The secret of a Ha Tinh male student who got into the top 1% of the world's highest SAT scores, IELTS 8.5

Without taking extra classes at exam preparation centers, Nguyen Thai Bao, a former student of Vu Quang High School (Ha Tinh) persevered in self-studying via the Internet, achieving 1,530/1,600 SAT scores (top 1% in the world) and IELTS 8.5 with equal scores in all 4 skills.

Conquer two international certificates

The SAT is an international standardized test commonly used in college admissions in the United States and many other countries. In this test at the end of June, Thai Bao achieved a perfect score of 800/800 in Math and 730 in Reading and Writing. This is an admirable achievement, especially for a student in a mountainous area with many difficulties.

Previously, in December 2024, Thai Bao impressed with an overall IELTS score of 8.5 and in all four skills of Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. This was the result of the third test, after he achieved 7.5 on the first test in grade 11 and persistently improved.

Born and raised in the mountainous commune of Vu Quang ( Ha Tinh ), where learning conditions are limited, Thai Bao did not have the opportunity to take extra classes. He chose to study on his own from an early age, taking advantage of the Internet, learning forums and online exam preparation communities to search for materials.

Thai Bao (middle) achieved impressive results thanks to his self-study efforts. Photo: NVCC

“From the beginning of high school, I determined that if I wanted to enter a top university, I had to prepare seriously, especially for IELTS and SAT. Once I had a clear goal, I created a detailed study plan and persistently carried out each stage,” Thai Bao shared.

Starting to take the IELTS test from the beginning of grade 11, Thai Bao did not get the score he expected but was not discouraged. He practiced continuously and achieved IELTS 8.5 on the third attempt. His speaking skills - which were always a weakness - were improved by expanding his vocabulary, reinforcing grammar, practicing pronunciation, recording himself, listening back and editing. He also practiced speaking with friends via Zoom, joined an online Speaking group to increase his reflexes and naturalness when communicating.

“I don't memorize rigid sentences but try to speak like a real conversation, expressing my personality and opinions clearly,” Bao said.

With writing skills, I practice building article structures, logical expressions, and using precise and rich words. Bao often posts on forums to receive feedback. I practice listening and reading regularly every day, focusing on frequency over intensity, maintaining habits to increase reflexes and understand context better.

Determination and self-discipline

Thanks to his solid English foundation, Thai Bao’s SAT preparation time was not too long. His good reading comprehension ability helped him easily access international documents and get familiar with academic terminology. “To get a high score on the SAT, in addition to knowledge, you also need critical thinking, reading comprehension and quick problem solving within a limited time,” Bao shared.

Nguyen Thai Bao - a male student from a mountainous school impressed everyone when he achieved high scores in the IELTS and SAT exams. Photo: NVCC

In the Math section, I practiced a logical and flexible approach under time pressure. The Reading and Writing sections required me to familiarize myself with many types of academic texts, from classical literature, politics to science, to practice my skills in analyzing structures, identifying keywords and understanding the author's intentions.

Every day, Thai Bao spends an average of more than 4 hours studying by himself, increasing to about 8 hours each weekend or holiday. He always identifies his strengths to promote, his weaknesses to improve, and regularly checks his progress to adjust his methods. “The most important thing is to be self-disciplined, disciplined, and always set clear goals,” Bao said.

Not only did he achieve two international certificates, Bao was also an excellent student for three years of high school, consecutively winning first prize in English at the provincial level in grades 10, 11 and 12.

Mr. Thai Van Thanh, Thai Bao's homeroom teacher for 3 years of high school, commented: "Bao is progressive, proactive in learning, and knows how to utilize technology to compensate for lack of conditions. His achievements are the result of persistent efforts." Mr. Thanh believes that Bao will be successful and be an inspiring example for many students in the mountainous region.

Thai Bao has applied for admission to the International Business major at Foreign Trade University, the school he has long dreamed of.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/bi-quyet-cua-nam-sinh-ha-tinh-lot-top-1-diem-sat-cao-nhat-the-gioi-ielts-8-5-2430737.html