Nguyen Ngoc Anh, a graduate of Thanh Oai B High School in Hanoi, achieved a remarkable 1590 out of 1600 on the SAT, placing her in the top 1% worldwide. This score translated to a perfect 20/20 for admission to the Foreign Trade University (FTU). Combined with her IELTS score of 8.0 (equivalent to 10/10), she attained the highest possible admission score, becoming one of the university's 10 top-scoring freshmen.

During the university's welcome ceremony on 17/9, the top-scoring students shared their journeys. Ngoc Anh emphasized that setbacks are inevitable, but "it's the act of getting back up that's truly memorable and makes you proud." She added, "This resonates with my own experience after multiple attempts at the SAT. Perseverance makes success meaningful."

Ngoc Anh at the Foreign Trade University's welcome ceremony on 17/9. Photo: Ngoc Trang

Ngoc Anh at the Foreign Trade University's welcome ceremony on 17/9. Photo: Ngoc Trang

Ngoc Anh began studying English at a local center in first grade. She found it more engaging than literature or math, which fueled her passion for the language and motivated her to participate in English competitions. Throughout middle school, she consistently won awards at the district level, progressing from third place to first.

In 10th grade, Ngoc Anh began researching FTU's admission requirements. Recognizing her strength in English, she focused her efforts on preparing for the IELTS and SAT. She started with IELTS, attending classes twice a week in Ha Dong district, about 10 km from her home, with her mother providing transportation. The rest of the time, she studied independently.

She dedicated each day to practicing a pair of skills: listening and speaking, or reading and writing, believing they complemented each other. To improve her spoken fluency, she practiced with a friend for 30 minutes each evening and during tutoring sessions. This provided an opportunity for mutual feedback and error correction. For writing, she utilized AI chatbots for feedback and suggestions. Her existing proficiency made listening and reading relatively easier.

By the end of 11th grade, Ngoc Anh took the IELTS exam for the first time, scoring an impressive 8.0 overall, with 8.5 in both listening and reading.

Motivated by this success, she began preparing for the SAT at the start of 12th grade through online courses due to the lack of local options. The limited availability of SAT exams (7 times a year) prompted her to take her first attempt after only two months of preparation, resulting in a lower-than-expected score of 1390.

This setback proved valuable. Ngoc Anh expanded her vocabulary, refined her time management strategies, and carefully analyzed her mistakes to avoid repeating them. She also formed study groups for peer review and support. Her scores steadily improved, but she aimed higher. Although she initially planned to take the exam four times, a technical issue during the 4th attempt led her to take it a fifth time in late March. Upon receiving her 1590 score, she felt a tremendous sense of relief. "This result gave me complete peace of mind regarding the admission process," she said.

Not attending a specialized school in the inner city presented challenges, such as limited English-speaking environments. However, the internet provided access to free resources and online English learning communities, enabling her to connect with peers, share materials, and explore new learning methods. "With initiative and effort, anyone can create their own English-speaking environment," she shared.

Ngoc Anh receives a certificate of merit from Associate Professor Pham Thu Huong, Rector of the Foreign Trade University, on 17/9. Photo: FTU Times

Ngoc Anh receives a certificate of merit from Associate Professor Pham Thu Huong, Rector of the Foreign Trade University, on 17/9. Photo: FTU Times

Nguyen Van Trieu, Vice Principal of Thanh Oai B High School, noted that Ngoc Anh is the first student from the school to become a top-scoring entrant at a leading university like FTU. Aware of the challenges she faced, he expressed great pride in her achievement. He described her as shy and reserved, often receiving awards on stage but never addressing the entire school.

He viewed her speaking opportunity at the FTU welcome ceremony as an initial challenge in her academic journey, laying the foundation for her future success as an outstanding student. Looking ahead, Ngoc Anh aims to secure scholarships with the "best possible" grades. She is currently acclimating to the university environment, exploring clubs, and considering tutoring in the second semester to supplement her income and participate in research. "If given the chance, I'd also like to pursue exchange programs or study abroad," she said.

Thanh Hang