A British student has set a new record at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) by achieving a perfect score on the challenging nine-hour examination. Alex Chui, a sixth-form pupil at Tonbridge School in Kent, earned full marks with 42 out of 42 points at this year’s competition, held earlier in July in Shanghai.

This marks Chui’s fifth gold medal at the annual global contest, making him the most successful competitor in IMO history. His previous achievements include two silver medals, bringing his total tally to seven medals over several years. Chui began participating in the IMO at the age of 12, initially representing Hong Kong before competing for the United Kingdom.

Reflecting on this year’s competition, Chui described one question as especially difficult but said he mostly enjoyed the challenge. He noted that the event was particularly significant as it was his final IMO appearance, which added some pressure. Despite this, he focused on appreciating the problems and overall experience throughout the contest.

Looking ahead, Chui plans to continue his mathematical studies at the University of Cambridge, where he will begin pursuing university-level mathematics next year.