What will the exam be like for students born in 2006 or earlier?

Hanoi students take the entrance exam for 10th grade in the 2022-2023 school year. Photo: INT

The knowledge levels are not too different.

In recent days, information regarding the 2025 High School Graduation Exam has surfaced on many social media forums. Starting in 2025, students born in 2007 who studied under the 2018 General Education Program will participate in the High School Graduation Exam for university admission. So, how should students born in 2006 or earlier, currently studying under the 2006 General Education Program, study and prepare for the exam to be eligible for university admission?

From an expert's perspective, Associate Professor Dr. Chu Cam Tho - Head of the Education Evaluation Research Board, Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, believes that the proposed plan for the 2025 high school graduation exam was announced quite early. In it, the Ministry of Education and Training has clearly outlined a roadmap for gradually improving the assessment of students from the first cohort studying the 2018 General Education Program to the cohort of students who have completed the entire new program.

Secondly, the Ministry of Education and Training announced the learning outcomes of the new program very early, starting in 2018. This allowed candidates, administrators, and admissions units at all levels to visualize the expected learning outcomes for their students. This helped avoid the confusion experienced during previous reforms.

Thirdly, candidates currently have two rights: a certificate of completion of the 12th grade program; and a high school diploma issued by the Departments of Education and Training. Candidates can pursue lifelong learning and transfer to other regions, depending on their circumstances and needs, and can flexibly use these two certificates.

Students born in 2006 and independent candidates wishing to participate in the 2025 High School Graduation Examination for university admission will naturally face certain difficulties. Therefore, they will need appropriate solutions to adapt between the two examinations. Based on the draft plan for the 2025 High School Graduation Examination, we can see the flexibility that will help alleviate pressure on students studying under the 2006 General Education Program.

This is demonstrated by the publication of long-term learning outcomes, resulting in virtually no difference in knowledge. Candidates worry that they will fall short of the knowledge they learned in the old curriculum when tested in the new one, but this will not happen. Looking at the learning outcomes of the 2006 General Education Program and the 2018 General Education Program, there is no difference in knowledge. The exam content remains largely unchanged; any changes are likely in the testing method.

For example, students following the 2018 General Education Program will choose to study groups of subjects to take the high school graduation exam. With the draft exam plan from 2025 onwards, there will be a very clear decentralization of authority. The Ministry of Education and Training will be responsible for the four compulsory subjects, while the elective subjects will be delegated to the provincial Departments of Education and Training. Students will have easier access to the curriculum.

Students studying under the 2006 and 2018 General Education Programs have equal opportunities. (Illustrative image)

Equal opportunities

According to Associate Professor Chu Cam Tho, universities now have autonomy in admissions, so the validity period of relevant diplomas and certificates for admission is also longer. At Hanoi University of Science and Technology, candidates can use their results for admissions consideration for two years after taking the exam. This means that admission methods are being diversified and synchronized to create more learning opportunities for students.

"If we consider the details, for example in Natural Sciences, some naming conventions have changed according to international standards, while the 2006 General Education Program uses Vietnamese phonetic transcription. This might confuse candidates and cause some anxiety."

Candidates should rest assured that the high school graduation exam includes explanations of the old and new names of the substance so that they can understand them. Psychologically, those retaking the exam will naturally have a different mindset compared to first-time candidates. However, universities still conduct multiple rounds of admissions using various methods, so the opportunities for candidates are very high. Students all have the right to lifelong learning, but if they want to succeed, they must have the right learning strategy,” the expert explained.

Ms. Mai Thi Lung, Principal of Tran Van Lan High School (My Loc, Nam Dinh), stated that for students who failed the exam last year but wish to take it this year and submit an application, the school will facilitate their attendance at the school for review sessions. For those who do not need review sessions and register as independent candidates, the school will still provide support according to the guidelines from the Provincial Department of Education and Training. In fact, in recent years, the school's high school graduation rate has been very high.