Lan, a student from Tran Quoc Toan 1 Secondary School in Thu Duc City, scored 9.5 in English and 9.25 in literature. She also achieved a 7 in the specialized math exam, securing her admission to Tran Dai Nghia Specialized High School.

"I couldn't believe it. I'm still ecstatic since I saw the results," Lan said on the evening of 23/6.

Yesterday morning, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training announced the 10th-grade entrance exam scores for over 76,400 students. Among them, only 39 students achieved a perfect 10 in math. In literature, 22 students scored 9.25 or higher.

Lu Tran Quynh Lan. Photo provided by the subject

Lu Tran Quynh Lan. Photo provided by the subject

Lan shared that her love for math began in 6th grade, and she was consistently a member of the school's math team, participating in various competitions. Throughout her four years of secondary school, she earned four awards, ranging from encouragement prizes to first place in Thu Duc district's excellent student competition. In 9th grade, she won third place citywide.

This achievement motivated her to prepare for the specialized math exam. In addition to regular classes, Lan attended extra tutoring sessions and enrolled in online self-study courses. She focused on algebra and geometry, following the textbooks. She concentrated on practicing equations, systems of equations, and solving practical problems.

"This is the part of math I enjoy because it's not too theoretical and relates to real life," Lan explained.

Lan felt the specialized math exam was lengthy this year and expressed regret about a practical question involving the speed of a car.

"I rushed through that part. I figured out the solution but made a mistake when writing it down," Lan said. She also regretted not having enough time for the final question about number sequences. Regarding the general math exam, Lan felt confident about her performance, despite spending considerable time on the last part of the geometry problem.

To ensure a balanced understanding of other subjects, Lan created a study schedule and reviewed each topic systematically. She typically started by reviewing the fundamental concepts before practicing with past exam papers, sourced from teachers and online study groups on Facebook.

Sharing her approach to studying literature, Lan explained that she reviewed Vietnamese grammar before learning how to structure social commentary essays. She often read sample essays on topics she enjoyed, then practiced writing by following their outlines and incorporating her own ideas. She allocated specific time for each section – introduction, body, and conclusion – to improve her writing speed and had her teacher review her work.

"I also frequently rewrite essays I've already done to improve my writing style," Lan added.

For English, Lan thoroughly reviewed grammar rules and vocabulary patterns from previous exams. She compiled and memorized vocabulary from all three English textbooks. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, she studied each unit individually, as presented in the books.

"The exam is a combination of all the textbooks, so I studied in stages," Lan stated. She also regretted missing one question due to using the wrong word type.

Nguyen Huu Thang, Lan's homeroom teacher, said that she is highly regarded by all her teachers, consistently achieving an average score above 9.5 in all subjects and ranking among the top students in her class.

"She's very proactive and has a strong sense of self-discipline," Thang commented.

Lan advises that preparation for the 10th-grade entrance exam should begin early, gradually, and steadily. She discourages comparing oneself to others, as it can lead to unnecessary pressure. During the exam, she recommends allocating time wisely for each question.

"If you get stuck on one question, you won't have enough time or mental energy for the others," Lan said, explaining that this was a lesson learned from her experience in academic competitions.

For her three years of high school, Lan aims to participate in the national excellent student competition.

Doan Hung