Reporter: Hello, Miss Ngoc Anh. First of all, thank you for participating in the interview with Ams Wide Web today. Also, congratulations on achieving excellent results in the recent National University Entrance Exam. How did you feel upon receiving such a high score for your work?

Ngoc Anh (NA): When I learned of my score, I must admit that my Literature score confounded me. Having pre-calculated my overall score according to the answer key given out by the Ministry of Education, the score I received was just as high as expected. As for Literature, I felt really surprised because the poem "Waves" was something I thought would be a part of the questions, but I tried my best nonetheless. Never in a million years did I expect to score the highest in class, and I pride myself on that achievement.

Ngoc Anh in the red screen week

Reporter: You must have been very surprised with the score. Like other 2k3 students, you probably knew that the national high school exam not only requires a wide range of knowledge, but also meticulous and thorough preparation. Can you share your own preparation process before the exam for our curious AWW readers?

NA: Regarding my own learning process, I always make sure to balance my time for both my specialized subjects and the ones I was not very good at. I dedicated most of my time and energy to Math, partly because I think that in order to get the best results, I ought not to procrastinate until the last minute, but rather build up my skills in the long term. With the combined subjects of Social Science, I gradually accumulated my knowledge, and then revised everything in the last 2 months prior to the exam. When it comes to Literature, this is a subject I’d consistently been studying throughout the whole year, so I spent only the last 2 weeks reviewing stuff. Although I was not revising the right materials (I carefully read “Vo nhat” and “Vo chong A Phu”), I still did fine nevertheless. As for English, I was quite confident, so I did not apply myself to it all that much. I still regret making some pretty silly mistakes in Math; but overall, the cramming process was not too heavy and I’m very happy with what I have achieved.

Ngoc Anh (far left) with her friends

Reporter: Among the many things that contributed to your eventual success, it is impossible not to account for the help from teachers. Can you please share with us a teacher who had the greatest impression on you in the past school year, as well as tell us a little bit about your memories with that person?

NA: Perhaps I admired all the teachers who have been with me for 3 years under the roof of Hanoi - Amsterdam, but if I had to choose one, it would be Ms. Hanh Quyen - a Civic Education teacher. Ms. Quyen's teaching is very inspiring, and she even told my class that just listening to her lectures in class is enough for all of us to ace the exam. Because of her extremely useful, easy-to-remember and stimulating lectures, I scored a 10 in Civic Education!

Reporter: In the last school year, 2k3 students suffered many hardships due to the influence of the Covid-19 epidemic. How did you overcome these difficulties yourself during this strenuous period?

NA: I think Amsers' strength is the ability to self-study, and in the past three years, especially during the long period of staying at home due to the epidemic, I have also learned self-study more effectively. Besides, there are still teachers ready to answer all of my questions, as well as friends to consult with, so it was not that hard for me. During lockdown, all I wanted was to go to school and study hard together with all of my friends.

Ngoc Anh in the yearbook photoshoot

Reporter: Now that you’ve become a freshman, are there any future plans for your major, as well as other plans in general that you can share?

NA: I'm still finding more information to plan things more clearly, but in the near future, I want to complete my next 4 years of university, because I believe that the next 4 years will be the true foundation of my adult life. Moreover, I have just gone through a big exam, so I want to reward myself with some time to relax and discover new things I might like and study in the future, maybe a new subject or a new skill, for example.

Class 12 Literature - generation 18-21

Reporter: Do you have any messages to send to 2k4 students who are also preparing for the National University Entrance Exam next year?

 NA: I just wish you guys a lot of luck and success in next year's exam season, as well as spread my joy to you, giving you the motivation to do well next year and to stand more firmly by each of your future decisions. To meet your desired goals, you should not study just a few bits here and there, but try to broaden your knowledge in every single area. Try to study all subjects evenly, and luck will come to you. If not, it will at least boost your confidence on the test day. Always remember "Don’t kid with the spirits!” That's all, good luck!

Reporter: Alright, I would like to give you many thanks for the very interesting stories revolving around you and your journey of scoring top marks in the exam. Once again, congratulations on your great success in the National University Entrance Exam 2021 and I wish you even more success in the future!

So, through the conversation with Ms. Tran Ngoc Anh, we have heard interesting insights on not only her recent journey, but some of her future plans as well. The Ams Wide Web Editorial Board would like to congratulate Ngoc Anh - an excellently well-rounded Amser in the last exam and wish her even more success later in life!

Reporter: Cao Thanh Long - Literature 2023

Image Source: Provided by Interviewee - Vietnamnet

Translator: Nguyen Duy Nhat Huy - English 2023