When children study in a bilingual environment, parents can easily see noticeable progress in their listening, speaking, and English communication skills. Yet many still wonder: Can they truly handle demanding academic content and excel in high-stakes examinations?
The 2026 National High School Graduation Examination partly reflected this concern, with the percentage of candidates scoring below average in English rising from 38.22% (2025) to 50.25%. Faced with a highly academic and strongly differentiated exam, Lê Xuân Nhật Minh (Class 12 Washington DC, The Dewey Schools Hải Phòng) remained confident and achieved an outstanding 9.25. So, what was the secret behind his success?
Throughout his six years at Dewey, English was never just another subject. It became a tool for acquiring knowledge, expressing ideas, and engaging with academic content across economics, society, technology, culture, and global issues.
Experiences such as Dewey Model United Nations (DMUN), interdisciplinary English projects, presentations, debates, and English content creation continuously strengthened his ability to read critically, filter information, construct arguments, and defend his perspectives using academic English.
That is why, when facing lengthy reading passages packed with layered information and unfamiliar vocabulary in the graduation exam, Minh did not feel overwhelmed. He had already developed the habit of reading for context, analyzing arguments, recognizing logical structures, and connecting ideas before selecting the best answer.
According to Minh, another key factor was Dewey’s personalized learning pathway. The curriculum is carefully designed to match students’ learning stages and individual abilities. In Grade 12, he was introduced early to the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) exam format and higher-level question types, allowing him to build an effective revision strategy and remain calm throughout the examination.
Dewey also inspired Minh to keep challenging himself. Although he had already earned an IELTS 8.0 and was eligible to use it for university admission, he still chose to sit the National High School Graduation Examination to push beyond his own limits. For Minh, the goal was never simply a score—it was the mindset of embracing challenges with curiosity, continuous learning, personal growth, and the determination to become better than yesterday. These are the very qualities that define a Dewey learner.
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The Dewey Schools’ English curriculum is transferred from Mount Vernon School recognized among the Top 10 Most Innovative Schools in the United States—and is built upon the U.S. Common Core Standards. The program equips students with the ability to appreciate literature in English, read critically, analyze complex texts, and think like native speakers. Its quality is reflected in Dewey students’ outstanding achievements in IELTS, SAT, and AP: 43.5% of students achieve IELTS 7.0 or above, while 42.9% of SAT candidates score within the top 2% worldwide.
