Journey to conquer the Gold medal of the International Math Olympiad of a Nghe An male student

Determined to conquer the international arena

Vo Trong Khai (12A1 student at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Nghe An ), showed his outstanding ability right from the time he entered 10th grade, with a perfect score of 20/20 in the entrance exam for the specialized Math class. He was also the first student of the school to be selected to compete in the national excellent student competition right from the 10th grade.

Vo Trong Khai (3rd from left) and team members participating in the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad in Australia.

Despite being the youngest member of the team, Khai has always shown himself to be a strong student. In the first national competition, he won second prize in Math. In 11th grade, Khai continued to win second prize in national excellent students. However, he failed both times in the selection of the national team to participate in the International Olympic Competitions. As a student who always yearns for victory, Khai admitted that he was very disappointed.

When he calmed down, Khai analyzed his own limitations and proactively adjusted his learning methods. In grade 12, for the third time participating in the National Excellent Student Competition, Khai surpassed his own limits when he won first prize with the second highest score in the country. For the third time participating in the national team selection, surpassing 46 other students, Vo Trong Khai won an official spot to participate in the International Mathematical Olympiad in Australia.

Vo Trong Khai has excellently won the Gold Medal at the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad.

“Since I was a child, I have had a special love for numbers. The deeper I delve into Mathematics, the more I see its magic. The more I love Mathematics, the more I long to try my hand at international competitions. The dream of wearing the national team jersey has become the driving force that motivates me to strive every day. I understand that this journey is not for those who lack perseverance, but only for those who can keep the flame of passion burning, have enough determination and perseverance,” Khai confided.

Proud and emotional

In preparation for this year's International Mathematical Olympiad, in addition to studying at school, Khai and the team members mostly focused on reviewing in Hanoi and studying with many leading teachers in Vietnam. In addition, timely encouragement from the leaders of the Department of Education and Training, the school board, teachers, family and friends helped him overcome psychological pressure, stabilize his spirit to enter the competition with the best mindset.

Leaders of Nghe An Department of Education and Training and the Board of Directors of Phan Boi Chau High School congratulate Vo Trong Khai.

The male student said that the exam has 2 different rounds, the exam structure consists of 4 main parts: Algebra, arithmetic, geometry and combinations. Each part requires high logical thinking, creativity and problem solving skills.

“During the first exam, I was quite nervous. After reading the questions, it took me nearly 5 minutes to calm down. The exam was completely new and candidates had to use their knowledge, thinking, and creativity to find the answers. In the second exam, I was more confident. After more than 4 hours of taking the exam, I spent half of the time completing the first two tests. As for the combined test, it took me quite a bit of time because it required thinking, flexibility, and skillful application of knowledge,” Khai said.

With a total score of 38/42 points, Vo Trong Khai became the highest scoring contestant of the Vietnamese delegation and ranked 8th overall in this year's competition. At the award ceremony, standing on the podium holding the Gold Medal and the red flag with a yellow star in his hand, the Nghe An male student was moved with pride and emotion.

The International Mathematical Olympiad left Khai with many special emotions.

Not just an intellectual competition, the International Mathematical Olympiad also left Khai with many special emotions. Khai said that this was not only a competition but also a valuable opportunity for him to broaden his horizons, exchange cultures and feel the spirit of solidarity and sharing among young people who love Math around the world .

With outstanding achievements in this year's exam, Vo Trong Khai was directly admitted to Hanoi University of Science and Technology, majoring in Computer Science. "I also have a passion for Computer Science, so I want to combine Math and Computer Science to develop further, aiming to become a good programmer in the future," Khai expressed.

Vo Trong Khai in the loving arms of his family and school.

Ms. Cao Thi Lan Thanh, Principal of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, shared: “This is a great joy not only for the family, school, teachers, and friends, but also a source of pride for the education sector of the province. Khai always studies with intelligence, passion, perseverance, and a spirit of learning. He has never given up his desire to conquer the heights, and that is what makes today's gold medal completely worthy. Khai's achievements will be a strong source of inspiration, igniting the spirit of effort and pursuit of passion for the next generations of students.”

The 66th International Mathematical Olympiad was held from July 10-20 in Sunshine Coast, Queensland (Australia), bringing together 639 contestants from 113 countries and territories.

The Vietnamese delegation had 6 students participating in this year's competition and all won medals: 2 Gold Medals, 3 Silver Medals and 1 Bronze Medal. With a total score of 188, the Vietnamese team ranked 9th overall, after countries with strong mathematics traditions such as: China, the US, South Korea, Poland, Japan...