{
  "id": 304643,
  "title": "Vietnam twins achieve perfect IELTS scores through self-directed English learning",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/vietnam-twins-achieve-perfect-ielts-scores-through-self-directed",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-08T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress International",
    "slug": "vnexpress-international",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/education/vietnam-twins-achieve-perfect-ielts-scores-through-self-directed-english-learning-5104821.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In April and July, 23-year-old twin brothers Bui Quoc Khai and Bui Quoc Quan took the IELTS exam, achieving perfect scores of 9.0 overall. Their results, announced in April and July, surpassed the average Vietnamese test-taker score of 6.2, which is quite rare - only about 5% of candidates reach an 8.0 or higher, and just 20 people in Vietnam have ever achieved a perfect 9.0 overall score.\n\nThe brothers' journey to mastery began four years ago when they first took the IELTS. While Khai scored 8.5 and Quan got 8.0, they decided to take the exam again primarily to gauge their current proficiency level. Rather than extensive preparation, they opted to review sample questions a week before the exam to become accustomed to the updated test format. Both brothers admitted that reaching the elusive 9.0 band is incredibly difficult, even when starting from a high score.\n\nKhai excelled in Listening, Reading, and Speaking while receiving an 8.0 in Writing. He was particularly concerned about Writing, opting to express his thoughts organically instead of using a memorized template. His essay focused on the negative consequences of shifting from face-to-face communication to online interactions, citing examples like cyberbullying and digital fraud. During Speaking, Khai cleverly redirected the discussion about shopping to his family's habits, demonstrating his ability to communicate clearly and logically even when faced with unfamiliar topics.\n\nQuan achieved perfect scores in Listening and Reading, with an 8.5 in Writing and Speaking. He emphasized a straightforward approach to the Reading module, focusing on directly answering questions based on the text. For Listening, Quan noted that critical information often appears at the beginning or end of sentences, which candidates sometimes overlook due to time constraints. Reflecting on their educational journey, both brothers credited a language-rich environment and treating English as a \"second life\" as the key factors in their success.\n\nFrom a young age, the twins surrounded themselves with English, watching Disney cartoons and participating in international gaming forums. Their exposure to the language was consistent and organic, with Khai engaging in online communities related to his hobbies. By the time they learned something in class, they had often already encountered it online. The internet served as their primary instructor throughout their language journey, providing an endless repository of knowledge accessible 24 hours a day.",
  "summary": "Twin brothers and Fulbright University Vietnam graduates have both achieved a perfect overall score of 9.0 on the IELTS exam, attributing their success to years of self-directed online learning and an early commitment to immersing themselves in an English-speaking environment.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}