Nguyen Linh Chi and Tran Hoang Le Thanh  -  both students of class 11A9  -  reached the maximum possible band in Listening, Speaking, and Reading. Their Writing scores came in at 8.0, resulting in overall band scores of 9.0.

Speaking with VietNamNet, Linh Chi said she was genuinely surprised by the result.

To her, such an outcome was the product of a long-term effort rather than cramming before the exam. She credits her score to years of reading books and watching English-language content.

“I read stories, novels, online news... and watch films and current affairs programs in English. That’s how I gain exposure to different topics, improve my listening skills, and expand my vocabulary. I also pick up how native speakers express themselves,” Chi shared.

She emphasized that students should avoid last-minute studying and instead aim to build a deep foundation over time.

Prior to this achievement, Chi had earned a string of academic accolades, including a second prize in the district-level English Olympiad and third prize at the city-level competition in 2023–2024. She also won a national gold medal at the ASMO competition and had previously placed third in the Internet-based English Olympiad in 2021–2022.

Le Thanh, her classmate, attributed his success to growing up in an English-speaking environment.

“I’ve been exposed to English since childhood and use it daily in both study and everyday life,” he said.

He also highlighted the importance of staying relaxed in the exam room.

“For the IELTS computer-based test, attention to detail is critical  -  especially when checking your answers. It’s harder to spot mistakes on a screen than on paper, where you can review and make corrections more easily. Under time pressure, it's easy to make grammar mistakes,” Thanh noted.

His test record is further bolstered by a 1,540 score on the SAT.

Both students agreed that studying at the Foreign Language Specialized High School, under the guidance of dedicated teachers, provided a strong foundation to sharpen their English skills in a systematic and well-rounded way.

Teachers share their pride

Nguyen Phi Diep, homeroom teacher of class 11A9, said the news came as a major surprise to the entire class and himself.

“Even having one student score 9.0 in grade 11 is extremely rare. For two students to achieve it  -  with three of four skills at perfect marks  -  was completely unexpected,” Diep shared.

He hopes this achievement will inspire more students to strive for excellence, and he sees it as a testament to the school’s legacy of foreign language training.

Diep described Linh Chi as a dedicated and responsible class president who is admired by both teachers and classmates. “She approaches all tasks with care, excels in every subject, and consistently scores above 9.0 across semesters.”

As for Le Thanh, Diep praised his sharp thinking and articulate expression: “He has a natural ability to analyze problems and can think directly in English with depth and speed.”

Thanh is also an active member of the school’s natural sciences club and excels across both science and humanities  -  a rare all-rounder.

“Thanks to his strong debate skills and broad knowledge base, Thanh is truly one of the class’s standout students,” Diep said.

A class of high achievers

According to Diep, class 11A9 is among the school’s strongest, regularly ranking near the top academically. In addition to traditional classroom learning, the class often engages in project-based activities, producing standout work in English, geography, and literature.

Besides Chi and Thanh, the class includes students who have won national academic prizes or scored over 1,500 on the SAT from as early as 10th grade.

“I believe the exceptional results of Thanh and Chi will motivate others in the class to push forward and reach even greater heights,” Diep concluded.

Thanh Hung