A RESULTS UPDATE last night lifted Hong Kong’s “perfect score” students in the International Baccalaureate results to 37 and many top scorers are planning to stay in HK, cementing the city’s reputation for having a disproportionate number of the world’s best schools. By Nury Vittachi, July 7 2025

Out of the 15 ESF students who got maximum possible points, 10 will stay in Hong Kong to study medicine, the South China Morning Post reported today.

This makes sense—considering that the QS global university rankings last month showed that Hong Kong had more universities in the world’s top 100 than any other city—and confirming that Chinese universities in general were on the rise.

Global interest in applying to US universities was more than 50% lower from April this year than the same period 12 months ago, according to data shared by Keystone Education Group last month.

RELATIVELY RELAXED
While East Asia has a reputation for pressurizing students, Hong Kong schools are relatively relaxed, with ESF schools in particular known for their creative arts.

In contrast, schools in South Korea have some of the world’s highest suicide rates, with Japan not far behind.

The picture, from ESF in Hong Kong, shows (seated, from left) Zhu Baihan, Joshua Lee Wing-fung, Kush Zingade, Chloe Wong Sum-yin and Kristie Lo Ji-kiu; (standing, from left) David Yuan, Isaac Hung Man-hei, Kelly Chak Hoi-lam, Sharon Sim Ai-xim, Yashasvini Agarwal, Ava Wong Wing-heng and Charmaine Lie Suet-lam.