Max Brimmeyer, who this year graduated from the classic secondary education system, has been recognised as the top-performing student of the 2025/26 school year after achieving an impressive 59 out of 60 points in his final exams. Enrolled in Section C, the sciences track, the 18-year-old from Mamer stood out among all graduating students across the country.
Reflecting on his remarkable result in an interview with RTL, Brimmeyer admits he was taken aback – he did not really believe it at first and was quite shocked.
Brimmeyer attended Lycée Josy Barthel in Mamer before switching to the Athénée de Luxembourg for the final three years.
"In the week leading up to the exams, I started working intensively, studying about eight hours a day", he reflects.
The final exams covered seven subjects: biology, English, chemistry, and mathematics 2 in the first week, then physics, economics, and mathematics 1 after the Pentecost holidays.
Brimmeyer's passion for chemistry began in childhood. He particularly enjoys carrying out experiments and observing reactions.
"Seeing how different substances interact has always interested me", he explains.
He is passionate about how in chemistry, it is important to visualise individual steps rather than simply memorising everything. Overall, he is clearly proud of his enthusiasm for the subject, and his interest in experiments only grew stronger over the years.
His next adventure begins in mid-September, when he will start studying chemistry at ETH Zurich, one of Europe's leading technical universities. After considering studying in England, he realised that German is easier for him and "comes more naturally than English".
Brimmeyer plans on sharing a flat in Switzerland with two friends, and the apartment hunt is already underway. He looks forward to university life and living in such a beautiful city, particularly after having visited Zurich a few times.
However, he says that the shift from school to university is "nerve-wracking at the moment, not knowing exactly what to expect".
As for the future, Brimmeyer's first goal is to pursue a career as a researcher, though he is still open to other possibilities. "At university, I will find out which area I want to specialise in, but teaching is also an option", he elucidates.
His father works as an engineer and his mother manages the animal shelter in Schifflange, and both are very proud of his achievements.
To clear his mind after studying, Brimmeyer would take regular walks in Mamer Park with the family's playful three-year-old dog, Milly, whom they adopted from Romania at age one.
Brimmeyer was one of four Luxembourg students selected to represent the country at the International Chemistry Olympiad, which took place in Uzbekistan in July 2026. "I was fortunate to have had the chance of taking part in the Olympiad", he recalls.
Outside of academia, Brimmeyer began learning to drive last winter, but school exams still took precedence. "During the exams, I really did not think about it much, but now I plan to finish getting my driving licence", he says.
He recently spent his holidays in Valencia and is now focused on finding accommodation in Zurich, furnished or otherwise. With the start of university approaching, the coming weeks promise to be eventful for this talented young man.
Were you the top student of your graduating class, or do you know someone who was? RTL is interested in hearing from past top graduates as part of a new project. Get in touch by emailing red@rtl.lu if you would like to participate or suggest someone.
