Malaysian Student Tops World Rankings In 2023 IB Diploma Results With Perfect Score
Ong has already received six admission offers and nine scholarships from universities in the US, Canada, and the UK.
By May Vin Ang — 12 Jul 2023, 02:45 PM
A Malaysian has emerged as the top-ranked student in the world after achieving a perfect score of 45 points in the 2023 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme
On 6 July, the results were announced globally, with Gerard Ong, a student from Nexus International School Malaysia in Putrajaya, as the top achiever with a perfect score of 45 points.
According to his school, the remarkable feat places Ong in an elite group of achievers. Out of 179,917 who sat for the exam in 5,000 IB schools worldwide, only 179 achieved a perfect score this year.
Prior to the announcement of the results, Ong had already received six admission offers and nine scholarships from universities in the US, Canada, and the UK. The combined value of these scholarships exceed USD360,000 (approximately RM1.6 million).
Ong during the IB graduation ceremony.
Image via Nexus International School Malaysia (Provided to SAYS)Hailing from Petaling Jaya, Ong is said to be a humble and down-to-earth teenager who attributes his success to having a strong support network
In an interview with his school, Ong said no matter where he is, at home or school, he always asked for assistance when he needed it.
The top student is said to be actively involved in sports, community service, and other various programmes.
He also took up leadership roles in the school's Student Council and Model United Nations club, and has even won an award for 'Best Press Piece' at the 2022 Nanyang Technological University's Model United Nations (NTUMUN) conference in Singapore.
Ong during the IB graduation ceremony with his family.
Image via Nexus International School Malaysia (Provided to SAYS)With a myriad of choices, Ong has decided to study International Relations at the prestigious King's College London
"Achieving the perfect score of 45 has been a surreal experience and, honestly speaking, was an achievement I didn't expect. However, this showed me that my resilience and hard work during the past two years have paid off," he said, expressing his gratitude.
"At Nexus, I was also able to take advantage of the myriad of co-curricular opportunities that complemented my academic studies. I believe such holistic education provided a good work-life balance that was, ultimately, the key to my success.
"Finally, I also want to thank my family, friends, and teachers who have continuously supported me and believed in me throughout my IB journey," he added.
