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Vietnamese teen girl aces IELTS 8.0 on first try thanks to podcasts

After one year of self-study, a Vietnamese 11th grader scored an impressive 8.0 on her first-ever IELTS attempt.

Nguyen La Gia Nghi, who attends Practical High School at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, attributed her achievement to consistently engaging with English-language media and proactively practicing speaking skills.

Nghi scored 8.5 in reading, 8.0 in listening, 7.5 in speaking and 7.0 in writing during the exam taken in August 2024. Initially targeting a modest overall score of 6.5, she raised her ambitions midway through her preparation after seeing rapid progress.

"When I saw my results, I felt incredibly relieved," Nghi said. Such a high score puts her among the top 5% of IELTS test-takers in Vietnam, based on 2024 statistics from the official IELTS website.

Detailing her exam strategy, Nghi explained her effective approach to the reading section. "Reading too quickly can cause you to overlook key details," she said. Instead, she first reviews the questions, identifies important keywords, and then reads each paragraph separately to answer associated questions thoroughly. This method allowed her to finish early, leaving an extra 20 minutes for double-checking.

For the listening component, daily mock tests and English podcasts sharpened her reflexes. Despite briefly losing concentration and missing part of a listening section during her test, she stayed calm.

"I reminded myself that one missed question shouldn't ruin the entire exam," she recalled, swiftly regaining her focus.

Nghi's habit of engaging with English content helped immensely with speaking. Regularly watching informative channels such as IELTS Advantage and English Speaking Success provided her with useful vocabulary and natural expressions suited for the test. She encouraged frequent practice, whether speaking alone or conversing with friends.

Her strategy for the speaking section involved elaborately paraphrasing questions and weaving personal stories to enrich her answers.

"If asked to describe someone important, I would not just talk about their appearance; I would narrate a memorable story involving them," she explained.

When faced with discussion-based questions requiring critical analysis, Nghi recommended exploring multiple viewpoints.

"If the examiner asks whether I prefer tea or coffee, I'd typically choose tea for its mild taste but would also mention coffee's practicality for busy days," she said.

For the writing section, clarity, structured reasoning, and robust evidence are key. Nghi stressed the importance of balancing sophisticated vocabulary with clear, relevant ideas.

"Using complex words without clear intent can hinder your score," she advised. She suggested learners practice new vocabulary within specific contexts to enhance both recall and usability.

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By Thanh Thu
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Here's a list of 10 key vocabulary words, each with its meaning and a sample sentence based on the article, all presented in the style of an English teacher guiding students through contextual learning:

🧠 1. Self-study
Meaning: Learning on your own, without a teacher or formal class.
Example: Gia Nghi achieved an 8.0 IELTS score after just one year of dedicated self-study.

📈 2. Achievement
Meaning: Something successfully done, especially through effort or skill.
Example: She attributed her remarkable achievement to daily English practice and consistent exposure to media.

📚 3. Engage with
Meaning: To participate in or pay attention to something actively.
Example: Nghi regularly engaged with English-language content like podcasts to improve her listening skills.

🎯 4. Target
Meaning: A goal or desired result.
Example: Although she initially targeted a 6.5, Nghi soon realized she could aim higher.

💡 5. Strategy
Meaning: A careful plan or method for achieving a goal.
Example: Her reading strategy involved reviewing the questions first and identifying key words.

🎧 6. Concentration
Meaning: Focused attention on a task.
Example: Despite losing concentration during the listening test, she quickly regained her focus.

🗣️ 7. Paraphrase
Meaning: To express the same idea in different words.
Example: For the speaking section, she practiced paraphrasing questions to make her answers more natural.

🔍 8. Critical analysis
Meaning: The process of examining and evaluating ideas carefully.
Example: When discussing topics in the speaking test, she used critical analysis to explore multiple viewpoints.

✍️ 9. Clarity
Meaning: The quality of being clear and easy to understand.
Example: Nghi emphasized that clarity in writing is more important than using difficult words.

🧠 10. Vocabulary
Meaning: The words someone knows and uses.
Example: She built up her vocabulary by practicing new words in real speaking and writing situations.
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🎯 This content is just an example for learning English.
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