On August 28, the Ministry of Education and Training released details of the upcoming changes to Vietnam’s high school graduation exam system, which will be implemented starting in 2025.

The exam structure will be streamlined, reducing the total number of sessions from four to three. This adjustment is intended to ease the exam burden on students and improve efficiency for administrators.

For the first time, students will have the option to take exams in Information Technology (IT) and Technology, which includes both Industrial and Agricultural Technology.

These subjects will be added to the existing lineup, underlining the increasing importance of digital literacy and technological skills. The exam format will also evolve, incorporating new types of multiple-choice questions designed to better assess students' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

The 2025 exam will see a stronger emphasis on digital integration. All candidates will have the option to register online, with personal information and eligibility for additional points verified through a centralized digital database.

Additionally, exam papers will be distributed more securely and swiftly via the Government Cipher Committee’s system, ensuring the integrity and speed of the process.

To minimize disruption and unnecessary movement, students will complete all their exams in a single room. Exam centers will be organized to accommodate students from nearby educational institutions, reducing travel and simplifying logistics.

The evaluation criteria for high school graduation will now give equal weight to students' academic performance across grades 10, 11, and 12, with these grades collectively accounting for 50% of the final assessment. This change aims to provide a more holistic evaluation of students' abilities and achievements throughout their high school education.

Additionally, students holding recognized language proficiency certificates will be exempt from the foreign language exam, though such certificates will no longer automatically equate to a perfect score.

Starting in 2027, the MOET plans to pilot computer-based testing, with a full implementation expected by 2030, contingent on the availability of the necessary infrastructure and resources.

Beginning in 2025, students will be required to take four subjects for graduation: two compulsory subjects - Mathematics and Literature - and two elective subjects chosen from a list that includes Foreign Language, History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Economics and Law, Information Technology, and Technology.

Thanh Hung