7th grade female student in Ha Tinh shares secret to conquering IELTS 8.0

Nguyen Tran Minh Thu - a female student who just achieved IELTS 8.0.

Among the stories of outstanding academic achievements, there are stories that are not only admirable for their scores, but also for their age and their determined journey. Nguyen Tran Minh Thu, a female student who has just turned 13 and is studying in class 7A2 at Le Van Thiem Secondary School ( Ha Tinh City ), is a living proof of that. She has just made a spectacular mark when she achieved an IELTS score of 8.0 - a dream score even for many adults who have studied hard for the exam.

Minh Thu's detailed scores in the recent exam surprised many people: Listening achieved a perfect score of 9.0, Reading 8.5, Writing 7.0 and Speaking 6.5. The total score of 8.0 is not just a number on the result board but also a spectacular achievement of a long journey of accumulation, nurtured from a very young age.

Minh Thu always listens and works hard in every class.

Minh Thu shared that her love for English came naturally when she was only in second grade. "I always remember the feeling of curiosity when listening to cartoon characters talking, even though I didn't understand everything, the melody of that language was so pleasant and attractive. It was that curiosity that sowed the first seeds for me. From passively watching, I started to be more proactive. I watched a movie over and over again, tried to learn how the characters pronounced it, then figured out what the word meant with the help of my parents" - Minh Thu shared.

Over time, Minh Thu's love for English grew. Not only stopping at cartoons or songs, she started reading simple bilingual stories and listening to podcasts for English learners. "From that passion, I set myself a bigger goal, which was to conquer the IELTS exam. I started to learn carefully about the IELTS exam structure since I was in primary school. In grade 5, after a period of self-study and feeling that I had a certain foundation, I boldly registered for a practice test and achieved a result of 6.5" - Minh Thu said.

Passion and self-study awareness helped Minh Thu reap "sweet fruit".

According to Minh Thu, the 6.5 grade 5 exam became a great motivation and a guideline for her to adjust her learning strategy. She did not follow the old path of passively practicing and solving questions, but focused on building a comprehensive language foundation and developing all 4 skills.

“It is thanks to my seriousness, constant improvement and accumulation of knowledge that helped me achieve a score of 8.0 in the recent IELTS exam. Although I have achieved a score beyond my expectations, I will still be determined and strive to achieve new achievements in the future,” Minh Thu confided.

Sharing the secret to learning English well, Minh Thu revealed that she practices listening skills through many different sources: movies, YouTube videos, podcasts on many topics from science , history to culture. An effective method she applies is "shadowing" (reading after/imitating) to improve pronunciation and natural rhythm.

Minh Thu is a shining example in studying for others to follow.

Regarding reading skills, I expand my reading sources to prestigious international newspapers and magazines. I choose articles on topics that interest me so that reading is not boring. When reading, I apply the strategy of dividing paragraphs, underlining main ideas, and trying to summarize the content of each paragraph and the whole article. Regarding writing skills, I practice writing a diary in English to practice expressing my personal thoughts. Regarding speaking skills, in addition to practicing speaking in front of the mirror, I also often speak English with my two younger brothers at home. Thanks to that, I practice natural reflexes in communication and feel that English has become a part of my daily life.

Minh Thu's success comes not only from her personal efforts but also from her family's support. Ms. Tran Thi Thu Hien, Minh Thu's mother, shared: "The family does not put pressure on her scores or having to take the IELTS test early. The most important thing we always see in her is her self-awareness and high sense of learning. She studies because of her true passion, not because she is forced to. The family always accompanies her, creates a quiet space for her to study, provides the materials she needs and always encourages her."

Minh Thu's IELTS result of 8.0 at the age of 13 quickly spread and became a strong inspirational story for her peers. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy - homeroom teacher of class 7A2 commented: "Minh Thu is a very special student, she is good at all subjects, an excellent student in the class. Not only is she smart, she also possesses an admirable spirit of self-study and self-discovery. In class, she is always proactive in speaking up, asking questions and ready to help her friends. Her IELTS result of 8.0 at this age is the clearest proof of her tireless efforts and burning passion."

The school teachers always accompany and help Minh Thu in her studies.

With a solid foundation in English proven by an IELTS score of 8.0, Minh Thu is full of confidence aiming for even higher goals. She expressed her desire to continue challenging herself with other international standardized tests such as the SAT - an aptitude test used by many universities around the world for admission.

Minh Thu confided: "I have always cherished the dream of experiencing education abroad, wanting to immerse myself in multicultural communities, learn from international friends, and broaden my horizons. I hope that, with an IELTS 8.0 certificate and upcoming efforts, I will have more advantages when applying to prestigious universities around the world in the future and have the opportunity to win valuable scholarships."

The story of Nguyen Tran Minh Thu - a 13-year-old girl who conquered IELTS 8.0 is not only a story of excellent academic achievement, but also a profound lesson about the power of passion nurtured from an early age, about self-awareness, perseverance in pursuing goals and the importance of family support.