Male student achieves IELTS score of 9.0 on first attempt.

On his very first IELTS attempt, Tran Hoang Le Thanh achieved a score of 9.0, with only the writing skill scoring 8.0, while all other sections received perfect scores.

Tran Hoang Le Thanh, born in 2009, is an 11th-grade student specializing in English at the High School for Foreign Languages, University of Foreign Languages ​​(Vietnam National University, Hanoi ).

The male student received his results in early February, just one day after taking the computer-based IELTS test. Notably, this was Thanh's first IELTS test result.

“A 9.0 IELTS score was within my expected range, but it still surprised me. Above all, I feel relieved to be able to conclude my IELTS preparation journey and focus on other academic goals,” Thanh shared with Tri Thức - Znews .

Tran Hoang Le Thanh - a male student who just achieved an IELTS score of 9.0. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Make the most of AI to prepare for IELTS.

Le Thanh said that he had been exposed to English since he was 3-4 years old, through videos , stories, and written content. As he got older, he started reading articles in English and also participated in many international communities with similar interests, instead of limiting himself to just his friends at school. Therefore, learning English came quite naturally and easily for Thanh.

At the beginning of this school year, Thanh started preparing for the IELTS exam. The most important keyword for him is systematic practice.

Regarding listening and reading skills, Thanh believes the focus is on identifying and filling in the correct answers. Thanks to his foundation from previous English exam preparation, Thanh has developed quite good reflexes, so in the final stages, the male student doesn't spend too much time on these two skills.

However, Thanh believes that if candidates know how to utilize online study resources, regularly review their mistakes, and systematize their test-taking methods, they can achieve 90% effectiveness without investing too much time.

Meanwhile, speaking skills require time management, focused responses, and the use of natural language. Therefore, Thanh focused on equipping himself with a rich vocabulary but without overusing academic jargon.

During his revision, the male student proactively sought out suitable practice questions and utilized AI tools, using voice mode to practice question-and-answer sessions as if it were a real conversation. This method helped Thanh shorten the feedback loop while simultaneously increasing his knowledge and vocabulary acquisition within the same timeframe.

Thành considered writing skills to be the most difficult. In the regular tests at his tutoring class, the male student only scored around 6.5-7.5 in this section. For the last three weeks, Thành applied a strategy using AI to speed up his revision process.

The male student used AI as a "strict examiner," demanding that his essay be graded strictly according to the official IELTS criteria, without leniency, without rounding off scores, and clearly pointing out errors in argumentation, idea development, grammar, word usage, or unnatural tone.

"If you don't trust the accuracy of AI, you can use paper materials or those available online. However, you should still have a reliable source of grading and specific feedback, because the quality of feedback greatly determines your progress in this skill," the male student shared.

Based on his experience, Le Thanh believes that the priority order in the writing test should be essay structure, vocabulary, and critical thinking. A well-structured essay with logical arguments can guarantee a score of 6.0 or higher. A diverse and accurate vocabulary can increase your score by about 1-1.5 bands. Meanwhile, the ability to analyze issues in depth and sharp argumentation is what truly sets you apart and helps you reach a band 8.0 or higher.

Le Thanh is using AI to prepare for the IELTS exam. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Clever tactics

Sharing more about his test-taking strategy, Thanh said he followed the order of the sections as arranged in the exam structure, avoiding changing his strategy midway. For listening and reading skills, the core element was to focus intensely on the input data: carefully reading the instructions, listening accurately to the information, and limiting subjective guesswork.

When writing on a computer, time pressure and typing speed can easily lead to grammatical errors or inaccurate expression. Therefore, Thanh proactively spends the last 5 minutes reviewing technical errors such as verb tenses, subjects, verbs, articles, and spelling.

Male students should pay special attention to Task 1, noting that candidates should not simply describe the data but should summarize the trend's significance right from the introduction and overview paragraph. Demonstrating the ability to reason and identify the prominent features of the data will help the essay surpass the average score.

Regarding speaking skills, Thanh tried to maintain a natural and open attitude, treating the judges as a guide in a podcast. Thanh advised contestants to avoid unnecessary hesitation and stammering.

"If you need to think, you should pause, concentrate, and then present the next part. That will be appreciated more," the male student said.

In addition, according to Thanh, candidates should keep their answers to parts 1 and 3 concise, about 30 seconds to 1 minute, focusing directly on the main point of the question, avoiding prolonging the speech which can disrupt the flow of the speech.

At the same time, maintaining a moderate speaking pace, with clear intonation and rhythm control until the end of the performance, is also crucial to ensuring coherence and naturalness in the presentation.

Despite achieving a perfect IELTS score, Thanh said that during the final preparation phase, he didn't push himself to an extreme but maintained a balance with his regular studies and extracurricular activities at school.

"I usually only dedicate evenings to studying for the IELTS, not 'cramming' continuously or insisting on focusing on one skill in a day," Thanh said. "After every 60-90 minutes of IELTS study, I take 10-15 minutes to relax or switch to another activity that requires more critical thinking, like programming, to avoid burnout."

For candidates planning to prepare for the exam, Thanh advises taking an entrance test to determine your starting point and set appropriate goals within a planned timeframe. Setting goals that are too far beyond your current abilities can create unnecessary pressure, while realistic goals will help build a clearer and more achievable roadmap.

More importantly, you shouldn't view IELTS as the ultimate goal. By considering it a tool to support your long-term journey, learners will feel less pressure, proactively explore methods, accumulate experience, and adjust strategies as needed. A flexible and persistent mindset will make the exam preparation process smoother and more effective.

Link: https://znews.vn/nam-sinh-dat-90-ielts-ngay-lan-thi-dau-post1627190.html