The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has officially announced the 10th grade entrance exam for the 2025-2026 school year, including 3 subjects: Math, Literature and English.
Receiving this information, many 9th grade students said they were very happy, because in the past they were always nervous and worried if the 3rd exam subject (besides Math and Literature) would be a subject other than English.
Nguyen Minh Chau, a 9th grade student in District 3, said he started taking extra classes in Math, Literature and English since the summer of 8th grade to prepare for the 10th grade entrance exam this year.
"Keeping the exam subjects stable like previous years makes me and other friends very happy, because we had time to prepare from the beginning of the school year," Minh Chau shared.
Similarly, Huy Minh, another 9th grade student, also expressed his joy. Huy Minh believes that choosing English as the third subject will ensure fairness because all students have had the same amount of time to prepare.
"For example, if the third subject this year is Natural Science, it will be very unfair to students who are weak in natural sciences but strong in social sciences, and vice versa. As for English, for many years HCMC has always chosen this subject, all students have prepared in advance, so it will be more fair," Huy Minh said.
According to the regulations on secondary and high school admission announced by the Ministry of Education and Training, provinces can choose to take entrance exams, consider admission to grade 10 or combine them. For the entrance exam, the exam includes Math, Literature and a third subject (or a combination exam).
The third subject is selected by the Department of Education and Training from subjects assessed by scores, including: Foreign Language 1, Civic Education, Natural Sciences, History and Geography, Technology, and Information Technology. However, provinces and cities cannot choose a third subject for more than three consecutive years.
The decision by Ho Chi Minh City to continue choosing English as the third subject in the 10th grade entrance exam for the 2025-2026 school year has been agreed upon by most teachers in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to teachers, keeping the 10th grade entrance exam stable like previous years will not cause psychological confusion for students.
Mr. Lam Trieu Nghi - Principal of Nguyen Thuong Hien High School said that choosing 3 subjects of Math, Literature and English as entrance exam subjects for grade 10 is very reasonable.
"For many years, Ho Chi Minh City has chosen these three subjects. This not only helps stabilize students' psychology but also fits the policy of gradually making English the second language in schools," said Mr. Lam Trieu Nghi.
