A unique atmosphere at the free exam preparation class in Ho Chi Minh City.

(NLĐO) - Despite the lack of desks and having to utilize late-night hours, the special classroom at Nguyen Huu Cau High School is always filled with laughter.

Despite the unexpected early May rains, the special class at Nguyen Huu Cau High School (Ba Diem commune, Ho Chi Minh City) still maintains a full attendance of students preparing for the Vietnamese language proficiency assessment exam.

Every week, after 6 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the auditorium becomes a special study room for students preparing for exams. This is a free exam preparation class led by Mr. Nguyen Minh Hieu, a Literature teacher at the school.

In 2025, when the first cohort of students from the 2018 general education program took the National University of Ho Chi Minh City's competency assessment exam, Mr. Hieu couldn't help but worry: "Many students struggle with linguistic knowledge, especially in text processing skills. They cannot identify the core meaning of the text to make accurate choices."

Driven by this concern, the teacher proposed to the school's administration to open a free review class to support students during this crucial period. In 2026, the class continued to operate with a total of over 600 students.

Due to the large number of students, Mr. Hieu had to divide the exam preparation sessions into two per week. In the "final push" phase of the second round of the National Competency Assessment Exam, the class had over 350 students studying together.

Those who arrived first sat close together, leaving space for those who came later. Although there were no desks, the students studied diligently and seriously.

Even after 20 hours, the class was still very lively, with students engrossed in solving problems and discussing. In this class, students don't need to pay any extra fees; even the study materials are covered by the school.

"Before class, Mr. Hieu strictly requires students to eat a full meal to ensure their health. Absolutely no over-studying is allowed," shared Hoang Mai, a student in class 12A8.

The auditorium was packed, so some students who arrived later quietly set up extra tables outside, avoiding disturbing those sitting in the front.

"Teacher, I think this material is great, please use it to create exam questions for us!" This simple statement, however, contains a lot of affection and trust from the students. Teacher Hieu recounts that many students who take online tutoring courses proactively send him useful materials for reference, thus contributing to enriching the exam preparation materials for the whole class.

"What impressed me most was the teacher's humorous teaching style and positive energy. For each answer, he analyzed it very specifically, providing examples that were easy to understand and remember. Although he didn't teach the regular class directly, he could remember most of the names, nicknames, and hobbies of the 12th-grade students at our school," expressed Tuan Minh, a student in class 12A7.

Around 8:30 PM, although class had ended, many students still lingered, seeking further guidance from the teacher. In the first round of the National Competency Assessment Exam, Nguyen Huu Cau High School had 535 students participating. Of these, 161 students scored above 900 points, and 9 students scored above 1000 points. The school's average exam score was 848 points.

The second round of the 2026 National University Entrance Examination will take place on May 24th. In 2026, nearly 120 universities and colleges within and outside the Ho Chi Minh City National University system will use the results of this exam for admissions.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/khong-khi-dac-biet-o-lop-luyen-thi-mien-phi-o-tphcm-19626050703352856.htm