Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

CHENG DAZHUO, a 14-year-old Shenzhen junior middle school student, has been admitted to Tsinghua University, becoming the youngest freshman of 2021, Cheng’s former alma mater, Shenzhen Yaohua Experimental School, announced Friday.

Cheng was not only exempted from the National College Entrance Examination, known as gaokao, but also postgraduate as well as doctorate program entrance examinations. He will study in Tsinghua University for his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs.

In March, Cheng was among the youngest junior middle school students to be included in “Qiu Chengtong mathematics talents training program” launched by Tsinghua University. After three selection rounds, Cheng was finally admitted to Qiuzhen College of Tsinghua University.

According to Gao Jianzhong, Cheng’s former head teacher, Cheng is gifted and showed great interest in mathematics and physics. He self-studied high school mathematics during his junior middle school study to solve physics problems.

Cheng said he is hoping to further studies in a field which crosses mathematics and physics.

When asked about his “learning secrets,” Cheng said they are staying motivated, finding the best learning method and setting goals accordingly, being persistent and self-disciplined. Last but not least, staying positive and creating a sound environment ideal for learning.

Cheng studied at the School of Mathematics and Physics of Shenzhen Yaohua Experimental School. In 2018, Yaohua School donated 80.9 million yuan (US$12.5 million) to jointly establish a mathematics class with Chinese Language and Culture Education Foundation of China to recruit young students around the world who showed great talent in mathematics or physics, according to the school.