Although she has just completed Grade 10, Nguyen Ngoc Anh Thu, a student in Class 10 English B at Hung Vuong High School for the Gifted in Phu Tho Province, achieved a perfect SAT score of 1600 out of 1600 on her first attempt.

The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is an internationally recognized standardized exam widely used by leading universities around the world to evaluate applicants.

Anh Thu scored 800 out of 800 in Reading and Writing and another perfect 800 in Math, placing her among the small number of test takers worldwide who achieve the maximum score.

Speaking to VietNamNet, she said she was both delighted and surprised by the result.

"Because it was my first attempt, I never expected such a high score, let alone a perfect one. On test day, I was simply hoping to score around 1,500, which I thought would already be a good result. If not, I considered it a chance to challenge myself. I was truly surprised because very few students achieve a perfect 1600 while still in Grade 10, and somehow I became one of them. I think luck also played a part," she said.

A year of steady preparation

In addition to her SAT result, Anh Thu finished Grade 10 with an overall academic average above 9.0.

English is her strongest and favorite subject. She said her specialized English studies helped her understand the Reading and Writing section more effectively.

"On the SAT, the Reading and Writing section was more challenging than the Math section," she said.

Asked about the secret to her success, Anh Thu credited persistence, discipline and consistent effort.

Before the exam, she completed numerous practice tests from previous years and kept a record of every incorrect answer so she could avoid repeating mistakes and strengthen her knowledge.

She spent a full year preparing for the SAT while keeping up with her regular school studies.

"Every day, I divided my time according to a specific study plan for each subject," she said.

Anh Thu described herself as a disciplined and hardworking person, qualities she believes contributed to her achievement.

Teacher praises determination and self-study

Dao Thi Mai Hoa, Anh Thu's homeroom teacher and English teacher, described the result as an outstanding achievement that reflected the student's perseverance, serious attitude toward learning and determination to succeed in an internationally standardized examination.

"Anh Thu is a very diligent and well-behaved student," Hoa told VietNamNet. "Although she lives far from home and stays in the school's dormitory, she is always highly self-disciplined in her studies. Achieving this result requires excellent self-learning skills because the SAT tests not only English proficiency but also mathematics and a range of other abilities."

Hoa added that Anh Thu is friendly and gets along well with her classmates both in school and in the dormitory.

Outside the classroom, Anh Thu enjoys playing chess, although she modestly says she is not particularly skilled. This summer, she has also begun learning martial arts.

She said one of her goals was to complete the SAT early in Grade 10 so she could devote more time to pursuing other objectives.

Looking ahead, Anh Thu plans to continue working hard to complete her studies at Hung Vuong High School for the Gifted while taking time to better understand her strengths before deciding on a university major and future career.

Thanh Hung