The 9.8 Iván Kapustin earned in the 2025 Selectividad (PAU) caught the 19-year-old from Palafrugell, Girona, off guard. It was the highest mark in Girona and the fourth-highest in Catalonia. Kapustin says he was surprised by the result, believing he had not studied as intensely as others in the final days before the exams. He left the exam rooms without feeling he had excelled, and credits his success more to steady effort throughout the year than to last-minute preparation.
Kapustin’s background combines high expectations with personal modesty. His family’s story traces back to the Barcelona Olympics, when his uncle, an elite athlete, settled in Catalonia and brought his father there, leading to his parents’ meeting. From an early age, Kapustin was identified as having high intellectual abilities, but he recalls that this did little to change his school experience, apart from some teachers occasionally giving him advanced materials.
Before receiving his PAU results, Kapustin had already won recognition for his academic work, taking the University of Girona’s award for best scientific research with his project “Insectos. ¿La dieta del futuro?”. The project examined the economic and environmental feasibility of replacing traditional livestock with insect farming. That research led him to consider the ethics of animal consumption and sparked his interest in veganism, although health issues currently prevent him from fully adopting the diet.
After completing his first year of Biochemistry at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Kapustin says the academic transition was easier than expected, while the social adjustment has proved challenging. He sees a lack of engagement among some students and is disappointed he has not found more like-minded peers. His interest in biochemistry began in his final year of secondary school, particularly through research into the origins of life, which shaped his choice of university studies.
Kapustin’s interests reach beyond science. He is passionate about music, especially the electric bass. He started playing piano at age five, later discovered the bass and now spends much of his time mastering the instrument. He admires virtuosos such as Victor Wooten and Charles Berthoud, and is building a repertoire of covers and original compositions. He hopes to perform live, though he finds it difficult to put together a band that shares his musical style.
Kapustin’s academic journey is distinctive, but his experience reflects wider trends among high-achieving students in Spain, where pressure to excel in university entrance exams remains intense. The PAU, or Pruebas de Acceso a la Universidad, remains a decisive factor in university admission, shaping thousands of students’ academic and personal paths each year. In other fields, too, young talents such as Francisco Comesaña have made headlines for their achievements. He recently advanced in the ATP 250 in Winston Salem, as reported in coverage of Spanish athletes abroad. In Spain, youth success stories often hinge on personal lead, with talent opening doors when chance allows.
Kapustin’s experience also reflects the challenges of moving from secondary education to university, particularly for students with high expectations and varied interests. Spain’s education system continues to evolve amid debate over standardized testing and support for gifted students, including how schools accommodate extracurricular passions such as music. For many, the journey involves more than academic results: it also means finding a sense of belonging and purpose beyond the classroom.
