DSE 2026 | From Mid-Rank to Top Scorer: Shatin Tsung Tsin’s First Sets Sights on Medicine

The 2026 HKDSE results were released today (July 15), with Shatin Tsung Tsin Secondary School,  founded in 1985,  celebrating its first-ever top scorer.

Shatin Tsung Tsin Secondary School, Photo by Bastille Post

Eric Cheng, the top scorer, started his secondary school journey in the lower ranks. Through steady improvement, he rose to the top and now aspires to study medicine and serve the community.

He admitted that becoming a top scorer came as a complete surprise. He said he was astonished when he learned of his results, as he had not been an outstanding student in Form 1. “My results were in the lower half,” he recalled. “But I kept improving, especially in Form 3, when the progress became most noticeable. Many teachers have supported me along the way, and I’m glad I can give back to the school with this result.”

Eric Cheng, Photo by Bastille Post

On the rapid advancement of AI, Eric said he often turns to online resources and AI tools to find more effective learning methods and exam strategies. He acknowledged that AI development is hard to predict, but believes that everyone faces the same challenges, so it is enough to focus on the present, rather than worrying about what might happen 10 or 20 years from now.

Eric also revealed his plan to study medicine at a local university. Since he was sickly as a child, he often had to go to clinics or hospitals for follow-up visits and was once afraid of hospitals. However, the medical staff have always taken good care of him. Therefore, he hopes to change his role in the future and serve the public as a medical professional. He has not yet selected a target university.

Eric Cheng (left) and the school principal (right), Photo by Bastille Post

Eric said his family and teachers never placed excessive pressure on him. The main source of stress came from himself. He described his family as respectful and supportive, giving him plenty of freedom. Although he was anxious about his grades when he entered Form 1, his parents reassured him from Form 2 onwards, often reminding him that as long as he worked hard, that was enough. His teachers, he added, did not simply push for grades, but frequently encouraged him to take timely breaks and maintain a healthy balance.

To unwind, Eric enjoys watching World Cup matches, saying “I’ll watch selectively, not all the matches." He did not stay up to watch last night’s game, however, to ensure he could get up this morning. He joked that he supported France, who have already been eliminated, so he is now cheering for England instead.

Eric Cheng, Photo by Bastille Post

The 2026 HKDSE results were released today (July 15). St. Paul's College celebrated one top scorer and two runners-up, alongside another remarkable success: a visually impaired student who overcame significant challenges to achieve outstanding results.

St. Paul's College, Photo by Bastille Post

James Zheng studied Mathematics Extended Module 2 (M2), Business, Accounting and Financial Studies (BAFS), and Economics, and achieved 5** in both English and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He has been admitted to the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Financial Technology programme at the University of Hong Kong through the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS).

James's visual impairment is caused by a congenital developmental condition. He has also participated in support programmes at the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired. He requires specialised computer equipment for learning and is granted extended time during examinations.

He admitted that some people questioned his ability to use a computer when he chose his subjects, but he persevered. "I feel that studying is my only way out," he said, expressing hope that entering a good university would open up more choices for him. He believes Hong Kong is generally tolerant towards visually impaired individuals, but acknowledges that prejudice still exists. He hopes that securing a place at a good university and finding a stable job will give him a "safety net."

James Zheng, Photo by Bastille Post

James attended Toi Shan Association Primary School in Tuen Mun before studying at St. Paul's College, which has a long-standing partnership with the school and consistently provides strong support for visually impaired students. Initially, his grades were average. He ranked around 80th, and he struggled with English, though he could still see partially. He worked hard and gradually caught up.

However, in Form 4, he became almost completely blind. The transition required extensive rehabilitation and learning to live independently, making it difficult to focus on his studies. His grades plummeted. He decided to repeat a year, and after adapting to his new circumstances, he slowly regained his academic footing.

To improve communication efficiency with teachers, James wrote a programme that converts Braille mathematics directly into printed mathematical symbols, significantly reducing what had been a lengthy conversion process.

In Form 4, James became almost completely blind. Photo by Bastille Post

James is deeply grateful for the school's support, particularly his mathematics teacher, who dedicated time each week to help him study and later recommended him for HKU's admission programme. The school has also provided him with various opportunities, including camping trips and overseas competitions, ensuring his visual impairment does not limit his experiences. Last year, he even represented the school at a competition in Europe.

James was satisfied and happy with his DSE results, though he felt his Chinese exam performance was not ideal, and found the M2 paper particularly challenging due to the need for electronic devices. Although he was a little nervous the night before results day, he was not overly anxious, having already secured his offer from HKU.

He is deeply interested in AI applications, believing they can assist visually impaired individuals in daily life and studies - for example, by describing images or helping with study summaries. However, he has not yet tried technologies like OpenClaw, citing potential security risks. He hopes to use his programming skills in the future to help visually impaired people and others in need.

Immediately after completing the DSE, James immersed himself in tech and AI-related activities in Hong Kong, including presenting an open-source project at the Hong Kong Open Source Conference. He also interned at City University of Hong Kong, working on AI-related projects. He intends to pursue undergraduate research in AI and hopes to broaden his horizons through the university's exchange programmes.

James Zheng, Photo by Bastille Post

He previously visited HKU and found the campus welcoming, and also has a strong interest in finance. He acknowledges that the job market changes rapidly and cannot predict his future career path with certainty.

James shared his learning philosophy: the earlier you prepare, the better. He read extensively in English during junior secondary school, building a strong language foundation. He rarely attended tutoring classes, only taking a few months of maths tuition between Form 5 and Form 6, and economics tuition a few months before the DSE. Instead, he prefers to study independently. He likes to take notes after reading, believing it enhances memory retention.

James hoped other visually impaired students would not care too much about others' opinions, even if some people hold stereotypes or try to discourage them. In his eyes, the most important thing is to pursue dreams. "As long as you are interested and feel capable, you should try — even if you fail, you won't regret it," he said.

James hoped other visually impaired students would not care too much about others' opinions, even if some people hold stereotypes or try to discourage them. Photo by Bastille Post