VietNamNet Bridge - In 2015, the average mark students received on high-school finals was ‘abnormally low’. The same phenomenon is happening this year. Experts have warned that if the method of teaching foreign languages and creation of exam questions continues, the problem of exceptionally low marks will remain.

A report from the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) shows that of the eight exam subjects in 2015, foreign languages had the lowest scores.

Most examinees registered to take English tests for the 2015 high school finals (552,000). Only 580 took the Chinese test, 421 the Japanese test, 241 the Russian and 55 the German.

Right before high school finals took place, teachers voiced their concern about the exam, which included foreign languages as one of the three compulsory exam subjects. Students were asked to write essays instead of doing multiple-choice only as in previous years.

However, though anticipating that foreign languages would be a big challenge for examinees, the teachers were surprised that the exam scores would be so low, 49,715 exams got 3 scores only, while 49,358 had 2.5 scores. 

Experts have warned that if the method of teaching foreign languages and creation of exam questions continues, the problem of exceptionally low marks will remain.

The actual number of exams with bad scores would be even higher if counting the exam works of students at exam rooms controlled by local education departments.

The result of foreign language exams was especially bad compared with other exam subjects. Math was the subject with the highest number of zero marks, but many students got higher scores. For instance, 51,500 students got 6.5 scores for math.

“Such a low result for foreign language exams is really what we need to think about,” said Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Vinh Hien.

Doan Quang Vinh, deputy director of Da Nang University, also noted that the scores for foreign language exam works were not high in 2015.

“Many students ignored the question about essay. It was difficult to get 2 scores for essay. Therefore, students would rather spend their time on multiple-choice questions,” he commented.

“The students who take foreign language tests just to finish high school would not do the essay. Only the students who plan to go to university would try to have more scores from essays,” he said.

Meanwhile, an education expert warned that the current exam has ‘spoiled’ students and harmed the learning and teaching of foreign languages.

“With multiple-choice questions, students just need to choose answers by random would also get 2.5 scores at least,” he commented. “The questions like this won’t allow us to find students’ proficiency level in other skills like listening, reading, writing and speaking."


Tien Phong