The 2025 high school graduation exam will be more difficult than last year

MSc. Hoang Thuy Nga affirmed that this year's high school graduation exam is definitely more difficult than previous years' exams - Photo: TRAN HUYNH

Among the more than 5,000 students present at the consultation session at Tay Nguyen University (Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak ) on the morning of January 11, most of them had many concerns and worries about how to prepare for this year's high school graduation exam.

Only register for exams for subjects studied in the grade 12 program

Sharing at the consultation session, MSc. Hoang Thuy Nga - senior expert of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Training , said that the 2025 high school graduation exam is the first year of implementation according to the new 2018 General Education Program.

This year, the high school graduation exam will only have three subjects in three sessions, with fewer papers than last year. The first two sessions will be math and literature; the second day will be a test of two subjects that students have studied in the 12th grade program.

“Students can only register for the graduation exam for subjects they have studied in the 12th grade program. For foreign languages, students can register for subjects they have not studied, for example, students who study English can register for the French exam.

That's just foreign languages, all the other subjects you register for are required to be studied in the general education program before you can register for the exam," Ms. Nga noted.

Many students in Dak Lak province are wondering and worrying about how to prepare for the 2025 high school graduation exam at the consultation session this morning - Photo: TRAN HUYNH

This year's high school graduation exam is definitely more difficult.

Since October 2024, the Ministryof Education and Training has announced reference exam questions.

“This year’s high school graduation exam is definitely more difficult than previous years, focusing a lot on applied knowledge, knowledge and practice. In addition to the knowledge in the program, there is also a lot of applied knowledge with questions to solve problems in social life.

Therefore, students need to pay attention during the learning process, not just learning to know, memorizing like in the past, but also understanding why it is necessary to apply knowledge into practice," Ms. Nga emphasized.

This year, the graduation exam will consider 50% of high school academic results and 50% of graduation exam scores. Therefore, candidates need to prepare carefully for the upcoming high school graduation exam.

“Currently, there is only one more semester until you graduate from high school. You have prepared for the upcoming exam, so I really hope that during this time, you will focus on studying hard,” Ms. Nga advised.

More than 5,000 students attended the 2025 admissions and career counseling program at Tay Nguyen University this morning - Photo: TRAN HUYNH

Many new points to note in university admissions

Also according to MSc. Hoang Thuy Nga, this year due to changes in the high school graduation exam, university admissions must also be adjusted accordingly.

Universities are completely proactive and autonomous in their admissions. This is one of the issues that the Ministry of Education and Training clearly notes. Schools are completely responsible for implementing their own admission methods, so there are still many different admission methods and forms.

The new point in enrollment in 2025 is that to ensure fairness and transparency, the Ministry of Education and Training requires: first, schools must announce the converted scores of all subject combinations for admission.

In previous years, schools would reserve separate quotas for each admission formula and subject group. But this year, the ministry has required a common score conversion for all of these methods.

Schools can use many methods, but must convert the scores to a common score. Therefore, students will be considered for admission according to that conversion score, and schools will have to announce this conversion score in their enrollment plan.

Second, in the admission combination, the Ministry also announced that in addition to the compulsory subjects of mathematics and literature in the admission combination, the general subjects must account for at least 50%. The general subjects, meaning that in those admission combinations, there must be at least two general subjects or one subject with a coefficient to ensure 50% of the admission combination.

Another important point is related to early admission. This change is because in previous years, many schools organized early admission and the time was very different. Students will have to follow the school's admission plan according to the school's regulations.

“Currently, the university admission regulations are still in draft and have not been officially issued. However, this year, the Ministry of Education and Training has issued regulations to limit the rate of early admission and this admission is only for excellent students with outstanding achievements,” Ms. Nga added.

The 2025 admissions and career counseling program is jointly organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper, the Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Education and Training), the Dak Lak Department of Education and Training, the Dak Lak Provincial Youth Union and Tay Nguyen University, with the support of Vingroup Corporation.

Dak Lak students question changes in university admissions – Photo: TRAN HUYNH

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan – Head of Training Department, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry – answers students’ questions about the school’s training majors and scholarship policies – Photo: TRAN HUYNH

“The consulting program has great humanitarian significance”

Dr. Do Tuong Hiep - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Dak Lak province, emphasized that the 2024-2025 school year is a special school year, high school students starting from this school year will participate in the high school graduation exam according to the new program.

Therefore, students need specific information about exams, career trends, and specific information about universities to be well prepared and make the right choice for their future career.

For our young generation living in the era of technology 4.0, opportunities come with challenges. Choosing the right industry and career is an important factor contributing to the future success of each individual.

In reality, many students have chosen the right career, developed their personal qualities and succeeded in life. However, a number of students have chosen the wrong career, and the result is more failure than success.

“I hope that the 2025 Admissions and Career Guidance Program in Dak Lak province will provide the latest and most practical information about the graduation exam, admissions, and career orientation, helping students make the right and appropriate choices. This is a program that brings confidence, instills in young people a passion, a will to rise up and start a career, and has great humanitarian significance,” said Mr. Hiep.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/de-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-2025-se-kho-hon-nam-truoc-20250111110310619.htm