This is information that receives much attention from parents, students and teachers.
Want to actively choose the third exam subject
In the 2024-2025 school year, the education sector will complete the 4-year cycle of implementing the 2018 General Education Program. Students will take the 10th grade entrance exam and the high school graduation exam according to the new General Education Program.
The Ministry of Education and Training is seeking opinions to amend the regulations on secondary and high school exams, in which the method of admission and admission to grade 10 high school has proposed two methods: admission and entrance exam. Regarding the entrance exam, the draft stipulates that the number of exams is 3 subjects including Math, Literature and 1 subject randomly drawn by the Department of Education and Training.
Pham Thi Quynh Trang - a 9th grade student at Dien Ngoc Secondary School (Dien Chau, Nghe An) - expressed concern about the proposal to draw lots for the third subject in the 10th grade entrance exam because this is a highly competitive exam, so in addition to the basic knowledge learned in class, students need to learn more advanced types of exercises.
“Knowing in advance the three subjects we will take, Math, Literature and English, will help us focus on studying from the beginning of the school year. But now, when we only know the subjects close to the exam, we are afraid we won’t have time to study. Not to mention, I am better at social subjects, so if I am drawn into the natural sciences, it will be very disadvantageous,” Trang said.
In Hanoi alone, the annual enrollment quota for public schools is only about 60% of students. This is the reason why the entrance exam for grade 10 becomes stressful for schools, students and parents.
"If the third subject chosen by the Department is Natural Science, then students will essentially have to take Math, Literature, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, not just 3 subjects. This will add unnecessary pressure. If the third subject is required, students should be allowed to choose the third subject according to their abilities," said Ms. Tran Phuong Thao (Hoang Mai district, Hanoi).
Proactive exam review plan
Since 2019, Hanoi’s 10th grade exam has been held with 4 subjects (Math, Literature, Foreign Language and the 4th subject announced in March) after 15 years of only 2 subjects, Literature and Math. However, since then, the exam has only been held twice with 4 subjects, the rest were 3 subjects. In both times, History was the 4th subject.
Ms. Phan Thi Thuc Hanh, Principal of Phuong Mai Secondary School (Dong Da District, Hanoi) acknowledged that compared to the old regulations, the 3-subject exam for 10th grade admission has reduced the load by 1 subject.This is completely consistent with the goals of the 2018 General Education Program.
Currently, although the Ministry of Education and Training has not "finalized" the official plan, the review for 9th grade students is still being implemented by schools according to plan.
"The Hanoi Department of Education and Training has announced the format structure and sample exam questions for 10th grade admission according to the 2018 General Education Program. This is the basis for schools to build a question bank, compile content, knowledge, and skills to review. Regardless of which subject the third exam is in, schools and teachers will ensure that students are competent and confident to take the exam," Ms. Hanh analyzed.
Sharing about this issue, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, Vice Principal of the University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said that the 3-subject exam plan aims at providing comprehensive education for students.
“Math and Literature are subjects that represent two areas of thinking that are very necessary in life as well as in work and future career development of students. Linguistic thinking and abstract numerical thinking are the foundation for success in other fields. With the third exam subject, which is an optional subject, it will help students have the opportunity to develop comprehensively, limiting the situation of lopsided learning” - Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam assessed.
However, this expert said that whether drawing lots or determining exam subjects, there needs to be a plan and a specific roadmap announced soon.
“If the drawing and announcement of the exam subjects are done late, students will not be able to fully prepare in terms of knowledge and mentality, which will cause confusion and exam pressure. Therefore, in order for the plan to bring the best results, it is necessary to carefully study the implementation method, with the participation of the community and society,” Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam stated his opinion.
