The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has released a report comparing high school graduation exam results and school record scores. In all 12 subjects, average school record scores surpass graduation exam scores, with gaps ranging from 0.12 to 2.26 points.

Industrial Technology showed the largest gap of 2.26 points, with an average school record score of 8.05 compared to 5.79 for the graduation exam. 

Mathematics ranked second, with a school record average of 7.03 versus 4.78 for the exam, a 2.25-point difference. English had a 1.57-point gap (6.95 vs. 5.38), and Biology 1.83 points (7.61 vs. 5.78). 

Other subjects with notable gaps included Informatics (1.2 points), Chemistry (1.31 points), and History (1.17 points). Literature has the smallest gap, at 0.12 points.

This discrepancy between school records and exam scores is not a new problem. Under the 2006 curriculum, gaps reached up to 3 points in some years. 2025 is the first year the graduation exam follows the new 2018 General Education Program. Significant disparities have been found in subjects like Mathematics, English, and Technology. Data shows that grade 12 school record scores are typically higher than those in grades 10 and 11.

New exam format

Tuan Anh, a Mathematics teacher at Thu Duc High School (HCM City), attributes the gap, especially in Mathematics, to several factors, including new exam format. This year’s Mathematics exam eliminated true-false questions with penalties for wrong answers, reducing reliance on guesswork.

The exam was also more difficult. It included application questions, requiring students to understand concepts and apply them to real-world scenarios, rather than memorizing formulas. Wordy questions also demanded patience and strong reading comprehension.

There was also a lack of alignment. As it was the first year under the new curriculum, classroom assessments and exam expectations are not yet synchronized. Teachers need time to adapt to official exam requirements and richer resources to align evaluations.

As for exam design, the exam questions were designed to differentiate students for university admissions over simply assessing graduation, making larger gaps acceptable.

Grade 12 school record scores are typically higher than those in grades 10 and 11, even though in theory, they should be lower, because more difficult knowledge is provided to higher grades. Anh explained that grade 10 students often relax after the stressful high school entrance exam, so they may have worse learning records. And 11th graders are still leisurely, while students in grade 12 prioritize studying for exams. 

One more possible reason is that teachers tend to grade more leniently in grade 12, especially in the second semester, to reduce pressure on students and create favorable conditions for students to have good records to apply for university.

According to another high school teacher, lower exam scores in Mathematics and English compared to school records show that the exam has fulfilled its dual purpose: both for high-school graduation and university admission. 

In addition, the graduation exam is different from classroom tests, because in addition to assessing students' abilities after completing the general education program, it also has to meet classification requirements for use by universities, so the differences are normal.

Universities reject school records for admissions

Do Van Dung, former Principal of HCM City University of Education and Technology, commented that the gap between school records and exam scores is not something new. 

He attributed it primarily to teachers being lenient with students. In many cases, teachers keep two score sheets: one reflecting true performance and another inflated by 2–3 points to aid university admissions.

He believes this practice has diminished the reliability of school record-based admissions, prompting many universities to reduce or eliminate this enrollment method. 

Students admitted via school records often struggle to keep up with peers admitted through exam scores. Difficult exams suit high-achieving students but overwhelm others, leading to students dropping out after 1–2 years, impacting university revenue. Thus, quality-focused institutions find school record admissions less viable.

“According to the 2025 data comparison by MOET, the average school record score over three high school years is 7.12, while the exam average is 7.0, with a 0.12-point gap. However, the big gaps in some subjects like Industrial Technology (2.26 points) and Mathematics (2.25 points) show less authentic assessments,” Dung said.

He noted that in the context of valuing teacher training, this gap is serious, as it risks admitting underqualified candidates, affecting future teachers and the education system long-term.

Thuy Nga