Recently, the IELTS official released the 2023 Global IELTS Score Report. The data shows that in 2023, the average total score of mainland Chinese candidates for IELTS Academic is 5.9. The overall proportion of the 7.0 points takes up 9.7%, and candidates who achieved 7.5 or above is less than 1%.

In contrast, the students of China (Hong Kong) English School (CHES) have achieved quite excellent results again. For example, two students, Lam Ho Sam (now in senior one) from junior three and Mok Lillian (now in senior two) from senior one, both scored 8.0. There are also many students such as Zheng Shiyu, Kee Kai Ming, and Gao Yueming who have scored above 7.0. For the top 100 famous universities abroad, the general requirement for IELTS is 6.5 points (some top-ranked famous schools require more than 7.0).

Ms Dai, the director of the English department of the school, introduced that the IELTS test (International English Language Testing System) is the world's first English test that assesses the candidates' English proficiency in four aspects: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It is also an important "stepping stone" to the world's top universities. "These students who get high scores in the IELTS test can devote their energy to learning other professional subjects. For example, among the students who got high scores this time, Kee Kai Ming and Mok Lillian both got all A* in the their three subjects of the Cambridge IG test. Zheng Shiyu got A*AAAA in the Cambridge AS test, and Gao Yueming got all A in five subjects."

Zheng Shiyu: Watching English dramas can also improve IELTS listening and speaking abilities

Zheng Shiyu used to run for the school Student Union election before. Her confidence and organizational ability left a deep impression on me. She took the IELTS test in both grade 11 and 12, scoring 6.5 and 7.5 respectively.

Zheng Shiyu has been studying at CHES since the first grade. This school not only provides professional training for students in written English learning, but more distinctively, it has long formed a language environment for listening and speaking. "From the first grade of junior high school, we have had special oral English classes and after-class oral English activities. I remember that when I was in junior three, a student in the next class took the IELTS test and got 6.5 points."

In addition, Zheng Shiyu has another hobby: watching American dramas. "I like watching 'The Big Bang Theory', 'The Good Doctor', and 'Gossip Girl'. Of course, I watch the original versions without Chinese subtitles. At first, it may be uncomfortable, so when I was young, I started with 'My Little Pony'."

Her favorite college is the University of Hong Kong: "When I was in junior high school, there was a senior sister named Li Xiaoyuan in senior high school. We became best friends at that time. She is my role model. Now she is studying at the University of Hong Kong. During holidays, I often hear her talk about how the University of Hong Kong is. So I also want to study at the University of Hong Kong. I have already thought about the major I want to pursue: biochemistry."

Gao Yueming: 15 years study at CHES has laid a solid foundation

IELTS courses are relatively boring to learn and require a lot of listening and speaking practice. After studying for a while, Gao Yueming has to relax through sports. Even so, he passed the IELTS test with a score of 7.0 in his first year of high school. Must there be some special tips?

"Perhaps I laid a language foundation since I was young. I attended CHES Kindergarten. After that, I have been studying at CHES from primary school to high school. English has always been the advantage of CHES students. When we were in kindergarten, foreign teachers accompanied us every day as we grew up. Imperceptibly, we formed the language potential of English. Primary and junior high schools are bilingual teaching environments. In high school, it is basically all-English teaching. So over the years, my foundation in English listening, speaking, reading and writing is still relatively solid."

When it comes to which college he wants to apply in the future, Gao Yueming said that his ideal colleges are the top three in Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Chinese University of Hong Kong. In addition, Imperial College London and University of Warwick in the UK are also suitable options for him. No matter where he studies, the major he wants to learn is data science related with computer technology.