Difference in test difficulty between subjects seen from the score spectrum

Looking at the score distribution of subjects in this year's high school graduation exam, one cannot help but wonder when the difficulty level between subjects has a significant difference. Especially when comparing the subjects that candidates can choose.

From the score distribution of 12 high school graduation exam subjects announced by the Ministry of Education and Training, it can be seen that the average score of all subjects decreased compared to last year, except for physics.

Of which, math decreased the most, from 6.45 to 4.78 points, a decrease of 25%. If in 2024 half of the candidates scored 6.8 points or higher, this year half of the candidates scored only 4.6 points or lower.

With a score of 4.78, math is also the subject with the lowest average score among the 12 subjects announced by the Ministry of Education and Training on the afternoon of July 15. Some experts believe that only 12% of candidates scoring 7 points or higher in math is too low, while more than 56% of candidates scoring below average is too high. Math is also the subject with the highest number of failing candidates with 777 tests, 10 times more than in 2024 (76 tests).

Candidates view the score distribution of the 2025 high school graduation exam subjects announced by the Ministry of Education and Training on the afternoon of July 15.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

TOWARDS PROFESSIONALISATION IN EXAM DEVELOPMENT

An expert said that this year, the exam questions were designed using expert methods, not through a standardized question bank. Although they are highly qualified teachers, many people in the exam planning team lack expertise in testing, and do not even know anything about basic statistical methods to evaluate the difficulty of a question or the effectiveness of interference options. This turns the exam planning process into a manual, unscientific process; causing controversy about the level of difficulty, ease, shortness, length, and potential risks.

Therefore, according to this expert, a "revolution" is needed in the approach to test making, towards professionalization and scientific application. This includes in-depth training in testing; building a standardized question bank; professional test making process; and participation of statistical experts.

Moving away from emotions and experiences to a professional test-making process based on statistical data not only improves the quality of the test but also strengthens society's trust in the fairness and transparency of the exams, especially when the results of the exams are used for admission purposes.

The second lowest average score was in English, with an average score of 5.38. This year, about 350,000 students took the English test, with the median score being 5.25, meaning only 175,000 students scored higher than 5.25.

Immediately after the exam ended, the candidates themselves, teachers and experts expressed their concerns about the difference in difficulty between the subjects. When explaining the difficulty of the English exam, some people said that because this year foreign languages are no longer a compulsory subject but an elective subject, only candidates who are confident in this subject will choose it. Therefore, it is appropriate to increase the difficulty of the exam.

However, not only foreign languages, but also a series of other subjects (except math and literature) are optional, but looking at the score distribution and score analysis announced by the Ministry of Education and Training, we can also see the difference in exam results between these subjects.

For example, in physics, out of 347,599 candidates taking the exam, only 34,029 candidates scored below average, accounting for 9.79%. From 7 points and above, 186,531 candidates passed, accounting for 53.6%. The score with the most candidates was 7.5. The whole country had 3,929 scores of 10 in physics, a significant increase compared to 2024 (55 scores of 10). The number of scores of 10 in physics was second only to geography, 7.6 times higher than math and 6.2 times higher than chemistry...

According to a teacher in Hanoi , comparing the physics score distribution with other subjects shows that this year's exam for this subject is unusually easier.

While the peak of the physics score spectrum is at 7.5, the peak of the chemistry score spectrum is only about 5.25; the peak of the biology score spectrum is 5.25... Or geography is the subject with the most 10 points among the exam subjects, with 6,907 10 points, more than double compared to the 2024 exam (3,175 10 points); the average score is 6.63... That is a big difference between the exam subjects.

Mr. Vu Khac Ngoc, a chemistry teacher in Hanoi, said that based on the average score and the number of high scores, we can see a clear difference in difficulty between subjects.

Math and English still seem to be the most difficult subjects. Social sciences seem to be easier to score high. Natural sciences, although still a bit skewed, have more differentiation, with physics seeming to be "easier" than chemistry and biology. In particular, the score distribution of math and English, although praised as good, is still more difficult compared to last year and compared to other subjects.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chenh-lech-do-kho-trong-de-thi-giua-cac-mon-nhin-tu-pho-diem-185250716231942107.htm