IQ 204 prodigy who dropped out of high school caused a stir when applying to Oxford

(Dan Tri) - Baek Kang-hyun, a Korean prodigy with an IQ of 204, has just announced that he is preparing his application to Oxford University (UK).

In a video titled “Applying to Oxford University” posted on her personal YouTube channel, Baek shared: “I want to update those who have always cared and worried about me that, for the past year and a half, I have been preparing to study abroad in the UK and studying for the international A-Level exams.”

Boy Baek Kang-hyeon (at age 9) shared on his Youtube channel. (Photo: YouTube screenshot).

He said he received top marks in all four subjects: Further Maths, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. “I was hoping to get into Computer Science at Oxford, and I knew my grades had to be in the top 1%,” Baek said.

In the UK A-Level system, results are divided into seven grades: A* (the highest), A, B, C, D, E and U (failure). Top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge often require candidates to achieve multiple A* grades to be eligible for admission.

Baek is also preparing for the Mathematical Admission Test (MAT), which is required for applicants to math-related courses at Oxford. “I will take the MAT on October 23 and in previous mock tests, I always scored between 98 and 100,” he shared.

Despite his outstanding achievements, Baek faced legal barriers because according to regulations, the UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) only allows candidates aged 13 and over to register, while the boy was only 12 years old.

“I contacted UCAS and Oxford’s admissions office directly to ask about the eligibility requirements. They said I would hear back by the end of this month. Even if I don’t get an exemption and can’t apply this year, I’m still very grateful for the support from UCAS and Oxford,” Baek explained.

If the exception is granted, Baek will take the MAT exam on October 23. Successful candidates will be invited for interviews in December, before receiving final results in January 2026.

Baek made national headlines at the age of 9 when he was admitted early to middle school and later to Seoul Science High School, one of the top schools for gifted students in Korea.

In 2015, the boy appeared on SBS's Finding Genius program and was confirmed to have an IQ of 204, in the top 0.0001% of the world's population.

Baek entered Seoul Science High School in March 2023, but just five months later announced his withdrawal via his personal YouTube channel. This decision quickly attracted public attention, especially after his father hinted at school violence as one of the reasons for his absence from school, sparking much debate in Korean society.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/than-dong-iq-204-tung-bo-hoc-cap-3-gay-xon-xao-khi-ung-tuyen-vao-oxford-20250913155635588.htm