Entrance exam for 10th grade in Nghe An: Literature exam reminds students of their responsibility to the country's history.

The reading comprehension questions are differentiated.

In the reading comprehension section (4 points), the chosen text is "The Flame of Childhood" by poet Xuan Quynh. The poem recreates childhood memories during wartime with images of simple yet idealistic soldiers, leaving many emotional impressions of the silent sacrifices of the previous generation.

The reading comprehension questions are structured to move from understanding and recognition to application. The exam requires candidates to identify the lyrical persona, point out the historical event mentioned, and analyze the rhetorical devices in the line: "The song still flows like crashing waves."

The exam also required candidates to explain the meaning of the image of the soldier's "tattered and worn shoes."

The final question asks students to reflect on the significance of childhood memories for each individual.

Commenting on this question, Phuong Ha, a 9th-grade student from Dang Thai Mai Secondary School, said that questions 1, 2, and 3 of the reading comprehension section were quite easy and most candidates could answer them. However, questions 4 and 5 began to differentiate, requiring students not only to have a firm grasp of the text's content but also to be able to analyze, relate, and express their personal thoughts.

Respect and gratitude for the nation's history.

In the writing section (6 points), the exam consists of 2 questions. Question 1 (2 points) requires students to write a 200-word argumentative essay analyzing the image of "fire" in the text excerpted in the reading comprehension section.

The social commentary question (4 points) with the statement: "History is the foundation for the present and the future," requires students, from their perspective, to propose solutions to spread the precious values ​​of national history.

Commenting on the social commentary question in this year's Literature exam, Nguyen Diep Chi, a student from Dang Thai Mai Secondary School, said she particularly liked the topic revolving around the statement "History is the foundation for the present and the future." According to this student, history is not only about events that have happened in the past, but also a foundation that helps each person cultivate emotions, character, and become more mature in life.

Diep Chi believes that history is closely connected to literature and real life. Instead of viewing history as dry numbers or timelines, she sees it as a rich source of meaningful material to apply to her writing and in her perspective on daily life.

The female student also said that practical experiences such as the visit and study trip to the Truông Bồn Historical Site helped her to understand more deeply the sacrifices of her ancestors, thereby increasing her gratitude and appreciation for the nation's history. According to her, the greatest value that history brings is nurturing patriotism and awareness of one's roots.

From her perspective, Diep Chi expressed the view that, to spread the value of history, students need to change their approach to the subject towards a more proactive and engaging way. In addition, schools should increase experiential activities and visits to historical sites so that students have the opportunity to connect knowledge with reality. She also believes that each young person can spread their love of history through their own emotions, stories, and experiences via writings or sharing on social media.

Regarding the question about the significance of childhood memories, this female student stated that while it's a relatable question, it also requires candidates to have real-life emotions and experiences. According to Chi, childhood memories, especially family affection and love from loved ones, are always an important foundation that helps each person grow and live more positively.

According to the female student, this type of question also differentiates students because, in addition to understanding the text, they also need to be able to relate it to their own experiences and express their thoughts sincerely. However, for those who are well-prepared and have genuine emotions, the exam is still within their capabilities. As a female student taking the specialized Literature exam, Diep Chi did quite well with this exam, filling nearly 12 pages and hoping to achieve a score of 9 or higher.

The Literature exam did not "make things difficult" for the students.

Many teachers believe the exam closely follows the reform guidelines, focusing on assessing students' comprehension, critical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge rather than rote memorization.

The material is not overly difficult but has enough depth to evoke emotions, helping students express their sincere thoughts about history, traditions, and the responsibilities of today's youth.

The question has the potential to effectively differentiate between essays that demonstrate emotional depth and sound reasoning.

Many students also shared that the exam was quite suitable. Le Thi Khanh Linh (Doi Cung Secondary School) said: "The structure and topics are quite familiar to students, and have been thoroughly reviewed by teachers beforehand."

According to Khanh Linh, for the reading comprehension section, although the material was new, she only needed to grasp the basic knowledge to answer the questions. Only the second question (out of five reading comprehension questions) caused her a slight hesitation because it related to historical knowledge. However, after carefully reading the text, she was able to identify a detail that revealed the answer, and she correctly identified the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

Khánh Linh also said that she found the essay questions interesting because they had a unified and coherent theme. These included one question analyzing the image of fire in a poem about soldiers in Northwest Vietnam by poet Xuân Quỳnh, and another about solutions for spreading the valuable heritage of literary history.

According to Khanh Linh, many young people today are indifferent to national history and culture. Therefore, an essay topic on history is interesting and encourages young people to love history and learn about it in different ways.

A student from Doi Cung Secondary School said she was satisfied with her Literature exam, and that with more time, she could have analyzed her arguments more thoroughly. Le Thi Khanh Linh put Huynh Thuc Khang High School as her first choice and did not apply to any specialized schools. Therefore, she is determined to put in a lot of effort in the 10th grade entrance exam. Being satisfied with her Literature exam gave her a relaxed mindset for the subsequent subjects.