Bui Phuong Linh, a student in class 9A3 at Foreign Language Secondary School, achieved remarkable results in her entrance exams. According to an announcement from Foreign Language Specialized High School (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) on the afternoon of 19/6, she scored 8,35 in Literature, 8,75 in Mathematics, and 8,77 and 8,2 respectively in the specialized English and English proficiency exams.
With these scores, Linh secured the top position for 10th-grade specialized English, earning a total of 42,84/50 points, with the specialized subject weighted x2. Previously, the student had topped a mock exam but did not expect to repeat this success in the official exam, as the number of applicants for specialized English is always very high.
"I was overwhelmed with joy and pride because all my efforts were deservedly rewarded," Linh said.
Reflecting on the specialized exam, Linh found the multiple-choice section the most challenging. It required distinguishing words based on specific contexts and demanded extensive knowledge of English idioms and proverbs.
Conversely, the essay writing section was what she found most engaging. The exam topic centered on the search for extraterrestrial life and humanity's future in the universe. Linh believes the desire to explore the unknown has always been part of human development. She also noted that the search for new habitats is significant as humans face many resource and environmental challenges.
"I let my imagination lead," Linh recalled. "I envisioned a future where humans coexist with extraterrestrial life forms, having to learn to adapt to differences in language, culture, and living conditions."
Despite her success, the student expressed regret over her English proficiency exam score, which was lower than her mock test results.
In addition to Foreign Language Specialized High School, Linh was also admitted to the specialized English classes at Ha Noi - Amsterdam Specialized High School and Hanoi National University of Education Specialized High School.
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Bui Phuong Linh, a student in class 9A3, Foreign Language Secondary School. *Photo: Family provided*
With her mother being an English teacher, Linh was exposed to the language early through books and films. Outside of classroom hours, she reads international newspapers and watches English videos on various topics, such as science, psychology, and theories about the universe. Thanks to daily exposure, using English gradually became a natural reflex.
Regarding writing skills, Phuong Linh believes the most important aspect is regular practice. After writing, she rereads her work or seeks feedback from teachers for revisions.
"Each time I revise, I realize common mistakes and learn new ways of expression," Linh stated.
In 9th grade, Linh won a city-level second prize in the English student excellence competition and achieved an IELTS score of 8.5. She believes that this preparation significantly improved her reading comprehension and essay writing skills. Some materials she consulted included the Olympic 30/4 exam series and C1, C2 level resources.
Additionally, Linh participated in English debate competitions to enhance her communication and critical thinking abilities. The more she engaged, the more she realized that debate helps view issues from multiple perspectives and fosters a habit of in-depth research into social problems. This also contributed to her increased confidence when tackling essay topics and subjects requiring critical thinking.
Despite her strong proficiency in English, Linh strives to maintain good results in other subjects. Upon receiving her results, the subject she was most satisfied with was Mathematics, scoring 8,75 points.
Her perfectionism in academics led Linh to put pressure on herself. During several mock exams, results that fell short of expectations caused her anxiety.
"There were times I felt I wasn't performing as well as my peers," Linh shared. "But then I thought the most important thing was to maintain my performance in the actual exam."
Ms. Bui Phuong Anh, the homeroom teacher for class 9A3, praised Phuong Linh's strong critical thinking skills, progressive mindset, and perseverance in her studies. Throughout her four years in secondary school, Linh consistently ranked among the top students in her class and was a prominent figure at the school.
"When I learned Linh became the top scorer in specialized English, I was very moved and proud," she said. "This is a deserved outcome for her continuous efforts."
Over the next three years at Foreign Language Specialized High School, Linh plans to join the debate club, participate in student excellence competitions, and retake the IELTS exam.
"I want to make the most of this new environment to learn and develop myself," Linh stated.
By Chau Anh
