How will candidates from 2K6 and earlier take the exam?

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

Knowledge is not too different

In recent days, on many social networking forums, information related to the 2025 High School Graduation Exam has been circulating. Starting from 2025, candidates born in 2007 studying under the 2018 General Education Program will take the High School Graduation Exam to apply for university admission. So how will students born in 2006 or earlier studying under the 2006 General Education Program study and review to be able to take the exam to apply for university admission?

From an expert perspective, Associate Professor Dr. Chu Cam Tho - Head of the Department of Educational Evaluation Research, Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, said that the plan for the 2025 high school graduation exam is expected to be announced quite early. In particular, the Ministry of Education and Training has clearly outlined the roadmap to complete each step to evaluate the first batch of candidates studying the 2018 General Education Program until the batch of students fully studying the new program.

Second, the announcement of the output standards of the new program was also announced by the Ministry of Education and Training very early in 2018. Candidates, managers, and recruitment units at the following levels of education can also visualize the output results required of their candidates. This helps avoid confusion in previous innovations.

Third, currently candidates have 2 rights including: Certificate of completion of grade 12 program; High school graduation certificate provided by the Department of Education and Training. Candidates can study for life and transfer to study in other regions, depending on the conditions and needs, candidates can use these two certificates flexibly.

For students born in 2006 and independent candidates who want to take the 2025 High School Graduation Exam for university admission, they will of course face certain difficulties. Therefore, they will have to have appropriate solutions to adapt between the two exams. Based on the draft plan for the 2025 High School Graduation Exam, we can see that flexibility will contribute to reducing the pressure on candidates studying under the 2006 General Education Program.

This is reflected in the announcement of long-term output standards, so there is almost no difference in knowledge. Candidates are worried that the knowledge they learn under the old program will be lacking when taking the exam under the new program, but this will not happen. Looking at the output standards of the 2006 General Education Program and the 2018 General Education Program, there is no difference in knowledge. The test content has not changed much, if anything, only the test method has changed.

For example, candidates studying under 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, there will be a very clear decentralization and delegation of authority. The Ministry of Education and Training will be responsible for 4 compulsory subjects, the optional subjects will be delegated to the Departments of Education and Training. Candidates will have the opportunity to access the program more easily.

Opportunities for students studying under the 2006 and 2018 General Education Programs are equal. Illustrative photo

Equal opportunity

According to Associate Professor Dr. Chu Cam Tho, universities are now autonomous in their admissions, so the validity period of relevant diplomas and certificates for admission consideration is also longer. At Hanoi University of Science and Technology, candidates can take one exam and use it for admission consideration within 2 years. That is, admission methods are being diversified and synchronized to create more learning opportunities for students.

“If we look at the details, for example in the Natural Science subject, some symbols and names have changed according to international standards, while the 2006 General Education Program has been transcribed according to Vietnamese standards. This can make candidates confused and a little worried.

Candidates can rest assured that the high school graduation exam questions will have explanations about the new and old names of the substance for them to grasp. Psychologically, those who retake the exam will of course have a different state of mind than those who take the exam for the first time. However, universities still recruit students in many rounds under many methods, so the opportunities for candidates are very large. You all have the right to study for life, but if you want to succeed, you must have the right study strategy," the expert explained.

Ms. Mai Thi Lung - Principal of Tran Van Lan High School (My Loc, Nam Dinh) said that for candidates who failed the exam last year but wish to and apply next year, the school will create conditions for them to come to school to review. As for those who do not need to review but only register to take the exam as independent candidates, the school will still support them according to the instructions from the Department of Education and Training of the province. In fact, in recent years, the rate of students passing the high school graduation exam is very high.