The cutoff scores differ significantly.
As of June 16th, 17 provinces and cities have announced the exam scores and admission standards for 10th grade in public high schools for the 2026-2027 school year. This year's admissions landscape continues to show a strong differentiation between schools, especially between urban centers and suburban, rural, and mountainous areas.
According to Circular No. 30/2024/TT-BGDĐT on the regulations for admission to junior and senior high schools, the admission score for grade 10 is calculated from the total score of all exam subjects on a 10-point scale, and the announcement of the cutoff scores must be done simultaneously with the announcement of the exam results. However, what has attracted the most public attention is the huge disparity in cutoff scores between schools in the same locality.
In Bac Ninh , Han Thuyen High School continues to hold the top position with a first-choice admission score of 22.76 points. Following closely behind are Ly Thai To High School with 21 points and Thai Thuan High School with 20.5 points. Meanwhile, Ngo Si Lien High School only required 9.38 points. The difference between the highest and lowest scores is as much as 13.38 points.
Similar trends were observed in many other localities. In Ninh Binh, the cutoff scores ranged from 10.5 to 24.5 points. Ha Tinh recorded the highest score at 24.75 points and the lowest at 15 points. Hung Yen had a range from 13.1 to 24.5 points. Dong Nai ranged from 11 to 24.75 points. Lai Chau ranged from 9.5 to 22.5 points.
Notably, in Da Nang, Phan Chau Trinh High School had the highest admission score with 35.5 points, while some other schools only required scores between 7.5 and 8 points. This is explained by the fact that the admission score for 10th grade in Da Nang is not only calculated from the results of the three exams like other localities, but also includes the total score for academic performance and conduct over the four years of junior high school, along with priority points and bonus points (if any).
According to observations in Hanoi over the years, low admission scores at many suburban schools mainly stem from the issue of student recruitment rather than the quality of teaching. Mr. Hoang Chi Sy, Principal of Luu Hoang High School, said that the school is located in the southern part of the former Ung Hoa district, an area with a sparse population and a decreasing number of students while the network of high schools is expanding.
However, the paradox is that low entrance scores do not necessarily mean low output. Many schools with low entrance scores still maintain a near-perfect high school graduation rate for many consecutive years. A significant number of students, after three years of study, have achieved scores ranging from 25 to 29 points in the university entrance exam and been admitted to top universities.
This shows that the admission scores primarily reflect the level of competition for enrollment, the attractiveness and preference of parents and students for each school, rather than the quality of the graduates. However, the large disparity in the quality of incoming students still poses many challenges for schools with low admission scores. When admitting students with uneven knowledge and learning abilities, schools must make greater efforts in tutoring, support, and individualizing teaching to help students keep up with the curriculum, while also meeting the requirements for developing qualities and competencies according to the 2018 General Education Program.
Narrow the gap
A noteworthy fact is the significant gap between the number of students entering and graduating from many high schools. While top-tier schools have a high-quality student intake from the outset, many schools in suburban areas have to accept students with significantly lower academic abilities. Yet, high school graduation results over the years show that many schools with low entry requirements still maintain a 100% graduation rate.
This raises the question: are benchmarks the only measure of a school's quality?
According to Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh, former Director of Professional Education (Ministry of Education and Training), the underlying cause of the pressure in 10th-grade admissions is the disparity in quality and educational conditions between schools. To solve this problem, localities need a roadmap to improve quality uniformly instead of focusing only on a few key schools. When the quality gap is narrowed, parents will be less inclined to prioritize certain schools, and students will have more suitable choices.
From the school's perspective, supporting students with lower academic levels is still being implemented through various solutions. For example, at Luu Hoang High School, Dai Cuong High School, and Bat Bat High School (Hanoi), teachers organize intensive tutoring for weak students and maintain review sessions right up to the graduation exam. In addition to classroom learning, students are also supported through online learning platforms to consolidate their knowledge.
According to experts, another important solution is to build a support mechanism among schools in the same locality. Schools with strengths should share management experience, professional development activities, support for key teachers, organize model lessons and thematic activities for schools that are still struggling.
Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son also emphasized the need to continue improving the network of educational facilities, increasing investment in classrooms, laboratories, teaching equipment, and developing the teaching staff. When the school network is rationally arranged, students' opportunities to access quality education will be expanded.
Source: https://daidoanket.vn/nghich-ly-chenh-lech-diem-chuan-lop-10.html
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