Candidate D. P. M asked, if independent candidates have graduated from high school, if they retake the 2026 high school graduation exam to apply for university admission, is it mandatory to register for all 4 exam subjects?
Regarding this issue, on the Government Electronic Information Portal, the Ministry of Education and Training said that independent candidates who have graduated from high school can register to take the subjects in the high school graduation exam according to their needs to use the results for university admission, not being bound by having to take all 4 subjects like candidates who are in 12th grade.
Based on the Regulation on determining high school graduation exam results, it is used as one of the admission criteria: "The admission method is that the training institution uses... high school graduation exam results... to consider admission of candidates to a training program" (Clause 12, Article 2 of Circular No. 06/2026/TT-BGDDT).
At the same time, the Regulation only requires the use of an admission combination of at least 3 subjects: "The admission combination using the results of the high school graduation exam subjects used for admission has at least 03 subjects..." (point a, clause 6, Article 6 of Circular No. 06/2026/TT-BGDĐT).
Candidates are determined according to exam results and appropriate entry conditions: "Candidate... has been recognized as graduating from high school..." (point a, clause 1, Article 5 of Circular No. 06/2026/TT-BGDĐT).
Therefore, independent candidates are not required to register for all 4 exam subjects as candidates studying in 12th grade.
Free candidates who have a high school diploma are entitled to register for exams suitable for their university admission combinations, serving the purpose of admission.
The registration of exam subjects is carried out according to the principle: Candidates choose the necessary exam subjects themselves, without requiring to take all subjects as in the case of taking the exam for high school graduation consideration.
Thus, independent candidates only need to register for exam subjects to serve university admission, not requiring to take all 4 subjects.
