Safe and serious.

(Baonghean.vn) – This morning, June 24th, 36,481 candidates took the final exam of the high school entrance exam. Based on assessments by mobile inspection teams and comments from the candidates themselves, it can be affirmed that the 2013 high school entrance exam in Nghe An was conducted seriously and safely, despite unfavorable weather conditions on the first day of the exam.

>>The math exam is designed to differentiate candidates, causing many to worry.
>>The Foreign Language exam was of moderate difficulty, and the candidates were delighted.

According to Mr. Luu Duc Thuyen, a member of one of the four mobile inspection teams, his team was present at examination sites in three districts: Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, and Yen Thanh, during the three examination sessions. At all examination sites, examination room discipline was very well observed by both invigilators and candidates.

According to many candidates, the Math exam had a high level of difficulty and was designed to differentiate between students' abilities.
(Photo taken by Chairman Le Viet Thuat)

The Math and Foreign Language exams were unremarkable, but the Literature exam attracted public attention due to the inclusion of the pressing issue of "maritime sovereignty." According to teacher Le Thi Viet Ha (Le Viet Thuat High School - Vinh): "The Literature exam was quite good. The exam structure was balanced between poetry and Vietnamese language, between literary and social commentary; it covered the curriculum. The question on social commentary, in particular, was very relevant but not forced or dry; on the contrary, it was very gentle and full of literary merit." ("The sea gives us fish like a mother's heart / Nurturing our lives from the beginning" (Huy Can, *Fishing Boat Fleet*, Literature 9, Volume 1, Education Publishing House, 2011, page 140). From these two lines of poetry, write a paragraph (or short essay) with the content: the sea is like a mother's heart."

According to preliminary reports from 68 examination boards, a total of 154 students did not show up for the exam; 6 candidates violated regulations and were suspended from the exam; and 1 invigilator was suspended from supervising the exam for bringing a mobile phone while on duty in the examination area.

According to the plan, 78.19% of candidates will be admitted to 68 public high schools (not including 385 students admitted to Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School). While this is the overall percentage, it is not evenly distributed among schools and regions. Specifically, Huynh Thuc Khang High School (Vinh) has a 51.25% admission rate (compared to the total number of registered candidates); Nam Dan 1 High School has 53.40%; Nguyen Xuan On High School (Dien Chau) has 57.51%; Tuong Duong 1 High School has 65.18%; and Ky Son High School has 67.81%. However, Tay Hieu High School (Thai Hoa) has a rate of 93.10%, and Thanh Chuong 1 High School has 93.38%. Nghi Loc 2 High School: 99.76%... Even two schools had fewer applicants than the number of students to be admitted (Anh Son 3 High School was allocated 342 students, but only 294 were admitted; Co Do High School (Nghia Dan) was allocated 380 students but only 341 were admitted). At the district level, some districts like Nghia Dan didn't have enough students to fill all the 10th grade public high school classes, let alone the supplementary high school classes (the entire district was allocated 798 students for 10th grade public high school, but only 797 registered to take the exam).

The exam results are expected to be announced in mid-July, and from July 20th to 30th, the admissions councils of the schools will complete the admissions process for 10th grade in high schools.

Text and photos: Thanh Phuc