Ho Chi Minh City National University said that the first phase of the exam was held in 15 provinces and cities, including: Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, An Giang, Can Tho and Ca Mau with more than 137,000 candidates participating.
The exam results are expected to be announced on April 17.
According to regulations, candidates must be present in the exam room at the time stated in the exam notification paper to complete the procedures.
Candidates who arrive at the exam room door 15 minutes after the starting time of calculation (after 8:45 am) will not be allowed to take the exam, in accordance with the exam regulations.
When taking the exam, candidates need to bring and present all documents according to regulations (valid personal papers and exam notification papers).
A valid personal identification document is the original, still valid ID card or citizen ID card used to register for the exam with personal information, ID card number matching the information registered for the exam or passport for candidates without Vietnamese nationality.
In case there are no valid personal papers as prescribed, candidates must be present at the Council room of the exam site at least 30 minutes before calling candidates to the exam room, present their exam notification and electronic ID card on VNeID (with personal information, ID card number matching the registered exam information) to be checked and resolved. If candidates arrive after 7:45 am, the exam will not be resolved.
Within 7 days after the exam day, candidates must submit the original confirmation of the local government if they lose their papers.
In case candidates do not bring exam notification papers, candidates must be present at the Council room at least 30 minutes before calling candidates to the exam room to complete the necessary procedures.
If errors are found regarding full name (full name, middle name, name), date of birth (date, month, year of birth), ID card number, candidates must be present at the Council room at least 30 minutes before the candidate gathering time for inspection and handling.
For other personal information with errors, candidates should self-adjust on the information page of the competency assessment exam within 3 days after the exam day.
Candidates are only allowed to bring into the exam room items directly serving the test, including: pens, black pencils, compasses, erasers, rulers, rulers.
In addition, candidates are allowed to bring a calculator according to regulations, provided that these devices do not have the function of drafting documents, sending and receiving information, recording audio and video, and do not have a memory card to store data.
Candidates are absolutely not allowed to bring into the exam room items such as: scratch paper, exam paper, carbon paper, eraser, documents, stealth pens; weapons, explosives, flammable substances, beer, alcohol; mobile phones, communication equipment, information receiving, transmitting, and storing equipment; smart wearable devices, smart glasses and high-tech devices that may be exploited for fraud.
It is worth noting that even when not in use, bringing prohibited items into the exam room is sufficient basis for candidates to be suspended from the exam according to regulations.
The structure and content of the 2026 competency assessment exam are built on the basis of the exam structure that has been adjusted and applied since 2025, in accordance with the 2018 General Education Program.
The 2026 competency assessment exam includes 120 objective multiple-choice questions with many choices, a test time of 150 minutes, and is organized in the form of paper exams.
The exam structure includes three parts: Language use: 60 questions (30 Vietnamese questions and 30 English questions); Mathematics: 30 questions; Scientific thinking: 30 questions.
