Stay calm before '10th grade entrance exam syndrome'

Create a stable mentality, do not put pressure on candidates

In 2025, the entrance exam for non-specialized public high schools in Hanoi will take place on June 7 and 8 with 3 subjects: Math, Literature and Foreign Language.

After the Hanoi Departmentof Education and Training announced the number of students applying to each specialized and non-specialized public high school for the 2025-2026 school year, the "competition ratio" was not too high. Accordingly, Yen Hoa High School (Cau Giay District) continued to lead in the competition ratio with 1/2.44. Second place was Le Quy Don High School - Ha Dong with 1/2.35. Next were the high schools: Kim Lien, Dong Da, Hoai Duc C, Cau Giay, Ngo Thi Nham, Phan Dinh Phung, Khuong Ha and Nhan Chinh. Thus, compared to last year, the competition level for grade 10 has decreased. This year is also the first time in three consecutive years that no school in Hanoi has a competition ratio exceeding 1/3. In fact, it is not that the competition ratio is low, the scores will not be high, but that schools will generally have a suitable number of candidates. Candidates know their limits to apply to a "top" or "bottom" school...

Compared to the number of 9th graders in Hanoi last year, this year there has been a decrease of about 6,000 students. Meanwhile, the enrollment target for 10th graders in Hanoi for the 2025-2026 school year has increased. Accordingly, about 64% of students will pass the entrance exam to public high schools. However, the heat will not decrease in the top schools with great appeal. In particular, this is the first 10th grade entrance exam organized according to the 2018 General Education Program, with many innovations in exam structure, learning content and assessment methods. Therefore, in this last month, students are working hard to review for the exam, teachers and parents are accompanying them to accelerate. Psychological pressure is weighing heavily on many students.

Yen Hoa Secondary School (Cau Giay District, Hanoi) has nearly 500 9th grade students who are entering the final stage in a solid and systematic way. Sharing about the new points in this year's 10th grade entrance exam, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang - Principal of the school said: Since 2025, students will no longer have a "closet" to review for the Literature exam because the exam questions will not take materials from textbooks. The innovation of the Literature exam helps students form the habit of self-study, but it is also a challenge for those with weak skills. This limits the situation of memorization, rote learning, and parrot learning. This is a huge advantage, because it forces students to develop their reading - comprehension and argumentative writing skills. For those who are diligent, have a foundation in reading - comprehension and the ability to present coherently, there is no need to worry too much, but students with weak writing skills will have more difficulty in the process of doing the test.

The Foreign Language exam has also been changed, so teachers must constantly update it to help students gradually get used to the new format to avoid confusion. According to Ms. Hang, to support students, the school has organized mock exams in accordance with the new exam format to help them get used to the exam, practice their test-taking skills, and stabilize their psychology in the exam room. The school has organized 5 test sessions and the final mock exam will take place on May 20. After each test, teachers will carefully correct the exam questions and supplement the knowledge for weak students. The goal is for students to confidently enter the exam room and not feel overwhelmed when taking this important exam.

Ms. To Thi Hai Yen, Principal of Giang Vo Secondary School (Ba Dinh) said: “We implement the exam review in a scientific way, the exam questions are clearly classified. Teachers build a separate review roadmap for each group of students, depending on the ability and psychology of each student. The special thing is the close support from parents. We divide the roles very clearly: teachers are in charge of the content of the class, parents support, and check at home. This coordination is showing clear results.”

Thai Thinh Secondary School (Dong Da) also entered the "diamond phase", 4 weeks before the exam. Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong, the school's principal, shared: "Reviewing is not only focused on the last days but has been carried out throughout the school year. Since August, when the Department of Education and Training announced the sample questions, we have actively included the exam-like questions into the main curriculum." At Thai Thinh Secondary School, every month students have a periodic survey with exam questions developed and independently graded by a separate team. "This helps to accurately assess each student's ability and promptly adjust the review schedule," Mr. Cuong affirmed. The school also organizes free mock exams, publishes its own copyrighted review materials, and pays special attention to students' biological rhythms. "Students should not stay up too late. Health and spirit are important factors that determine the results of the exam," he emphasized.

Another new point is that this year's exam does not multiply the coefficients for Literature and Math as in previous years, but instead calculates the scores equally for the three subjects of Math, Literature, and Foreign Language. This creates convenience for students who study all subjects equally, but also makes many students in suburban areas, who have little access to quality English programs, feel worried.

10th Grade Student Counseling Day. (Photo: Phan Dinh Phung High School, Hanoi)

Encourage instead of pressure

Tuan Anh, a student at a secondary school in Cau Giay district, shared: I am currently studying three extra subjects: Math, Literature, and English to take the entrance exam to Yen Hoa High School. In the morning I study, in the afternoon I study extra, and at night I study until 4-5am. Every day I only sleep 3-4 hours, sometimes I even study all night without sleeping.

Similar to Tuan Anh, many 9th graders are also going through a tight schedule with 8-9 extra classes per week. “My child takes 8-9 extra classes per week, and sometimes stays up all night but still can’t finish his homework. Although we have suggested many times that he transfer to a private school to reduce the pressure, he refuses. My family can only encourage him. We don’t dare force him to study, nor do we set a goal for him to get into a top school. We just hope he doesn’t get stressed,” said Tran Lan, parent of a 9th grader.

Besides parents who put more pressure on their children to take the exam, many parents decide to send their children to private schools near their home. If they fail to pass the public school entrance exam, they can go to quality private schools, depending on the family's circumstances.

In this final stage, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang said: “Learning is a long-term process, it cannot be forced into a short period of time. Right from grades 6, 7, and 8, teachers have oriented students to have a solid foundation and they will not be pressured when entering grade 9. Choosing a school that suits their abilities also avoids unnecessary pressure for them. At this time, children need time to study on their own so that knowledge can gradually be absorbed, not rushing into extra classes all day long.”

At schools, Ms. To Thi Hai Yen said that the general spirit of teachers at this stage is to encourage instead of putting pressure on students. In addition to teaching, teachers also organize psychological counseling sessions and chats to support students' spirit, helping them relieve pressure and stress...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang shared that at this time, students are practicing questions close to the real exam, not learning new knowledge but reviewing the core, systematizing all knowledge. To accompany students through the crucial stage, the school organizes completely free review sessions.

Many homeroom teachers are often stressed, worried that students who fail to pass public schools will affect the school's and teachers' achievements, which in turn puts pressure on parents and students. On some forums, some parents shared that their whole family has children taking the 10th grade exam "as tense as a bowstring"... It is undeniable that students have made great strides in the final stretch, but if they have solid academic ability, along with confidence and know their own abilities, they will pass the schools they set their goals for. If they study too much, the tight time from morning to night will make them more stressed, tired, and pressured. Even if they are too stressed, they may not do well on the test, even if they are good at studying... Instead, they should spend time reviewing their lessons and self-studying instead of taking extra classes.

Parents avoid "grade 10 entrance exam syndrome"

According to Master of Psychology Vu Thu Ha, a common manifestation of the "10th grade entrance exam syndrome" is that parents set too high expectations, causing their children to feel heavy pressure. Many children study day and night, skip meals, lose sleep, leading to prolonged stress. Lack of rest time, staying up late to study does not help students study better, on the contrary, it reduces their spirit and is counterproductive. Parents should become companions, listen to and understand their children at this extremely sensitive time. Do not criticize, compare or focus on scores, which will make students feel disappointed, lose confidence in themselves, thereby losing the spirit of studying and causing poor exam results. Students need a reasonable study plan, interspersed with rest time. Parents should act as companions, encouragers, not set too high expectations or put invisible pressure on them.

Uyen Na

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/binh-tinh-truoc-hoi-chung-thi-vao-10-post549543.html