BSB Students Achieve Exceptional Results in the Pearson Outstanding Learner Awards
The Pearson Outstanding Learner Awards recognise students around the world who achieve the highest marks in Pearson Edexcel examinations. At BSB, these exceptional results have become a consistent tradition, reflecting both the commitment of our learners and the strength of our academic foundation.
This year, the British School of Bucharest proudly celebrates six students whose results placed them at the top of their respective award categories.
Two students achieved the Highest Mark in the World, the highest distinction possible in the Pearson Edexcel international suite:
- Mihnea – Highest Mark in the World, IGCSE Mathematics
- Siyuan – Highest Mark in the World, IGCSE Mathematics
Four students earned the Highest Mark in Romania for their subjects:
- Adela – Highest Mark in Romania, A-Level Mathematics
- Alejandro – Highest Mark in Romania, IGCSE Spanish
- Benjamin – Highest Mark in Romania, IGCSE English Language
- Mateo – Highest Mark in Romania, IGCSE English Literature
These achievements highlight both the students’ dedication and the strong academic foundation within the school.
We are delighted once again to receive these outstanding learner awards from Pearson Edexcel. They highlight our students’ achievements, are a reflection of and a testament to the hard work and support from our school academic staff and further confirm BSB’s reputation and standing as a school of academic excellence. Well done and warmest congratulations!
Jason Porter, Head of Secondary
Student Reflections
Below three of our award-winning students — Siyuan, Mateo and Benjamin — share their reflections on their learning experience. Siyuan achieved the Highest Mark in the World in IGCSE Mathematics, the highest distinction possible in the Pearson Edexcel international suite. Mateo received the Highest Mark in Romania for IGCSE English Literature and Benjamin earned the Highest Mark in Romania for IGCSE English Language.
- How did you feel when you learned about your achievement?
Siyuan: I was very delighted when I first heard the news and I was also proud of myself as all my work had paid off. At the same time, I was really grateful to everyone who supported me – my teachers, my schoolmates and my family.
Mateo: To be frank… I was both satisfied and thrilled at the same time. Something about being placed among the highest in my country and even around the world as an exceptional learner was quite surreal. More than anything, I felt grateful for the support that I received, for the teachers who guided me and for the quiet moments of discipline that added up over time.
Benjamin: When I found out I felt quite a sense of pride and gratitude – even validation that all the effort, stress and time I had put into the English Language exam had finally paid off.
- What do you think truly made the difference in your learning journey – talent, discipline, curiosity or something else?
Mateo: I think that the difference came from a combination of curiosity, passion and consistent study. I simply enjoy analysing ideas deeply, especially in English Literature. Curiosity pushed me to discover meanings beyond mere words and sentences and my passion for reading allowed me to understand emotions and perspectives in a deeper way. Working with a clear drive helped me stay focused every day even in challenging situations.
Benjamin: The real difference in my learning journey came from a mix of discipline, curiosity and perseverance because together they pushed me to stay consistent and to dig deeper into more challenging concepts – often beyond the iGCSE syllabus as my genuine interest went beyond the academic texts.
Siyuan: For me curiosity played an essential role in my learning, especially in Maths. I enjoy exploring the logic behind those difficult problems and sometimes solve them in several different ways which always brings me a sense of satisfaction. This really made the difference, especially as it made studying less likely to be a task and more like something that I genuinely enjoy in my free time.
- How has studying your chosen subject shaped the way you think or see the world?
Benjamin: Studying English has generally shaped the way I think by training me to analyse texts and translate them to real-world problems using the many methods of analysis as well as being able to understand more complex ideas and how they connect to the world. This is helpful as I continue to study English Literature at A-Level.
Siyuan: Sometimes you can solve Maths problems in different ways from a different angle. This mindset has gradually changed the way that I solve problems in daily life. I strongly believe that always thinking and looking at things from different perspectives can really help you.
Mateo: English Literature taught me how to observe the world around me with more empathy and nuance. Books, I reckon, open windows into personal and sentimental experiences unlike any other creative medium, which is why they are perfect for appreciating different people’s outlooks in deeper ways. Reading has always been a time and place where I could reflect quietly and it has shaped my way of thinking.
- Was there a particular programme, lesson or teacher at BSB that inspired you to go further?
Siyuan: Yes. My Maths teacher, Mr Coope, inspired me a lot in my studying life. He always encouraged me to explore the unknown on my own and pointed out my mistakes so that I could strengthen my weaknesses in a timely manner. Moreover, I also enjoy his class very much as it is always full of fun. These all pushed me to keep going further.
Mateo: I want to express my sincere gratitude to all my teachers at the British School of Bucharest, especially Ms Hunter. Her passion for teaching English Literature, along with her belief in my potential, meant more to me than I can transcribe here. The encouragement I received from her and from the entire campus’s faculty created an environment where I felt willing to develop, challenge myself and dream higher than I imagined.
Benjamin: I would say that studying the Contemporary Poetry texts during my 2 years of iGCSE preparation with Ms Hunter was definitely a highlight for me, as her explanations and laying out of her own deep understanding of the poem and sharing of ideas really worked for me and my classmates in terms of how we could each identify and connect with the work we studied.
- Looking ahead, how do you hope to build on this achievement in your future studies or career?
Mateo: I hope to use this fantastic achievement as a reminder that by being compelled and passionate enough to succeed, you can muster incredible results. I want to continue studying what inspires me the most and to push myself beyond my comfort zone. I hope my experience encourages other talented teenagers to trust in their abilities and to believe that with consistency and belief they will be rewarded with goals once thought impossible to reach.
Siyuan: In the future I would like to choose majors associated with Applied Mathematics or Sciences to study since I am very eager to use my talent to solve real-world problems and make a contribution to humanity.
Benjamin: I hope to go on and study film at university, a closely related subject area to English Language and Literature. I feel that my time learning with BSB’s English Department will definitely help in the future with writing and analysing techniques that can be applied to more than just schoolwork.
Recognising Excellence Across the School
We congratulate Adela, Alejandro, Benjamin, Mateo, Mihnea and Siyuan for their success in this year’s Pearson Outstanding Learner Awards. Their results highlight both their dedication and the high academic standards upheld across the British School of Bucharest.
