Wearing blue shirts outside the exam room, keeping the flame of faith alive.

Having experienced stressful exam preparation days, and the anxiety of walking through the school gates filled with worries about grades and the pressure of expectations, many university students are now present at exam sites in their green volunteer uniforms. During the 2026-2027 high school entrance exam, they become silent supporters, accompanying students and parents through simple yet meaningful actions.

When former exam candidates become a source of support

From over 6 a.m. on May 31st, the area in front of the gates of the exam centers at Viet Hung Secondary School, Co Loa Secondary School, and Ngo Quyen High School in Dong Anh commune was filled with volunteers in blue shirts. Some guided candidates in checking their registration numbers, others assisted parents with parking, and still others prepared free drinking water, hand fans, and other necessary study supplies.

Amidst the bustling crowds before the exam, Nguyen Minh Duc, a second-year student at Hanoi National University, was constantly moving around the school gate area and the candidate support desk at the Ngo Quyen High School exam site.

Youth union members welcome candidates from the traffic control point to the examination site. Photo: MK

Duc said that three years ago, he was also a student taking the entrance exam for 10th grade. “I still remember how nervous I felt that day, afraid of being late or forgetting my documents. Because I’ve been through it, I understand how anxious the students are now. Just a word of encouragement or a bottle of water can help them feel less stressed,” Duc shared.

At the exam site at Co Loa Secondary School, Nguyen Thi Khanh Van - Team leader of the exam support team, Secretary of the Youth Union of Luong Quan village (Dong Anh commune) - along with other volunteers stood right at the entrance to guide candidates to the correct exam rooms.

"Seeing the students entering the school gate reminds me of myself in the past. Back then, I just wished someone could guide me so I wouldn't be so confused. That's why every year, if I have the opportunity, I register to participate in the Exam Support Program," Van said.

For Le Hoang Nam, a first-year student at the Hanoi University of Interior Affairs, this was his first time participating in the program. Nevertheless, Nam arrived very early to prepare supplies to support candidates and their parents.

"In the past, I also received help from volunteer mentors. Back then, just a word of encouragement made me feel much more at ease. Now that I have the opportunity to stand here, I want to contribute a small part so that the students in the following years can enter the exam room with a more relaxed mindset," Nam shared.

Volunteers distributed free drinking water, hand fans, and essential study supplies to candidates before the exam. Photo: MK

According to the volunteers, what keeps them involved in the program is not only the spirit of dedication but also the desire to continue the support they received when they were students. From being recipients of help, they have now become providers. The empathy between generations of students is extended through cool bottles of water, paper fans, or words of encouragement before exams.

The blue-shirted volunteers are supporting the exam season in the local area.

This year's 10th grade entrance exam in Dong Anh commune was held at three locations: Co Loa Secondary School, Ngo Quyen High School, and Viet Hung Secondary School. According to the Dong Anh Commune Youth Union, the "Exam Support Program" was implemented from May 28th to 31st with the participation of nearly 800 youth union members from two teams: the Exam Support Program and the Red Phoenix Flower Team.

In addition to guiding candidates, distributing free water and pencils, and assisting parents in finding waiting areas, the volunteer teams also promptly handled many unforeseen situations. During the exam, the youth force assisted two candidates who had difficulty getting around at the Viet Hung and Ngo Quyen Secondary School exam sites; helped a candidate at the Co Loa Secondary School exam site return home to retrieve necessary documents; and assisted a candidate at the Ngo Quyen Secondary School exam site in finding lost items.

The "Blue Shirts" support team in Dong Anh commune helped a student find her lost phone during the exam season. Photo: MK

In addition, the Youth Union of the commune arranged a rapid response team of vehicles ready to transport candidates from traffic control points to the examination sites when necessary. In the waiting area, parents were provided with free cool water, fans, air conditioning, and were guided to suitable resting places while waiting for their children to finish the exam. Environmental sanitation around the examination sites was also regularly maintained to ensure a clean, beautiful, and civilized environment.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao, Secretary of the Youth Union of Dong Anh commune, this year's program is being implemented in a coordinated manner between the Youth Union, schools, police, health services, and other partner units to create the most favorable conditions for candidates to participate in the exam.

“The most valuable thing is the sense of responsibility shown by the young people. Despite the hot weather, the volunteers were all present very early and seriously carried out their assigned tasks. They not only supported the candidates but also contributed to spreading a positive image of the youth of Dong Anh,” Ms. Thao shared.

As the bell rang signaling the end of the exam, many parents rushed to pick up their children and take them home to rest after months of strenuous studying. Amidst the gradually thinning crowd, figures in blue uniforms lingered to tidy up desks and chairs, collect trash, and complete the final tasks.

They don't have registration numbers, they don't enter the exam room, and they don't expect any results for themselves. But with the enthusiasm, responsibility, and sharing spirit of youth, these volunteers are contributing to making the exam a less stressful experience, so that each candidate can enter the exam room with the utmost confidence.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ao-xanh-ngoai-phong-thi-giu-lua-niem-tin-976431.html