More than 900,000 candidates across the country are taking for the National High School Exam on Monday, taking the literature test in the morning and the math test in the afternoon.

Students talk after finishing the literature test at Hop Thanh High School in Hanoi's My Duc District on Monday.

According to a report of the Ministry of Education and Training, 26 candidates were suspended during the two-hour literature test for violating exam regulations.

Weather in most of the provinces and cities remained pleasant and smooth traffic helped the students reach the exam hall in time. However, some mountainous provinces witnessed heavy rain, which caused landslides, flash floods and traffic congestion on some roads. This prevented some students from Lai Chau and Ha Giang from reaching exam halls.

Localities have also taken some initiatives to help the candidates reach exam venues on time and to ensure smooth conduct of the exam.

The high school exam will conclude on Wednesday. The marks will be used to determine admission to universities, colleges and vocational schools. Entrance exams in the country were scrapped in 2015.

Candidates will take five tests: math, literature, foreign language, natural science (including physics, chemistry, biology) and social science (including history, geography and citizen education). Except for the literature test, all of the other tests are in the multiple-choice format.

According to Mai Van Trinh, head of the Quality Management Department under the Ministry of Education and Training, to create favourable conditions for candidates, the ministry this year has assigned each locality to chair the high school exam under its instructions. The ministry too has adopted several measures to ensure quality and confidentiality.

Supervisors are not allowed to be present at the classes they have taught. Each exam room has two supervisors --- one from a university or college and the other from the provincial department of education and training. The ministry has also strengthened inspection at exam venues.

Regarding the prevention of cheating via high-tech devices during the exam, Trinh said the ministry had collaborated with the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Public Security to inform supervisors on how to detect the devices.

He emphasised that supervisors should fulfil their duties during the exam. Any violation by candidates and supervisors would be handled in accordance with the ministry’s regulations, he said. — VNS