Trinh Ngoc Minh Thu, a 9^th grader from the Da Nang-based SKY-LINE High-quality Primary and Secondary School, achieved an overall band score 8.0 in her IELTS test which took place in the city in November 2020.

Trinh Ngoc Minh Thu nurturing a dream of hunting for a scholarship to conquer the American dream

Thu said she was so surprised at such an impressive IELTS overall score because she initially set a target of Band 7.0. “I am so happy and proud that my efforts are paid off with better-than-expected results” the studious girl said.

Thu said the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular high-stakes English language proficiency test for study, work and migration with more than two million tests taken in the past year. IELTS results are recognised by more than 9,000 organisations, including educational institutions, employers, professional associations and governments, in 135 countries around the world.

With IELTS Band 8.0 overall score, she is now able to have a good command of English, as well as present or debate complex issues totally in English.

Asked about her key tips on how to obtain such a high IELTS score, Thu said, when it comes to learning a foreign language, scientific research shows that people learn more when they space learning out rather than cramming it all together. This means that you will remember a word much better if you look at it once a day for five days, rather than five times in the same day.

She stressed the need for IELTS learners to create a scientific study plan, and set a clear goal and keep it in mind, which will motivate them to learn in a bid to gain the best possible results.

In order to achieve such a high result, Thu maintains her stable exposure to this most-studied global language every day, especially learning pronunciation skills and vocabulary through English news on Youtube and TV programmes. Also, she often writes short paragraphs in this foreign language to improve her writing skills.

“I embrace every opportunity to practice English, train my mind to think in English and stop trying to translate things from my native language into the second language” the Da Nang girl added.

In addition, by studying at bilingual education programmes at the SKY-LINE High-quality Primary and Secondary School, Thu has good opportunities to practice English with her foreign teachers every day.

“Being in contact with foreign teachers helps me get acquainted with many different intonations and phonics, thereby enhancing my communication skills” Thu noted.

In addition to the impressive IELTS score, Minh Thu has won the top prize at the school-level Internet Olympiads of English (IOE) for 9^th graders.

She has also taken the 3^rd prize at the Science and Technology Innovative Idea Contest for the 2019-2020 academic year for her research project entitled ‘Used Paper Recycling Process’.

With her English ability and self-study skills, Minh Thu is preparing for her study abroad in the future. She plans to hunt for a university scholarship in a medical major in the USA.

By AN NHIEN - Translated by M.D