Nghe An students urgently review combined subjects for 10th grade entrance exam
(Baonghean) - In two months, the 10th grade entrance exam for the 2019 school year will take place. Although this is not the first time Nghe An has conducted a combined exam in the third subject, it still cannot avoid the pressure and anxiety of students, parents and schools...
"Race" each other to go to extra classes
Immediately after the Nghe An Department of Education and Training announced the third exam subjects including Foreign Language - Chemistry - History, Mr. Nguyen Cong Dung (Hung Loc commune - Vinh city) was busy looking for extra classes for his child. This parent said that his daughter studied at the city's specialized school, had good academic performance and was very hard-working. However, for a long time, she had been studying in a specialized class, so she focused on specialized subjects and Literature - Math - Foreign Language.
 |
| Schools are focusing on intensive exam review for secondary school students. Photo: My Ha |
 |
| A lesson of students at Ha Huy Tap Secondary School (Vinh City). Photo: My Ha |
“Now, he has to take extra Chemistry and History classes. He is very worried because there are only two months left until the official exam... Due to the pressure of his studies, I had to make nearly ten phone calls, ask for advice, find a teacher, and then ask for a schedule."
Unlike Mr. Dung, when receiving the news about the three combined subjects, Ms. Le Viet Anh in Truong Thi ward was not too worried about the History subject, because for over the past two years, to get her child interested in this subject, over the past two years, the family has been very persistent, trying to find many history books written in comic format for her child to learn.
Regarding the History test, Ms. Viet Anh believes that if her child is diligent and systematic about the lessons, it will not be too difficult. She is only worried about Chemistry because for a long time, it seems that her child has not paid much attention to this subject. Therefore, she contacted a middle school teacher near her house and taught her child privately twice a week in the evening.
I am really worried about my child because the exam is coming soon and he has just started some subjects from scratch. My child is quite confused but I encourage him to try his best, at least do well on the theory questions.
 |
| Class time of students at Quynh Lap Secondary School (Hoang Mai town). Photo: My Ha |
This is the second year Nghe An has applied the combined test in the 10th grade entrance exam with the third subject. Although all students have been mentally prepared, the exam was announced quite late, candidates have to take 5 subjects, so the pressure is heavy on final year students, especially in urban areas and areas with high competition rates.
Previously, the organization of combined exams was also carried out to avoid lopsided learning and rote learning. However, due to the limited time for extra classes (no more than three afternoons per week), most schools still prioritized Math - Literature and Foreign Language. For the remaining subjects, students mainly only studied in class and did not have much time to review.
The school urgently implemented review sessions.
Ha Huy Tap Secondary School is one of the top quality schools in Vinh city. However, this is also a pressure for the school, when most of the 9th grade students register for specialized schools and Huynh Thuc Khang High School.
Previously, because this was the second year of organizing multiple-choice exams, the board of directors of Ha Huy Tap Secondary School also required all teachers in charge of exam subjects to proactively build a question bank, with at least 60 questions for each person. Therefore, currently, the school is no longer passive in organizing questions and testing for students...
The school is building a review plan for students with two contents: Building a review outline for each chapter, each lesson and with levels according to knowledge and skill standards; building a system of multiple choice questions, step by step helping students get familiar with the types of questions.
In addition, the school will also organize extra tutoring sessions for students outside of regular school hours. For teachers assigned to tutor students, the first task is to systematize all knowledge for students according to the curriculum, organize tests for students after each lesson and grade students' papers.
Ms. Bành Thị Thúy Hà - Vice Principal of Hà Huy Tập Secondary School, Vinh City said: The 9th grade History program is not difficult but it is very long (12 chapters, lasting from 1919 to present) and has a lot of content. Meanwhile, to get good results, it takes a whole process, not just one or two months, so teachers and students must try their best. Because the time is very short, it is also hoped that when building the outline, the Department of Education and Training needs to orient closely to the exam program, should not be too long, limit a part of the knowledge, focus on the core part...
In other schools, the review has also begun at this time, although not everywhere is favorable. At Quynh Lap Secondary School - Hoang Mai town, Mr. Ngo Van Binh - Principal of the school said, in the three subjects of the combined exam, he is quite worried about History because students are afraid to study it because of the wide knowledge and many figures.
“As for Chemistry, we are confident because we have a team of teachers who are quite strong and experienced. What we are most worried about now is the review because we still have to hold a meeting with parents before reaching an agreement. If parents do not approve, it will be difficult to implement and that is really disadvantageous for the students.”
 |
| Students of Quynh Secondary School (Quynh Luu). Photo: My Ha |
At Kim Lien Secondary School (Nam Dan), although this is the second year the province has organized the combined exam, it is the first year the school has done so. Last year, the school's students did not have to take the 10th grade entrance exam because Kim Lien High School did not have enough students to enroll.
For that reason, at this time, the whole school is urging to build a review program, establish a test bank... The school is also reviewing students, classifying them to have a training plan. In which, if any student is good, they will be focused on to study advanced; for weaker students, they will be tutored to supplement basic knowledge.
The school also determined that this year the pressure for the 10th grade entrance exam will be higher because students in the area will focus on submitting their applications to Kim Lien High School in the hope of "not having to take the exam like last school year". And, that also means the competition rate will be higher and many students will not have the chance to be admitted.
The Department is currently urgently developing reference questions to guide students' review. Previously, at the beginning of the school year, the Department also directed schools to combine teaching and reviewing knowledge right from the first semester, avoiding the situation of "sprinting" review, causing overload and stress for students.
