Nearly 60 per cent of the perfect scorers in International Baccalaureate (IB) exams from the biggest international school group in Hong Kong have chosen to study overseas, with one student planning to pursue aerospace engineering to fulfil his dream of becoming an astronaut.

The 36 perfect scorers from English Schools Foundation (ESF) shared their aspirations with the media on Thursday, a day after IB organisers revealed a total of 93 Hong Kong students attained a perfect score this year, 37 fewer than in 2021 despite more candidates sitting the tests.

A number of students are expected to further their studies at top universities overseas.

One-third of the 36 high-flyers chose to study medicine, three picked psychology, and two wanted to read law overseas. There were 46 full scorers from the foundation last year.

About 58 per cent, or 21 of the students, are expected to further their studies at top universities overseas, including Stanford University, University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, while 14 others plan to remain in Hong Kong. Last year, 24 out of 46, or 52 per cent, chose to study overseas.

Sha Tin College, one of the seven colleges under ESF, had a total of nine perfect scorers, followed by Island School with eight.

Felix Chim says there is a lot of potential for the aerospace industry to continue developing.

Felix Chim See-tsai, from the ESF’s South Island School, has chosen to study aerospace engineering at Texas A&M University in the United States, saying he dreams of becoming an astronaut.

“It’s a way for me to explore something that’s unknown. [Being an astronaut will allow me] to be part of something new, and it will be a really novel experience,” the 18-year-old said, adding that aerospace was his long-standing passion.

“I think there is a lot of potential for the aerospace industry to continue developing and growing beyond what we see today.”

Some of the top students said the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic had affected their study over the past two years.

Andrea Chow says online learning had a big impact on students.

Andrea Chow, from Sha Tin College, said online learning had a big impact on most students as well as their teachers.

“Everyone is not used to it, including the teachers. So they get through the content a little bit slower, and they don’t know how to teach once we’re not in a classroom,” the 18-year-old said.

“The biggest problem, honestly, is getting yourself motivated and thinking about your time management, and trying your best not to get distracted during classes and to keep up with the course.”

Hillary Lo will read law at the University of Cambridge.

Hillary Lo Hin-ching, also from Sha Tin College, will head to the University of Cambridge to read for the Law Tripos. She agreed that the pandemic had made it more difficult for them to study and they had to learn how to discipline themselves and stay focused.

The prospective law student, 18, said it was sad to hear a number of prominent human rights lawyers had left Hong Kong but she still had hope in the city’s legal system, adding that she had not decided whether she would practise in the UK or in Hong Kong.

The IB, which offers students an internationally accredited qualification to enter higher education institutions, is a two-year programme for those between the ages of 16 and 19. They are required to take six subjects and complete three components, including an extended essay.