Eighth-grade girl who achieved an IELTS score of 8.5 reveals her breakthrough strategy with a new method.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Eighth-grade student Nguyen Ngoc Linh Dan was "shocked" when she received the results, because even though she had found a method to quickly improve her score, she still didn't think she could reach an IELTS score of 8.5 on her first attempt.

Surprisingly, it exceeded expectations.

Nguyen Ngoc Linh Dan (8A5 class, Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted, Ho Chi Minh City) couldn't hide her astonishment at achieving an 8.5 IELTS score on her first attempt.

Linh Dan recounted that she was at school when she learned the results. Her first reaction was shock, followed by joy and pride because the results far exceeded her expectations.

"Initially, I aimed for an IELTS score of 8.0, but after the exam, I was worried I'd only get 7.5. When I saw the result of 8.5, I was really surprised," Dan shared.

The female student immediately showed the story to her classmates and texted her parents and teachers.

“Everyone was surprised and congratulated me. In the class, I was the first person to achieve an 8.5 IELTS score,” Dan said.

Nguyen Ngoc Linh Dan (class 8A5, Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted, Ho Chi Minh City) achieved an IELTS score of 8.5 on her first attempt (Photo: Nhat Minh).

Since it was her first time taking the IELTS exam, everything in the test room was quite new, making the 8th-grade girl feel overwhelmed when looking at the questions compared to when she practiced at home.

However, she quickly calmed down, telling herself she would do her best and be ready to accept any outcome. According to Dan, the exam wasn't too difficult, and her thorough preparation beforehand helped her take it with a fairly relaxed mindset.

Learning English from kindergarten and a new "weapon" for critical thinking.

Linh Dan said she started learning English when she was in kindergarten. Initially, she only studied at a basic level, but as she got older, she dedicated more time to the subject and gradually developed a love for it.

For Dan, English is not just a subject, but a part of life. At home, she mainly watches foreign videos and maintains the habit of chatting with her younger sister in the language.

According to Dan, learning English early not only gave her a good foundation but also made her more confident when giving presentations and speaking in front of crowds - both in English and Vietnamese.

"I think English has made me much more confident, especially in my speaking skills and ability to present ideas," she shared.

Dinh Dan studied English at a center when he was young, but then mostly studied on his own for a long time. It wasn't until the end of 7th grade that he returned to studying for the IELTS after seeing a new method on social media and proactively asking his parents to let him take a placement test.

Here, female students learn clear methods for answering questions instead of memorizing, and also gain a clearer understanding of how to approach the IELTS exam, knowing what to do when using English in academic settings.

“The most important thing is that I have specific guidance: what to do with each type of question, instead of just learning sample ideas. I describe my new learning secret with the word ‘fast’ because it helps me quickly think of ideas in my head and complete assignments within the time limit,” Dan said.

As a result, my writing skills improved from 6.0 to 7.0, and my speaking skills improved from 6.0 to 8.0.

No pressure from taking the test early; view IELTS as a "stepping stone".

Linh Đan learned about IELTS in elementary school but only really became interested in it in middle school, when she saw many older students achieving high scores at a very young age. In her opinion, taking the IELTS early doesn't create pressure because it's not yet tied to college admissions goals.

A female student from Tran Dai Nghia High School frankly stated: "I don't feel pressured because I'm taking the exam with a relaxed mindset, without the burden of high scores for university admission like older students. Starting to study early has given me a more solid foundation."

In particular, excellent English skills are a great help in her studies. Her ability to categorize information and focus on the core of the question helps her feel more confident when speaking in front of a crowd, not only in English but also in Vietnamese.

Nguyen Ngoc Linh Dan felt no pressure taking the IELTS exam early on because she had a suitable study method (Photo: Nhat Minh).

Mr. Tran Thien Minh - Linh Dan's direct exam preparation teacher and also a two-time IELTS 9.0 scorer - commented that the female student is outstanding for her age. According to him, at the junior high school level, pursuing IELTS often faces many obstacles if one lacks a suitable foundation and method.

"Initially, I was a little worried about whether she would be able to keep up with the program. But Linh Dan showed a quick learning ability, a serious attitude towards studying, and especially great perseverance," Minh shared.

The male teacher said that during the nearly three months of training, Linh Đan had mastered all the skills evenly.

"Your strengths are clear thinking, the ability to focus on the core of the question, and the capacity to develop ideas very well. An IELTS score of 8.5 is a well-deserved result of your efforts and effective learning methods," he said.

Linh Đan said that for now, she will focus on her studies and the entrance exams for high school. In the future, she is considering studying abroad or attending specialized schools in Vietnam.

The female student also advised her fellow students: "If possible, you should start learning English early to have a good foundation. But everyone has different goals, so there's no need to put too much pressure on yourself."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/nu-sinh-lop-8-dat-ielts-85-tiet-lo-chien-thuat-but-toc-voi-phuong-phap-moi-20260211214803256.htm