Rui Xi took 11 IGCSE subjects, including Additional Math, World Literature and a Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award). The hardest at first was History. Torn between Geography and History, she was won over when her teacher brought World War I and II to life in the taster session.

At first, she felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of content, doubting whether she could remember every fact and every minor date. But with her teacher's guidance, she gradually learned how to approach the questions — and things got much easier. "I think it was the right choice."

Rui Xi juggles music (concerts, musical, marching band), three sports (volleyball, basketball, football), leadership roles and service learning. Her rhythm comes down to prioritising time: during exam season she may skip a training or rehearsal, but otherwise she makes every session.

"For me it's also a chance to take a break from my studies — otherwise I'd be too bored from all the academics." Now an IB student, she's busier but refuses to drop anything: "I don't think I'll give them up just to focus more on academics, because I think I can balance them."

Rui Xi uses AI, but she does not let it completely replace her information gathering and thinking — she would rather use search engines herself. She leans on AI to explain a question when stuck on a math problem, to summarise textbook pages into key facts, and to check her coursework against the rubric. 

"Work smart, not just hard." For Rui Xi, finding the right study strategy is key. She also urges younger students to enjoy IGCSE: "Once you reach the IB programme, you need to be very clear about your subject choices and direction. IGCSE allows you to explore more subjects that you like."

Kayiangel joined YCIS in Year 7 after coming from a local public school. She took 11 IGCSE subjects, and her biggest challenge was First Language English — as a non-native speaker, she struggled with vocabulary and grammar.

The turning point was a shift in mindset: instead of learning English as a foreign language, she learned it like her native Chinese — through drama, literature and TV shows. "Rather than learning it as a foreign language, I should learn it more like my native language Chinese… and that helps me a lot, making it far more interesting." 

And she aced her IGCSE First Language Engish with A*.

Outside class, Kayiangel joined the LiLi Time Sign Language Club, promoting sign language at the back-to-school carnival and business market. "Service learning is about building the bridges for them — the deaf community — to the wider world." For her, Co-Curricular Activities don't compete with grades — they recharge her: "These activities give me more energy."

Economics changed how Kayiangel sees the world. Before, if a price rose she would simply think, "the seller wants more profit." Now she sees the mechanism behind how society and money work. She doesn't want to be boxed into "arts" or "science" — she wants to combine AI with cognitive science.

Kayiangel now uses AI regularly in her schoolwork  — to break down difficult concepts and to turn her blurry, fragmented thoughts into structured points. But she keeps one guardrail: "It's important that we think before using AI — the main thing you do with AI is to ask the right question."

Winning a scholarship was a milestone — not only for the achievement itself, but because deciding to attend the interview was a real challenge for someone introverted. "Deciding to go to the interview was a really difficult decision for me… That creates a positive cycle — I was able to grow and become braver."

"It was a journey of self-development through academic challenges." From struggling with English to winning a scholarship, Kayiangel spent two years turning "I can't" into "I can."