Opinions on the two specialized high schools in Nghe An province using the same exam paper.

Tran Trong Anh - Class 9E, Dang Thai Mai Secondary School

I feel quite pressured by the news that two specialized high schools will be taking the same exam. Since the beginning of the year, I've wanted to take the English specialized exam at Vinh University's specialized high school. However, if they take the same exam, I'm afraid the difficulty of the specialized subjects, including English, will increase.

As in previous years, the entrance exam for Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School is more difficult than the entrance exam for Vinh University's Specialized High School. If they were to take the same exam, the difficulty level would likely increase. This would jeopardize the chances of many students with academic abilities ranging from excellent to good and slightly above average getting into a specialized school.

I've also heard information about the Ministry of Education creating conditions for direct admission and prioritizing candidates who take the exam, but I don't have a clear understanding of it, so I'm quite confused.

Ly Kim Ngan - Class 9A, Truong Thi Secondary School

I'm quite confused about how to choose my preferences even though both schools are taking the same exam on the same day. The reason is that before the exam, we have to register our preferences for Phan High School or the specialized program at Vinh University.

If you register Vinh University's specialized high school as your first choice but then do well on the exam and get enough points to get into Phan High School, you might feel quite regretful.

If I register Phan High School as my first choice but don't do well on the exam, I'm afraid I might miss out on Vinh University's specialized high school because I understand that Vinh University's specialized high school selects students based on the scores of candidates who registered for their second choice, from highest to lowest.

Ms. Ho Thi Thuy - Deputy Principal of Truong Thi Secondary School.

With the same exam date and questions, truly outstanding students will have a sure choice. However, students in the middle range, those with average or above-average academic abilities (the majority), will have many doubts, concerns, and difficulties in making their choice.

Currently, the school and homeroom teachers are advising and assessing each student's abilities to guide them in choosing schools and even advising parents.

If there were a choice, I think the two schools should have their exams at two different times, and we should only focus on one specialized high school. Currently, presenting a choice scenario, I think, will dilute the students' options and lead to inaccurate choices. Even with a common exam, situations could arise where some students apply to Vinh University's Specialized High School, while their scores are high enough to get into Phan High School, which would be very unfortunate.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Dieu - Homeroom teacher of class 9A, Truong Thi Secondary School.

In our class, two-thirds of the students (30) will be applying to specialized schools, and these are all capable students. Before the exams, students face a lot of pressure and stress. This includes pressure from the semester exams, pressure from the 10th grade entrance exam, and then pressure from getting into a specialized school.

Even for parents, it's a very stressful situation. At the recent parent-teacher meeting, everyone's demeanor was different from other meetings. Parents asked many questions, and what they wanted the homeroom teacher to answer was about their child's abilities and how to prepare the application appropriately.

In response to these demands, I also had to conduct a "survey" on the results of the first semester exams, mock exams, and surveys, and ask each subject teacher individually to advise each student.

For students choosing to attend specialized high schools, I divide them into two groups and provide guidance. Those with genuine specialized abilities and who excel in all subjects are advised to attend Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School. For students who only excel in a few specialized subjects, I recommend Vinh University Specialized High School (because they don't use the entrance exam scores from the 10th grade). I also encourage them not to be discouraged if they fail, as they still have a long way to go to strive for success.

Regarding the idea of ​​having a common exam at the same school, I think the authorities have their reasons, such as reducing pressure on students and allowing them to assess their own abilities to choose "one of the two" options to avoid unnecessary burden. However, I still prefer two separate exams, so that students have more choices and avoid being disadvantaged.

Teacher Dang Thi Thuy - Dang Thai Mai Secondary School

Upon receiving this information, our teachers and students felt both happy and worried. Happy because combining the two entrance exams for the two top-ranked specialized high schools in the province will reduce stress and pressure for the students during their exam preparation. Worried because they only know the exam format but not the admission criteria. Will there be a chance for students who don't score high enough to get into Phan High School to get into Vinh University's specialized high school? Or, like in previous years, will they only have one option?

Through this, we hope that all levels of government, relevant agencies, and schools will establish appropriate selection criteria to give students more opportunities to attend their desired schools. Choosing a high school significantly impacts their chances of attending university and selecting their future career paths.

Regarding the entrance exam for 10th grade at Vinh University High School for Gifted Students, on May 6, 2019, the school issued Announcement No. 2, announcing the exam date, direct admission criteria, and priority policies for candidates.

In this exam, according to the admission principles, Vinh University High School for Gifted Students will organize an entrance exam, and the school will select candidates based on their scores from highest to lowest.

At the same time, additional candidates who registered to take the entrance exam for Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School and wish to study at Vinh University Specialized High School will be considered for admission (if there are available slots).