The changes were outlined in Circular No. 30/2024/TT-BGDĐT, recently issued by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET). The new regulations cover admissions for lower and upper secondary schools.

Under the updated rules, there are three admission methods for grade 10: entrance exams, academic records review, or a combination of both. Local education departments have the authority to choose the method.

For entrance exams, students will take three standardized tests: Mathematics, Literature, and a third subject selected by the local Department of Education and Training. The third subject will be announced after the first semester but no later than March 31 each year.

The duration for each test is as follows:

Literature: 120 minutes

Mathematics: 90 or 120 minutes

Third subject: 60 or 90 minutes

Integrated tests: 90 or 120 minutes

The exam content will be drawn from the lower secondary school curriculum, with a focus on grade 9 material.

The MoET mandates that admission scores will be calculated as the sum of scores from all tests, with each test weighted equally (coefficient of 1).

This marks a shift from previous practices, where local authorities, such as in Hanoi, applied a higher weighting (coefficient of 2) for Mathematics and Literature.

Feedback on the changes

Nguyen Trung Kien, an English teacher in Hanoi, supported the new method, stating: “This is a fair approach where all tests are weighted equally. It ensures students do not overly focus on a few subjects, aligning with the principles of the new general education curriculum. Students will now give equal attention to all subjects, reducing the risk of neglecting others.”

He also noted that the decision not to make English a mandatory exam subject for grade 10 admissions would alleviate some of the pressure.

“This change allows English to be taught for practical purposes rather than solely for examination. It encourages meaningful learning experiences,” Kien added.

By standardizing the scoring system and removing the practice of assigning different weights to certain subjects, the new regulations aim to promote balanced learning and reduce the exam-driven mindset.

This update aligns with broader reforms in Vietnam’s education system, emphasizing fairness, equal subject importance, and the holistic development of students.

Hoang Thanh