Le Phuong Thanh Uyen, 31, an English teacher, retook the IELTS reading test on Aug. 29 and secured a 9.0 overall, a feat accomplished by only a handful of candidates in Vietnam. In 2022, around 1% of test-takers in the country scored 8.5 in the IELTS, with even fewer reaching a 9.0, according to official data.
“I initially wanted to have my writing score re-evaluated, but it remained the same. I was confident about the reading section, so I decided to retake it,” Uyen explained, noting that she missed only one or two True/False/Not Given questions in the exam.
Uyen graduated with an English Language degree from Da Lat University in 2015. After working in HCMC, she returned to her hometown to teach at an English center and later formed small online study groups. She first took the IELTS last year, scoring 8.5 as she familiarized herself with the test format and materials.
Uyen credits her exceptional reading habits for her high IELTS score. “I didn’t study English just to pass exams; I genuinely wanted to use the language,” she said. Over the years, she developed a passion for reading a wide range of materials, from academic papers to newspapers and online forums.
Her literary interests span fiction, non-fiction, philosophy and politics. Uyen often seeks out reviews before starting a new book, and after finishing, she meticulously notes key points, personal reflections, and new grammar or vocabulary.
“Over the past 10 years, I’ve filled books with notes, underlined passages and saved countless pages online, learning both English and Vietnamese along the way,” she shared.
Reading not only expanded her vocabulary but also naturally improved her writing skills. Uyen has also ventured into translation work, including translating “Picasso and the Painting That Shocked the World” by Miles J. Unger, which details the life of the iconic Spanish painter.
In addition to her reading, Uyen listens to podcasts on history, culture and media from sources like Big Think, and watches YouTube videos on various topics. She often reflects on the content she consumes, developing her thoughts on the subjects as part of her learning process.
Despite her impressive IELTS performance, Uyen revealed that she did not engage in much test-specific preparation. “I mainly familiarized myself with the test structure and scoring criteria. By viewing the IELTS as just another test, I approached it with less stress,” she said, advising candidates to be mindful of their current abilities and set realistic goals.
“There’s no set timeline, whether it’s three or six months, to achieve a certain score. Progress depends on various factors, including commitment, effort and the right learning methods,” she said.
Uyen also cautions against over-reliance on reference materials, recommending that practice tests be used to learn vocabulary and sentence structures rather than as the sole focus of preparation.
Looking ahead, Uyen has set her sights on achieving at least an 8.5 in the writing component.
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