She earned a flawless 800/800 in both the Reading and Math sections. This feat, achieved on her second attempt, places her among the rare few worldwide to ace the SAT, a test demanding excellence in reading comprehension, reasoning, and logical thinking.

Dieu Anh told VietNamNet that she was shocked at the unimaginable result. “I felt confident in my work but only expected around 1500 or more—never a perfect score. I’m still on the air,” she said.

Beyond her stellar SAT result, Dieu Anh shines across multiple fields with impressive achievements. She’s been class leader for 12 straight years, clinching first prize in provincial English competitions in grades 9 and 12, and second prize in grades 10 and 11. She also scored an IELTS 8.0, with an 8.0 in Writing.

Her secret to success? A disciplined, practical daily schedule. “I set my to-do list each day with deadlines, helping me tackle lots efficiently,” she explained.

Dieu Anh focuses on mastering the basics before tackling tougher exercises step by step. She also stays attentive in class, finishing assignments there to free up home time for exploring new or supplementary material.

English is her forte, she said. With a mom teaching English at secondary school, she was lucky to build a solid foundation from her elementary years. 

“Growing up, I realized my increasingly high passion and strength in this subject,” Dieu Anh noted. She honed her speaking and English use naturally, weaving it into daily life without forcing hours of practice.

Before exams, she crams as many practice tests as possible. “I learn through practice and mistakes. I keep a notebook of errors from tests. Wherever I slip, I dig deeper into that area,” she said.

Persistence and refusing to quit, she believes, are key not just in studies but beyond.

Anh said that she could only obtain a perfect score on her second attempt. Her first attempt in November 2024 netted 1390, which was below her expectation.

“I was pretty down after that result. But reflecting, I saw it matched my prep then. I hadn’t prepared well enough. I told myself to push harder, poured everything into this try, and it paid off,” she said.

Beyond academics, she’s vice chair of BoNE Club, a charity and reading culture group at Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted.

Her homeroom and English teacher, Nguyen Thi Thuong Huyen, said the perfect SAT isn’t just academic glory, but is a fitting reward for Dieu Anh’s relentless effort and determination.

“She’s a bold class leader with clear goals. At every stage, she crafts precise plans to hit targets, from IELTS to SAT,” Huyen said.

Huyen added that Dieu Anh excels across all subjects, not just English. As class leader, she’s dynamic and dedicated in school and class activities. “She’s spirited, resourceful, and a role model for peers,” Huyen said.

In her free time, she enjoys reading and playing volleyball with friends.

Initially, she planned to apply for English Education at Hanoi Pedagogical University or Foreign Languages at Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

With her standout SAT score, she’s now eyeing study abroad if she lands a big scholarship later. But for now, she’s focused on finishing high school strong for a solid national exam result.

Anh’s class at the Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted has many other excellent students. Currently, 15 students scored 1500+ on the SAT, and 20 of 29 hit IELTS 8.0+ (three at 8.5, 17 at 8.0).

Standouts include: Doan Duy Hung (SAT 1560/1600, IELTS 8.0, national student contest honorable mention); Tran Bao Tram (SAT 1550/1600, IELTS 8.0, grade 12 provincial first prize); Doan Phuong Thao (SAT 1540/1600, IELTS 8.5, grade 12 provincial first prize); Nguyen Danh Dung (SAT 1530/1600, IELTS 8.0, provincial first prize); Trinh Thi Nhu Y (SAT 1530/1600, IELTS 8.0, national third prize); Tran Hoang Quynh Chi (SAT 1520/1600, IELTS 8.0, grade 12 provincial first prize), and more.

Thanh Hung