Dhruv Dhananjay Tapasvi (16), a class X student of the British School, New Delhi, has made history by topping the additional math International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE ” class X) exam of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), UK, written by students of 3,700 schools in 160 countries. This global #1 spot apart, the young scholar was also ranked India #1 in history, international mathematics, and eight Cambridge IGCSE subjects in exams held in November 2012 and June 2013.

CIE confers annual awards to students who score the highest per subject in the world or India. The all-India topper award is given to a student scoring the highest total across eight subjects. I had prepared well for these exams and I’m glad my efforts have borne fruit, says Dhruv. This year CIE celebrated 109 students worldwide for exceptional performance in the IGCSE secondary and higher secondary exams.

One of two children of Gauri and Dhananjay Tapasvi, managing director of Emission Control Technologies at Manesar, India ” a subsidiary of Johnson Matthey, UK ” who was posted to Delhi three years ago, Dhruv was admitted into class VIII of the national capital’s highly reputed British School in January 2011, after completing his primary education at the Yarm School, Stockton-on-Tees in north-east England.

Contrary to expectation, this young achiever didn’t experience adjustment problems. The curriculums of both schools is almost identical. Both prepare students for CIE’s IGCSE exams. Moreover, the warm welcome I received in the British School put all fears to rest and enabled me to settle down quickly. One of the positive merits of this school is that anyone can find their particular niche and thrive within it. For this, I am very appreciative of all the school staff and students, says Dhruv.

Fresh from his triumph, this topper readily hands out advice to peers and juniors preparing for exams. Excellence in maths requires constant practice and concerted effort to thoroughly grasp basic principles. Reading world literature expands the mind and imagination. It™s also good to Google authors on the internet before reading their work, to understand them better, he says.

A believer in continuous preparation ” rather than last minute cramming ” for examinations, this budding genius plays tennis and is also a grade 6 piano enthusiast. Academic success requires leading a balanced life, he philosophises.

Way to go!
Autar Nehru (Delhi)

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