Nguyen Phuong Nguyen, an 8th-grade student at Genesis School in Hanoi, received her IELTS results on 24/7. She scored 8.0 in speaking and 7.5 in writing.
"I had an idea of my score after the test, but I was still very happy to hear the official results," Nguyen said. She explained that she felt prepared and wanted an advantage in high school applications, so she asked her mother to register her for the exam.
According to statistics on the IELTS website, most test-takers in Vietnam are between 16 and 22 years old, and only about 1% achieve a band score of 8.5 or higher.
Nguyen found the speaking and writing sections challenging due to the unfamiliar topics, which required more time to think and articulate her ideas. The writing task asked for her perspective on whether the benefits of prioritizing economic development outweigh the potential trade-offs in social values.
"I think older students would have more comprehensive knowledge and analytical skills for this topic. However, I managed to handle it and am satisfied with my score," she commented.
In her essay, Nguyen presented two main arguments. First, she pointed out that overemphasis on economic growth can lead to social imbalance and create opportunities for unethical behavior for personal gain. Second, she emphasized the importance of preserving social values alongside economic development, suggesting solutions for sustainable business practices.
In the speaking section, Nguyen was asked about the film industry. The most memorable question, she recalled, was about the role of comedians in social and political contexts. She provided examples and analyzed the connection between humor and political issues.
"I often read legal documents, which gave me a foundation to answer this question," Nguyen explained.
She found the listening and reading sections straightforward. She completed them efficiently due to her familiarity with the format and strategies. She finished the reading section in two-thirds of the allotted time, leaving about 20 to 25 minutes for review.
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Nguyen Phuong Nguyen. Photo provided by the subject |
Nguyen Phuong Nguyen. Photo provided by the subject
Nguyen's English language journey began at the age of 5, listening to and singing English songs introduced by her mother. Gradually, her love for the language grew.
"English opens up many opportunities for me to communicate and access information, skills, and different cultures. It's not an overly difficult language," Nguyen observed.
From 5th grade, she participated in English debating competitions to hone her critical thinking skills. Last year, she was the runner-up in the Vietnam Middle School Debate Championship (VMDC) at True North International School and the champion of the Genesis Debating Championship hosted by her school.
At the beginning of 8th grade, Nguyen researched the IELTS exam and enrolled in a speaking and writing course to familiarize herself with the format, later transitioning to self-study.
Her preparation process was relaxed, prioritizing effectiveness over study time. "Once I had a good grasp of listening and reading, I dedicated more time to speaking and writing," Nguyen said.
Daily, she wrote one to three essays and used AI for feedback and corrections. She compared her work with sample essays, developing her own introduction and conclusion templates for each question type to save time during the exam.
"I believe the key is to have accurate and comprehensive ideas and express them clearly to the examiner. It's not necessary to use complex vocabulary and structures," Nguyen shared.
For speaking practice, she answered sample questions and watched online video reviews to identify and correct errors. She also watched movies without subtitles and read books like "Dune," "The Hunger Games," and "Six of Crows" to improve her expression. She also enjoys watching crochet tutorials in English, combining learning with relaxation.
"The most important thing is to find an effective method and stick with it, avoiding excessive consultation that can lead to confusion," Nguyen advised.
Next year, Nguyen plans to take the entrance exam for specialized high schools. She will continue learning English by writing blogs, reviewing books, and maintaining her daily reading habit.
Hai Yen
