Aptitude test: What do candidates do with subjects they didn't study in 3 years of high school?

Candidates walk out of the exam site of the University of Natural Sciences (Ho Chi Minh City National University) after the exam.

PHOTO: HA ANH

"The assessment test is very long, a thick stack"

In 2025, for the first time, the structure of the Ho Chi Minh City National University's competency assessment test was adjusted to match the 2018 GeneralEducation Program. The test consists of 120 multiple-choice objective questions with 150 minutes to complete and is conducted on paper.

Accordingly, the test maintains the structure of the language and mathematics sections, while increasing the number of questions in these two sections to increase the reliability and distinction of the test. The logic section - data analysis and problem solving is restructured into a scientific thinking section to assess candidates' ability in logic and scientific reasoning when solving real-life situations in the fields of science, technology, economics and society. The questions in the scientific thinking section are structured in the direction of providing information, data, facts, experimental planning, and experimental results, thereby requiring candidates to demonstrate their ability to understand and apply information, determine experimental results, and predict laws.

With this exam structure, although the structure has changed, the exam still asks for knowledge of all subjects like the previous exam. This year, students of the 2018 General Education Program will have to answer questions from subjects they did not study during the 3 years of high school. So, how did the candidates handle this knowledge part of the exam?

As the first candidate to leave the exam site of the University of Natural Sciences (Ho Chi Minh City National University) after the exam this morning, Vu Hoang Truong (Thang Long High School, Ho Chi Minh City), said that the exam was not easy to get points. This candidate is only sure to do well in about 40% of the exam. With the intention of taking the exam to apply for the logistics and supply chain management major at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, this candidate may need to take the second exam.

Commenting on the exam, Duy Khang (student of the Gifted High School - Ho Chi Minh City National University), said: "The exam is very long, about 16-17 pages thick. The exam is not too difficult but it takes a lot of time for candidates to finish it on time". Talking more about each part of the exam, this student said that the English and Vietnamese parts are not too difficult, the math part is quite time-consuming but not too difficult. The physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, economic education and law parts can be done by reading the questions. "I myself did not study history and geography for 3 years of high school, but from the material in the exam, I can do 2/3 of the questions in this part". With good handling of the exam, this candidate is confident of getting about 800 points.

Similarly, Duc Huyen (a student at the Gifted High School - Ho Chi Minh City National University) also said that the main problem was that the test was too long. As a student who did not study chemistry at high school, Huyen said that he could still solve some of the questions in this field, except for the most difficult question related to the calculation part. "The information given in the test, if you are a student who has studied chemistry, you can do it without reading the introduction. But for students who have not studied this subject, from the given definitions and formulas, you can also solve the problem but in a longer time," this candidate explained further.

Candidates taking the first round of competency assessment this morning

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

The first round of exam results were announced on April 16.

This morning (March 30), the first round of the competency assessment exam organized by Ho Chi Minh City National University took place in 25 localities spanning from the Central to the Southwest regions with 55 exam clusters and 118 exam locations.

Sharing with Thanh Nien Newspaper reporter, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Chinh, Director of the Center for Testing and Training Quality Assessment (Ho Chi Minh City National University), said: "The first round of this year's competency assessment exam had 126,338 candidates taking the exam, reaching a rate of 98.42%. In 2025, the results of this exam will be used by more than 100 universities and colleges for admission."

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Chinh also noted that the results of the first round of the competency assessment exam will be announced on April 16. From April 17 to May 7, Ho Chi Minh City National University will open the registration portal for the second round of the exam. The time to register for admission for both rounds of the exam will be announced by Ho Chi Minh City National University later.

"Similar to every year, candidates can take both exams. The higher result of the exam will be used for admission," Dr. Chinh added.

The second round of the Ho Chi Minh City National University's capacity assessment exam will be held on the morning of June 1 in 11 provinces/cities: Hue, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Tien Giang and An Giang.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thi-danh-gia-nang-luc-thi-sinh-lam-gi-voi-mon-khong-hoc-suot-3-nam-thpt-185250330122036737.htm