In just a few days, from April 22 to 28, 9th grade students in Ho Chi Minh City will begin registering their aspirations for public 10th grade in the 2026-2027 school year online. This is an important step, directly affecting the chances of admission in the exam taking place in early June.
According to regulations, each student is allowed to register a maximum of 3 aspirations for public high schools (excluding specialized and integrated schools). Admission consideration is carried out in the order of priority from aspiration 1 to aspiration 3. This means that if the aspiration choice is not reasonable, even if the candidate has high scores, they can still fail all aspirations.
At secondary schools, school selection counseling has been implemented since the beginning of the school year, especially after the results of the first semester.
Mr. Pho Trong Huy - Principal of Binh An Secondary School (Binh Dong ward) said that homeroom teachers have directly supported students in orienting their aspirations. According to him, the most important principle is that students must properly assess their abilities.
Students need to base on scores, especially the results of the first semester, and then compare them with the benchmark scores of schools in the last 2-3 years to determine the appropriate level. Choosing a school is not based on reputation, but must be true to their abilities," Mr. Huy emphasized.
He advises students to build aspirations in a stratified direction: a suitable aspiration, a slightly higher aspiration and a safe option to reduce risks.
Reality shows that many students tend to register for "top" schools according to friends or parents' expectations, while their abilities are not commensurate, leading to the risk of wrongful failing.
In addition to the score factor, schools recommend that students consider further travel distance, learning environment, subject combination and career orientation.
Mr. Dinh Phu Cuong - Principal of Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School said that the factor of suitability for capacity and travel conditions is the most important. The school always encourages students to prioritize choosing schools near their residence to reduce travel pressure, ensure health and maintain stable learning.
For students with good and excellent academic performance, they can consider registering for top schools or selected classes. "The selection needs to closely follow actual abilities to increase the chances of admission," Mr. Cuong emphasized.
The entrance exam to 10th grade for the 2026-2027 school year in Ho Chi Minh City will take place on February 1-2. 6.
Candidates take 3 subjects: Math, Literature and English. In case candidates register for specialized and integrated classes, they will take additional subjects accordingly.
Ho Chi Minh City currently has more than 169,000 9th grade students studying at secondary schools. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training sets a target of enrolling about 118,000 students into public 10th grade, equivalent to about 70% of students completing the secondary school program.
