Khanh, born in 2010, completed ninth grade this year and recently received confirmation of his perfect SAT score. Earlier, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Saint Joseph's Institution International in Singapore, where he will officially begin 10th grade in January 2026.

Perfect SAT score at 15

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Dang Khanh scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT at age 15. Photo: Provided by family

Khanh had set a personal goal of completing the SAT before heading to Singapore, so he could focus fully on his new academic program there. As IELTS results are only valid for two years, he plans to take that exam in the summer of 11th grade.

He took his first SAT at the beginning of ninth grade, scoring 1470 without much preparation. Learning from the experience, Khanh dedicated himself to reaching at least 1550 after completing the school year.

Having studied the AP (Advanced Placement) curriculum at school, Khanh was already familiar with many of the SAT’s academic themes, easing his preparation.

However, he noted that unlike his natural approach to English  -  built on instinct and fluency  -  the SAT demanded precision and strict logic.

“I had to go back and relearn foundational knowledge  -  from punctuation to grammar structure,” Khanh explained. “You can’t rely on gut feeling with the SAT. You need to know the rules and apply them logically.”

In the Reading and Writing section, Khanh found the "information synthesis" questions particularly tough, as they require analyzing multiple data sources and the author's reasoning in context. Fortunately, this question type appeared less frequently than expected in the December test.

Conversely, "Command of Evidence" questions  -  which ask test-takers to select evidence to support an author’s claim  -  were more common and challenging.

Meanwhile, “Words in Context”  -  which involve identifying word meanings based on their usage  -  were among the easiest to tackle. “If you have a strong vocabulary and know the strategy, they’re very manageable,” Khanh shared.

In the Math section, Khanh found the questions mostly centered around basic concepts and application.

“If you know the formulas and practice the tougher problems, it’s quite possible to score high,” he said.

Time management, he emphasized, was a crucial factor in his performance. “I always do the easier questions first to secure points, then go back to analyze the harder ones,” he explained.

Discipline, practice, and passion

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Khanh also received a high school scholarship in Singapore. Photo: Provided by family

After receiving his scholarship offer, Khanh dedicated over 10 hours a day to SAT prep for nearly a month leading up to the test.

“I drilled practice tests over and over to eliminate careless mistakes,” he said. “Only when I was completely confident did I sit the real exam.”

Even then, a perfect 1600 was beyond what he had dared to expect.

“I thought for sure I’d slip up somewhere,” he admitted. “So when I saw the score, I was overwhelmed.”

A dream to return to Singapore

Khanh previously lived and studied in Singapore for two years during primary school while his father worked abroad. That early experience left a lasting impression, and he has long dreamed of returning.

“I think studying abroad in high school helps build connections and sets up a clearer path for university later on,” he said.

In addition to maintaining top grades, Khanh has actively participated in competitions such as the Vietnam Economics Olympiad, public speaking contests, and Model United Nations conferences. He believes these activities sharpened his public speaking and critical thinking skills  -  crucial for exams like the SAT.

A blend of academics, music, and global mindset

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The student has won numerous piano awards. Photo: Provided by family

Khanh’s SAT tutor, Nghiem Duc An, described him as a highly proactive student who constantly identified and corrected his own errors. Khanh completed more than 700 practice problems before the real test.

“His English foundation was strong, but he still needed to adjust to the logic behind SAT questions,” An said. “Khanh often challenged ideas and debated solutions  -  that mindset helped him improve quickly and still make time for music and sports.”

Khanh holds an HSK4 Chinese proficiency certificate and an ABRSM certificate in music from the UK’s Royal Schools of Music.

His piano achievements include a long list of top awards: Gold at Kayserburg Youth Piano 2022, Asia Pacific Arts Festival 2022, Hanoi International Arts Festival 2023, and Crescendo Piano 2025; Second Prize at the Hanoi Piano Art Contest 2023; and a Special Prize at the Youth Piano Festival 2024.

“Piano helped me conquer my fear of performing in front of people,” Khanh said. “That gave me the courage to step onto other ‘stages’  -  like debates and MUN conferences.”

In January, Khanh will depart for Singapore to begin his high school journey. He hopes to maintain strong academic results, continue playing piano, and join extracurriculars related to business  -  a field he’s considering for future study.

“I want to explore whether business is truly right for me before committing to it long term,” he said.

Thuy Nga