How can I secure a place in a public high school (grade 10)?

Students should avoid applying to schools with excessively high admission scores compared to their abilities, as this could easily lead to failing to get into any of their three preferred schools.

The entrance exam for 10th grade in the 2025-2026 school year in Ho Chi Minh City this year will be organized using various methods. However, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training still reminds parents and students of several particularly important points.

Choose a major that matches your abilities.

The enrollment quota for 10th grade in the 2025-2026 school year at 114 public high schools in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to reach 80%, a 10% increase compared to last year. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, the enrollment quota for 10th grade is determined based on several factors. This year, the maximum enrollment quota is determined according to the capacity of each school, especially in areas with few vocational schools or private schools, to create opportunities for students to study at public high schools.

Ninth-grade students visited, experienced, and learned about Ten Lơ Man High School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) before making their choices for the 10th-grade entrance exam.

For the 2024-2025 school year, Ho Chi Minh City is expected to have over 88,000 students graduating from grade 9, a decrease of nearly 26,000 compared to the previous school year. Meanwhile, the enrollment quota for grade 10 is projected to increase by 10% compared to the previous school year. Based on the expected number of grade 9 graduates, the projected enrollment quota for grade 10 this year is approximately over 70,000 students. In addition, two renowned specialized high schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Le Hong Phong and Tran Dai Nghia, are also expected to increase their enrollment quotas for grade 10 compared to the previous year. Specifically, Tran Dai Nghia Specialized High School will increase its quota by 70 students, to 525; Le Hong Phong Specialized High School will enroll 805 students.

In the suburban areas of Ho Chi Minh City, the enrollment quota for 10th grade has undergone some changes. This year, due to the construction of a new school building at Vo Truong Toan High School (District 12), the quota will be reduced. Therefore, some nearby schools are planning to increase their enrollment quotas to meet the demand for public 10th-grade classes for students in the area.

The enrollment quota for 10th grade is a crucial basis for students to choose their preferences for the 10th grade entrance exam in June. Mr. Nguyen Hung Khuong, Principal of Ten Lo Man High School (District 1), stated that 6 important points that 9th-grade students and parents need to understand to secure a place in a public 10th-grade class are: understanding the structure of the application. Specifically, students can register for 3 preferences for public high schools in order of priority (not including preferences for specialized schools). Next, students need to choose preferences that match their abilities. For preference 1, students should choose the school they like best, with a cutoff score close to their academic ability or slightly higher if they are confident in their abilities. For preference 2, students should choose a school with a slightly lower cutoff score than preference 1 to ensure safety. For preference 3, students should choose a school with a significantly lower cutoff score than preferences 1 and 2 to increase their chances of admission. At the same time, it's important to avoid choosing all three options for schools with excessively high cutoff scores compared to your abilities, as this could easily lead to failing to get into any of your three choices.

In addition, students need to carefully study the admission scores from previous years. Parents and students should refer to the admission scores of the last three years to get an overview of the admission requirements of the schools. However, admission scores can fluctuate annually, depending on the number of applicants and the difficulty of the exam. "The application process should be based on personal interests, strengths, and the distance from home to school to ensure a suitable choice, rather than just wanting to study with friends. Furthermore, students should choose schools with convenient locations, avoiding long commutes that could affect their health and study time," Mr. Khuong said.

Pay attention to the admission process.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, the 2025-2026 10th grade entrance exam will have two admission methods. However, the selection method will only be implemented at Thanh An Secondary and High School (Can Gio District) and only for students who graduated from this school in the 2024-2025 academic year. The remaining public high schools will conduct entrance exams for candidates who graduated from secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

The entrance examination process is conducted in two stages. Stage 1: Students register three priority choices (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) to take the entrance exam for 10th grade in public high schools (excluding Le Hong Phong Specialized High School, Tran Dai Nghia Specialized High School, and the High School for the Gifted - Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City). Stage 2: Depending on the actual application situation at high schools and the needs of the high schools, the Department of Education and Training will decide on supplementary admissions and issue guidelines to ensure the rights of candidates, based on filling the enrollment quotas for schools that still have many vacancies.

For enrollment in 10th-grade classes with enhanced foreign language programs, English enhancement will be implemented in many high schools. Enhanced Chinese will be offered at Hung Vuong, Tran Khai Nguyen, Tran Quang Khai, and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia high schools. Enhanced French classes will be held at Marie Curie High School; enhanced Japanese (foreign language 1) classes will be offered at Le Quy Don, Trung Vuong, and Marie Curie high schools. The bilingual French program will be offered at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School and Marie Curie High School.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training also noted that for regular 10th grade admissions, students can register for 3 preferences in order of priority from highest to lowest (preference 1, 2, 3). If admitted to a particular preference, they must study at that preference and cannot change their preference.

For admission to specialized 10th grade classes, the specialized schools include Le Hong Phong Specialized High School and Tran Dai Nghia Specialized High School. Both schools are permitted to accept candidates who have graduated from junior high school in other provinces and cities, provided that these candidates fully meet the requirements of the current examination regulations, and the registration process follows the guidelines issued by the Department of Education and Training…

Nearly 50,000 places available for 10th grade in private schools.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, in addition to over 70,000 places for 10th grade in public schools, this year colleges, vocational schools, continuing education centers, and private schools are recruiting nearly 50,000 more students for 10th grade.

Accordingly, students who have graduated from junior high school can register for admission to the above-mentioned types of schools and submit their application directly to the school or center during the admission periods throughout the year as stipulated by the school or center. For admission to private schools, schools conduct admissions according to their own proactive plans, without exceeding the annual quotas, and the application documents must comply with regulations.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/lam-sao-chac-suat-hoc-lop-10-cong-lap-196250410214115172.htm