Did the top-scoring student attend extra classes?

"As the top student in the D01 group at our school, I wonder if you attended extra classes or preferred self-study and online learning?", a student from Ho Chi Minh City asked.

This morning, February 17th, a dialogue program with top-scoring students took place at Le Trong Tan High School in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City. During the program, tutors who are university students, former top-scoring students, and outstanding alumni of Le Trong Tan High School shared their experiences on tutoring and self-study, preparing for the high school graduation exam which will take place in June.

Students from Le Trong Tan High School ask questions to the top-scoring students.

Answering the question "Does the top student attend extra classes?", Nguyen Van Ngoc, an accounting student at the Foreign Trade University, campus 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, and the top student in the D01 group (mathematics, literature, English) of Chu Van An High School (Gia Nghia City, Dak Nong province) in 2023 with 27.5 points, said that she combined focused studying in class, extra classes outside of school, self-study, and following online review sessions from teachers.

"Based on my learning experience, I prioritize paying attention to the knowledge that teachers teach directly in class. When teachers teach in person, I find it easier to grasp the concepts, and it's easier to ask questions if I don't understand something," Van Ngoc said.

How should I arrange my preferences when applying to university?

Nguyen Van Ngoc's 2023 high school graduation exam scores were: Math 9.0; English 9.2; Literature 9.3. Van Ngoc also won third prize in the provincial-level English competition for gifted students. The top-scoring student, who is currently a tutor at eTeacher, shared that her study experience also includes "self-studying by watching livestreams of teachers in various subjects on Facebook or TikTok to improve her understanding of different types of problems or problem-solving methods."

Valedictorian Nguyen Van Ngoc answers questions about extra tutoring that students are interested in.

"I've lost my foundation in the subject, and relearning it feels overwhelming."

That was the sentiment expressed by a student from Le Trong Tan High School in this morning's program. Ngo Khanh Duy, a statistics and mathematics student at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), and the top scorer in the A00 subject combination at Hoang Hoa Tham High School, Ho Chi Minh City in 2023 with a score of 26.3, shared: "When studying and preparing for exams, students shouldn't put too much pressure on themselves."

"My experience is to study in an organized manner, break down the material into smaller parts, avoid studying too much at once, and allow more time for rest. I found that there was enough time to both review and learn new material," added the top student of the A00 class at Hoang Hoa Tham High School.

To get a high score in literature, should I study more or read more?

At this morning's program, Van Ta Hong Tinh, who scored 9.25 points in the Literature exam of the 2024 high school graduation exam, a former student of Le Trong Tan High School, Ho Chi Minh City (currently a student in the Music Department, Ho Chi Minh City College of Culture and Arts, with a score of 25.75 in the N-block aptitude test), shared many experiences with the younger students.

According to Hong Tinh, students should not focus all their efforts on just three subjects in their chosen university entrance exam combination. They should allocate more time to studying the subjects they will be tested on in the high school graduation exam. Students should also refer to and follow the sample exam structure provided by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Van Ta Hong Tinh (wearing a white ao dai) with top students and tutors Van Ngoc and Khanh Duy.

"Especially for Literature, to achieve a high score, students need a fairly deep level of knowledge beyond the textbook. Therefore, they should read more books and literary works outside of the textbook. In my opinion, the key to getting a high score is to have a well-developed and neatly presented essay, because fundamentally, a change in quantity leads to a change in quality. When examiners see a long essay, they may appreciate the student's knowledge because of the many ideas that allow for the development of the essay. However, writing at length doesn't mean writing ramblingly. This also depends on the student's knowledge and writing ability," noted Hong Tinh, who scored 9.25 in Literature in the 2024 high school graduation exam.

The "Dialogue with Top Students 2025" program was jointly organized by eTeacher Tutoring Company and Le Trong Tan High School, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City. This year's theme was "Target Lock-On," conveying the message that students need to clearly define their goals and build a suitable study plan. 2,000 students from Le Trong Tan High School participated, with many asking numerous questions, as this year marks the fifth year of the 2018 General Education Program, and the 12th-grade students will be taking the high school graduation exam, facing many new challenges.

Don't compare yourself to others in a negative way.

In response to a student's question, "How can I accurately define my goals and avoid being easily swayed or changed?", valedictorian Ngo Khanh Duy suggested that the first thing each student should do is ask themselves, "What are my strengths and weaknesses?", "What are my opportunities and challenges?". Initially, it may be difficult to answer these questions, but each person should take the time to understand themselves, ask teachers, ask older students, and consult YouTube... to gain a clearer understanding of the path they intend to pursue.

In addition, the top-scoring student, a statistics major at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, believes that everyone should set clear and specific goals. For example, instead of setting a vague goal like "I want to get into university," one should set a goal like "I want to achieve 26+ points in Block A to get into the financial mathematics major at the University of Economics, because this major suits my interest in mathematics." The more specific the goal, the easier it is for each student to plan and achieve it.

"Finally, don't compare yourself negatively to others. Some students often use others as role models to motivate themselves to strive harder. However, negative comparisons can lead to self-doubt, peer pressure, and a loss of motivation to study. When I was in 12th grade, I studied with many talented students from specialized schools. Sometimes I felt a little insecure because they were so good. But I also understood that everyone has their own abilities and learning path, so I just needed to focus on my own learning goals, improve today compared to yesterday, and maintain my initial goals – that's good enough," Duy expressed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thu-khoa-co-di-hoc-them-khong-185250217105443594.htm