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

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.