Zhanibek Abilkhan, a graduate of Shoqan Walikhanov School-Gymnasium in Ordabasy district, Turkistan region, has become the first student this year to achieve the highest possible score — 140 — on Kazakhstan’s main Unified National Testing (UNT).
His teachers describe him as an exceptional student.
“Zhanibek has been studying at our school since the first grade. The school principal is Saule Isanova, and his class teacher is Gulzira Bortai. He chose computer science as his elective subject for the UNT. Coming from a large family, Zhanibek is a curious and hard-working student. His success is the result of persistence and systematic preparation,” his teachers said.
Zhanibek, the second child in his family, said he felt confident even before finishing the test:
“Before I clicked ‘Finish,’ I already knew I had scored 140 out of 140.”
In an interview, Zhanibek shared his journey to success:
— First of all, congratulations on scoring 140! How did you prepare for the exam, and when do you think is the right time to start preparing seriously?
— I started preparing in the 10th grade, after choosing my core subjects. I also enrolled in prep courses at that time.
— Which school subject was the most difficult for you, and how did you overcome that challenge?
— Humanities subjects were the hardest for me, especially Kazakhstani History. At first, my scores were low, but I improved by reading books and understanding the topics thoroughly.
— How did you manage stress during the exam?
— I overcame anxiety thanks to the trust and support of my teachers.
— What advice would you give to students preparing for the UNT?
— Start early. Always set clear goals before beginning anything.
— Now that you’ve scored 140, which university do you plan to attend?
— My elective subjects were computer science and mathematics. I haven’t made a final decision yet, but I’m considering universities in Almaty or Astana.
— How many points did you score on the March trial UNT?
— I scored 133 in March, and now I’ve scored 140 on the real test.
— Best of luck in your academic journey!
For reference, the main Unified National Testing for 2025 in Kazakhstan began on May 16 and will continue until July 7.
Symbat Naukhan
