Renmin University Affiliated High School is a “god-like” school. Within the school, there is a common joke: “If you don’t work hard now, you’ll end up next door,” referring to Renmin University, which is located next door.
Let’s look at some data to demonstrate why this school is so strong: In the 2022 Beijing high school graduation examination, there were 106 students who scored over 700 points, and more than a third of them came from Renmin University Affiliated High School. Additionally, the ICC International Department of Renmin University Affiliated High School produces dozens of Ivy League offers every year. It can be said that at Renmin University Affiliated High School, the top students aim for Ivy League schools, Oxbridge, and Tsinghua and Peking University, making the prestigious 985 universities merely a second choice for many.
So, how strong is this “god school”? This article will analyze it from three aspects: 1. Output data; 2. Input data; 3. Long-term planning scheme (Total 3000 words, recommended reading time 5 minutes)
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World-Class University Offers
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01 The Origin of Tsinghua and Peking University Students
How strong are the college entrance examination results at Renmin University Affiliated High School? Let’s take a look at the admission data from the past three years:
In the top 20 of the Beijing college entrance examination in 2022, 7 students were from Renmin University Affiliated High School, with 38 students scoring over 700 points, accounting for 36% of the total in Beijing, and 92 students scoring over 688 points, accounting for 24% of the total in Beijing, with over 200 students admitted to Tsinghua and Peking University.
In 2021, among the top 100 students in the Beijing college entrance examination, 24 were from Renmin University Affiliated High School, and another 11 received guaranteed admission to Tsinghua and Peking University.
In 2020, the highest score of 722 points in the Beijing college entrance examination came from Renmin University Affiliated High School, with 28 students scoring over 700 points, accounting for 35% of the total.
From the above data, we can call Renmin University Affiliated High School the “origin of Tsinghua and Peking University students”. Whether it is the top Tsinghua and Peking University or other 985 universities, the annual college entrance examination results excite parents. As for the high scorers in English, scores of 135+ or even 140+ are not uncommon. This is the real Renmin University Affiliated High School.
02 A Machine for Ivy League Offers
Not only does Renmin University Affiliated High School have a strong general high school, but the ICC (International Cooperative Education Program) also shares resources with Renmin University. In the past two years, the International Department has attracted much attention from parents. Let’s look at the application results from the past two years:
In the 2022 application season, 17 students were admitted to the top 10 universities in the United States, with 8 offers from Oxbridge, and 75% of students received offers from the top 30 universities in the U.S. and the G5 universities in the UK.
In the 2021 application season, 10 Ivy League offers, 9 offers from the top 10 universities in the U.S., 11 offers from Oxbridge, and 221 offers from top 30 American universities were secured, with a total of 77 offers from G5 universities.
The ICC of Renmin University Affiliated High School is the largest public international department in Beijing, enrolling about 300 students each year, many of whom come from the school’s middle school and from high-quality middle schools in Haidian District. These students share a common characteristic: a long-term plan for their own development. A crucial element in the application to the International Department is the TOEFL score; these students have made scientific and long-term plans for language learning since elementary and middle school, enabling them to enter the ICC with impressive TOEFL scores during the application season.
Whether following the domestic or international route, Renmin University Affiliated High School showcases its dominance in admission data, achieving a balance of “internal and external excellence”.
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Overcoming Challenges with Limited Scores
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What kind of students are qualified to study at Renmin University Affiliated High School? Below, we will explain this from two directions: the general high school route and the international route.
01 General High School Route: Only 1/4 of the Quotas are for Unified Enrollment
With a total enrollment plan of fewer than 600 students, there are 280 spots for direct admissions from the middle school; in other words, nearly half of the high school students at Renmin University Affiliated High School come from direct admissions from the middle school. In addition, there are over 200 spots for school quota transfers and city-level coordinated students, so the opportunities for ordinary middle school students are extremely limited.
There are a total of 595 spots for general high school admission at Renmin University Affiliated High School. Only 159 students who filled out the college entrance examination application with a total score above 654 (out of 660) were admitted to Renmin University Affiliated High School, corresponding to a ranking within 800 students in Haidian District, which means the top 4% in the district. This means that students can only lose a maximum of 6 points across 8 subjects, and successful applicants usually score either 99 or 100 in English.
02 International Route: Early Admission and Post-Examination Admission
Students can enter the ICC of Renmin University Affiliated High School through two pathways: early admission with an entrance exam and admission after the college entrance examination.
Students who can participate in the early admission entrance exam need to attract the attention of admission officers with excellent scores in preliminary or mock exams, a district ranking within the top 3000, and a TOEFL score of 90+. These students have a great chance of receiving a “guaranteed admission” from the school before the college entrance examination, meaning that regardless of their college entrance examination scores, the school promises to admit them. Of course, usually, students who receive guaranteed admission also have quite good college entrance examination scores, as those who excel in language scores, resumes, and entrance exams indicate strong comprehensive abilities.
Another group consists of students who sign up after the college entrance examination. One type is students who can directly enter the ICC based on their college entrance examination scores, needing to reach the school’s “direct admission line,” which, according to 2022 data, was only one point lower than the general high school admission line, meaning there is almost no difference in difficulty. The other type is candidates who are interviewed with lower score requirements; although the overall score requirement is more lenient than that for direct admission candidates, they still need to achieve a score of 646 (in Haidian District) in the college entrance examination and be ranked within 4000 students in the district, proving that these candidates also have strong learning abilities.
Next, let’s take a look at the score models of the last admitted students from the general high school and ICC international department at Renmin University Affiliated High School in 2022:
General High School:
ICC International Department:
It can be seen that there is a certain score gap in subjects like Chinese, Mathematics, and Physics between the two, but in English, both scored 99 points. Therefore, whether preparing for the general high school or aiming for the international department, English learning needs to be prioritized early.
Summary
1. The general high school path is occupied by direct admissions, coordinated admissions, and school quota transfers, leaving very few opportunities for ordinary middle school students, making competition fierce;
2. The international department has high requirements for students’ comprehensive abilities, with relatively lower total scores and district ranking requirements for the college entrance examination, but English still needs to be planned in advance.
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How Should Middle School Students Plan?
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At the parent meeting of the ICC of Renmin University Affiliated High School, the school emphasized that students should spend 1.5 hours daily to solidify their foundation and practice more, adhering to the principle of not blindly chasing scores and focusing on different learning priorities for students with varying foundations. Therefore, I have summarized the different planning strategies for three types of students: domestic route, international route, and dual-path planning.
01 Domestic Route
As mentioned earlier, the admission score line for Renmin University Affiliated High School in 2022 was 654 points, with a maximum of 1 point loss allowed in English. Students who clearly choose the domestic route need to possess the language ability required to excel in the college entrance examination and be proficient in various exam techniques. Most middle school students should reach a PET level, so it is recommended that they achieve the ability to score 130+ in English in the college entrance examination during their middle school years. The specific learning method is to undergo 1-2 years of systematic learning while improving language skills and mastering various examination techniques. Firstly, the improvement in language ability is reflected in the ability to read articles closely, listen to passages accurately, and write with logical coherence, which requires accumulating materials that meet or exceed the difficulty of the college entrance examination. Secondly, the enhancement of examination techniques is achieved by organizing the grammar system and various exam question types in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, supplemented by extensive training to identify and address weaknesses.
02 International Route
Students who clearly choose the international route need to focus on the TOEFL. Of course, the steps and methods for learning the language vary depending on the student’s level, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. My advice for middle school students is to start with grammar learning as a foundation, focusing on clauses and participles to achieve the ability to independently read complex sentences and paragraphs in TOEFL. Then, based on the techniques for the four TOEFL sections, emphasize the accumulation of TOEFL vocabulary, phrases, and sentence structures, gradually transitioning to TOEFL passages with a focus on language foundation, overall logic, and fluency. Finally, concentrate on exam challenges and extensive practice to enhance students’ comprehensive skills and test-taking experience.
03 Dual-Path Planning
Should students study abroad or attend university domestically? Many parents and students consider international education while not wanting to give up the domestic route, which has led to the emergence of dual-path planning. As a recognized top school, Renmin University Affiliated High School’s general high school and ICC international department provide a great option for families pursuing dual-path planning.
For families with dual-path planning, language scores should be prioritized for early planning. It is recommended that students with a KET foundation solidify their grammar base and engage in topic-based material training to achieve stable high scores in domestic exams; students with a PET foundation should focus on learning clauses and complex sentences to develop the ability to independently read complex sentences; students with an FCE foundation can start with basic training in TOEFL question types and accumulate TOEFL vocabulary, phrases, and sentence structures, gradually transitioning to training in passage logic.
Summary
At the middle school stage, different families have different routes, and the corresponding learning content and methods also vary. Overall, if the goal is the general high school, it is recommended to reach a score of 135+ in the college entrance examination; if the goal is the international department, a TOEFL score of 90+ or even 100+ is recommended; for dual-path planning, it is essential to build up language skills to increase the chances of transitioning in the future. This is also a genuine demand expressed by parents throughout our years of teaching.
Follow-Up Activities
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Video Live Broadcast
Due to the limited length of this article and to meet everyone’s needs, next week the Xueersi International live broadcast will cover topics such as “Choosing Schools for the International Department,” “Filling Out International Department Applications,” “Long-Term Planning,” and “Cambridge Five-Level Transition to TOEFL Learning Methods.” You can scan the QR code in the image below to reserve a spot for the video live broadcast.
2
Exclusive WeChat Group
To meet the needs of families with third-year middle school students regarding school selection, interviews, resumes, etc., we have established the “Third-Year School Selection Group”, where we provide interview simulations, resume reviews, and school selection advice. We also created the “Middle School Planning Group” for younger families, with teachers accompanying children in vocabulary memorization and offering one-on-one diagnostic planning activities. To join the group, please add Ivy Teacher’s QR code and reply 【Grade】 to join.
