One candidate violated the regulations, while many others confidently predicted they would score 7-8 points in Literature.

On the morning of May 30th, nearly 125,000 Hanoi students completed the Literature exam, the first subject of the 10th grade entrance exam. The city recorded one case of violation of regulations for bringing a mobile phone into the exam room; many students assessed the exam as being of moderate difficulty and were confident of achieving scores between 7 and 8 points.

Many Hanoi candidates are confident of achieving scores of 7 to 8 in Literature.

After completing the Literature exam – the first subject of the entrance exam for 10th grade in Hanoi's public high schools for the 2026-2027 school year – on the morning of May 30th, many candidates left the exam room in a cheerful mood. Most assessed the exam as being of moderate difficulty, closely following the study guidelines, and not surprising despite using materials outside of the textbook. Many confidently predicted they would score between 7 and 8 points.

After 120 minutes of taking the exam, at many testing locations across the city such as Giang Vo Secondary School, Nguyen Trai Secondary School, Pham Hong Thai High School..., the atmosphere was quite relaxed. Smiles, handshakes, and quick exchanges with parents showed a degree of confidence among the students after the first exam.

As one of the first candidates to leave the examination center, Phan Tuan Minh, a student from Dich Vong Secondary School, said that this year's exam questions were quite similar to the content that teachers had guided them through during review. "I felt that today's exam was quite manageable and also quite similar to what we had reviewed at school. When I received the exam paper, I felt much more at ease because there weren't any unexpected question types," Minh shared.

Accordingly, the part that required the most thought was the essay question asking for solutions. “This was the most difficult part for me because I had to come up with appropriate, practical solutions that met the requirements of the question. However, I still managed to complete the assignment,” Minh said, predicting his score would be around 7.5 to 8 points.

Hanoi Grade 10 Literature exam paper, morning of May 30th.

Sharing the same opinion, Vu Thao Vi, a student from Tan Mai Secondary School, assessed the exam as not too difficult but still capable of differentiating candidates. “I found this year's Literature exam quite manageable for students. However, the exam still showed differentiation in the questions requiring solutions and some questions in the reading comprehension section,” Vi said.

According to the student, the section requiring her to propose solutions to help students connect with the world around them was the most challenging. "At first, I was a little confused because I had to think hard to come up with reasonable solutions. Then I organized my thoughts and completed the assignment relatively well," she shared.

One notable point is that despite the exam using materials outside of the textbook, many candidates were not surprised. According to them, this type of question was familiar to them during their studies under the 2018 General Education Program.

"We've been practicing with questions using materials outside of textbooks for quite some time, so we didn't encounter many difficulties. The important thing is understanding the problem and knowing how to apply reading comprehension and analytical skills," Thảo Vi said.

Not only the candidates, but many parents waiting for their children outside the exam venue also expressed relief upon seeing their children emerge in a relaxed mood. After the first exam, the psychological pressure on many students was somewhat relieved, creating a favorable mindset for the subsequent exams.

Candidates were cheerful after the Literature exam. (Photo: Reporter)

The Literature exam emphasizes independent thinking and the ability to connect with life.

Commenting on the Literature exam in the 2016-2027 Hanoi public high school entrance exam, Ms. Huong Giang, Literature teacher at Archimedes Secondary School and a teacher at Tuyensinh247.com, said that the exam continued to adhere to the innovative direction of the 2018 General Education Program, focusing on assessing competence rather than simply testing the ability to memorize knowledge.

According to Ms. Huong Giang, this year's exam maintains the same stable structure as last year, with two parts: Reading Comprehension (4 points) and Writing (6 points). All materials were selected outside of textbooks, thus helping to reduce rote learning and memorization of model essays, while also providing opportunities for students to demonstrate their reading comprehension, appreciation, and independent thinking skills.

In the Reading Comprehension section, the exam uses the poem "Moon in the Forest and the Children" by poet Thanh Thảo as the source material. This is a richly poetic text, relatable to students' hearts, yet possessing artistic depth and contemplation. The question system is structured according to levels from recognition and comprehension to application, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the candidates' ability to understand the text.

According to Ms. Huong Giang's assessment, a noteworthy point is that although the material is outside of the textbook, it does not feel unfamiliar or overly difficult for students. The poem evokes beautiful feelings about childhood, nature, and the desire to explore life. The children in the work, although living in different conditions, all share a common innocence, purity, and a yearning for broader horizons.

The questions in the Reading Comprehension section not only require students to identify poetic forms, vocabulary, imagery, or rhetorical devices, but also demand the ability to interpret the symbolic meaning of the image of "the moon" and understand the author's message. In particular, the application question requires students to choose between being content with their current life or venturing to explore new horizons, thereby presenting their own perspective and explanation.

Candidates at the Pham Hong Thai High School examination center (Photo: PV)

According to Ms. Huong Giang, this is a highly open-ended question, giving students the opportunity to express their personal opinions instead of simply repeating what they have already learned. The question does not present a single answer but encourages students to present their own viewpoints with logical and persuasive arguments. This is also one of the points that clearly demonstrates the new education program's orientation towards developing critical thinking and self-learning abilities.

In the Writing section, the exam consisted of two requirements. The literary analysis question required students to write a paragraph of approximately 200 words analyzing the imagery of children in the poem. According to Ms. Huong Giang's assessment, this is a familiar type of question but still has the potential to differentiate students effectively because they not only need to grasp the content but also appreciate the artistic value, symbolic meaning, and humanistic message that the imagery conveys.

Meanwhile, the social commentary question required students to propose solutions to create positive connections to address the situation where some young people are gradually losing connection with the world around them. This is considered a highlight of this year's exam.

According to Ms. Huong Giang, the issue addressed is very relevant to students in the context of rapidly developing digital technology. Spending too much time on social media and electronic devices has caused many young people to become withdrawn, reducing direct interaction with family, friends, and the community. However, the assignment does not focus on criticism or pointing out negative aspects, but rather guides students towards finding solutions, thereby fostering a sense of responsibility and a spirit of action.

"This type of question has a very clear educational significance. Students not only discuss a social phenomenon but also have to think about ways to build positive relationships and live more responsibly towards themselves and the community. Therefore, the question is both topical and provides guidance," commented Ms. Huong Giang.

Regarding the difficulty level, Ms. Huong Giang believes the exam was relatively manageable and suitable for the average student. The content was relevant and practical, yet still ensured the necessary differentiation. Students who have a strong grasp of reading comprehension skills, possess good communication abilities, and know how to apply their knowledge to real-world situations will have a greater chance of achieving high scores.

Parents provide support to the exam candidates. (Photo: PV)

According to predictions, this year's scores will likely be concentrated mainly in the range of 6 to 8 points. Students with sharp reasoning skills, good literary appreciation, and a personal touch in their writing could achieve scores from 8.5 to 9.5 points. Meanwhile, students with average academic ability, if they have a solid grasp of basic knowledge, can still achieve scores from 5 to 6 points.

Overall, according to Ms. Huong Giang, the Hanoi Grade 10 Literature exam for the 2026-2027 school year continues to demonstrate the spirit of innovation in testing and evaluation, oriented towards developing students' qualities and competencies.

Through richly artistic materials and issues related to real life, the exam not only tests knowledge but also encourages students to think independently, listen, connect, and demonstrate responsibility towards the world around them.

This is also an important message that the Literature subject aims for in the current educational context: studying literature is not just for passing exams, but also for understanding oneself, understanding others, and living more positively each day.

With only about 55% of junior high school graduates having the opportunity to attend public high schools, this year's exam continues to be considered one of the most competitive exams in Hanoi in recent years.

However, the confidence of many candidates after the Literature exam shows that the exam met the objectives of assessing competence according to the new curriculum, while not creating too much pressure for them right from the first exam.

The exam had a record number of candidates.

On the morning of May 30th, nearly 125,000 students in Hanoi officially began the Literature exam for the 10th grade entrance exam to public high schools for the 2026-2027 school year. Hanoi organized 224 exam centers for non-specialized 10th grade classes and 27 centers for specialized classes, mobilizing nearly 18,000 officials, teachers, and staff to serve the exam.

According to a preliminary report from the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, the Literature exam took place safely, seriously, and in accordance with regulations. Across the city, 123,692 out of 124,082 candidates participated, achieving a participation rate of 99.69%; 390 candidates were absent.

During the exam, one case of violation of regulations was recorded for bringing a mobile phone into the examination room; no invigilators violated the regulations. In addition, five candidates received medical assistance due to health issues.

In the afternoon of the same day, candidates will continue to take the Foreign Language exam in multiple-choice format for 60 minutes. On the morning of May 31st, candidates will complete the Mathematics exam - the final subject of this year's public high school entrance exam.

For students who registered to take the entrance exam for specialized high schools, they will continue to take the specialized subject exam on June 1st.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training and Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Hanoi City Examination and Admission Steering Committee, stated that the general principle emphasized at all examination centers is to strictly adhere to regulations while simultaneously creating favorable conditions and reducing pressure on candidates. The invigilators will ensure discipline in the examination rooms while also providing support to help students maintain a stable mindset and perform at their best during the exam.

In the afternoon of the same day, candidates continued to take the Foreign Language exam in the form of objective multiple-choice questions with a time limit of 60 minutes. On May 31st, candidates will complete the Mathematics exam to conclude the entrance examination for grade 10 of non-specialized public high schools for the 2026-2027 academic year.

According to regulations, to be eligible for admission to non-specialized public high schools, candidates must take all three subjects: Literature, Foreign Language, and Mathematics.

With nearly 125,000 candidates, this year's exam continues to be considered one of the most competitive exams in the capital's education sector.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/mot-thi-sinh-vi-pham-quy-che-nhieu-thi-sinh-tu-tin-dat-7-8-diem-van.html