The 23-year-old twins, Bui Quoc Khai and Bui Quoc Quan, received their test results in April and July.
Official IELTS statistics show that the average score among Vietnamese test-takers is 6.2. Only about 5% of candidates score 8.0 or higher, while publicly available data indicates that approximately 20 people in Vietnam have ever achieved a perfect 9.0 overall score.
When the brothers first took the IELTS four years ago, Khai scored an 8.5 while Quan got an 8.0. This time around, they took the exam primarily to assess their current proficiency.
Neither prepared extensively, choosing instead to review sample questions a week before the exam to familiarize themselves with the updated test format.
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Twin brothers Bui Quoc Khai and Bui Quoc Quan. Photo by Read/Le Nguyen |
Although both hoped to reach a 9.0, they recognized that raising an already high score by even half a band is notoriously difficult.
“After the test, I actually thought I hadn’t made it,” Khai admitted.
Ultimately, Khai earned perfect 9.0 scores in Listening, Reading, and Speaking, alongside an 8.0 in Writing. He had been most concerned about the Writing section because he chose to express his ideas naturally rather than following a memorized essay template.
His essay addressed the shift from face-to-face interaction to online communication. He argued that the trend carries negative consequences, such as higher risks of cyberbullying and digital fraud, citing recent scam calls and messages impersonating law enforcement as real-world examples.
“Writing isn’t about using sophisticated knowledge or complex vocabulary. I simply used clear words that directly addressed the topic,” Khai explained.
During the Speaking portion, Khai was asked about shopping, a topic he felt he had little personal experience with. Rather than struggling to invent answers, he redirected the discussion to his family’s shopping habits. When asked to speak briefly about an indispensable household item other than a smartphone or tablet, he chose a rice cooker, explaining its essential role in daily Asian home life.
Khai noted that IELTS examiners are not looking for exceptionally clever answers, but rather candidates who can communicate clearly, logically, and confidently. Even when encountering an unfamiliar topic, explaining honestly why a question is difficult can still leave a strong, authentic impression.
Quan scored perfect 9.0 in Listening and Reading, paired with 8.5 in both Writing and Speaking. He shared that his strategy for the Reading module was to examine each passage carefully, keeping in mind that the answers are always directly grounded in the text.
For Listening, Quan observed that critical information often appears at the very beginning or end of a sentence, key details that candidates frequently miss due to time pressure.
Reflecting on their educational journey, both brothers emphasized that the single most important factor was creating a language-rich environment and treating English as “a second life.” English naturally permeates their daily routines, from reading books and watching movies to conversing with each other at home.
Their exposure began early. As preschoolers, the twins loved watching Disney cartoons. Whenever they heard catchy phrases or funny dialogue, they would imitate the sound patterns, playing it like a game even before understanding the precise definitions.
During primary and secondary school, they attended international and private institutions where English was widely spoken. This environment helped them build a solid linguistic foundation before they transitioned to public high schools, first the High School for the Gifted under Vietnam National University-HCM, and later Marie Curie High School.
Over the years, Quan expanded his vocabulary by reading history books and research articles, while Khai engaged in international gaming forums. While both initially relied on digital translation tools, regular exposure quickly allowed them to absorb language organically.
Khai believes that joining online communities centered around personal hobbies is one of the fastest ways to improve English fluency because it creates genuine motivation to read, comprehend, and participate.
Both brothers agree that the internet served as their primary instructor throughout their language journey.
“By the time we learned something in class, we had often already discovered it online,” Khai said. “The internet is an endless repository of knowledge, and a teacher that is available 24 hours a day.”