At the 2024 International Junior Science Olympiad, held in Romania from December 2-11 with 52 participating countries and territories, Le Tung Lam (a 10th-grade student in Physics 2 at Hanoi Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students) won a Silver medal with the highest score of 79.8 points.
Returning from the exam, Lam shared that she felt a little regretful at the time, but quickly calmed down and was happy with the results she achieved.
"Since 8th grade, I've dreamed of becoming a member of the International Junior Science Olympiad team. Studying and participating in the competition has somewhat satisfied my passion for science, so I don't put too much emphasis on achieving high results," Lam shared.
According to the male student, the questions in the 2024 International Olympiad were all difficult and designed to differentiate students. In particular, this year's exam included questions that incorporated technology and practical applications, which surprised him and made him feel a little overwhelmed. However, after regaining his composure, he applied the knowledge taught by his teachers to find solutions.
According to Lam, participating in the Young Scientists Olympiad requires not only foundational knowledge in natural sciences but also perseverance, critical thinking skills, speed, and effective time management. Besides the 30 multiple-choice questions, candidates must also complete a lengthy essay section requiring logical reasoning and calculation, spanning 36 pages. With such a challenging exam, candidates who lose composure or focus too much on solving a few difficult questions could easily run out of time.
During her time competing abroad, Lam was excited to participate in many activities with the other contestants. "The international students were all outstanding representatives of their respective countries and were very talented. Some of them not only excelled academically but were also very confident in showcasing their dancing and singing abilities in front of a crowd. That made me feel that I needed to improve myself even more," Lam said.
With a love for natural sciences and a passion for science, Lam plans to continue participating in physics-related competitions in the future to satisfy his passion.
Le Tung Lam (on the left) was greeted and congratulated by friends at the airport after his victory at the 2024 International Junior Science Olympiad.
Love science
Ms. Mai Thuy Ha, Lam's mother, shared that from a young age, her son showed an interest and love for natural sciences. He often asked his parents questions or curiously sought out knowledge in books about constellations, planets, and the sky. After finishing primary school, Lam began enthusiastically reading physics, chemistry, and biology books borrowed from his older siblings in secondary school and was particularly fascinated by physics.
After finishing junior high school, Lam passed the entrance exam to the specialized Physics class at the prestigious Hanoi Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students. Studying at the specialized high school, under the guidance of highly qualified and dedicated teachers, Lam thrived, surpassing approximately 200 other candidates from across Hanoi to become a member of the International Junior Science Olympiad team.
Along with other contestants, Tung Lam received two months of additional training and coaching from his teachers before heading to Romania for the competition. During the training period, the teachers facilitated opportunities for the team to practice in the modern labs of prestigious universities in Hanoi to ensure the quality of the practical part.
The "Silver" student shared that during the exam preparation process, there were nights when he had to stay up until 2-3 AM studying and researching materials. To relieve stress, in addition to studying, he often played badminton . This is a sport that doesn't require much preparation time and can be played anytime, anywhere.
Six students from the Vietnamese delegation participated in IJSO 2024 in the Republic of Romania, along with their teachers.
According to Mr. Pham Quoc Toan, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, in the International Junior Science Olympiad, contestants must take exams in three natural science subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Each subject consists of three parts: an objective multiple-choice test; a theoretical test; and a practical test.
The exam, developed by the IJSO World Academic Committee, is open-ended, requiring candidates to fully utilize their individual and teamwork abilities, and features a high degree of practical application.
"For example, the chemistry exam included questions about water pollution caused by metal mining, and about the applications and extraction of halide ore from the Carpathian Mountains. Interestingly, the mineral Sylvinite is named after the famous Transylvania region of Romania. The biology exam addressed wildlife conservation, specifically the bear species," Mr. Toan said.
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/hanh-trinh-den-voi-huy-chuong-bac-olympic-quoc-te-cua-cau-hoc-tro-15-tuoi-ar913844.html
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