This year, our 2025 graduates achieved outstanding results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), with an impressive average score of 35.1 points—well above the global average of 30.58.

Nearly a quarter of our cohort (23%) were awarded the prestigious Bilingual Diploma, and 43% scored 35 points or more, placing them among the world’s top-performing IB learners.

Among these exceptional achievers is Minh, one of our IBDP Scholarship learners, who earned a perfect score of 45 points. He was also awarded A grades in both his Theory of Knowledge essay and Extended Essay, and received the prestigious Bilingual Diploma.

Minh also achieved the top mathematics result in Singapore for his IGCSE examinations, which was a remarkable accomplishment that foreshadowed his continued excellence in the IB.

Minh’s academic success is matched by his humility and determination. Originally scoring 44, he pursued a remark and was ultimately awarded full marks, proof of both his resilience and his deep understanding of the syllabus.

Minh joined Nexus four years ago, moving from a public school in Vietnam and embracing the challenges of IGCSE and IB with curiosity and drive. He will now be heading to the National University of Singapore (NUS) to pursue a double major in Materials Science & Engineering and Analytical Chemistry, along with a minor in Economics. He was also awarded the prestigious ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship from NUS.

Minh’s story is one of perseverance, intellectual passion, and remarkable growth. 

We sat down with him to learn more about his journey at Nexus and the lessons he hopes to share with future learners.

Congratulations on being awarded the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship from NUS! That is an incredible achievement. Can you tell us more about the scholarship and how you prepared for the application and interview process?

The application process for Singaporean universities was very straightforward. I had to write essays answering five key questions and submit a portfolio of my work. After reviewing the portfolio, the university contacts you if you’re eligible for a scholarship. 

For the scholarship, achieving a high IB score was crucial, as universities in Singapore tend to be very academically focused. I also had to attend an interview, where I was asked to share my overall motivations and academic goals.

You’ve been at Nexus for four years now, and before that, you were in a public school in Vietnam. How was the transition from a public school environment to an international school like Nexus?

The environment in both schools was very different, but I still cherish my time at both. When I moved to Singapore, I had no idea what the IGCSE or IB were, but I embraced the challenge and wanted to see if this path would work for me. In the end, I would say it did.

You achieved an outstanding 45/45 in the IB and were also awarded the bilingual diploma. How did it feel receiving those results?

To be honest, it was a really funny process. I initially got a 44, right? But because I was motivated to get a 45, I went ahead with the remark. When I saw the breakdown of my original score, I had a lot of hope. I knew one of the grades was not as good as I expected. 

And after the remark, I was proven right because it went up by a lot! I got an increase of 5%, which is insane.

You earned an A in your Maths Extended Essay. This is incredibly rare. Can you tell us more about the topic and why it interested you?

My topic was ‘To what extent does elliptic curve cryptography ensure reliable message exchange?’ I was interested in how apps like WhatsApp and Telegram keep their messages secure.

Elliptic curves are geometric curves used in cryptography to secure communications, and the maths behind them is incredibly complex. It was probably one of the hardest pieces of coursework I had to do in the IB. The level of mathematics was way beyond what we learn in the Diploma Programme, so I had to read a lot and speak to different people to really understand the problem. The tight deadline made it even harder.

It took me three months to complete my first draft, and I sent it to my supervisor ten days before the school deadline.  With his feedback and guidance, I ended up deleting about 70 to 80% of the original essay and changing the direction completely. I did not expect to get an A, but I still hoped to earn 3 bonus marks from my EE and TOK, so I gave it my all!

What was the most challenging subject or component of the IB for you? How did you overcome those challenges?

I would say the coursework was the most difficult part for me, as it takes up a lot of time in general. 

With the IB, you also need to be well-rounded. I have always been passionate about physics, chemistry, and mathematics, but I had to learn to be well-versed in languages and humanities, too. I do not consider myself very language-minded, so I found those subjects more difficult and made sure to put in extra effort.

The paper I requested a remark for was actually for Vietnamese Literature, and I am very proud that I achieved a 7 in that subject because it was such a challenge.

I already knew the material well and made sure I understood the syllabus so I could prepare confidently for the exams. During those months, I scrutinised everything I wrote. I focused on identifying weaknesses and worked hard to improve both my language skills and essay writing.

Your Theory of Knowledge (TOK) essay was another standout. What did you learn from the TOK process that surprised you?

I would say the TOK essay was the most enjoyable piece of coursework for me, because it really forced me to think critically. I found the topics very interesting. I enjoyed making connections between the topics and could use my strengths as a logical writer.

You are also one of our academic scholars. How did this shape your approach to school life?

Being a Nexus Scholar gave me a sense of responsibility to be a role model for other learners. As a scholar, I felt I needed to be mindful of my actions and words because I wanted to set an example for those around me.

Throughout your time in the IB, you have taken part in a number of science competitions outside the classroom. Could you tell us about some of those experiences? 

Out of all the competitions I took part in, I would say Science Castle Asia 2024 was the most memorable. Not just because it was the largest in scale, but also because it had the longest process, and I have so many good memories from it!

One of the biggest challenges we faced was deciding whether to be transparent about some limitations in our research. I have always believed that honesty is the best policy, so we made sure to disclose them in our presentation. The judges actually commended us for doing so, and we ended up winning the Grand Award, which earned us a trip to Japan to attend Science Castle Asia and visit several research centres. 

The trip to Japan was insanely good! We were the honourable invitees from Asia and got to learn so much. The competition was the same format, but the atmosphere was different. It was way more formal and serious, with a lot less interaction with the judges.

I had the chance to interact with other international students from the competition and was able to learn a lot from them! Not just academically, but also about their different cultures. It was nice to have the chance to expand my network. 

Throughout the competition, I also learned a lot about the research process, from improving my data analysis to evaluating experiments more efficiently.

How did Nexus support your learning throughout your IB journey?

The support from the teachers during my time at Nexus was phenomenal. 

Whenever I had any kind of questions, I could find them and ask without any hesitation.  It made a big difference in my academic growth, because without them, I wouldn’t have gotten the marks I did.

I have to honourably mention my physics teacher, Dr. Gary, who had a significant impact on me, because he was the supervisor for all the scientific competitions that I participated in. He taught me the importance of being serious about your work and having resilience even when the going gets tough.

I still remember when we did our experiments for Science Castle 2024. Our flasks kept breaking out of nowhere, and we didn’t even know the reasons. We were about to give up he gave us a lot of motivation and encouraged us to discover the root of the problem and offered his guidance.

We eventually figured it out and continued with the process. If it wasn’t for his encouragement, we wouldn’t have completed our research and gone on to win the competition.

If you could summarise your Nexus journey in one sentence, what would it be?

The real 45 points I received were the friendships I made along the way.

What is one piece of advice you wish you had received at the start of Year 13, or advice that you would give to current Year 13 learners preparing for their final year?

In retrospect, I would say to please, please, please start your coursework early. I know all students procrastinate but trust me, please start earlier! 

I know the IB might be tough, but your hard work will pay off in the long run, not just for your grades, but also for improving the skills you will need at university and beyond.

The skill sets that the IB gives to you are very helpful. I can now confidently write up my academic research by myself. 

And as I mentioned above, please don’t forget to cherish the time that you spend with your friends, because those memories will last and remain in your hearts forever.

I also want to share a bit about my own experience. 

There were moments when I was really stressed during the course. I was questioning my study methods and reached out to my classmates to ask how they study. I was confused because everyone had a different method and I couldn’t figure out which was the optimal one. So in the end, I decided to use my own methods and trust myself. 

It’s like when you play sports or are taking part in a competition. You don’t want to panic, or things can get worse. You need to keep doing your best. 

The goal is to listen to yourself and be honest with yourself. If you work hard, you will achieve what you are meant to achieve. 

Minh’s IB journey reflects so much of what we value at Nexus: academic excellence, resilience in the face of challenge, and a deep commitment to personal growth. From leading science research projects to mastering complex mathematical theories, Minh has shown that success comes not only from intelligence but also from perseverance, curiosity, and staying true to oneself.

As he prepares to begin a new chapter at the National University of Singapore, we have no doubt that Minh will continue to thrive and inspire. We are incredibly proud of all that he has achieved and are grateful to have been a part of his journey.

Minh is just one of many outstanding learners in this year’s graduating class. To see more highlights from our IBDP Class of 2025, including cohort statistics and success stories, click here to read more on our blog.