Parents are worried about the proposed third subject for the 10th grade entrance exam.

TPO - Students and parents believe that the inclusion of a third subject in the 10th grade entrance exam ensures annual rotation, forcing students to study all subjects equally and creating more pressure than before.

Following much controversy surrounding the drawing of lots for the third subject in the 10th grade high school entrance exam, the Ministry of Education and Training has removed this phrase from the Draft Circular promulgating the Regulations on admission to junior and senior high schools. However, the new Draft stipulates that there are three methods of admission to 10th grade high school: entrance exam, selection based on academic records, or a combination of both.

For the entrance examination, to ensure uniformity, the draft regulations stipulate three subjects: Mathematics, Literature, and a third subject or combined test chosen by the Departments of Education and Training of provinces and cities, and announced before March 31st of each year.

Parents are worried about the third entrance exam for 10th grade, which puts pressure on students. (Photo: Nhu Y)

Ms. Nguyen Thu Nhung, whose child is in 9th grade this year at Dong Da Secondary School ( Hanoi ), said that she was worried about the 10th grade entrance exam, so since her child was in 8th grade, the family had enrolled her in extra classes in Math, Literature, and Foreign Languages. At the beginning of this school year, there was also information about the lottery for the third exam subject or the combined exam chosen by the Department of Education and Training.

Therefore, the possibility of the third exam subject being any subject or a combination of subjects will create much more pressure than before.

"When this information came out, parents anxiously asked each other to find extra classes for their children in subjects they were weak in. For example, my child is good at natural sciences and plans to choose this subject combination in 10th grade, but struggles with social sciences, so I'm extremely worried. If they have to take the exam in the subjects they are weak in, it will be very stressful," said Ms. Nhung.

On online forums, many parents agree with the plan to have three subjects in the high school entrance exam; however, they are concerned and worried about the secret announcement of the third subject so close to the exam date. Parents believe that the Ministry of Education and Training should adjust the time for announcing the exam subjects to allow students more time to prepare.

No matter how many subjects I have to take in the exam, it's always stressful.

Mr. Tran Manh Tung, a math teacher in Hanoi, said that the Ministry of Education and Training's general direction for the 10th grade entrance exam nationwide is to have three subjects to ensure uniformity and prevent different localities from doing things differently. However, for the third subject, students should be allowed to register for the exam according to their abilities and strengths. With this option, organizing the exam would be more difficult, but it would be more convenient for students.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Principal of Nguyen Tri Phuong Secondary School in Ba Dinh district (Hanoi), said that previously, Hanoi "finalized" three subjects for the exam: Mathematics, Literature, and Foreign Language, with a third subject announced in March each year. With the new plan proposed by the Ministry of Education and Training in the draft, it seems that one exam will be reduced for students. However, if a combined subject exam is organized, students could simultaneously study and take exams in four or five subjects.

The annual 10th grade entrance exam in Hanoi is always stressful and pressure-filled because only about 62% of students are admitted to high school. Therefore, no matter how many subjects are tested, students and parents still feel pressured. Especially this year, as it's the first year under the new general education program, students will experience some initial unfamiliarity. After one or two years, teachers and students will gradually get used to the rhythm and it will no longer be a cause for concern.

"To solve the problem of pressure, students should not attend extra classes, exam questions need to closely follow the curriculum, and more high schools should be built," Ms. Thuy said.

According to Ms. Thuy, the school decided from the beginning of the year that the two subjects of Mathematics and Literature would be tested, while foreign languages ​​are tools that students will use long-term, so careful teaching is focused on them. For the remaining subjects, any subject can be tested, so teachers are instructed to ensure students grasp the knowledge thoroughly as they teach. “Every month, the school conducts periodic tests in all subjects to assess student performance. From this, teachers know whether students have grasped the knowledge or not and provide supplementary instruction. Therefore, parents and students do not need to worry too much or send their children to extra classes,” Ms. Thuy advised.

The principal of another junior high school in Hanoi expressed concern about the content: "The combined subject exam is selected from among the subjects assessed with scores in the junior high school general education program." This needs to be clarified to avoid situations where some localities organize combined exams covering 2 or 3 subjects, putting pressure on students. Currently, the integrated Natural Science exam includes 3 subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, plus Literature and Mathematics, making a total of 5 subjects.

The draft regulations stipulate the exam time, with Literature being 120 minutes; Mathematics being 90 minutes or 120 minutes; the third subject being 60 minutes or 90 minutes; and the combined subject exam being 90 minutes or 120 minutes.

Ha Linh

Source: https://tienphong.vn/phu-huynh-lo-lang-phuong-an-thi-mon-thu-3-vao-lop-10-post1684222.tpo