Chemistry major shares secret to getting perfect SAT score

SAT - Ảnh 1. — Duc Tri (5th from left) and homeroom teacher Nguyen Thi Duyen with classmates - Photo: NGUYEN DUYEN

Tri said that with his dream of studying abroad, he was very interested in the SAT exam and hoped for the best results. However, he did not expect that the result of the second exam (on March 22) would reach 1,600 points, putting him in the top 1% of students in the world with scores from 1,530 to 1,600.

Clear plan and roadmap

The SAT is a standardized test in English with math and English sections. According to Duc Tri, although he was a student in an integrated class at Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted during middle school and had good English skills, he still felt confused when he first encountered the SAT test. "These are logic-based tests, so if you are not familiar with how to do the test, it is not easy to get good results," Tri said.

So Tri made a clear plan and roadmap for the SAT. During his 10th grade days, Tri started reviewing grammar and common vocabulary, diligently reading English books, and listening to English on YouTube. In 11th grade, he started practicing solving questions and learning test-taking strategies.

After three months of getting used to the SAT, Tri found that he could already do well on the test. In November 2024, on his first SAT attempt, Tri scored 1,500.

With that result, Tri can also be considered for the universities he is aiming for, but wanting to test himself, Duc Tri plans to take the exam a second time.

Just like the first time, Tri also had a specific time plan for SAT review and studying the lessons and exercises. However, to prepare for the second test, in addition to reviewing the test questions, Tri and his close friends also discussed ways to do the SAT test.

"I study almost every subject with my friends. In this second exam, I and some close friends reviewed together, shared the results of the test, and gave the results of any questions I had doubts about to better understand the test. Therefore, studying my SAT test questions was more effective," Tri said.

For Tri, perhaps with discipline in solving questions, spending time studying for the SAT, and open learning and sharing with friends, he was able to achieve the maximum SAT score of 1,600 points in just three months.

Should take SAT from grade 11

Tri said the SAT consists of four parts, two math parts and two English parts, and takes about three hours to complete. Students can take the test on a computer provided by the test center or on a personal computer that is allowed to be brought into the test center.

According to Tri, for students who want to use SAT results to apply to universities in Vietnam or abroad, the most appropriate time to take the test is around grade 11.

But to prepare for the SAT, students should familiarize themselves with the test and must prepare themselves with good English reading comprehension and a foundation in math from grade 9.

Tri said he had to review the 9th grade math section for the SAT. "The math knowledge in the SAT is not too difficult, mainly knowledge from 9th and 10th grade and some questions from the 11th grade program. But I still had to review the 9th grade math knowledge to understand it better.

For me, English is the part that needs to be focused on because math is similar to Vietnamese exams so it is easier, but the important part of English is reading comprehension, summarizing ideas, clearly understanding and logically solving problems so this part needs to be focused on," Tri said.

Luckily, Tri has loved reading English books since he was a child, so his reading comprehension is quite good. This is also an advantage for his SAT test results (Tri currently has an IELTS score of 8.0).

In my opinion, the scoring method of the SAT is quite special, so test takers need to pay attention. Because the score in the SAT depends on the percentage of candidates who answer correctly or incorrectly. Questions that many people get right but candidates answer incorrectly will be heavily deducted points, and conversely, questions that test basic knowledge will not be counted.

"I think that exposure and understanding of the SAT test and exam questions are necessary to get the best SAT test results. I spend a lot of time practicing the questions," Tri revealed.

Sharing about her son's studying at home, Ms. Xuan, Duc Tri's mother, said that studying at home is not difficult for Tri, even on the days preparing for the SAT, Tri still has time to relax.

"Luckily, he had a plan for his studies and set goals, and was not distracted, so he got good results. His family only took care of his diet and health, but he planned and carried out his studies himself," Tri's mother said.

Being good at English and also interested in math and chemistry, Tri dreams of pursuing a career in biomedical research when he enters university. He is looking at universities in Singapore and Australia.

The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a test administered and conducted by the College Board to assess students' standardized abilities. SAT scores are a requirement for admission to many universities around the world such as the US, UK, Canada, Singapore... In Vietnam, many universities also use these results to directly admit candidates to university.

Inspirational

Commenting on Nguyen Huynh Duc Tri, Ms. Nguyen Thi Duyen, homeroom teacher of the 11th grade chemistry class at the Gifted High School (Ho Chi Minh City National University), said she was very happy and surprised.

"The fact that a chemistry major like Duc Tri achieved a perfect score on the SAT is a clear testament to his serious learning spirit. Tri is not only good at math and natural sciences, but also very good at English. In class, Tri is a good, gentle student with a progressive spirit," Ms. Duyen commented.

According to Ms. Duyen, this excellent result strongly inspires students and contributes to the excellent academic achievements of generations of students at the school.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cau-hoc-tro-chuyen-hoa-chia-se-bi-quyet-lay-diem-sat-tuyet-doi-20250412084739742.htm