Struggling with math, literature, English to take the 10th grade entrance exam

L TIGHT CLASS SCHEDULE

In Hanoi , the exam only recruited less than 56% of the target for public high schools, so it was extremely stressful. MA, a student at Kim Giang Secondary School (Thanh Xuan District), registered 3 wishes to enter grade 10 of a public high school with the standard scores ranging from high to low, in which the last wish was a high school in a suburban district, which had a very low standard score in previous years. MA shared that both of her parents have low incomes, so they cannot afford to send their children to private schools with high tuition fees. Therefore, she determined that "she must pass the exam to get into a public school, even if she has to study far from home". Because of that pressure, MA focused on studying for the exam, especially in the last "sprint" weeks before the exam, MA spent as much time as possible on studying.

During this time, the school had also finished the final semester exams at the junior high school level, so the timetable was only for teaching grade 9 students three subjects: literature, math, and English. During the week, MA had 2 mornings to attend literature classes, 2 mornings to study English, and 2 sessions to study math. In the afternoon and evening, almost every day, MA did some intensive practice tests for literature and math, and the rest of the time, she mainly did the same types of questions from the previous year.

MN, a 9th grade student at Nguyen Du Secondary School (Hoan Kiem District), said that her number one dream is to get into 10th grade at Viet Duc High School, one of the top schools in Hanoi. MN registered to study with teachers who she was told were the best to achieve her dream. Therefore, her study schedule is packed with 3 shifts a day, not to mention doing homework at night until about 1 am before going to bed. "I only sleep about 5 hours a day, from the beginning of 9th grade until now, I have not had the concept of days off or holidays, but I will overcome it, as long as I can get into my favorite school," MN said.

Teacher Vo Kim Bao, Nguyen Du Secondary School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), guides 9th grade students on test-taking skills for literature subject.

Hanoi decided to test 3 subjects: Math, Literature, English to enroll students in grade 10, but because Math and Literature are the 2 subjects with a coefficient of 2 in the entrance exam for grade 10 in Hanoi, many students spend most of their time reviewing these 2 subjects. After class time and extra classes, at night, students are busy doing homework assigned by teachers both in class and extra classes, doing it themselves according to the previous year's exam format... The exam questions for these 2 subjects are highly differentiated, so getting a score to enter a top school is a big challenge.

PARENTS ARE "TENSIVE AS A PHANTOM STRING"

This year is the third year that Hanoi has applied the regulation of not allowing students to change their major after knowing the "competition ratio" of each school, as it has done many years ago. This has increased the pressure on students and their parents from the stage of deciding on a major to the process of reviewing and preparing for this exam.

Having a child taking the 10th grade entrance exam this year, Ms. Minh Hue (Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi) said: "The whole family is "standing and sitting" restlessly because this year the number of students taking the exam has increased while the rate of students assigned to public high schools has decreased (last year it was about 62%, this year it is more than 55%), so from students to families and teachers of 9th grade, everyone is more stressed if the family can only afford to send their children to public schools like our family. During the last 5-day holiday, the whole family agreed not to travel or return to the countryside to "accompany" the children to study for the exam."

Mr. VD, a parent whose daughter is in grade 9 at a secondary school in Thanh Xuan District (Hanoi), shared his daughter's anxiety these days: "Although she only chose "modest" NV to enter schools with the lowest standard scores, she was under pressure because her math teacher, who was also her homeroom teacher, always "threatened" her: "If she gets a low score on the exam, anyone who asks about her score will be ashamed for both the teacher and the student". Therefore, I always have to encourage her to stay calm and try her best."

Grade 9 students of Nguyen Du Secondary School (Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City) in a review session to prepare for the grade 10 exam.

C SCHOOLS WITH INCREASED PERIODS AND CONCENTRATED REVIEW

Ms. Luu Thi Nguyet Minh, teacher at Cau Dien Secondary School (Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi), shared: At this time, teachers teaching exam subjects are required to increase review classes by topic, review lessons at the beginning or end of class to support students with knowledge and test-taking skills. At the same time, they coordinate closely with parents to remind and check students' homework every night. Teachers work until the end of their work, not until the end of their time, so many teachers often come home late, even at 7-8 pm. At this time, teachers increase practice tests for students in the form of previous years' tests so that students understand the structure and how to do the tests to prepare for the upcoming important exam.

Recently, the Department of Education and Training of Ba Dinh District (Hanoi) has continuously organized seminars to share experiences in reviewing for the 10th grade entrance exam for all teachers in the district in all three subjects: literature, math, and English. Mr. Le Duc Thuan, Head of the Department of Education and Training of this district, said that the most experienced teachers in the district shared the most effective ways to review for the exam, and how to guide students in the skills of doing each subject to achieve high results.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Nguyen Cong Phuc Khanh, Vice Principal of Nguyen Du Secondary School (District 1), said that for subjects that are not entrance exams for grade 10, since May 8, teachers have uploaded lectures to the online learning system LMS so that students can complete their learning tasks of the program. The remaining students study directly at school in 3 subjects: math, literature and English in the morning with a duration of 6-7 periods/subject/week, the afternoon will be for self-study and self-review...

Because the 10th grade entrance exam takes place in early June, right after the end of the school year, 9th grade students do not have time to prepare for the exam. Therefore, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dac, Principal of Nguyen Gia Thieu Secondary School (Tan Binh District), said that as soon as the semester tests are completed, in the remaining 2 weeks of the school year, teachers will review the key knowledge. After that, the main time is spent reviewing the types of exercises and answering questions.

Meanwhile, 9th grade students at Le Loi Secondary School (District 3) will spend all mornings reviewing math, literature, and English with teachers; in the afternoon, they will complete the curriculum of the remaining subjects.

Ms. Duong Huu Nghia, Principal of Le Loi Secondary School, said that students have 3 weeks to review for the exam with a specific schedule.

Intensify review

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Chau, Principal of Tan Tao Secondary School (Binh Tan District), said that from May 15, students will study according to the new timetable and focus on 3 subjects for the 10th grade exam. Teachers will implement review content according to the structure of the entrance exam. "Test-taking skills are important content that teachers will pay attention to and provide as well as supplement in a timely manner so that students are confident and ready for the exam in early June," Ms. Chau emphasized.

Need to pay attention to the psychology of candidates

In terms of psychological preparation for students in this exam, Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong, Principal of Thai Thinh Secondary School (Dong Da District, Hanoi), said that many students are haunted by the prejudice of "failing high school" when they do not pass the public high school or top school. Therefore, according to Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong, instead of creating pressure, families should choose a destination that suits their abilities so that their confidence can be best exploited. Public high school is not the only choice, so it is necessary to have sharing from parents and families so that students can avoid unnecessary pressure and hurt.

Mr. Tran The Cuong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, said that schools also have many solutions such as strengthening testing and evaluating the review process; classifying subjects to have appropriate review methods and content, including increasing training for good and excellent students and assigning experienced teachers to tutor weak and poor students for free; promptly supporting students in difficult circumstances. Psychological counseling is also considered important to reduce unnecessary pressure, helping students enter the exam with confidence.

Tue Nguyen

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