Malaysian Named Top in The World for Chemistry

Cheryl Chow Shu Wei of Beaconhouse Sri Inai International School Recognised with Global Cambridge Award

Cheryl Chow Shu Wei, a 17-year-old from Beaconhouse Sri Inai International School, Petaling Jaya has once again placed Malaysia on the global academic map after being named ‘Top in the World’ for Chemistry.

Cheryl Chow Shu Wei

Cheryl beat out nearly 1 million other students from around the world to earn the prestigious award from the Cambridge Assessment International Education during the recent Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards. Cheryl gained the highest standard mark in the world for International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations for Chemistry.

Commenting on the recognition, Cheryl said, “I am truly ecstatic to receive this prestigious global recognition. To know that I’ve been named the best in Chemistry in the whole world, it is something I could never have dreamt of!”

“This past year has been extremely difficult with the pandemic and learning from home. So, I’m even more proud of my accomplishment. Of course, none of this could have been possible without the help of my parents, teachers and peers who motivated and encouraged me to never give up and always try my best,” she added.

Every year, over 1 million students from around the world participate in Cambridge International based examinations, with Cambridge’s IGCSE programme representing the world’s largest provider of international qualifications being thought in close to 2,000 schools in over 50 countries.

This is the next feather on Cheryl’s already magnificently decorated cap. In 2019, Cheryl was crowned the overall top participant at the prestigious Mangahigh East Asia Maths Ninja Challenge 2019, a competition that saw her beat out 14,240 students from Japan, China, Korea and Singapore and other countries across East Asia. She also bagged gold in the national level Kangaroo Math Competition and was a top achiever in the 2019 The University of St Andrews Maths Competition.

But Cheryl’s prowess does not stop at Chemistry and Maths, she is also a storytelling virtuous, having clinched a finalist spot in the 10th edition of The New York Times Asia-Pacific Writing Competition 2019. She also earned gold finalist recognition in the international level The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition in 2019 and 2020.

Speaking on the achievement, Nicki Coombs, Executive Principal for Beaconhouse Sri Inai International School said, “We are incredibly proud of Cheryl’s latest achievement. Whether it is Chemistry, Mathematics or English, Cheryl has shown her exceedingly outstanding capabilities across the board when it comes to academics.”

“Her achievement is a testament to the Beaconhouse approach to holistic education and life-long learning. An approach that provides a balanced emphasis which has contributed to Cheryl’s extraordinary performances across subjects and throughout the years,” she added.