Minh Quan, Year 12: “Academic English is a great foundation for me to achieve 9A* in the Cambrige IGCSE exams.”

Minh Quan, a Year 12 student at BVIS, achieved outstanding academic performance in the June 2022 IGCSE exams, with 9 A* grades across all subjects, including Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Cambridge IGCSE English as a First Language, English Literature, and Music. 

Minh Quan was also one of six outstanding students in our Secondary School to receive the Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards for achieving the Highest Mark in Vietnam for IGCSE Geography. Minh Quan's academic achievements reflect his determination and perseverance in learning, as well as the excellent teaching quality at BVIS. 

When he joined the international learning environment at BVIS, Minh Quan realized that academic English proficiency was essential for him to excel in international exams and become a competitive university applicant in the future.  

Approaching the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) program in Years 10 and 11, based on evaluation and advice from teachers regarding personal abilities, Minh Quan enhanced his knowledge and academic English language skills through a personalized learning path with two Cambridge subjects: English Literature and Cambridge IGCSE English as a First Language. This pathway combines the rich language content of the two subjects, complementing each other in the program, requiring students to continuously engage, explore, and share personal feedback on diverse genres of texts such as poetry, prose, and drama through in-depth and creative essays, helping them improve their accuracy and sensitivity in using English. While focusing on developing academic English, Minh Quan also effectively developed other important skills such as research, information evaluation, analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. 

He received enthusiastic and tailored support from teachers, which helped him learn at an appropriate and effective pace, providing momentum and motivation for him to excel comprehensively in other IGCSE subjects such as Geography and Music. 

"My teachers at the school are very friendly and open, so I don't hesitate to ask questions or seek support in my studies from them," Minh Quan expressed. 

Minh Quan also shared that to achieve higher learning effectiveness, he actively increases his English exposure time at home through self-learning channels on Instagram, YouTube, and foreign news websites. 

"When researching topics that I am interested in, such as culture, cuisine, and history in English, I can expand my knowledge about the world around me while also naturally improving my English proficiency through learning new vocabulary, grammar, and natural expressions of native speakers," Minh Quan said. 

From the learning experiences in 9 subjects under the IGCSE program, Minh Quan gradually has a clearer direction about what he loves and decides to narrow down his focus on four subjects: Math, Chemistry, Physics, and Economics in the first year of the International A Level Program at Year 12. He believes that focusing on these four subjects based on his interests and strengths will help him develop more comprehensive knowledge and skills in his intended field of study in the future. 

Mr. David Doucette, Business and Economics Teacher shared, "Even though Minh Quan has never studied Business or Economics before, he is currently achieving marks of the highest level and will hopefully finish his AS Exam with a top score. His work ethic and level of academic English help to contribute to the success he has achieved so far this school year, and I have high hopes that he will continue to achieve excellence." 

The role of Environment Chair in the Student Council in the 2022-2023 school year also gives him many experiences and contributions to the school community, while improving his communication skills, time management, and maturity through various activities and self-directed projects. 

We believe that a strong foundation in academic English will help all our students identify their own study paths and goals. Every year, our graduates achieve outstanding results in the international IGCSE and A Level exams and receive offers from the top universities around the globe, including in the US, Australia, Canada, the UK, and Vietnam.