Advice for students taking 10th grade exams

Many provinces and cities are in the process of organizing admissions to public grade 10 schools for the 2025-2026 school year. For candidates in big cities, this is a challenging exam to get into their favorite high school, especially when this year is the first time the exam is under the new program.

Preparing for this important moment, many principals and teachers have given messages of encouragement and sharing with students before the exam day.

STAY HEALTHY, PAY ATTENTION TO DIET

At the graduation and gratitude ceremony for 9th grade students held at the end of May, Ms. Nguyen Doan Trang, Principal of Nguyen Du Secondary School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), had words of encouragement for the students: "You have tried your best to study. In the coming days, please allocate reasonable time to rest, review your knowledge, review the mistakes you often make to avoid when doing the test, and carefully do the parts you are sure of to get the best score. In particular, you need to take care of your health and pay attention to your diet during these days when there are only a few days left until the exam. Prepare all kinds of papers, pens, and study tools carefully. Before the exam, do not eat too much or drink too much water to keep the best mood in the exam room. Be confident and comfortable when solving the questions to avoid anxiety and instability in the exam room, read and complete easy questions and your strengths to achieve the best results."

Grade 9 students in Ho Chi Minh City review for the grade 10 entrance exam taking place this weekend.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

Bring not only knowledge to the exam room, but also calmness and confidence. Believe in your own efforts. Believe that any difficulty will pass, if you are steadfast.

Mr. HUYNH THANH PHU (Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City)

Ensure maximum benefits for candidates in all situations

This week, the entrance exam for grade 10 public schools in many localities takes place. In Ho Chi Minh City, the exam will be held on June 6 and 7 with 76,435 students registering, down about 23.5% compared to previous years. As a result, the competitive pressure to enter public high schools is expected to decrease compared to previous school years.

During the training sessions on organizing the 10th grade exam last week, Mr. Le Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, said that this year's exam had many innovations in content, leading to anxiety among candidates and their parents, thereby creating pressure on the exam board.

The Department of Education and Training recommends that exam invigilators need to be alert, handle unusual situations according to regulations, and not be "creative" on their own. Accordingly, in case of needing to change seats for many candidates (due to rain, leakage, etc.), exam invigilators need to notify the supervisor who will promptly notify the chairman of the exam council.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, in unexpected or urgent situations, the invigilator can stop the test, fold the test paper, change seats, wait for the chairman of the examination board to give his opinion before allowing the test takers to retake the test and add more time to make up for it (if necessary).

During the test, if a candidate wants to ask for more or change the test paper, the invigilator will only allow more or change the test paper after checking the specific situation. All extra paper, damaged writing, or additional paper must not be torn, cut, or trimmed, but must be kept in a separate place. The invigilator will not collect the test paper on scratch paper attached to the test paper.

In case the invigilator signs the wrong answer sheet of the candidate, the invigilator must not ask the candidate to change the answer sheet if it is already time to do the test. The invigilator should let the candidate do the test normally and handle the matter by recording any irregularities in the minutes so that the secretariat and the marking committee can handle them according to the instructions, without affecting the rights of the candidate.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training reminds exam supervisors not to arbitrarily handle unusual situations or incidents, especially those that affect the rights of candidates. When an unusual situation occurs, it is necessary to immediately report to the chairman of the exam board (through the exam room supervisor) for instructions on how to handle it. At the same time, the chairman of the exam board must report all unusual situations or incidents to the department for instructions, so as not to affect the rights of candidates.

Regarding the common mistake that candidates often make when entering the exam room, which is bringing a cell phone, Mr. Le Hoai Nam said: "If the invigilator has reminded the candidate many times but the candidate still intentionally brings it in, it is the candidate's fault. However, if the invigilator does not remind or only reminds once, and the candidate is too stressed and accidentally brings a cell phone into the exam room, it is the invigilator's responsibility. Therefore, the invigilator needs to remind the candidate many times so that he/she does not bring a cell phone into the exam room."

"After the 10th grade entrance exam, you should spend time learning about the learning methods, the high school learning environment, or practicing more skills. You should build your own adaptability, which is a necessary ability for each of us in the new era. Accept the new with a ready, positive mindset and a kind and tolerant heart...", the principal said.

BRING CALM AND CONFIDENCE INTO THE EXAM ROOM

According to Mr. Huynh Thanh Phu, Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), this year is the first year that the 10th grade exam applies the 2018 General Education Program, and the exam questions have many innovations. However, that is not a challenge, but an opportunity for students to fully demonstrate what they have learned and understood.

Literature questions will no longer be limited to the memorization model, but will open up from the pages of life books, where students read, feel and write with real emotions. Math questions will not only test problem-solving skills but also require thinking and application, just like the way students think in everyday life. English questions will require flexibility in language, not only to answer, but to communicate, understand others and express oneself.

These innovations reflect the spirit of the new general education program, which focuses on students and aims at developing skills. If students have studied with passion, read more with interest, and practiced not only for the exam but also for understanding, then this exam is no longer a worry, but an opportunity to shine.

"Bring not only knowledge to the exam room, but also calmness and confidence. Believe in your own efforts. Believe that any difficulty will pass if you are steadfast. Do the test sincerely. Read the questions carefully, understand deeply, and write clearly what you think. If you encounter a strange question, don't panic. Strangeness is an opportunity to demonstrate adaptability. Newness is an opportunity to be creative and think independently," Mr. Phu encouraged.

Many messages, sharing, and encouragement from teachers to grade 9 students before they enter the grade 10 exam.

Photo: BC

DO YOUR ESSAY SCIENTIFICALLY

To help students confidently enter the 10th grade exam, Mr. Nguyen Bao Quoc, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, advised that at this time, students need to spend time reviewing knowledge in each subject, and mastering the key knowledge.

According to Mr. Quoc, when entering the exam room, students should not rush to do the test immediately but should read the questions carefully. In fact, during the 10th grade entrance exam season every year, many students regrettably lose points just because they do not read the questions carefully, leading to getting off topic or doing the wrong requirements of the questions.

You should allocate your time reasonably. Do the easy questions first, and do them well. Do the difficult questions later. Don't spend too much time solving a single question, as this will lead to not finishing the test on time, affecting your test results.

For parents, Mr. Quoc emphasized that during this time, they should share, encourage and be with their children but should not put pressure on them. Regularly talk to their children to know and resolve the difficulties and pressures they are facing during the exam, helping them maintain a comfortable mentality and the best health. The encouragement and companionship of parents at this time plays a very important role for each student, giving them more confidence to enter the 10th grade entrance exam smoothly.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/loi-khuyen-cho-hoc-sinh-thi-lop-10-185250601184035843.htm