She may well be the highest achieving A level student this year. Cathy Lou, from Cardiff, picked up an astonishing six A*s in her A level results.
The 18 year-old got the top grade possible in all six A levels she sat; biology, chemistry, physics, maths, further maths and Chinese. She has an offer to read medicine at Hong Kong University, one of the world’s top universities, but is asking to defer and take a gap year before following her dream to become a doctor.
"I am really happy with my results," she said, "It's not about working hard it's about enjoying learning and I had really supportive teachers," the Cardiff Sixth Form College student said."
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Cathy said she didn't find all the work easy and revised for five hours a day during the month and a half study leave before exams. But the grade eight pianist did make time to perform in the school eisteddfod, go to the gym and see friends. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
She said: "I did find it hard sometimes and need people to repeat things two or three times, but I had amazing support. I used notes from lessons and past exams papers to prepare.
"It's about finding what you enjoy learning, learning from your mistakes and not just memorising. Also I studied with friends because I am very social and had to have a social life too."
Cathy said her parents fully support her decision to take a gap year before university: "I am planning to travel to Nepal and other under developed countries to see what is happening in the world and broaden my horizons.
"I want to be a doctor, it's been a long term dream. I want to be in the front line with patients because I enjoy interaction with people, it's about empathy and compassion and communication."
For now she is enjoying some time taking a break in Cardiff with her parents and 11 year-old brother who attends Westbourne School in Penarth.
When she does decide to go to university Cathy’s incredible UCAS points score for entrance is a total 336. Average course entry requirements can range between 95 UCAS points to 208 UCAS points, the university admissions service says on its website - so Cathy has far exceeded that.
The teenager puts her A level success down to her love of learning, good teachers and taking time to socialise too. Laughing at the suggestion she's a genius she said she found physics the hardest subject and often had to have things explained several times.
Cathy, a British National Overseas passport holder came over from Hong Kong two years ago with her parents to live in Cardiff. She studied at Cardiff Sixth Form College, consistently ranked as one of the top academic schools in the UK for results.
The college described her results as "stunning". Consistently one of the top achieving schools for academic results in the UK Cardiff Sixth Form College this year posted a 58% A level pass rate at A* way and above the Wales average of 10.1%. Cathy was among the 49.6% of students who gained three or more A* grades at A level at the college this year.
Latest prices on its website show Cardiff Sixth Form College charges up to £62,000+ with a £24,100 tuition fee on top for A level boarding pupils. Day pupils pay only the £24,100 tuition fee. It also offers scholarships to high academic achievers who otherwise couldn't pay.
