Mai Dieu Linh, a former student of class 12A12 at Ba Dinh High School in Nga Son commune, Thanh Hoa province, has been named the dual valedictorian for the 2026 high school graduation exam. Linh achieved a remarkable 9,25 in Chinese, alongside a perfect 10 in History, 8 in Math, and 9,75 in Literature. These scores placed her at the top of Thanh Hoa province in two university admission combinations: D65 (Literature, History, Chinese) and D40 (Math, History, Chinese).

In addition to her top provincial ranking, Linh earned an average graduation score of 9. This achievement positioned her among the 77 students honored by the province for their outstanding performance in the 2026 exam.

Dieu Linh stated that while she had somewhat anticipated her results, becoming the province's dual valedictorian was a pleasant surprise. "I still have a slight regret that my Chinese score wasn't perfect as I had hoped", Linh shared, reflecting on her near-perfect performance.

What truly surprised many teachers and friends was that Linh did not study Chinese through the official school curriculum. Her proficiency in the language was primarily the result of dedicated self-study at home.

Mai Dieu Linh. Photo: Provided by subject

Linh began learning Chinese during the summer break after 10th grade, driven by a genuine passion for the language. Without a direct teacher, she independently sought out learning materials on the Internet, embarking on a two-year journey of self-education.

The initial challenges of pronunciation, memorizing characters, and grasping grammar required significant effort from Linh. To overcome these hurdles, she developed a detailed study plan. This involved daily vocabulary acquisition, consistent listening and speaking practice, and regularly watching Chinese programs to familiarize herself with native expressions and cultural nuances.

As her vocabulary expanded, Linh advanced her learning by translating dialogues from movies, delving into additional study materials, and tackling practice exams. It was only closer to the high school graduation exam that she enrolled in an online review course. This final step helped her systematize her knowledge and conduct a self-assessment of her abilities.

"I think the most important thing is to study consistently every day. There were times I felt discouraged, unsure if I was learning correctly, but the more I learned, the more interested I became, which gave me more motivation to continue", Linh shared about her perseverance.

Beyond Chinese, History was another subject Linh excelled in, earning a perfect 10. She views history not merely as dry facts or events to memorize but as a vital tool for understanding the nation's origins and the sacrifices of previous generations. Instead of rote memorization, Linh organized historical knowledge by period, linking events to enhance long-term retention.

For her other subjects, Linh stated she had no special secret. Her approach primarily involved adhering to textbooks, mastering foundational knowledge, and consistently practicing with exam questions to familiarize herself with various question formats.

Le Hoang Tuan, Linh's homeroom teacher for class 12A12, recalled that last year, recognizing Linh's talent in History, the school had considered including her in the gifted student team. However, Linh respectfully declined the offer, choosing instead to dedicate her time to pursuing Chinese.

According to Tuan, given that public schools in Thanh Hoa do not yet teach Chinese, Linh's achievement of a 9,25 score in the high school graduation exam is a testament to her significant effort and perseverance. He further commended her, stating, "Linh is always diligent, possesses a strong sense of self-study, is friendly with her peers, and has consistently been among the school's outstanding students for many years."

Following the exam, Dieu Linh plans to apply for the Economic Law program at Hanoi Law University. She aspires to work in an environment that demands logical thinking and fairness, where she can contribute meaningfully to society.

Le Hoang