Ho Chi Minh City’s education sector is developing a plan to expand transcript-based admissions for grade 10 students starting from the 2026-2027 academic year, while also setting a long-term goal of universal upper secondary education once infrastructure conditions are sufficient.

The information was shared by Ho Tan Minh, Chief of Office at the municipal Department of Education and Training, during Ho Chi Minh City’s socio-economic press briefing on May 14.

According to the department, the city is currently implementing a plan to build around 1,000 new classrooms within 150 days in preparation for the 2026-2027 school year.

At the same time, more than 100 additional projects are being reviewed to further expand educational infrastructure and meet growing student demand.

The city aims to achieve a ratio of 300 classrooms per 10,000 school-age residents.

Photo caption: Students in Ho Chi Minh City sit for the grade 10 entrance examination.

Minh said the education sector is now drafting a new admissions strategy.

Under the proposed direction, some areas may switch from entrance exams to transcript-based admissions for grade 10 enrollment beginning next academic year.

In the longer term, once the school system is capable of accommodating all students, the city plans to move toward universal upper secondary education.

At present, most public high schools in Ho Chi Minh City still admit grade 10 students through a centralized entrance examination.

Transcript-based admissions are currently applied only at several specialized cases, including Thanh An Lower and Upper Secondary School, which enrolls students completing lower secondary education at the same institution, and Vo Thi Sau High School, which admits students from Le Hong Phong Lower Secondary School in the same area.

According to data from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, more than 151,000 students have registered for the 2026-2027 public grade 10 entrance examination, while total enrollment quotas stand at around 118,000 seats.

The expected admission rate is approximately 78%.

The city’s grade 10 entrance examination will take place on June 1-2.

Candidates will sit three compulsory subjects: Mathematics, Literature and Foreign Language.

Mathematics and Literature will be tested through 120-minute written exams, while the Foreign Language exam will last 90 minutes.

Students applying for specialized or integrated classes will take additional subject exams.

Several provinces and cities across Vietnam have already adopted transcript-based admissions instead of entrance examinations for mainstream public high schools.

In 2026, Vinh Long, Ca Mau and Lam Dong only organize entrance exams for specialized schools, while all other public high schools admit students based on academic records.

In Gia Lai Province, 78 out of 126 high schools use transcript-based admissions relying on students’ academic performance and conduct during lower secondary school, while 48 schools continue to hold entrance examinations.

Meanwhile, 2026 also marks the first year Can Tho City has simultaneously implemented both entrance exams and transcript-based admissions.

Under the city’s plan, 59 high schools will organize entrance exams while 32 schools will admit students through transcript reviews.

Against the backdrop of significant student population disparities following administrative mergers in some localities, the flexible use of both examination-based and transcript-based admissions is viewed as a way to reduce exam pressure, save resources and still maintain necessary competitiveness in the enrollment process.

Hoang Linh