24-year-old Vu Ngoc Duy, from Phu Tho, led the August exam with a score of 25.09/30.

On the afternoon of 9/9, at the specialty registration session, Duy's name was called first. The new resident physician proudly declared, "Vu Ngoc Duy, number 1, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi Medical University". The hall erupted in applause as a department representative presented him with flowers and a congratulatory letter. Outside, friends embraced him.

"I was very surprised to be the top scorer. I initially aimed for the top 20 just to secure my preferred specialty," Duy said.

Vu Ngoc Duy. Photo: Duong Tam

Vu Ngoc Duy. Photo: Duong Tam

The Vinh Phuc High School for the Gifted alumnus said he decided early on to pursue medicine, having a clear understanding of the profession through his mother, a doctor, and his brother, a nurse. Despite being offered direct admission to several universities thanks to his national math competition award, Duy chose Hanoi Medical University.

Starting university in 2019, Duy faced initial challenges with subjects requiring high school-level chemistry and biology. His first-year scores were below 6, lower than many classmates.

"I was a little panicked, thinking the road ahead would be difficult. But things went more smoothly than I expected," he said.

From his second year, with core subjects like anatomy and physiology, Duy applied his national competition study methods: developing critical thinking, exploring core concepts, and readily asking professors for clarification.

Duy actively sought diverse resources: textbooks, library materials, scientific articles, conference reports, foreign materials, and YouTube videos. He studied consistently from the start of each course, ensuring deeper understanding and better retention.

He also connected knowledge across subjects logically. For example, while studying the anatomy of the humerus, he also researched humerus fractures in the surgery department and used clinical time at the hospital to interact with patients, learning about symptoms and treatments.

This approach led Duy to become one of 46 students graduating with honors, with a GPA of 8.11/10, which also helped him prepare for the residency exam.

Duy receives his medical degree with honors at the end of August. Photo: Provided by the subject

Duy receives his medical degree with honors at the end of August. Photo: Provided by the subject

Hanoi Medical University's residency exam consists of three parts: Basic Sciences (covering anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, medical genetics, and other subjects like microbiology, pharmacology, pathology, and embryology), Specialty 1 (internal medicine, pediatrics), and Specialty 2 (surgery, obstetrics and gynecology). Each part has 120 questions to be completed in 90 minutes.

Professor Nguyen Huu Tu, the university's president, said this year's exam was the largest ever, with almost 1,000 candidates, mostly from the first cohort graduating under the university's new medical training program. The exam featured 2,000 entirely new questions.

"Therefore, this year's exam provided the most accurate assessment of candidates' abilities," Professor Tu said.

Duy noted that most questions presented clinical scenarios with distracting information, requiring candidates to focus, think critically, and synthesize data to find the correct answers.

To succeed, Duy emphasized the importance of repeatedly reviewing six years of material from at least eight core subjects. "Reviewing just once or twice is definitely not enough, let alone aiming for the top 20," he said.

Duy set this goal because specialty selection is based on exam scores. Top scorers choose first, while specialty slots are still available. Later, choices become limited.

This year, Duy's preferred specialty, Obstetrics and Gynecology, had 15 residency slots. Believing a top 20 finish was necessary, Duy felt pressured. Two months before the exam, after completing his coursework, he continued studying in the lecture hall.

"The top score landed me in my planned specialty," Duy said.

The new resident physician hasn't made long-term plans yet, focusing on rest before starting his residency next month.

Duong Tam