Supporting your child to confidently enter the 10th grade entrance exam.

In just a few days, more than 19,000 students in Thai Nguyen province will take the entrance exam for 10th grade in the 2026-2027 school year. This is considered one of the most competitive exams, attracting significant social attention, so pressure is inevitable. In these final days, many families are accompanying their children as they prepare for this pivotal exam.

Digital Marketing class for students in the 9+ age group atFPT PolySchool.

At 7 PM, having just finished an extra tutoring session, Tran Quang Hieu, a 9th-grade student at Chu Van An Secondary School, returned to his desk to work on his unfinished exam preparation materials.

In just a few days, Hieu will be taking the 10th grade entrance exam with the goal of getting into the specialized Math class at Thai Nguyen High School for Gifted Students. In a learning environment with many talented students, he understands that he needs to work harder to pursue his chosen goal. “Sometimes I feel tired. But my classmates are all very hardworking and focused on studying for the exam, so I try my best too. I like math, so I want to try my luck in the specialized Math class. Although I'm not really confident yet, I still want to give it a try,” Hieu shared.

Hieu's pressure doesn't come from his parents' urging, but from his own learning environment, where his classmates are all working hard every day for the upcoming exams. This pressure is also a common story for many 9th-grade students during the final stretch of the exam period. During the peak days of exam preparation, Hieu's study schedule is almost full all day, even extending into the night. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, Hieu's mother, shared: "Before, it was the university entrance exam, now it's the 10th-grade entrance exam. There's only one exam, so the children are under a lot of pressure. The family can only encourage him."

According to the enrollment plan for the 2026-2027 school year, Thai Nguyen province will enroll 19,430 students into 10th grade. The enrollment system includes public high schools, specialized schools, ethnic boarding schools, private schools, and many other types of educational institutions . However, for many students and parents, the goal remains to attend high schools with good quality and prestige, or those that suit their family's circumstances. This is why the 10th grade entrance exam always receives significant social attention.

Dr. Le Thi Phuong Hoa, Head of the Psychology Department at the University of Education (Thai Nguyen University), commented: In recent years, the entrance exam for 10th grade has been a very stressful exam, not only for students but also for parents. In many respects, it even creates greater pressure than university entrance exams.

During the peak exam preparation period, Tran Quang Hieu, a 9th-grade student at Chu Van An Secondary School, has a nearly full study schedule that lasts all day, sometimes even extending into the night.

According to psychologists, the pressure stems from many causes. While the demand for admission to public high schools is always high, the number of schools and classes in each locality remains limited. In addition, the desire for children to attend highly-rated schools creates pressure on students and their families.

However, in the current educational landscape, after lower secondary school, students' learning opportunities are not limited to a single option. Along with public and private high schools, many vocational training models that combine academic studies are opening up more paths suitable to students' abilities, interests, and career aspirations.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuan Anh, from Quyet Thang ward, a parent whose child is studying at FPT PolySchool, shared: "Initially, our family intended for our child to attend a traditional high school. However, after careful consideration and listening to our child's wishes, we decided to choose a learning environment that better suited her abilities and interests. To this day, our family is completely satisfied with that decision."

The 10th grade entrance exam remains a significant milestone in every student's academic journey. But it's not the only door that determines their future. What students need during these days is not just knowledge, but also encouragement and support from family, school, and society to enter the exam room with the utmost confidence...

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/giao-duc/202605/dong-hanh-de-con-vung-tin-buoc-vao-ky-thi-lop-10-cec3c5d/