Benchmark scores and competition ratios are important bases for candidates to register their aspirations for public high schools in the 10th grade entrance exam.
Below are statistics from Lao Dong newspaper on competition ratio and benchmark scores in 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City (excluding region 1).
Match ratio: Highest 1/4.61
In 2025, Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School had the highest competition ratio, with 1/4.61 (i.e., for every 4.61 registered candidates, there will be 1 successful candidate).
Next is Nguyen Huu Huan High School with 1/2.39; Vinh Loc High School is 1/2.13; Pham Van Sang High School is 1/2.11.
Le Quy Don High School is 1/1.95; Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School (1/1.92); Phu Nhuan High School (1/1.79); Vo Truong Toan High School (1/1.78); Ngo Quyen High School (1/1.75); Nguyen Huu Cau High School (1/1.72). This is the group of 10 high schools (regular system) with the highest competition ratio last year.
Benchmark scores: 77/108 schools reduced scores
In 2025, the admission benchmark for 10th grade public schools (regular system) in Ho Chi Minh City ranged from 10.5-24.5 points.
Leading is Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School with 24.5 points. Right after are schools: Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School (23.75 points); Nguyen Thuong Hien High School and Nguyen Huu Huan High School (23.5 points); Practical Secondary School - University of Education and Nguyen Huu Cau High School (23 points).
The next group includes Tran Phu High School (22.75 points); Phu Nhuan High School (22.5 points); Bui Thi Xuan High School, Le Quy Don High School and Mac Dinh Chi High School (22.25 points).
In the opposite direction, in 2025, 14 high schools will take the lowest benchmark score of 10.5 points, equivalent to 3.5 points per subject.
According to statistics, 77/108 public high schools reduced benchmark scores compared to the previous year, with common reductions ranging from 0.25 to 4.75 points. Binh Tri Dong B High School (Hoang The Thien High School) is enrolling for the first time, so there is no basis for comparison.
The school with the deepest decrease is Nguyen Thi Dieu High School, from 15.25 points to 10.5 points, the lowest level in the whole city.
Notably, Gia Dinh High School - which has been in the group of schools with high benchmark scores for many years - has decreased sharply from 23 points in 2024 to 18.75 points in 2025, a decrease of 4.25 points and left the leading group.
Some other schools also recorded significant decreases such as Cu Chi High School (down 4 points); Dien Hong Secondary and High School, Suong Nguyet Anh Secondary and High School, Ngo Gia Tu High School, Nguyen Hien High School and Tan Tuc High School decreased from 3 to 3.5 points.
In terms of increasing scores, the whole city has 20 schools with higher benchmark scores than last year. The most prominent is Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School, increasing by 4.5 points, from 20 points to 24.5 points.
Tran Khai Nguyen High School and Ngo Quyen High School both increased by 1.25 points, while the remaining 17 schools increased from 0.25 to 0.75 points.
In 2026, the entrance exam to 10th grade is expected to take place on June 1st and 2nd with 3 subjects: Math, Literature, Foreign Language and a specialized or integrated subject test if taking the exam for 10th grade specialized or integrated.
In which, Literature and Mathematics have a test time of 120 minutes/subject; Foreign Language has a test time of 90 minutes; Specialized and integrated subjects have a test time of 150 minutes.
In October 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training announced the structure and sample exam questions for 3 subjects: Math, Literature and English.
