he AST test center in Nanjing had 24 candidates coming from high schools such as Nanjing Foreign Language School, the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University, Suzhou High School, and Changzhou High School of Jiangsu Province, to take the AST test in 2008. Nearly 150 high school students took the test at all together 13 test centers around China. The result of the test can be used for the application to a number of elite universities world-wide. So far, more than 40 students have been admitted by University of Cambridge by submitting their AST test scores.

Tommy Zhang, project officer of Ameson’s ACEIS program, suggested that test results are only one part of the factors that impress the admission officers. Leading universities usually favor those with personality, sense of responsibility and personal strengths. For instance, Wang Tianxiao, a student from the Jiangning campus of the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University, was accepted to University of Cambridge when he was only 16 years old. Wang’s test score was solid but not outstanding. However, he excelled in his interview with Cambridge. He brought his stock transaction records, showing that he earned 20 % revenue out of 1,000 US dollars he received from his father when he was 16. He even earned 25 % revenue out of 10,000 US dollars his father invested when he was in senior 2.  Wang’s talents in finance abilities opened the door for the opportunity to study at University of Cambridge.

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