Students in shock, psychological crisis
From the beginning of 2025 to now, many schools such as the Academy of Journalism and Communication, the University of Quarantine, Hanoi Open University... have informed about the enrollment plan for this year. Accordingly, schools have abandoned the C00 admission combination, which has been used for many years and are organizing admissions using other combinations.
Universities add many new strange combinations
Most recently, two schools under Hanoi National University, the University of Law and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, also announced that they will not consider admission to the C00 block but will replace it with a series of other combinations such as D14, D15, D66...
Quoc Khanh - a 12th grade student in Phu Tho - focused on reviewing for the university exam according to the C00 block right from grade 10 because of his passion and strengths. I dream of taking the entrance exam to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi for Journalism or Public Relations.
"But now we have to give up everything" - the male student said sadly.
She shared that she and her peers who wished to take the C00 entrance exam were all shocked, upset and even had many students psychologically affected, in crisis... after the school abandoned this combination of 17 majors. Because before, when I heard the University of Humanities, everyone thought it was a traditional school considering the C00 complex, I said.
It is worth mentioning that, according to the male student, the school announced this change too late, just 20 days before the high school graduation exam this year, leaving students unable to react.
"We can't "turn around" to change blocks, change industries... now. Our mentality before the important exam is also greatly affected" - she said.
Quoc Khanh said that the school's addition of other exam combinations such as D14, D15, D66... also did not give him more opportunities because this year, candidates only took 4 subjects and he had registered for his high school graduation exam subjects.
I explained that I am able to learn English and can also apply for the D14 combination (Literature, History, English) to enter the school. However, compared between English and Geography, I was more confident with Geography, so I decided to register for 2 elective subjects: History and Geography.
"Now I just hope the school will listen and give us contestants more opportunities" - Khanh expressed.
Surprise, sadness, and disappointment are also the feelings of Yen Nhi - a 12th grade student in Gia Lam, Hanoi - when receiving the notice that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has canceled admission using the C00 combination. I plan to take the entrance exam for the school's Tourism or Psychology major.
"So much effort and hope in the first wish list exam is like a river flowing into a tank. Now I have to recalculate and completely change my first wish" - Nhi said.
Proposal to keep the C00 complex unchanged to ensure fairness for candidates
Mr. Thai Hao - who has worked for many years in the education sector, and is currently an expert with many articles in the field of education - said that in recent years, universities have used many combinations for admission instead of only 4 traditional combinations A00 (Math, Physics, Chemistry); B00 (Math, Chemistry, Biology); C00 (Literature, History, Geography) and D01 ( Math, English, Literature).
Mr. Thai Hao acknowledged that diversifying admission combinations like this is both convenient for candidates and helps universities choose more accurate and suitable students.
However, in the context of only a few days left until the high school graduation exam, new universities have suddenly announced that eliminating the C00 admission exam will leave students passive, causing them to be concentrated in a predictable position, unable to react.
"Many students have identified and focused on studying and reviewing the C00 complex since grade 10 until now. The university suddenly announced that it would no longer be used, and students would suffer great losses" - Mr. Hao expressed his opinion.
On the university side, the majority gave the reason that this year is the first year of the graduation exam according to the 2018 program, so it should be applied. However, Mr. Thai Hao said that this explanation is unreasonable.
"The 2018 program has not just been announced. The school must have an early admission plan, it cannot be "unprecedented" like that.
I think that for this year, in order to not cause disadvantages for candidates and to demonstrate responsibility, universities should still consider admission using the C00 combination. For industries that still used this combination last year. And to suit the school's enrollment requirements, it is possible to consider adding a subject or certain criteria or adding by assessing capacity appropriately" - Mr. Hao suggested.
