Vietnam's High School Top Scorer Earns Perfect SAT, Full Scholarship to 'MIT of South Korea'

Hoang Huong Giang, from the High School for the Gifted of Hanoi National University of Education, has secured the top rank nationwide in the A01 subject combination (Mathematics, Physics, and English) for the 2026 high school graduation exam. She achieved perfect scores of 10 in Physics and English, alongside a 9.75 in Mathematics. Giang expressed her surprise at learning she had outscored everyone in the A01 combination, despite having estimated a high score after checking the official answer key. Over 1.2 million Vietnamese high school students participated in the graduation exam held on June 11 and 12, which requires candidates to take four subjects: math, literature, and two electives chosen from options including English, natural sciences, and social sciences. Reflecting on the exam, Giang found the Physics test to be well-designed, balancing standard textbook knowledge with practical applications and novel perspectives. She noted that uncommon idioms were the most challenging aspect of the English test. Mathematics, however, was her biggest concern. "I could generally predict the types of questions in the other two subjects, but the most challenging Math questions were impossible to anticipate," she admitted, revealing a careless mistake on an integration problem cost her 0.25 points. Giang attributes her success to building a solid academic foundation early on, prioritizing deep understanding over rote memorization. "I don't memorize formulas; I try to prove why they work. If I can't explain something to another person, it means I don't truly understand it yet," she stated. This approach meant she did not need to cram before the exam, instead focusing on reviewing key concepts and practicing past papers under simulated test conditions. She studied fewer than eight hours a day, balancing her studies with relaxation activities like yoga, drawing, reading, and playing Minesweeper. Her study philosophy also led to a perfect 1600 on the SAT and an 8.0 overall band score on the IELTS. Giang plans to major in Computer Science at KAIST, South Korea's second-ranked university by Times Higher Education in 2026, with a full scholarship sponsored by Samsung. She is particularly interested in artificial intelligence and hopes to contribute to future breakthroughs in the field. Her homeroom teacher, Truong Trong Khanh, was unsurprised by her performance, citing her consistent exceptional ability, strong analytical thinking, and excellent self-learning skills since grade 10. "Giang is an all-around student, excelling not only academically but also in life skills. What impresses me most is her maturity, depth of thinking, and serious attitude toward learning," Khanh commented.