Nghe An Student Tops Province in Math and Physics with National-Level Wins

Le Minh Hieu, a high school student from Nghe An province in central Vietnam, has achieved top honors in both Mathematics and Physics at the national gifted student competition, while also scoring the highest in the A00 block with 29.75 points in the province. This achievement highlights Vietnam's ongoing efforts to improve education and nurture talent from rural areas. Hieu, a student in class 12A1 at Quynh Luu 1 High School, secured perfect scores in Mathematics and Chemistry, and 9.75 in Physics, according to the exam results released by the Ministry of Education and Training on July 1. His score of 29.75 in the A00 block (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry) is the highest in the province. He also ranked among the top three provincial scorers with a total of 37.75 points across four subjects, including 8 points in Literature. Hieu described his reaction upon seeing the results as overwhelming, stating, "I had estimated around 29 points, but I never thought I would become the top scorer." His parents were reportedly speechless for a few seconds upon hearing the news, overwhelmed with emotion and pride. From the predominantly agricultural region of Quynh Luu, Hieu has been an excellent student throughout his 12 years of schooling. He served as the academic vice-captain in his class and was recognized as a model student at Quynh Luu 1 High School. His success in the provincial gifted student contests last year in both Mathematics and Physics laid a strong foundation for his national-level achievements. Assessing this year's graduation exam, Hieu noted that the Physics paper was highly differentiating, with many questions focusing on basic knowledge that could easily lead to lost points if not mastered. He found the Mathematics and Chemistry papers to be manageable, confidently expecting to score above 9 in both. Regarding his study methods, Hieu emphasized understanding the core concepts rather than rote memorization. He focused on lectures in class and, at home, primarily reviewed textbook material before expanding to supplementary resources and online past papers. He typically studied from 8 PM to past 11 PM, increasing his practice tests during the final sprint to hone his skills and consolidate knowledge. In the week leading up to the exam, he consciously reduced his study intensity to ensure he was well-rested, believing a relaxed state would lead to better performance. Hieu admitted to moments of fatigue when encountering difficult problems, contemplating skipping them, but his determination to reach his goal pushed him to find solutions. He stated that the most challenging aspect was not the knowledge itself, but maintaining daily perseverance and discipline. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam, Hieu's homeroom teacher, praised him as a student with great ambition, always setting high goals and finding ways to overcome his limitations. She believes his provincial top score is the result of persistent effort and clear academic direction, adding that the outcome did not surprise her. Outside of academics, Hieu actively participated in extracurricular activities at school and with the Youth Union. He was admitted to the Communist Party on June 13. Hieu plans to apply for admission to Hanoi University of Science and Technology, focusing on engineering disciplines. Source: VnExpress