What is so difficult about the 2024 National Excellent Student Literature Exam that candidates complain about?

This morning (December 25), candidates took the Literature exam to select excellent national students in 2024. There were many opinions surrounding this exam.

National Literature Exam for Excellent Students 2024

Many teachers and students shared the National Literature exam for excellent students in the 2024-2025 school year right after the exam ended.

The Literature exam consists of two parts: Social Essay (8 points) and Literary Essay (12 points). Candidates have 180 minutes to complete the test.

In which, the Social Essay section is given an excerpt by James Lovelock: "The Earth seems to be a living entity...". From the excerpt, the question requires candidates to write an essay on the topic "Listening to the silence".

In the Literary Essay section, the question requires candidates to discuss the idea: "The artist trains himself in a constant relationship with others, on the path between the beauty that cannot be ignored and the community that cannot be separated from."

Literature exam for national excellent students. Photo: CMH

Public opinion as well as many teachers said that the question uses complex language and expressions. The abstract concept of "silence", not common in everyday language, can lead to the risk of students not understanding the requirements for developing the writing.

Besides, many people feel confused about question 2: "I wonder how candidates will understand its content, whether they can understand it correctly and then how to do the test when they have to guess the author's intention in such an unpredictable way? How can one comment on an opinion when they do not understand it or can completely misunderstand it?". Meanwhile, many people think that this is a good and creative test.

Speaking with Dan Viet newspaper reporter, Master of Theory and Teaching Methodology of Literature Le Tran Dieu Thu, who teaches Literature at the Faculty of Political Education and Basic Sciences, College of Urban Construction, commented: "Overview of the structure and content, the exam is divided into two major questions. Question 1 Social essay revolves around a profound quote about the relationship between humans, nature and life. The question requires students to write an essay on the topic "Listening to silence", provoking thoughts about the value of silence in personal and social life. Question 2 Literary essay is based on a statement by Albert Camus, revolving around the mission of the artist on the journey of artistic creation, focusing on the relationship between beauty and community.

The good point of the exam is its depth and multidimensionality. The question not only tests theoretical knowledge but also encourages students to think, be creative and express their personality through argumentation. Question 1 explores a topical but highly humane topic: modern people often forget "silence" in life, and through that, students can develop a thinking that connects individuals, society and nature.

Question 2 requires students not only to analyze an artistic perspective but also to make deep connections with literary works, to clarify the role of beauty and the social responsibility of the artist.

The topic is open-ended, encourages creativity, does not impose a fixed template, and creates conditions for students to freely express their thoughts and personal opinions. The topic is related to universal values ​​such as beauty, art, and responsibility to the community, and can be developed from many perspectives.

The exam also has a connection between practice and literature. Question 1 focuses on the issue of people in modern society, suggesting students to think about sustainable values ​​such as nature and inner self. Question 2 requires a harmonious combination of literary theory and reading experience, thereby affirming the role of art in life.

However, the challenge of the exam is its high level of difficulty. Question 1 with the topic "listening to silence" is not easy to visualize if students lack life experience, reasoning ability and practical connection. Students need the ability to think deeply to develop arguments convincingly.

Sentence 2 of the Albert Camus quote is quite complex in its ideas. Students need to understand the two big concepts (beauty and community responsibility) and the relationship between them, and must cite evidence from literature. This requires students to have a deep literary appreciation and a rich knowledge base.

The exam is also highly specialized, requiring students to be able to express themselves fluently, make sharp arguments, and organize their writing logically. If students do not practice their reasoning skills closely or are not used to writing long essays, it is easy to fall into a rambling or lack-depth writing style.

For both questions, especially question 1, students need to have social knowledge and the ability to observe and experience reality. Otherwise, the essay will easily become theoretical and unconvincing.

Overall, this is a good and humane exam, encouraging students to think and be creative, while also practicing necessary skills such as argumentation, analysis and practical connections. However, the exam is highly difficult, requiring candidates to have a broad knowledge base, sharp thinking ability and rich life experience to achieve high scores. The exam is suitable for gifted students but may be a bit "overwhelming" for students who are not well prepared or lack the ability to connect with reality.

From this test, Master Dieu Thu also has a suggestion: Question 1 can provide some more specific suggestions to help students orient themselves better, avoiding falling into a rambling writing style. Question 2 should incorporate some examples from literature or art into the question so that students can easily access it, especially for those who are not familiar with Albert Camus's philosophical thinking. This test is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity for students to demonstrate their talent, personality and deep understanding.

Previously, on December 24, the National High School Excellent Student Examination for the 2024-2025 school year officially opened at 68 Examination Councils nationwide, with 6,482 candidates registered to take the exam, an increase of 663 candidates compared to the 2023-2024 school year. This year's exam includes 13 subjects: Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Informatics, Literature, History, Geography, English, Russian, French, Chinese, Japanese. Of which, this is the first year Japanese is held.

Source: https://danviet.vn/de-thi-van-chon-hoc-sinh-gioi-quoc-gia-2024-co-gi-ma-thi-sinh-than-kho-2024122516274177.htm