Teachers and candidates in Nghe An share about the Literature exam of the High School Exam

This year’s exam consists of two parts: reading comprehension and writing. In the reading comprehension part (3 points), the exam uses the excerpt “How to live, from ordinary to extraordinary” to ask candidates to analyze the method of expression and comment on the author’s viewpoint that “Living fully in the present will bring life, no matter how small, to tomorrow”.

Right after the candidates finished the first exam, Nghe An teachers gave their comments on this year's exam.

Teacher Pham Thi Hang - Literature teacher at a high school in Nam Dan district said: "This year's Literature exam is within the scope of knowledge of semester 1, which is reasonable and in line with the proposed reduced curriculum. In particular, both the Social Essay and Literary Essay questions contribute to orienting students' souls and life skills.

Candidates from Nghe An province take the Literature exam, the only exam in essay format. Photo: Duc Anh

However, with the essay about the ideas in the poem "Country", this paragraph is good but a bit long. But that also has the ability to differentiate students and to get high scores, students must have a solid, deep grasp of knowledge, and know how to relate it to other works to improve and expand the issue."

Teacher Dang Thi Thu Hien - Literature teacher - Quynh Luu 1 High School said: "The test closely follows the structure and program, students have been thoroughly prepared so there are no surprises. Most candidates are confident and proactive when doing the test. Personally, I also think that the reading comprehension section chooses good materials with practical meaning; the questions are clear, suitable for the ability of most candidates.

However, the questions mainly focus on exploiting the content of the text, some ideas are likely to overlap; there are no questions exploiting artistic elements. The social argument section is good, with positive guidance for students. The literary argument question has narrow propositions, clearly requiring argumentation operations (analysis) as well as argumentation issues (ideology of the Country), but the material is a bit long, students are a bit tired of time when wanting to fully process the entire excerpt.

In my opinion, this exam is not difficult in general, students can easily achieve an average score. But to achieve a good score, one must have a solid foundation of social and literary knowledge, and solid argumentative writing skills. In addition, one must know how to suggest many relevant issues that are relevant to current social life..."

Literature exam. Photo: MH.

Exam scores of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted - Vinh Cityis one of the testing sites with a large number of candidates with nearly 800 candidates and 33 testing rooms. This is also a testing site that is considered to have good quality when it gathers candidates from specialized schools and leading public schools in the province. After completing the Literature subject, the general opinion of the candidates is that the test is relatively light, easy to breathe, and not too surprising.

Nguyen Minh Ngoc (student of Huynh Thuc Khang High School) said: I study in block A, so I only took the Literature exam to get the graduation score. I found the exam questions not difficult in both reading comprehension and writing.

However, in the social essay section, I and many of my friends predicted that it would be related to the topic of Covid, but the test was about appreciating life. Although I was surprised, I still did the test according to my thoughts and feelings and left the exam room before the end of the test time.

A male student is happy after completing his first exam. Photo: Duc Anh

Meanwhile, Ho Thi Hoai Thu (student of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted) commented: I think this year's Literature exam has a lighter element than previous years, but is still interesting.

In particular, I see that there is a connection between the 3 questions in the test. From the reading comprehension question about the topic of extraordinary life, the efforts today to live until tomorrow of creatures in harsh places like the desert, the North Pole to cherishing life every day in the social argument question.

The Literature exam was evaluated in accordance with the spirit of reducing workload. Photo: Duc Anh

As for the essay, the data paragraph given for analysis is not long but is the central paragraph of the poem "Country" by Nguyen Khoa Diem. The poem also reminds us to appreciate the value of today's peaceful life after many efforts to build and protect it by previous generations.

Candidate Phan Duc Thuan, class 12 A4 - Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, is one of the candidates who left early and also said: I took the Literature exam just to get my graduation score, but I still found the exam quite easy, within my ability. Thinking about life, I think it's not too difficult, I write what I think. At this time, we are living and studying in a good, friendly environment, so we should cherish it.

Candidates review their papers after the first exam. Photo: Duc Anh

At the Ha Huy Tap High School exam site, speaking about this year's exam, candidate Phan Cong Sang (independent candidate) said: This exam closely follows the content we have reviewed. Personally, I got 5 points on the Country question and that was also the question I did best. This candidate assessed that he did 80% on this exam. This year, I am applying for the Police Department and I hope that with this first good exam subject, I will do well in the following subjects.

In Quy Hop district,At the exam site of Quy Hop 1 High School, many candidates left early. Some candidates finished the exam in 2/3 of the time and said that the Literature test was quite easy, consistent with the structure they had reviewed.

Trinh My Nga, a student at Quy Hop 1 High School. Photo: Phan Giang

Taking the exam at the Quy Hop 1 High School Examination Council, Trinh My Nga, a student at Quy Hop 1 High School, said that the Literature exam this morning was similar to the types of questions she had reviewed, so she did well. It only took her 90/120 minutes to finish the Literature exam this morning.

The classification of candidates is based on the 5-point question, the reading comprehension part is quite simple, and the writing part has a 2-point question that also applies the reading comprehension question, the 5-point question about the Country. This year's question is simpler than last year's. The expected score is about 70%.

Candidate Nguyen Manh Hung happily shares his joy with friends after the Literature exam. Photo: Phan Giang

Candidate Nguyen Manh Hung, 12D, Quy Hop 1 High School, said, "This Literature test is very relevant to the country's topic, in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic, the difficulty level is also difficult, for me it is about 6-7 points". Candidate Vo Thi Thu, 12D4, Quy Hop 1 High School, said, "This year's test is relatively easy compared to previous years, I can do this test structure 50-50, my ability to do it is 60/100%, the test is good in part 1 reading comprehension, talking about the importance of life".

In Thai Hoa town,Contrary to the anxiety of many parents, after leaving the exam room, many candidates appeared quite confident with their work. Candidate Nguyen Bao Ngoc, class 12C1, Co Do High School happily said: "The Country lesson is not new, but its structure is slightly different from the sample exam, but it is still within the focus of the review program. However, it will be difficult for students to write a long literary essay, or because it requires deep, solid knowledge and comparison."

Candidates from Thai Hoa town complete the first exam. Photo: Minh Thai.

Phan Quoc Anh - a student at Tay Hieu High School shared: “The knowledge in the test is basic, referring to key issues in the textbook program, especially in the first semester. In the reading comprehension section, the questions required candidates to answer are quite easy, as long as they have a solid grasp of the knowledge in the textbook, those who do not major in social sciences can also get 6-7 points. I am very happy to have completed my first test quite well. I predict that I can get a higher score in Literature.”

In Con Cuong district,At Con Cuong High School, candidate Kha Thi Khuyen - a student of class 12B said: The Literature test is easy to get an average score but difficult to get a high score. In the reading comprehension question, although the questions are good, however, if any candidate learns by rote, lacks life skills and has limited social knowledge, it will be very difficult to present and answer all the requirements of the test. In this part, I hope to only get 1.5 points.

Candidates at the examination site in Con Cuong district. Photo: Ba Hau

As for the writing section, there are 2 questions. In the 5-point writing question, Khuyen added: "The analysis of the People's Country ideology expressed by poet Nguyen Khoa Diem in the excerpt is quite difficult. The question requires a rather long analysis, so it is difficult to get a high score, especially for those who are subjective, careless or do not have a deep understanding of the work. I can do this question basically. This year, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, we have reviewed less. I think I will get an average score."

In Quynh Luu district,At the exam site of Quynh Luu 1 High School, at exactly 9:35 a.m., the exam ended, the candidates submitted their exam papers and walked home in an excited mood.

Candidates at the exam site of Quynh Luu 1 High School. Photo: Viet Hung

Ho Long Vu, a student of class 12A2, Quynh Luu 1 High School, said: This year's Literature exam is easier to get a higher score than last year. The exam has 2 parts with 6 questions, normal students can get 6-7 points. Personally, I think the writing part (7 points) has 2 very good questions and forces candidates to feel and express their thoughts on the content of the question. In particular, question 2 (5 points) of the writing part: Analyze the ideology of the Country of the People expressed by poet Nguyen Khoa Diem, which is also a question suitable for the candidates' learning ability.

Many candidates at the Quynh Luu 1 High School exam site this morning finished the Literature exam quite well, with a comfortable mentality despite the hot weather. Candidates said that questions 1 and 2 of the writing section were easy to score because the verses in the poem "Country" spoke of the great feats of heroes and revolutionary soldiers who fought day and night to protect the country. Anyone who reads this poem can feel and express the author's thoughts and messages to future generations.

Xiangyang DistrictThere are 412 candidates registered for the 2020 high school exam, 403 candidates took the Literature exam out of a total of 409 registered candidates. Of these, 5 were absent, 1 was exempted from the exam.

After finishing the first exam, many candidates assessed that this year's exam was good and within their ability. Many candidates left feeling quite confident and comfortable.

Candidates at the exam site of Tuong Duong 1 High School. Photo: Dinh Tuan

Lo Thi Khuyen, a 12A3 student at Tuong Duong 2 High School, happily said: "With my learning ability, this year's exam was within my ability. I did about 70% of the exam this morning."

Meanwhile, student Chuong Hai Dang, class 12A4, Tuong Duong 2 High School confidently affirmed that with Literature, even if he did little, he could still get about 60%.

In Thanh Chuong district,At the Dang Thuc Hua High School exam site, the exam took place quite smoothly and safely. Candidates entered and left the exam site and did their tests on time, without any unusual incidents.

Nguyen The Trung - a 12E student at Dang Thuc Hua High School, said after leaving the exam site: The Literature exam this morning was within my ability.

Candidates at the exam site of Dang Thuc Hua High School, Thanh Chuong. Photo: Huy Thu

In the two parts of the test including "reading comprehension" and "writing", I found the "reading comprehension" part quite difficult, especially question 4. I could do the "writing" part, but both the social argument and literary argument, analyzing the country's ideology and the people's ideology, I could only do it at an average level.

According to Trung, the Literature exam was quite close to the curriculum, so he saw that all the candidates were able to do the test. “With what I have done, I predict that I will get about 5 points. Regardless, I am still optimistic and ready to wait for the next exam,” Trung said.

Like his friend at the same school and exam location, Pham Van Quy - a 12B grade student at Dang Thuc Hua High School shared: "I found the Literature exam relatively difficult, especially the "writing" part. I was able to do the social argumentation question because it was related to reality, but I did poorly on the question analyzing the country's ideology through a poem. Overall, my work was only "so-so", I hope to get a score of 5".

According to a quick report from the Nghe An Department of Education and Training, the whole province had 30,389 candidates registered to take the Literature exam, 28 candidates were absent in the first exam session. No candidates or exam invigilators violated the regulations.

In addition, security and traffic safety were ensured, and epidemic prevention and control work was carried out seriously, safely, and in accordance with regulations. No unusual incidents occurred. The exam took place normally and safely.