How will HCMC students take semester exams after the merger?

On October 26, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City provided guidance on the assessment of middle and high school students with regulations on time, organization form and required content of mid-term and final exams for semester 1.

Schools can implement a variety of forms of student assessment tests.

PHOTO: BICH THANH

The 2025-2026 school year is the first year after the merger of the former Binh Duong Department of Education and Training and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Education and Training into the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training.

According to statistics from the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City currently has 458 secondary schools and 174 high schools with a total of about 968,000 students. Secondary schools and high schools will periodically conduct mid-term 1 assessments after the 8th week of semester 1, which is around the beginning of November, and complete the final exam of semester 1 before January 3, 2026.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training guides students to test through tests (on paper or on computer), practice tests, and learning projects.

The test time (on paper or on computer) for subjects (excluding clusters of learning topics) with 70 periods/school year or less is 45 minutes; subjects (excluding clusters of learning topics) with more than 70 periods/school year are from 60 minutes to 90 minutes; specialized subjects are a maximum of 120 minutes.

For tests (on paper or on computer) assessed by scores, the test is built based on the matrix and specifications of the test, meeting the requirements of the subject specified in the 2018 General Education Program.

For tests (on paper or on computer) assessed by comments, practice tests, and learning projects, there must be instructions and assessment criteria according to the subject's requirements specified in the 2018 General Education Program before implementation.

At the same time, according to the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, the form and structure of the test in the innovative direction (essay, multiple choice, multiple choice combined with essay, ratio of question levels...) are decided by the principal after agreeing with the professional team, ensuring assessment and classification of students.

In his professional guidance to junior high and high schools, Mr. Nguyen Bao Quoc, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized that schools must develop a testing and assessment plan that is consistent with the teaching plan. Do not test or assess beyond the required level or level of the General Education program; do not test or assess the simplified content according to the instructions of the Ministry of Education and Training.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training requested schools to effectively implement forms and methods of assessment, regular assessment and periodic assessment. Encourage the building of question banks and test banks.

For subjects and educational activities assessed by comments, it is recommended to conduct periodic tests and assessments through practical exercises and learning projects appropriate to the specific characteristics of the subjects and educational activities. The innovation of methods and forms of testing and assessment of subjects must ensure the requirements of honesty, objectivity, fairness, and accurate assessment of students' learning and training results.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hoc-sinh-tphcm-sau-sap-nhap-se-kiem-tra-hoc-ky-nhu-the-nao-185251026162231807.htm