With exams nearing in Vietnam, high achievers emphasize planning over cramming

Against that backdrop, Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on Thursday hosted a live online discussion titled 'Study the Right Way for a Brilliant New Year' in Ho Chi Minh City, seeking to answer a pressing question: What study methods help exceptional students achieve top results — from scoring 9.0 on IELTS to graduating as valedictorian of Vietnam's most competitive universities?

The program featured three high-achieving guests.

They included Ha Dang Nhu Quynh, a 9.0 IELTS scorer and academic director at DOL IELTS Dinh Luc; Tran Anh Khoa, also a 9.0 IELTS holder, academic director at DOL IELTS Dinh Luc, and former national third-prize winner in English; and Tran Duc Tai, the only candidate nationwide to earn a perfect 30 out of 30 in the B subject combination, including math, chemistry, and biology tests, on the 2025 national high school graduation exam.

Tai is the national valedictorian for the B subject combination and the top entrant to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City in 2025. He received a 100-percent scholarship for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Quynh, currently a doctoral researcher in education at the University of Reading, graduated as salutatorian in English teacher education from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education and earned a distinction master's degree in TESOL from the University of Nottingham.

She credited her long-term academic foundation to an early habit taught by her father: summarizing essential knowledge at the end of each school year.

"Knowledge is vast and we will forget," she said. "So we must condense it."

Each summer beginning in sixth grade, she reviewed and summarized key concepts in math, literature, and English.

The practice helped her retain core knowledge and systematize information, making exam preparation more manageable.

Quynh, who once gained admission to both an English major and a computer science program despite specializing in literature in high school, said exams should be viewed as a long journey rather than a last-minute sprint.

Students must understand the test, understand themselves, and build a clear strategy, she said, while also maintaining mental resilience and knowing when to rest.

Khoa echoed that setbacks are inevitable, even for top students. Despite ranking first in an English contest in his district during middle school, he placed third at the city level.

Later, after entering the prestigious Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, he struggled with advanced English exams.

"Feeling discouraged happens to everyone," he said. "The key is not to quit but to turn negative feelings into motivation."

For Tai, success came from self-awareness and clear goals. During the final stretch before the 2025 graduation exam, he studied up to 10 hours a day but ensured time for rest and social interaction.

"When I'm too tired, I sleep," he said, acknowledging moments of pressure and self-doubt.

He advises students in the final three months before the 2026 exam to assess their current level, define their long-term aspirations and calculate the score needed for their desired field.

From there, they should design a personalized study plan targeting specific weaknesses.

Despite a demanding schedule at his medical school, where weekly exams are common, and three evenings a week studying IELTS at DOL, Tai prioritizes tasks and avoids multitasking.

Participating in extracurricular activities, he added, brings positive energy that supports academic performance.

The discussion also addressed the role of artificial intelligence. Tai said he uses tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini but emphasized verification of information and critical thinking.

"AI is a double-edged sword," he said. "Use it as a tool, don't abuse it."

Khoa and Quynh similarly use AI to design educational applications and automate repetitive tasks but stress that strong foundational thinking remains essential.

Their shared message: build solid foundations, think logically, rest when needed and persevere.

"Study with the curiosity of a child, the passion of youth, and the skepticism of an adult," Quynh said.

Tai offered a final note to students facing pressure: "Don't give up. Every step you take now holds value for the future."