High-achieving students from Hong Kong's ESF school reveal strategies for academic excellence
In a recent reveal, the English Schools Foundation (ESF) showcased the impressive International Baccalaureate (IB) results of its students. The top-performing IB students in Hong Kong, hailing from some of the city's most prestigious schools, have demonstrated exceptional academic achievements, diverse aspirations, and a global outlook.
Aspirations and Destinations:
Many of the top IB students in Hong Kong are aiming for competitive university placements abroad, particularly in the United States, United Kingdom, and other global education hubs. While a significant portion aspires to become doctors, some, like Kristie Lo Ji-kiu from ESF's Sha Tin College, plan to pursue computer science, reflecting Hong Kong’s status as a technological hub in Asia. Top IB graduates often attend leading universities worldwide, such as Boston University for computer science, highlighting the global mobility and diverse career ambitions fostered by the IB curriculum.
Top Schools and Performance:
Hong Kong is home to 71 authorized IB World Schools, offering various IB programs, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), and Career-related Programme (CP). Leading local schools like Diocesan Boys’ School and St Paul’s Co-educational College consistently achieve strong IB results, often scoring well over 40 points, which is considered an excellent score in the Diploma Programme.
The English Schools Foundation (ESF), the largest English-medium international education provider in Hong Kong, has six schools whose students consistently achieve top marks in the IB exams, with an average IB score of 36.1 in 2025 compared to the global average of 30.3. ESF had 15 students crowned top scorers in the 2025 IB diploma exam, showcasing the high level of achievement among their cohort.
Trends and Statistics:
The number of IB students in Hong Kong has risen nearly 20% over the past five years, reflecting a growing preference for the IB’s flexible and creative curriculum as an alternative to the traditional Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) system. In the May 2025 IB session worldwide, 9,456 students scored 40+ points out of around 202,000 candidates, indicating a competitive global standard. Hong Kong's top schools contribute significantly to these high achievers.
More than 20 students at Hong Kong’s local and international schools achieved the perfect IB Diploma score of 45 in 2024, underscoring the presence of elite IB talent in the city.
Among the top achievers, Kristie Lo Ji-kiu, a student from Sha Tin College, stands out. After 17 years of hard work, she reached a score of 45, a goal she had been striving for. Overwhelmed with emotion, Kristie expressed her honor after reaching her goal and shared her excitement and relief after learning about her grades.
In addition to Sha Tin College, another five students from the German Swiss International School on The Peak achieved top marks in the IB programme. The remaining top students are either aiming to study in the United States or are undecided about their future educational paths.
As the demand for international education pathways that equip students for global opportunities continues to grow, Hong Kong's top IB students will undoubtedly continue to make their mark on the world stage.
Science is a popular subject of choice among top IB students in Hong Kong, like Kristie Lo Ji-kiu, who plans to pursue computer science, reflecting the city's status as a technological hub in Asia. Top IB graduates, such as those from ESF schools, are not only demonstrating exceptional academic achievements but also promoting personal growth and self-development through learning, as they attend leading universities worldwide for various fields of study.
