The secret behind a 14-year-old girl in Ha Tinh conquering IELTS 8.0.

Nguyen Pham Bao Ha, a student in class 9A at Nguyen Du Secondary School, Thanh Sen Ward.

In early December, news of Nguyen Pham Bao Ha, a 9th-grade student from Nguyen Du Secondary School in Thanh Sen Ward, achieving high scores in an international English proficiency test, brought joy and pride to the entire school's teachers and students. This achievement is compelling evidence of the persistent effort, progressive spirit, and outstanding abilities of this 9th-grade student.

The moment she learned her exam results, Bao Ha burst into tears of joy and happiness. She shared: “Although I had set a goal for the exam, I didn't think I could reach an 8.0 after such a short period of preparation. For me, this is a precious gift of spiritual significance to my parents and teachers – those who have always loved, supported, encouraged, and believed in me throughout my learning journey.”

Along with her parents, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha, the Head of the Foreign Language Department, has always been by her side, encouraging her to pursue her English studies.

Bao Ha is the eldest of four children in a family living in Thang Hoa residential area (Ha Huy Tap ward). Despite their busy schedules, Bao Ha's parents always dedicate time to supporting her studies. In particular, her mother, Pham Thi Thanh Hai, has been a constant companion, providing encouragement and support throughout the process, from preparing materials and researching methods to connecting with teachers, creating the best possible environment for Bao Ha to learn English from a very young age.

Ms. Hai said: “From elementary school, our family recognized Bao Ha's outstanding ability in English and always created every opportunity for her to develop her strengths. We never imposed academic expectations or pressured her, but always guided and encouraged her to try her best. The most gratifying thing is that Bao Ha always maintained a self-disciplined spirit, knew how to set clear goals for herself, and appreciated every effort she put in.”

The "home" of class 9A and the comprehensive educational environment of Nguyen Du Secondary School have helped Bao Ha nurture her dreams.

The support and encouragement from her family were a solid foundation, motivating Bao Ha to confidently embark on her journey to conquer the IELTS. The biggest pressure was the very short preparation time, only 3 months from the moment she decided to try this exam.

Because she didn't want to waste time and money on commuting to intensive test preparation classes, she decided to primarily self-study. With guidance from her parents and subject teachers, Bao Ha joined online English learning groups on social media, read shared experiences from those who had gone before her, and used artificial intelligence to correct her work and analyze her mistakes.

In addition, I've developed a habit of learning vocabulary daily using a systematic method to help me remember it longer. I also try to maintain a routine of reading newspapers, watching movies, listening to music, and regularly communicating with friends in English to improve my reflexes. To create a reasonable schedule, Bao Ha clearly divides her time between regular classes, self-studying for the IELTS exam, and always prioritizes quality over quantity.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha – Head of the Foreign Language Department at Nguyen Du Secondary School, shared: “Having interacted with and worked alongside Bao Ha since grade 6, my impression of her is her quick learning ability, proactive attitude towards learning, and confidence in communicating in English. Therefore, in extracurricular activities, we always trust her with leadership roles. Especially at the “English Window” competition, Bao Ha left a strong impression with her presentation and flexible problem-solving skills. She is also an exemplary class leader and a passionate and responsible student council leader. I believe that Bao Ha's sociable, friendly personality and her progressive spirit have been key factors in her achieving certain successes.”

In class, Bao Ha is an exemplary class leader and a passionate and responsible student council leader.

After busy days, Bao Ha now has more time to focus on studying with her friends, preparing for the 10th grade entrance exam. With an IELTS score of 8.0, she is even more confident in aiming for admission to Ha Tinh Specialized High School. She believes that the learning environment at this dream school will help her go further on her path to conquering the heights of knowledge, and at the same time become a solid stepping stone to realizing bigger dreams in the future.

Nguyen Pham Bao Ha's story is not only an inspiration to her peers but also a testament to willpower, self-learning spirit, and the support of family and school in nurturing passion and assisting students on their journey to conquer knowledge and assert themselves.

Achieving an IELTS score of 8.0 at the age of 14 is a well-deserved reward for her efforts. This experience also helped Bao Ha realize that success doesn't just come from luck, but is also the result of persistent studying, willpower, and self-belief, becoming a valuable lesson that will accompany her on her future journeys.