

For example, if I came across a question on something I had learned in Year 10 and going through the model answers helped me reinforce the knowledge. The next time that topic came up, I could recall it much more easily. 

In what ways has Nexus supported you in your learning journey and helped you to achieve success?

The teachers gave us a lot of support and provided us with additional resources. I knew I could always ask them questions and get feedback, which was really helpful. We also had access to great materials. For example, my biology teacher would upload set of notes onto Canvas so we could access them anytime. Little things like that made a big difference in my learning.

What have been some of your favourite lessons or learning experiences at Nexus, and why did they stand out to you?

I remember one moment really clearly. 

A few hours before an exam, everyone was huddled together, going over questions and helping each other out. It was really memorable because we were all in it together, talking through the topics and helping each other out. It’s hard to describe, but it was genuinely fun. That feeling of preparing and supporting each other is something I won’t forget.

Beyond academics, what other skills do you feel you have developed through your IGCSE subjects?

Time management was a big one, and also the discipline to keep revising consistently throughout Year 11. I would also say that taking a variety of different subjects really helped me become more well-rounded. Seeing how certain concepts overlap with other subjects helped to give me a better understanding of the subject matter overall.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the Nexus community? (This could be an extracurricular activity, a performance, an event or something else you value.)

I think it is the ability to talk to anyone in this community and always have a good conversation. It is not just limited to your friends. Even if a teacher pairs you with people you do not know, you still end up having a really positive experience. And the friendships you make along the way are a big part of your overall experience.

When we were younger, friend groups felt a lot more fixed. But now, as we get closer to Year 13, those boundaries have really melted away, and our year group is one big friend group. I think that is a really good thing.

Looking back, can you share one of your favourite memories from your IGCSE experience?

One of the highlights was the Tioman trip we went on in Year 11. That was really fun and a great way to unwind while still learning things for Global Perspectives. It came at just the right time, too. We had just finished our trial exams at the end of Year 10, and i was exactly what we needed. It was really relaxing and a chance to recharge before coming back to school.

Are there any teachers you would like to highlight for their support or encouragement during your studies?

In Mathematics, I was bumped up to the higher-level class, and I wanted to drop down because it felt too challenging and the pace was much faster. Mr Cairns encouraged me to stick with it and to work consistently outside of school. He saw my potential from the start, and that really motivated me.

Other teachers, like Ms Shabrina and Ms Tamzin, were also amazing because they explained things so clearly, which made learning Scientific theories much easier. 

Mr Kevin has been especially supportive since the beginning of Economics. He had also taught my brother, so there was already a connection, but beyond that, he always offered guidance in a way that made me feel really encouraged.

I would also like to thank my Computer Science teacher, Ms Hemangi. She really changed my opinion about the subject and made me really enjoy it, despite my initial aversion to it.

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Congratulations once again to Shirish on his fantastic results and for sharing his story with us. His journey reflects the Taylor’s Schools philosophy of nurturing learners who are Relevant, Responsible and Resilient, ready to thrive in an ever-changing world.

At Nexus, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of all our learners. Their hard work, determination, and passion for learning continue to inspire us every day. You can find out more about our learners’ academic successes on our Academic Excellence page.