Nguyen Tuan Dat, a Grade 12A1 student at Vinh Bao High School in Hai Phong, has become the top scorer in the Hanoi University of Science and Technology’s thinking assessment exam, achieving 98.98 out of 100 - the highest score recorded in the six years since the exam was introduced.

In the Mathematics Thinking section, Dat scored a perfect 40 out of 40. He earned 18 out of 20 in Reading Comprehension and 33 out of 40 in Scientific Thinking and Problem Solving.

His result surpassed the previous record of 98.61 set last year by Vu Minh Duc, a former student of Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted.

Speaking to VietNamNet, Dat said he was surprised upon learning he had topped the exam.

“While taking the test, there were a few questions I wasn’t completely sure about, so I didn’t expect a very high score. When I heard there was a top scorer, I didn’t think it would be me because there are so many excellent students. When I checked my result, I was truly overwhelmed,” he said.

This was Dat’s second attempt at the exam. In his previous sitting, he scored 82.85. Although the result was respectable, he believed he could do better and decided to retake the test.

To achieve this improvement, Dat said he committed seriously to self-study and followed a structured revision plan. In class, he paid close attention to teachers’ lectures and completed all assignments. Outside school hours, he actively searched for additional materials online, practised past papers, and sought help from teachers whenever needed.

Among the three sections, Reading Comprehension showed the most improvement. In his first attempt, he answered only 14 questions correctly, while this time he achieved 18 out of 20.

“During my preparation, I practised this section intensively and read more articles and scientific materials to become familiar with the question types. That helped improve my reading and information-processing skills,” he said.

Mathematics, his strongest subject, was reinforced through regular practice. Each week, he completed four to five thinking test papers, carefully reviewing and analysing mistakes to consolidate knowledge. In total, he has practised around 60 papers.

He also maintained a disciplined schedule. After school, he spent one to two hours each evening practising for the thinking assessment, while dedicating the remaining time to preparing for the national high school graduation exam. On particularly intensive days, he studied until midnight.

“The key is to allocate time properly to avoid burnout. I don’t force myself to do too many papers in a day. Instead, I maintain a steady and consistent pace,” Dat said.

He emphasised that beyond personal effort, support from family and teachers played a crucial role. His father works in business, while his mother is a teacher. Both closely follow university admission information and guide him toward suitable paths, while still respecting his choices.

Teachers at school also supported students by providing knowledge, study materials, and early orientation for competency and thinking assessment exams.

“Therefore, the results I achieved are the combination of many factors,” Dat said.

Tran Thi Trang Nhung, Vice Principal of Vinh Bao High School, described Dat as a student who stands out in multiple areas.

“He has strong logical thinking, sharp observation skills, and is always proactive in exploring new knowledge. When facing difficult problems or complex situations, he often proposes very interesting solutions. In class, he performs consistently well across subjects and is always among the top students,” she said.

Previously, Dat won first prize in Mathematics in English at the city level in Grade 10, second prize in Physics in English at the city level in Grade 11, and second prize in Mathematics (Group B) at the city level in Grade 12. He also earned a gold medal in the city-level chess competition. His academic results have consistently been high, with Mathematics often achieving perfect scores.

Dat is currently exploring majors related to engineering and information technology, which he feels align well with his personality.

“For me, this thinking assessment result is an important milestone, but the journey ahead is still long. I want to continue striving to achieve the best possible results in upcoming exams,” he said.

Thuy Nga