Reference questions for high school graduation exams from 2025: What do teachers think?

A literature lesson of 12A12 students at Nguyen Hien High School, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: NHU HUNG

- Mr. DO DUC ANH (deputy head of literature group, Bui Thi Xuan High School, Ho Chi Minh City):

Literature: eliminate guessing questions and works

The second sample test of the Ministry of Education and Training is good but more difficult than the first sample test. At first glance, the test seems easy, but students still think it is quite difficult. I just showed the test to my students and even though they are good at literature, they are still worried after reading the sample test, especially the question about writing a literary argumentative paragraph.

The new type of exam will minimize rote learning and eliminate studying from sample texts or guessing questions.

In the writing section, the literary argumentation has a sharp decrease in score (only 2 points while the old test was 5 points) because there is a section testing knowledge and literary knowledge about the genre in reading comprehension and the requirement of this section also depends on both the content and genre characteristics of a specific work.

The social argument section only requires students to have awareness of social issues and writing skills to easily solve the requirements of the topic. The chosen problem is suitable for the age of 18, suitable for the contemporary social context. The issue of artificial intelligence is also quite "hot" and attracts students' attention, closely related to youth.

I think that the illustrative exam for literature subject following the structure and format of the high school graduation exam from 2025 clearly demonstrates the innovation in teaching and assessment according to the 2018 General Education Program.

The most noticeable thing is that the requirements of the exam closely follow the requirements to be achieved according to the genre characteristics of the new program. The sample exam still retains the 100% essay format, testing all reading comprehension and writing skills. From now on, the situation of guessing the work and guessing the questions will be completely put an end.

- Mr. LAM VU CONG CHINH (math teacher at Nguyen Du High School, District 10, HCMC):

Math: relatively difficult

The reference questions are relatively difficult for students. The knowledge content is quite extensive, spread across the 10th, 11th, and 12th grade programs. In particular, the questions from the 11th grade program are more numerous than the math exams of recent years.

The exam still has some academic questions that are not suitable for the policy of developing students' qualities and abilities.

We teachers still expect a breakthrough in the high school graduation exam in line with the 2018 General Education Program. Not only that, the math exam also has a question in the specialized section.

Meanwhile, students have the right to choose to study or not to study the subject. With this question, if any student does not study the math subject, they cannot do it.

- Mr. TRAN NGOC HUU PHUOC (English teacher at Bui Thi Xuan High School, Ho Chi Minh City):

English subject: positive change

Compared to last year, this year's sample test no longer has the pronunciation and announcements section. Another new point is that the number of paragraph arrangement questions has increased from 2 to 6, and the number of questions for each reading comprehension has also increased.

The change in the exam structure will create many challenges for students. However, this change is in a positive direction, in line with the policy of developing students' qualities and abilities.

With this reference test, both teachers and students need to change the way they teach and learn. In particular, teachers need to focus on teaching reading and comprehension skills and expanding students' vocabulary.

Besides, students cannot learn by rote like before but need to learn proactively, need to read many different types of texts to expand their knowledge and vocabulary...

- Mr. NGUYEN VIET DANG DU (head of history group, Le Quy Don High School, Ho Chi Minh City):

History: assessment of comprehensive ability

This sample test consists of two parts. Part 1: Multiple choice test with 24 questions; Part 2: True or false test with 4 questions. This structure will cause difficulties for candidates as part 2 has up to 4 questions and the score is quite strict so that candidates can get full marks in each question.

In terms of content, the questions are consistent with the history topics of grade 11 (4 questions/24 questions part 1) and grade 12 (20 questions/24 questions part 1).

Part 2 is entirely based on the 12th grade history curriculum but does not take materials from any textbooks, so students are required to have a firm grasp of the basic knowledge during the learning process. In addition, candidates need to apply their thinking to solve the questions.

The exam format is quite rich and diverse, especially part 2 because there are questions based on tables of documents and passages of documents.

- Ms. NGUYEN THI THUY LINH (head of geography group, Marie Curie High School, Ho Chi Minh City):

Geography: closely follows the 2018 curriculum of the subject

The sample test closely follows the knowledge and skills standards of the 2018 General Education Program in Geography. A new point in this year's sample test is that candidates do not use the Vietnam Geography Atlas to do the test. There are also many changes in the question format and scoring method.

Regarding the question format, in format 1 - multiple choice questions (this format has been applied for many years).

In form 2 - multiple choice questions in true/false format, each question has 4 ideas, candidates must answer true/false for each idea of ​​the question. This form requires candidates to have comprehensive capacity, knowledge and skills to achieve maximum score, limiting the use of "tricks" to choose answers from confusing options like in multiple choice test form.

In form 3 - short answer multiple choice questions. This form is similar to essay questions, assessed through the results that candidates must calculate and fill in on the answer sheet. This form requires candidates to have solid capacity, knowledge and skills, limiting the use of "tricks" and random circling.

- Mr. PHAM GIA KHANH (physics teacher at Practical High School - Ho Chi Minh City University of Education):

Physics: over 90% of grade 12 knowledge

This physics illustration test covers over 90% of grade 12 knowledge, but some questions still use skills learned in grades 10 and 11 such as data processing and the process of studying nature from a physics perspective.

Some questions require the application of knowledge beyond the required level (for example, Lorentz force), so the test provides and explains the formula so that students can think about the application.

The question format in the illustration is diverse and innovative. Students with solid knowledge can deduce the answers to the questions at the comprehension level without having to memorize them.

- Ms. PHAM LE THANH (chemistry teacher at Nguyen Hien High School, District 11, HCMC):

Chemistry: limit meaningless calculation questions

The chemistry illustrative exam has generally changed from assessing knowledge to assessing competence in three specific chemistry competencies: chemical awareness; understanding the natural world from a chemical perspective; and applying learned knowledge and skills.

The questions in the sample exam are mostly related to contexts that are practical and familiar to students. Students apply the knowledge and skills they have learned to process and solve questions from the level of knowing to understanding and applying.

In particular, the chemistry exam has limited meaningless calculation questions. Instead, chemistry exercises are closely related to life and production, helping to differentiate deeply, enhance knowledge and practical skills, apply knowledge to solve some practical problems, and meet career orientation requirements.

- Mr. NGUYEN QUANG MINH (head of biology group, Nguyen Cong Tru High School, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City):

Biology: good questions

The biology reference test is much better than previous years' tests. The questions are not purely theoretical but require candidates to apply their knowledge to practice.

Thus, during the learning process in general schools, students need to learn about society, about the life around them, practice the skills of analysis, synthesis, and application of knowledge...

- Mr. NGUYEN DUC THANG (head of the economic and legal education group, Le Quy Don High School, Ho Chi Minh City):

Economic and legal education: number of questions reduced, difficulty increased

Reading the reference questions for the 2025 high school graduation exam of the Ministry of Education and Training, I see the following three problems.

Firstly, the knowledge asked in the test covers a wide range from grade 10 to grade 12 in both economic and legal knowledge, unlike the old test of the 2006 program which only had 4 questions on grade 11 knowledge and the rest were mainly grade 12 knowledge.

Second, the number of questions is reduced by 1/3 compared to the previous old exam structure.

Third, the test has detailed questions about penalties and regulations, the entire legal system... which are difficult knowledge questions if only for graduation purposes, seem too advanced for high school students.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/de-tham-khao-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-tu-nam-2025-giao-vien-nhan-xet-ra-sao-20241018231930016.htm