Scoring 34 out of 40 points, Bui Nhat Minh, the 10th grader majoring in mathematics of the Hanoi High School for the Gifted under the Hanoi University of Education has earned the first prize and ranking among the top three highest scorers nationwide.

Minh was also the only grade 10 student in the country to win a first prize in mathematics at the 2025–2026 national exam. In this academic year, only two grade 10 students nationwide won first prizes at the national level, the other being a student from Ninh Binh who won in informatics.

“When I found out I had won a first prize at the national excellent student exam, I was very happy and surprised. After finishing the exam, I was only hoping for a second prize and did not expect such a high overall result,” Minh said modestly.

At the time, Minh was not overly confident because, due to time pressure, he had not fully explained all steps in some parts of his solutions and worried about losing points. 

He believes that in the national excellent student exam, beyond knowledge, maintaining a “cool head” and having strong psychological preparation are especially important for a grade 10 student like himself.

Bui Nhat Minh is not a new name in Hanoi’s mathematics community.

Prior to that, in the 2025 entrance exam to the High School for Gifted Students majoring in natural sciences, Minh scored a total of 29/30 points, becoming the school's valedictorian. Furthermore, in the entrance exam for the High School for Gifted Students of Hanoi National University of Education, he again became the Math valedictorian with a perfect 10 in general Math and 9.75 in specialized Math. These impressive results led many to label him a "super expert."

He also won First Prize in the 9th-grade City-level Math Competition in Hanoi and possesses approximately 50 medals and awards from various domestic and international Mathematics competitions.

Minh recalled being selected for the school's official team in September, after several months of attending trial classes with older students. Besides training sessions at school, he spends time every day reviewing theory and solving problems on his own.

Minh had also previously won a first prize in the Hanoi city-level excellent student exam in mathematics in grade 9 and has earned around 50 medals and awards in domestic and international mathematics competitions.

Minh shared that he was selected for the school’s team of selected students to attend the national exam in September 2025 after several months of attending classes alongside older students. In addition to training sessions at school, he set aside time every day to review theory and practice solving problems on his own.

Nguyen Thi Tho, Minh’s mother, said her son truly loves mathematics and always studies it with joy. Because of this passion, Minh does not seem to feel tired when studying math. 

“For him, studying math is like eating daily meals. My husband and I just try to create a quiet space for him to study,” she said.

Minh said that in mathematics, he does not study to compete or compare himself with others, but purely out of personal interest and passion. Each day, he spends a few hours reviewing lessons learned in class and searching for new problems on mathematics forums and groups to solve.

Before exams, Minh usually spends time consolidating his knowledge and reviewing problem-solving experience to perform at his best. During the exam, he always tries to solve basic questions as accurately and quickly as possible to reserve more time for more difficult problems.

According to his mother, Minh is very disciplined and often sets rules for himself. He is highly self-motivated and studies independently but does not stay up too late, ensuring he is well prepared for the next morning.

“Minh is a very special child, highly self-aware. From childhood until now, we have never had to scold or remind him about anything,” she said.

He is also described as calm, mature, and always ready to share with friends. Despite his busy schedule with the national team, he still plays badminton and participates in class activities.

Minh and other top scorers from the National High School Excellent Exam will enter the selection round for the Vietnam national team for the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). Minh says he does not set overly high goals but maintains the highest determination. 

Le Huyen