Hanoi student earns top score worldwide in British IT qualification test

A 12th grader from Hanoi has achieved a top global score in the IT component of the A-Level exam, placing among the top 1.4% of test-takers worldwide.

Hoang Minh Khanh, a student at Greenfield Bilingual School in Hanoi, scored 297 out of 360 in Information Technology (IT) and was recognized as "Top in the World" by the Cambridge International Examination Board, according to their announcement on Nov. 4.

Hoang Minh Khanh. Photo courtesy of Khanh

This prestigious accolade is awarded to candidates with the highest scores globally. In addition to her IT achievement, Khanh earned A* grades in Business and Mathematics.

Statistics from the June exam session reveal that only 1.4% of candidates achieved an A* in IT, compared to 7.4% in Business and 15.5% in Mathematics. An A* represents the highest grade, typically awarded for scores above 90%.

The A-Level program, administered by Cambridge International, serves as the final stage of secondary education for students aged 16–19. Offering over 50 subjects, the program allows students to tailor their academic focus and use their qualifications to apply to universities globally, especially in Australia, Canada, Europe, and Singapore.

Khanh has been pursuing A-level studies alongside Vietnam's national curriculum since the 9th grade. Last year, she completed Mathematics, and this year, she added Business and IT, each consisting of four exam papers.

Among the subjects, IT proved the most challenging. The exam included both theoretical and practical components. The theory portion, with nine questions in 1 hour and 45 minutes, covered topics such as Wi-Fi connectivity, web design, java script, HTML, and database management. Students were tasked with explaining technical concepts and outlining software applications in real-world scenarios.

The 2.5-hour practical section assessed skills in office computing, graphic editing, audio and video processing, animation, and Excel spreadsheet creation. Khanh found the practical portion more manageable, as results were immediately evident, unlike the interpretative nature of the theory segment.

To prepare for the test, Khanh began intensive study in January, breaking down the extensive syllabus into daily goals. She summarized key concepts using keywords and bullet points and reviewed four pages of her IT textbook daily. After mastering the theory, she practiced practical exercises and worked on past papers under timed conditions to improve speed and accuracy.

Balancing her preparation with midterm and final exams at school was particularly stressful, often requiring her to study until 1–2 a.m. "I knew if I didn't study enough today, I'd have to double my effort tomorrow, so I pushed myself," Khanh said.

Her motivation stems from her dream of studying Business abroad. High scores are critical to strengthening her application to European universities, and with each A-Level subject costing nearly VND5 million (US$196), retakes were not an option.

Khanh's fluency in English further supported her success. A regular reader, movie enthusiast, and bilingual learner, she achieved an impressive IELTS score of 8.5 on her first attempt last year.

Her homeroom teacher, Le Thi Minh Trang, praised Khanh's academic excellence and well-rounded achievements, including her success in debate competitions and consistent top rankings with an average score of 9.6 or higher.

"Khanh may be small in stature, but her determination is immense. She is persistent, responsible, and methodical in problem-solving," her teacher remarked.