When will the 10th grade exam in 2026 be held in 34 provinces and cities?

(Dan Tri) - Because the 2026 high school graduation exam schedule is 2 weeks earlier than usual, the 10th grade exam schedule in provinces and cities will have to be adjusted accordingly.

According to the 2025-2026 school year plan, most provinces and cities are planning to hold the 10th grade exam before July 31, 2026.

Some provinces and cities have set specific dates.

Lai Chau keeps the old exam schedule of May 25-26.

Tuyen Quang moved the exam date up a week earlier than usual, May 27-28. Last year, the old Tuyen Quang province held the 10th grade exam on June 2-3, and the old Ha Giang province held the 10th grade exam on June 5-7. This year, the two provinces merged into one.

The 10th grade exam schedule of the new Quang Ngai province (including the old Quang Ngai and the old Kon Tum ) is May 30-June 1. Last year, the old Quang Ngai province had the exam on June 5-7. Kon Tum only has the exam for specialized 10th grade, and the admission is with the remaining high schools.

Quang Ninh and Lam Dong chose to take the 10th grade exam in early July, on July 1-3 and July 3-5 respectively.

Hanoi, Can Tho, and Son La are expected to hold the exam in June. More specifically, Hanoi plans to hold the exam at the end of June, about 2 weeks after the high school graduation exam.

Expected 10th grade exam schedule of 34 provinces and cities in 2026 (Table: Hoang Hong).

The 2026 grade 10 exam is the first high school entrance exam after the reorganization of provinces and cities. Instead of 63 provinces, next year there will be only 34 provinces. The new provinces that are reorganized from 2-3 old provinces will have to adjust the new exam schedule throughout the locality.

In 2025, Bac Lieu will be the first province to organize the 10th grade exam, scheduled for May 22-24.

Provinces holding 10th grade exams in 2025 in May include Lai Chau, Binh Duong (May 28-31), Dien Bien (May 28-29), Dong Nai (May 29-30) and Quang Tri (May 30-31).

The only province that has the 10th grade exam in July is Vinh Long. However, this is the entrance exam for Nguyen Binh Khiem High School for the Gifted. Non-specialized high schools in the area organize the admission.

The remaining provinces and cities will hold the 10th grade exam in June. The exam schedule is focused on the first week of the month.

Also in 2025, Hanoi will be the locality that finishes the 10th grade exam the latest, starting from June 7 and ending on June 9 (the day for students taking specialized exams).

Hanoi’s plan to adjust next year’s exam schedule to the end of June has parents worried. Many schools also believe that extending the review time will make students stressed and tired.

This adjustment by Hanoi comes from the fact that the 2026 high school graduation exam schedule was moved up 2 weeks earlier, almost coinciding with the capital's traditional 10th grade exam schedule.

Students taking the 10th grade exam in Hanoi in 2025 (Photo: Thanh Dong).

According to the leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training, the purpose of organizing the high school graduation exam early is to reduce pressure on students and reduce costs for parents.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha - a parent of a 9th grade student in Hanoi - believes that there needs to be fairness for both groups of 9th and 12th grade students. They all need to be relieved of the same pressure. Parents of 9th grade students also need to be freed from the anxiety and waiting as well as reduce the financial burden of exam preparation.

"Ideally, the 10th grade exam schedule should be moved up to late May or early June," Ms. Ha suggested.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/34-tinh-thanh-thi-lop-10-nam-2026-vao-thoi-gian-nao-20251119112935174.htm