Hanoi student earns perfect SAT score after learning 40 new English words every day

By consistently mastering 30 to 40 new English words every day to overcome his weakness in the Reading section, a Hanoi high school student achieved a perfect SAT score of 1600 on his fourth attempt.

Le Quoc Khang, a 12th-grade student at Nguyen Tat Thanh Middle and High School, earned the perfect score during the late March testing period. Demonstrating his strong language proficiency, he also achieved an IELTS score of 8.0 after retaking all four sections of the English exam.

"When I found out I had achieved a perfect score, I was overwhelmed with happiness because all my efforts had finally paid off," Khang said. He admitted he was too nervous to check his own results and asked a friend to log into his account first.

According to the College Board, the organization that administers the SAT, test takers who score 1530 or higher rank among the top 1% of the more than two million global candidates each year. The exam consists of a Reading and Writing section with 54 questions, and a Math section with 44 questions, lasting just over two hours.

Le Quoc Khang in a yearbook photo. Photo courtesy of Khang

Overcoming plateaus and finding motivation

Khang’s journey to a perfect SAT score began in Grade 10. In his first three attempts, he scored 1440, 1430, and 1500.

During these attempts, he frequently lost points in the Reading and Writing sections, particularly with questions that required him to determine word meanings in specific contexts or identify synonyms. He also occasionally dropped points in the Math section due to careless mistakes.

Khang had initially planned to stop testing after his 2024 attempt because his score had plateaued. However, seeing his friends achieve higher results ignited his competitive drive.

"I thought, why was I given the same opportunities but had not worked as hard as my friends?" Khang said.

A targeted study strategy

Unlike his previous attempts where he relied on a test-preparation center, Khang studied independently at home for his final try. He spent about one to two months deeply reviewing the material.

Instead of exhausting himself with full practice tests, he searched for online materials, borrowed study resources from friends, and laser-focused on specific question types. "Whenever I found an area I was struggling with, I focused more on practicing questions within that area," he shared.

To tackle the challenging "Word in Context" questions, which feature rare and academic vocabulary, Khang developed a rigorous daily habit. He wrote down and looked up the meanings of 30 to 40 new words every day. He copied the words onto paper, covered their translations, and repeatedly reviewed them until they were committed to memory.

As the exam date approached, he finally integrated full practice tests into his routine to sharpen his time management.

Mastering the IELTS and finding balance

Beyond his SAT success, Khang also conquered the IELTS. his perfect SAT result motivated him to retake the IELTS, successfully raising his score from 7.5 in the first attempt to 8.0.

He found the Writing and Speaking sections to be the most challenging, as they require significant exposure to real-life English usage. To improve, Khang practiced with an AI-powered speaking tool and studied with friends to increase his conversational fluency.

"I don't have any special secret. The most important thing is recognizing your weaknesses, practicing the areas that need improvement, and having enough motivation to pursue your goal until the end."

Outside of his academic schedule, Khang prioritizes work-life balance. He goes to the gym about three times a week and strictly avoids studying on Sundays to give his brain time to rest. He also participates in extracurricular activities and works as a freelance photographer to earn extra spending money.

"Activities outside of studying help me avoid being overwhelmed by exam pressure," he noted.

Tran Minh Duc, Khang's homeroom teacher, noted that most students complete their SAT preparation by the end of Grade 11 or early Grade 12 to focus on university applications. Khang, however, remained determined to reach the absolute top tier.

"Khang always wants things to be better, so he decided to take the test again," Duc said. He added that Khang is the first student at Nguyen Tat Thanh High School to achieve a perfect SAT score this year, serving as a major inspiration to his peers.

Khang is planning to use his SAT and IELTS results for his university applications. He is focusing on the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, with an interest in business and data analytics. In the future, he hopes to pursue further education and study abroad if the right opportunity arises.