A female student from the coastal region of Nghe An province and her journey to becoming the national runner-up in the entrance exam.

In the 2025 high school graduation exam, Ho Thi Khanh Linh – a student in class 12A1, Quynh Luu 3 High School (Nghe An) – excelled with a score of 29.75 in the A00 subject group, including two perfect scores of 10 in Mathematics and Physics, and 9.75 in Chemistry. This impressive result made Linh the national runner-up in the A00 group and the top-scoring student in the A00 group in Nghe An province.

A dream nurtured from a seaside village.

Nearly a week after receiving her score, Khanh Linh still hasn't gotten over the feeling of elation mixed with a little regret. "I lost 0.25 points on a fairly easy Chemistry question due to a calculation error. It's my favorite subject, so I'm really disappointed!" Linh shared.

Born into an intellectual family, with her father serving in the military far from home and her mother a literature teacher at Quynh Nghia Secondary School, Khanh Linh grew up surrounded by the love and gentle guidance of her parents. Her family never imposed pressure or expectations regarding academic achievement; instead, they offered encouragement, support, and trust.

Ho Thi Khanh Linh is the top scorer in Group A in Nghe An province and the second-highest scorer nationwide with 29.75 points. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Ms. Ho Thi Sen – Linh's mother – shared: "We raised our child gently, like any other normal family. She grew up in a warm environment, learned to love, and took responsibility for her own choices. She has passions, clear plans, and is determined to pursue them."

From the time she was in 9th grade, Linh demonstrated exceptional abilities, being selected for both the Literature and Mathematics teams of her school to participate in the district-level excellent student competition. Despite studying at a school in a remote coastal area, Linh excelled, achieving a perfect 20/20 in Mathematics, causing a sensation throughout the district. Afterward, she was selected for the district team to compete in the provincial-level excellent student competition and won third prize.

Ms. Ho Thi Sen (on the left) - Khanh Linh's mother - said: "It doesn't matter where my child studies, as long as that place makes her happy, inspires her, and gives her the opportunity to develop her abilities." Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

That was the first turning point that ignited Linh's love for mathematics – a passion kindled by her first teacher, Mr. Ho Minh Khai. In high school, Linh chose to attend Quynh Luu 3 High School – a school near her home – instead of applying to a specialized school. She was placed in class A1, under the guidance of Mr. Tran Minh Vinh. "Linh is a quick-witted, very diligent student who consistently performs well. In the school's gifted student competition, she achieved top marks in all three subjects: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. She also won first prize in Mathematics at the provincial level with 17.63 points – second only to a student from Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School," Mr. Vinh commented.

A learning journey from a grateful heart and a scientific schedule.

Not only is she academically gifted, Khanh Linh is also an active and energetic student, always enthusiastically participating in extracurricular activities: being an MC, hosting school events, participating in science and technology competitions, and national-level traffic safety competitions… In her mother's eyes, Linh is "a cheerful girl who loves challenges and can't sit still."

Khánh Linh's secret to achieving near-perfect scores in the high school graduation exam doesn't come from cramming, but from a scientific, clear, and flexible study plan. The student said: "I always try to build a roadmap for each stage, with specific goals. Each day, I only study one subject to avoid distractions. I set deadlines for completing each topic or book. In the morning and afternoon, I solve three practice tests. In the evening, I review the lectures, correct my mistakes, and learn from them."

Khanh Linh (far right) poses for a graduation photo with her family. Photo: Provided by the subject.

What's special about Linh is her love of learning – she finds joy in solving a difficult math problem or completing a tricky exam. For Linh, learning isn't about fear of low grades or pressure to achieve high scores, but rather a journey of self -discovery and conquering her limits.

This year's math exam was considered highly challenging. Linh said: "It took me almost an hour to complete the part of the exam that guaranteed me a 9.5. After I was sure of that result, I dedicated time to the final question on probability – a question I found very difficult, but also very interesting."

As soon as she received her exam results, Khanh Linh wrote a short letter on her personal page, expressing her gratitude to Quynh Luu 3 High School, the place that nurtured her dreams; to her teachers – who inspired her through every lesson; to her family – a warm haven after stressful study hours; and to her friends – those who shared her colorful youthful years.

With a score of 29.75, Khanh Linh is facing many choices. She is torn between the Foreign Trade University and Hanoi Pedagogical University – each offering its own unique appeal and future direction. But no matter which path she chooses, Khanh Linh believes that gratitude, willpower, and passion will be the guiding light and motivation for her to continue shining on her journey ahead.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nu-sinh-vung-bien-nghe-an-va-hanh-trinh-cham-den-ngoi-vi-a-khoa-toan-quoc-2025072607152741.htm