School Advisor Articles

Yi-Xuen Tan’s Path to UCL: The Impact of International School Experience

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Sep 24, 2024

Getting into University College London (UCL) is no easy feat. The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide named UCL the University of the Year 2024 and ranked it 9th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. With 30 Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and staff, it's clear that UCL attracts the best.

Yi-Xuen Tan is one of those exceptional individuals. Her success comes from academic excellence, curiosity, and a drive to make a global impact — qualities that began to take shape during her time at Taylor’s International School Kuala Lumpur (TISKL) and Charterhouse Malaysia. Both schools provided her with the support and opportunities to explore her interests, develop her skills and push herself academically.

Life at Taylor’s International School KL

Yi-Xuen spent her entire primary and high school years at TISKL, where she completed her IGCSEs. She describes her time there as an incredibly rewarding experience, one filled with fond memories and lasting friendships.

TISKL wasn’t always an international school; it transitioned from Sri Garden to TISKL in 2014. Being part of that change allowed her to witness its growth firsthand. "I feel like I got the best of both worlds — experiencing the warmth and friendliness of Malaysian culture while also benefiting from an internationally recognised IGCSE education."

Here, Yi-Xuen studied various subjects, but Global Perspectives (GP) stood out for her. It allowed her to dive deep into topics she was passionate about, like sustainability. “My GP teacher, Ms Shia, was instrumental in expanding my view of the world by offering suggestions and discussing my ideas. I think the innovative lessons I had there were a core reason I scored Top in Malaysia for Global Perspectives.” 

But life at TISKL wasn’t just about academics. Yi-Xuen participated in many extracurricular activities such as the Writer’s Club, World Scholar’s Cup and Interact Club. These experiences helped her develop crucial soft skills like leadership and time management. Through leadership roles in the Student Council and as the Community Service Director in the Interact Club, she learned how to manage her time, balance responsibilities, and, most importantly, make a positive impact on the student community. These experiences helped shape her diligence and drive.

A teacher who made a huge impact on Yi-Xuen during her IGCSE journey was her physics teacher, Mr Ten. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, he always went above and beyond to ensure his students had the best learning experience. “His dedication to ensuring we understood every concept inspired me to excel in all my subjects, not just Physics.”

His encouragement was a driving force behind Yi-Xuen’s stellar IGCSE results, where she scored 10A*s.

Yi-Xuen studied at TISKL throughout primary and high school, completing her IGCSEs there. 

Moving to Charterhouse Malaysia

After completing her IGCSEs, Yi-Xuen obtained a scholarship to continue her education at Charterhouse Malaysia for her A Levels, where she took Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics, in which she scored all A*.

She chose Charterhouse Malaysia because she immediately felt a sense of warmth and community during her first visit during an Open Day. She was drawn to the strong student-teacher relationships and the small class sizes, which allowed for more focus on each student — something she found unique compared to other schools.

One key reason Yi-Xuen was interested in Charterhouse was the range of opportunities available. Having done an independent research project for her IGCSE Global Perspectives, she was eager to join the college’s Independent Learning Programme and take on the International Project Qualification. The school's modern architecture and fun facilities, like a pool table, cushioned seats, and even a golf room, added to her enjoyable experience.

One of the challenges Yi-Xuen faced at Charterhouse was being part of the first January cohort, which meant she had only 1.5 years to complete her A Levels instead of the usual two years. “It also meant that we would sit AS and A2 altogether at the end of the 1.5 years instead of separately at the end of each year.”

This meant a more accelerated teaching pace in the first year, but the teachers were supportive. They ensured they covered the syllabus on time while tracking progress through weekly tests and feedback.

Yi-Xuen's overall A-level experience was shaped by the tight-knit community of friends, teachers, and staff. The small cohort size made everyone feel like family, and the guidance she received from her teachers had a lasting impact on her life.

“From my personal experience with my subject teachers, Mr Donaldson and Mr McDole (Chemistry), Ms Beverlyn (Biology), Dr James (Physics) and Mr Anthony (Mathematics), they were all truly committed to teaching us and carried many years of experience to the classroom as well. This was evident in their methodical way of teaching and explaining, simplifying difficult concepts and providing us with enough practice questions to feel prepared for our exams.”

She especially appreciated the teaching style at Charterhouse, known as Future Ready Education, which encouraged independent thinking and problem-solving. “The teachers didn’t just give us answers. They pushed us to find solutions on our own, which prepared me for university life.”

Pastoral care was also a big part of her experience, led by Mr Tom Robinson, who ensured students' well-being with humour and care. His organised trips, like the end-of-year Dungun trip, were memorable moments that helped students unwind during the stressful university application period.

Yi-Xuen chose Charterhouse Malaysia for the strong sense of community and warmth she experienced on her first visit, confident it would be an environment where she could thrive.

Support from Charterhouse’s University Admissions Team

Applying to universities is often a stressful process, but Yi-Xuen found strong support at Charterhouse, particularly from the university admissions team. They helped set up her UCAS account, guided her through submission, and ensured her recommendation letter was well-prepared. Her home tutor, Ms Beverlyn, also her Biology teacher, wrote the letter with input from her other subject teachers, making it a comprehensive reflection of her academic journey.

"Mr Richard Davidson, our principal, helped shape my personal statement," she recalls. "He asked me questions that made me think deeply about my career goals and how my experiences could tie into them." 

Ms Amy, the head of university applications, offered valuable guidance on selecting universities, helping Yi-Xuen consider factors that would be important for her decision. Both Ms Beverlyn and Mr Donaldson took the time to review the academic aspects of her personal statement, always willing to help her fine-tune it, no matter how many drafts she submitted. Yi-Xuen was also grateful to her friends, who patiently helped with grammar and the flow of her writing.

Another way Charterhouse helped Yi-Xuen prepare for her university application was by securing an internship at Monash University’s neuroscience laboratory. The school also offered her an opportunity to complete an Independent Learning Project. “The research question I worked on in the Independent Learning Project was ‘Can a bio-friendly plant-like algae be applied in agriculture to generate food by using natural resources that maximise energy reduction?’ These not only inspired me and shaped my career decision but also gave me a lot to write about in my personal statement.”

The result? She was admitted to UCL to pursue a BSc in Biomedical Sciences.

Today, Yi-Xuen is pursuing her BSc in Biomedical Sciences at UCL and is grateful to her family for being a backbone of support, advice, and encouragement throughout her journey.

How International Education Shaped Yi-Xuen’s Outlook

Looking back on her journey, Yi-Xuen believes that studying in international schools in malaysia has taught her the value of independence. “By learning how to do things myself and not relying on others to give me answers, I’ve discovered joy in the process of searching and finding the answer myself, which often reveals other things to me along the way. It’s made me more aware, both personally and professionally, and encouraged me to keep learning.”

The opportunities she had, from leadership roles to participating in global events like the World Scholar’s Cup, helped her grow in ways she hadn’t expected. “These opportunities made me step out of my comfort zone and taught me to organise, plan and prioritise effectively. It shapes how I manage stress and conflicts as well.”