An English lesson of 12A2 students at Tran Phu High School (Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City) – Photo: NHU HUNG
The results showed that in order from highest to lowest, foreign languages (mostly English) 16.4%, physics 16.2%, geography 16.2%, history 15.2%, chemistry 12.4%, economic and legal education 10.4%, biology 6.2%, technology 3.9% and information technology 3.1%.
Accounts for 41% of the admission combination
Some people think that when foreign languages become an optional subject in the high school graduation exam, the choice of this subject may decrease. In previous years, foreign languages were a compulsory subject and often had the lowest average score in the high school graduation exam. However, the survey results show that foreign languages are the most chosen subject.
Localities or regions with high average foreign language scores in previous years tend to choose foreign languages as elective subjects such as Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Hanoi , Vinh Phuc or the Southeast region, the Red River Delta in general... These are localities/regions with an average foreign language score in 2024 of 6 or higher.
In addition, one reason why students choose English is that the number of university entrance exam combinations with foreign languages accounts for about 41% of the admission combinations. Of which, about 20 admission combinations have English for many training fields, so many students choose English instead of other subjects.
Another reason that needs attention is the positive impact of localeducation content in the 2018 General Education Program, which helps students better understand local needs compared to the previous period.
Therefore, it is understandable that the percentage of students choosing English is overwhelming in some localities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, etc. In the Mekong Delta region, the percentage of students choosing technology is up to 5.9%, showing a differentiation in choosing the next level of education.
Social subjects still dominate
Compared to 2024, except for the Southeast region, the general trend is that social subjects still dominate over natural subjects. The proportion of natural subjects chosen tends to decrease slightly in the surveyed provinces in the Red River Delta, Mekong Delta, and Southeast regions, mainly due to a shift to choosing foreign language subjects.
In the surveyed provinces in the Northern Midlands and Mountains, North Central and Central Coast regions, there is a shift from reducing the selection of social subjects to increasing the selection of natural subjects and subjects such as foreign languages, information technology, and technology.
With the limit of four graduation exam subjects, and equipped with local education knowledge, there has been an initial impact on students' careful selection of graduation exam subjects. This has contributed to reducing the gap between social subjects and natural subjects due to the trend of shifting to new exam subjects such as foreign languages, information technology, and technology.
Thus, compared to previous years, it can be seen that the expected choice of exam subjects for students has reduced the pressure of imbalance in choosing a career field, leaning too much towards social subjects, associated with the strengths of the career according to the local education orientation.
While high school graduation results are still used as one of the university admission methods, there is still a trend of choosing exam subjects according to the university admission combination.
If in 2024, each student has six graduation exam subjects, meaning there are a maximum of 20 university entrance exam combinations to choose from, then in 2025, each student will have four graduation exam subjects. This places the responsibility on students to accurately determine a suitable career, carefully research the corresponding major, and then decide on graduation exam subjects.
One reason why students choose English is that the number of university entrance exam combinations that include foreign languages accounts for about 41% of the admission combinations. Of these, about 20 admission combinations include English for many training fields, so many students choose English instead of other subjects.
Dr. LE THI THANH MAIEarly career orientation
For candidates, there is still no correlation between choosing an exam and the corresponding subject scores. Therefore, students need to pay close attention to their learning ability, carefully identify suitable careers, carefully research relevant majors and take advantage of other admission methods. For students who will graduate in 2025, they need to actively participate in career guidance and admissions counseling activities.
High schools should organize support or review courses for students. Strengthen the connection between subjects and practical professions (such as engineering, medicine, environment, digital economy, nature, interdisciplinary science, etc.) in career guidance and experiential activities to promote students' motivation to learn.
Proactively connect with universities or media units to organize more career guidance and in-depth consulting activities for target groups associated with the school's quality assurance activities.
Early preparation for 10th graders
For 10th grade students in particular, the organization allows students to explore themselves through career guidance tools 4.0 to serve as a basis for consulting students and parents before choosing a subject combination to ensure that the choice of subject combination has a scientific basis, according to each individual's career orientation.
Opportunity with competency assessment test
For the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City National University Competency Assessment Test, the total score related to the three subjects of Math, Literature, and English accounts for 75%. Therefore, the advantage is on the side of students choosing a subject combination with English in the 2018 General Education Program or independent candidates practicing for the competency assessment test with English.
Meanwhile, the 2025 competency assessment exam of Hanoi National University has two compulsory parts including 50 questions on mathematics and data processing, and 50 questions on literature and language. Thus, similar to the competency assessment exam of Ho Chi Minh City National University, the subjects of mathematics, literature, and English play a key role.
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