The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) has bettered its performance in the International Baccalaureate diploma exams.

Results for the 2012 examinations show that 37 of its students obtained perfect scores - up from 29 the year before. In total, 41 students from Singapore got perfect scores. A perfect score is 45 points.

One came from St Joseph's Institution International, while the rest are believed to be from the School of the Arts.

This is the school's best results since its first cohort sat for the examination in 2007.

All IB diploma students can check for their results online. The School of the Arts will release overall results tomorrow.

98 per cent of Hwa Chong International's 35 IB students passed, and its top performer scored 42 points.

This year 1,370 students in Singapore took the November sitting of the examination. Almost all candidates- 97.9 per cent- passed the examination. they scored 36.50 points on average last year (2012), compared to the global average of 30.01.

These results have made Singapore top in the Asia-Pacific region for the third year running.

The IB programme is more broad-based than the A levels, requiring students to take six subjects and Theory of Knowledge, a course that combines philosophy, religion and logical reasoning. It is also compulsory to take a second language. In addition, students must undertake research, write a 4,000 word-essay and take part in a community-service project.