Celebrating Our 2025 IGCSE Learners: Josh

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 Josh, who achieved 7 A*–A or 9–7 grades in the 2025 IGCSEs. 

Josh joined Nexus in Year 8 and is now in Year 12. Passionate about technology, he is particularly interested in computer science and hopes to explore future pathways in cybersecurity or sports journalism. He also enjoys performing at Nexus Beats, which has given him the chance to express himself creatively while building confidence in front of an audience.

We caught up with Josh 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 Josh. I’m in Year 12 and I’ve been at Nexus for about five years. 

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

I took English, Mathematics, Chinese, Business Studies, Computer Science and Geography. Well, initially it was PE, but I switched to Geography. 

English is my first language. Chinese, I’ve been learning it before I even came here to Singapore. Math is, I think, a must for everyone. 

I picked computer science because I’m very into tech. Technology really interests me in terms of a career I want to do in the future.

I chose business because I thought of it as a new venture as you don’t learn it in the MYP.

I initially chose PE because I thought it was mainly more practical rather than theory based, but when I figured out it was like 50% theory and half practical, Imade the switch to geography because I geography mixes in with some of my other subjects so I can use the knowledge from my other subjects to help with geography.

I chose my subjects based on two career paths I want to go down. If I want to do computer science as a major, I want to go more into cyber security. If not, I would like to pursue journalism, particularly sports journalism, and analyse games and matches.

Ultimately, I still haven’t chosen what career path I want to take yet, so I’m still deciding.

What inspired your subject choices? Was there a particular experience, teacher, or moment that influenced you?

I chose my subjects based on my career path and hobbies. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been a gamer as a kid. I’ve been really interested in sports as of recently because I just find sports as something that you can really get yourself into and be a part of yourself.

My parents were also very supportive and encouraged me to pick whatever interests me the most. 

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

I used AI to help me study. I would upload my notes, either photos or text documents, and AI would summarise them into clear subcategories, creating one big simplified sheet. This made it much easier to review information, especially content from Year 10 that I had forgotten by the time I reached Year 11. A lot of IGCSE learners struggle with remembering earlier content, so AI really helped me retain what I had learned. For exam preparation, I think AI is a great tool to make revision simpler, but not something to use for writing essays. My other main advice is to be confident. Every time I entered an exam, I went in with a positive mindset, and I believe that confidence helped me do well.

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

Nexus provides us with a lot of resources, from the facilities to the teachers who are always willing to help. As a learner going through the IGCSE or IB, you really should make the most of these resources. The teachers are the people you see every day and the ones who know the most. Even spending five or ten minutes with them outside of lessons can make a big difference in helping you understand things you might not have grasped in class. That support is always there, even beyond academics.

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

I really enjoyed the interactive elements of my lessons. They were fun and gave me the chance to speak to people, which I think is important not just for your well-being but also for getting ahead in life. For me, those moments of interaction made learning more enjoyable and meaningful.

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

As I mentioned earlier, having opportunities to interact with learners and teachers helped me to develop my social skills, like talking to people and being more expressive. 

Another big skill is time management. In the exam hall, every second matters, so I learned how to pace myself and spend the right amount of time on each question. Outside of exams, I tried to control what I could by scheduling my free time and balancing study with hobbies, and that helped me manage my time properly.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the Nexus community?

I enjoy being with my friends and having people I can talk to anytime. Whenever I feel alone or I am struggling with something, there is always someone around I can turn to for help. That sense of support is what I value most about being part of the Nexus community.

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

One of my favourite memories is definitely Nexus Beats. Performing every year is such a joy and has given me the chance to express myself in front of others. 

I also really enjoyed the trips, like my geography trip and the year trip to Bali. Those moments outside of schoolwork gave me the chance to connect with people in my yeargroup on a different level.

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

I would like to highlight two teachers. One is Mr Raza, my Business teacher in Year 10, and the other is Ms Hemangi, my Computer Science teacher. 

They both put so much time and effort into helping us, and I really appreciate that they genuinely want us to succeed. They go out of their way to support us in achieving our best grades, and that is what makes them stand out as some of the best teachers at Nexus.

Congratulations once again to Josh 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.