With the 2025 high school graduation exam featuring two programs simultaneously, provincial Departments of Education and Training are concerned.

In 2025, the Ministry of Education and Training will have to organize the high school graduation exam simultaneously for students studying under both the 2006 and 2018 general education programs, with different numbers of subjects, exam papers, exam rooms, and exam organization methods. Representatives from provincial Departments of Education and Training expressed concern and made several proposals to the Ministry of Education and Training.

On the morning of April 3rd, at Van Lang University (Ho Chi Minh City), the Ministry of Education and Training organized a training conference on regulations and procedures for organizing the 2025 high school graduation exam, with the participation of leaders from the Departments of Education and Training of 63 provinces and cities.

Leaders of provincial Departments of Education and Training presented their suggestions and proposals at the training conference on regulations and procedures for organizing the 2025 high school graduation exam.

PHOTO: MY QUYEN

Even if there is only one candidate, the exam must be conducted according to regulations.

According to Professor Huynh Van Chuong, Director of the Quality Management Department of the Ministry of Education and Training, there are some differences in the organization of exams between the 2006 and 2018 general education programs. Specifically, regarding the printing of exam papers, the 2006 program required 24 sets of multiple-choice exam papers in each envelope, printed on 4-5 A4 sheets, while the 2018 program only printed enough papers for the number of candidates in the exam room. For example, for a room with 10 candidates taking the physics exam, only sets 01 to 10 would be printed, on both sides of one A3 sheet.

Regarding exam supervision, candidates taking only the second subject in the elective/combined exam must be present 10 minutes before the exam time for the 2006 program, while candidates in the 2018 program must be present from the beginning of the session and wait in the waiting room. The time between the two subjects in the 2006 program is 10 minutes, while in the 2018 program it is 15 minutes. In addition, candidates in the 2006 program are allowed to use an atlas during the geography exam, while candidates in the 2018 program are not allowed to use one…

Given the nature of the 2018 program and the changes in university admissions for 2025, the number of examination rooms this year will increase compared to previous years due to candidates registering for more different subject combinations. Therefore, according to Mr. Chuong, the principle for assigning examination rooms will be based on the elective subjects. During the elective exam session, once the exam paper for a subject has been distributed, all candidates registered for that subject in that examination room must take the exam immediately. In addition, in each session of the elective exam, multiple subjects can be taken simultaneously in one examination room.

In particular, Mr. Chuong emphasized: "The examination councils of provinces and cities need to organize separate examination centers for candidates taking the 2006 program. Even if only one candidate registers, a separate examination must be organized in accordance with the regulations for candidates in this program."

Is it necessary to establish two examination boards?

Expressing concern about simultaneously organizing exams for two groups of students from two different educational programs with varying subjects, exam questions, and organizational methods, a representative from the Cao Bang Provincial Department of Education and Training shared: "This year, the province only has 5,000 candidates with 21 exam centers for the 2018 program and 3 exam centers for the 2006 program, but we still cannot be negligent or complacent. We request the Ministry to provide more specific guidance on the organization of exams for the two programs. Should all stages be organized independently, and are two examination boards necessary?"

Ms. Le Thi Thanh Xuan, Director of the Dak Lak Department of Education and Training, informed that this year the province has over 20,000 candidates with 33 examination centers and 900 examination rooms, including 2 centers for candidates studying the 2006 curriculum. The province has mobilized more than 3,000 teachers and staff to participate in the exam. "Due to many new aspects with higher difficulty, complexity, and requirements, the department also hopes for guidance and direction from the Ministry," Ms. Xuan said.

Representatives from the Quang Tri Department of Education and Training expressed concerns about the grading process, given that this year's exams are being graded under two different regulations for the 2006 and 2018 curricula. According to the old regulations, essay questions were graded separately from multiple-choice questions, while the 2018 curriculum uses a single grading committee for both essay and multiple-choice questions. They questioned how this grading committee would be organized.

12th-grade students are preparing for the high school graduation exam with several new features in June this year.

Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach

Many localities have proposed distributing exam papers early.

Some provinces and cities with a large number of candidates taking the exam in both programs have expressed concerns about the printing and copying of exam papers.

A representative from the Hanoi Department of Education and Training stated that this year the number of candidates in Hanoi is 126,000, an increase of 17,000 compared to 2024. "Given the different nature of exam organization between the two programs, we hope to have more time for preparing and printing the exam papers. Furthermore, due to the large volume of printing, machinery and technology may malfunction. Therefore, we hope that this year the Ministry will provide the exam papers 1-2 days earlier so that localities have enough time to prepare and handle any arising issues," the representative from the Hanoi Department of Education and Training proposed.

As a locality with a large number of candidates, including up to 10,000 candidates taking the exam under the 2006 program, the representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training requested the Ministry of Education and Training to provide the exam papers early. They particularly requested priority in transferring the exam papers for the 2018 program early to avoid confusion with the exam papers for the 2006 program.

Many department leaders also suggested that the Ministry should regulate the distinguishing markings between exam paper bags of the two programs to avoid printing the wrong papers, putting the papers in the wrong bags, or delivering the papers to the wrong rooms, etc.

"To ensure accurate and error-free printing and copying of exam papers, there should be two separate printing and copying committees for the two programs," a representative from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training stated. The Department also proposed that localities with a large number of independent candidates (2006 program) should apply special technical measures in the exam organization process. Furthermore, they requested that when developing exam management software, the Ministry should also consider providing support to facilitate data copying in localities with a large number of candidates, avoiding excessive time delays.

THE MINISTRY WILL REVIEW THE PROPOSALS

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong noted that this is the first year organizing the exam under the new curriculum with changes in the exam method, a reduction in the number of subjects, and a shorter time frame. However, thorough training is still needed on organizing exam sites, conducting the exams, and grading. This is especially important given the need to simultaneously organize exams for students following two different curricula.

"The printing and copying of exam papers is very important. The Department of Quality Management needs to research and advise on guidelines for the provincial departments. Exam papers should be delivered early, at least two days in advance, especially for localities with a large number of candidates such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An, etc.," Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said.

Regarding the question of whether two examination boards are needed for the two educational programs, Mr. Huynh Van Chuong commented: "We should strive to streamline and save on personnel, dividing them into working groups. Clearly assigning responsibilities, tasks, timelines, plans, and accountability will ensure everything is done seriously and effectively."

According to Mr. Chuong, the exam envelopes for the 2006 and 2018 programs will definitely be different to avoid confusion.

Two options proposed by the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Cuong, Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Education and Training, exam preparation accounts for 80% of the exam's success.

Currently, the Ministry's Inspectorate is proposing two options for inspection and auditing work.

Option 1: At the time of the exam and related activities, the Ministry's Inspectorate remains a unit of the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Department's Inspectorate remains a unit of the Department of Education and Training. The basic inspection and examination model remains stable as the model and organization of inspection and examination activities for the 2024 high school graduation exam.

Accordingly, the inspection will only cover exam preparation, grading, and review; it will only examine, not inspect, the exam supervision process.

Specifically, for locations with fewer than 20 examination rooms, the local authorities need to assign at least 2 people to supervise; for locations with 20 to 40 examination rooms, at least 3 people; and for locations with 41 or more examination rooms, at least 4 people.

Option 2: When the inspection agencies are reorganized and streamlined according to Resolution 18, Conclusion No. 134 dated March 28, 2025 of the Politburo and the Secretariat, and the Plan for reorganizing inspection agencies, the Ministry of Education and Training will not have a Ministry of Education and Training Inspection Agency and the Department of Education and Training will not have a Department of Education and Training Inspection Agency. In this case, the Ministry of Education and Training will perform the task of inspecting all stages of the examination as in Option 1. The Provincial People's Committee, the provincial steering committee, and the Department of Education and Training will carry out inspection and supervision activities according to the assigned responsibilities and functions.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-2025-cung-luc-2-chuong-trinh-cac-so-gd-dt-lo-lang-185250403220616511.htm