The top-scoring student in the entrance exam for the "School of Humanities" chose Psychology to understand himself and others.

With this combination, Ha Linh achieved scores of 9.0 in Math, 9.5 in History, and 9.5 in English. Beyond her impressive scores, Ha Linh's journey also demonstrates her resilience in overcoming pressure, her ability to self-regulate, and her clear academic direction.

28 points and the journey of overcoming oneself.

Ha Linh is a former student of class 12D5, Yen Hoa High School (Hanoi). With 28 points in the D09 subject combination, not including bonus points, Nguyen Ha Linh officially ranks in the top 1% of candidates with the highest scores in the 2026 high school graduation exam nationwide. This result demonstrates the student's consistent academic ability in Mathematics, History, and English. Specifically, she scored 9.5 points in both History and English.

When Hà Linh learned she had become the top-scoring student in the entire university entrance exam, her emotions were not simply joy. Hà Linh said she was "astonished" because this was a result she never thought she could achieve. Along with the joy came gratitude to her family, teachers, and friends – those who had supported her throughout her studies.

However, behind that pride lies another emotion: pressure. According to Ha Linh, achieving top honors is a memorable milestone, but it's only the beginning. This achievement brings with it expectations from those around her and from herself. Therefore, the most important thing for Ha Linh right now is to continue striving, studying, and doing well in the coming years at the "Humanities University."

Ha Linh scored 28 points in the D09 subject combination.

Ha Linh doesn't believe she has a special study method. For her, the most important factors are perseverance and knowing how to manage her time effectively.

Instead of trying to follow a standardized learning pattern, she chose the times when she was most able to concentrate to review. During her studies, the female student focused on consolidating foundational knowledge before tackling more advanced and expanded problem types.

The support from her teachers also gave Ha Linh the opportunity to access various types of exercises, identify her weaknesses, and gradually improve her knowledge. "For English, having already taken the IELTS exam helped reduce some of the pressure during the high school graduation exam preparation," Ha Linh confided.

Overcome pressure by understanding your own limitations.

Behind achieving a Top 1% ranking weren't always smooth sailing in her studies. Ha Linh experienced moments of distraction, panic, and self-doubt.

During the stressful exam preparation period, there were times when the female student couldn't solve types of problems that she had previously handled quite smoothly. Mock exams also inadvertently created comparisons among classmates. Seeing her friends achieve better results, Ha Linh experienced moments of self-doubt and even developed a competitive mindset.

But instead of continuing to chase grades, the female student chose to change her learning approach. She abandoned solving problems haphazardly or applying test-taking tricks without truly understanding the underlying principles. Instead, Ha Linh spent time reviewing her weaknesses, identifying the root causes, and proactively seeking support from friends and teachers.

In particular, she focused on balancing studying and rest, spending time talking with friends to relieve stress. For Ha Linh, this was also an important lesson in her exam preparation journey: When realizing one's limitations, learners need to know how to adjust instead of trying at all costs.

"During the exam preparation period, I faced a lot of pressure from my peers and even from myself," Ha Linh shared. Overcoming those times helped the female student understand that academic results depend not only on knowledge but also on the ability to stay calm and believe in herself.

Choose Psychology to understand yourself and others.

Among many options, Ha Linh decided to study Psychology - a field she believes suits her abilities and career aspirations.

The female student's interest in human psychology was formed through conversations with those around her and through experiences of facing crises and pressures in life.

Through this, Ha Linh realized that psychology has the potential to impact almost every aspect of human life. Along with the development of society, understanding of psychology is also constantly improving.

For female students, studying Psychology isn't about "reading" or "manipulating" others. First and foremost, it's a journey of self-understanding, understanding others, and learning empathy.

Ha Linh is particularly interested in mental health. She believes that mental health plays a role just as important as physical health in a person's development. Therefore, issues related to psychology need to receive more attention from society.

This is also why Ha Linh aims to continue her studies at higher levels after graduation, with the goal of contributing to the mental health care of the community.

Set goals for your new journey.

The female student aims to win a scholarship when she enters university.

Entering the lecture halls of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Ha Linh's goal wasn't simply to maintain her academic achievements. During her four years of university, she aimed to balance excelling in her studies, securing scholarships, and acquiring essential life skills. She planned to learn a second foreign language, hone her technological skills, and actively participate in university activities.

For Ha Linh, the title of top-scoring student in the entrance exam is a motivation for her to embark on a new journey with more demands and challenges. Based on her own experience, she also wants to send a message to future exam candidates: Stress is unavoidable, but health should be prioritized. "The high school graduation exam is not just a competition of knowledge, but also a competition of self-belief," Ha Linh shared.

Hà Linh will continue writing her youthful story at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi).

In 2026, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) will enroll students in 29 training programs. According to the university's statistics, the common score range is 21.00-26.00 points, with a median of 24.00 points. Two majors have the same admission threshold as Vietnam National University, Hanoi (19.00 points).

Number of majors requiring a score above 25.00: 5 majors.

Number of majors with admission scores between 22.00 and 25.00: 17 majors.

Number of majors with admission scores between 20.00 and under 22.00 points: 4 majors.

Number of majors with admission scores between 19.00 and under 20.00 points: 3 majors.

The high cutoff scores of 29 and close to 30 seen in previous years are no longer present.

Of the school's projected enrollment of 2,650 students: 25% will be in the top 5% of the 2026 high school graduation exam scorers; and 62% will achieve scores between 24.00 and 30.00.

Education and Times Newspaper:The top-scoring student in the entrance exam for the 'Humanities School' chose Psychology to understand himself and others.