Duc Minh is a first-year student in mathematics education at Hanoi National University of Education. He previously attended the specialized chemistry class at Nguyen Hue High School for the Gifted, where he won first prize in chemistry for Hanoi, achieved an IELTS score of 7.5, and a SAT score of 1500.

In this year's graduation exam, Minh scored 10 in mathematics, and 9,75 in both chemistry and English, leading the national D07 block. He is also one of two independent candidates to achieve top scorer status for university admissions, a rare occurrence in recent years.

Minh shared his decision to retake the exam with only two or three friends. Consequently, his parents were initially disbelieving when congratulatory messages started arriving for their family.

According to Minh, pursuing a career in education means that directly entering the examination room and testing his knowledge is a practical method to gain experience for future teaching.

"I took the exam to assess my knowledge and abilities, not with the intention of using the results for re-admission," the student stated. He added that he had scored 28 points in the D07 block in last year's graduation exam.

Pham Duc Minh. Photo courtesy of interviewee

The intensive review period for the graduation exam coincided with Minh's demanding university final exam schedule. Despite the heavy workload, the student remained composed, crediting his scientific study methods.

For mathematics, Minh noted that the exam differentiated candidates based on two aspects: logical thinking in complex probability combination problems and subtle "traps" at intermediate score levels. Instead of memorizing formulas, he applied a research-oriented mindset from his university studies, for example, deeply exploring the detailed transformation chain from "A to A', then to A'', and finally to B".

"Mastering the underlying principles helps me approach problems more intuitively and logically. If I happen to forget a formula, I can still deduce the steps myself rather than disrupting the entire solution process," Minh stated.

For English, Duc Minh found that the exam demanded strong reasoning skills. Candidates needed to place sentences within context and accurately grasp the core meaning and author's intent, not just rely on grammar. The best method, he suggested, involves using English daily, consulting materials, researching, reading newspapers, and stories.

Similarly, for chemistry, the new curriculum's exam shifted from demanding heavy calculations to requiring candidates to understand reaction processes. Minh did not rote memorize quick-solve formulas; instead, he focused on thoroughly understanding the nature of chemical reactions, their practical applications, and how they occur. His specialized chemistry background from high school helped him prepare effectively for this subject.

"Thanks to a relaxed mindset and no pressure for perfection, I felt very confident taking the exam," the student shared. During the exam, Minh allocated time to fill in his answers. After completing one-third of the questions, he would pause to fill in the answer sheet immediately. This approach helped relieve stress after a long period of thinking and prevented rushed mistakes in the final minutes.

"I will continue to focus on my mathematics education major to realize my dream of standing at the podium and teaching," the student said about his upcoming plans.

Doan Hung