High School Graduation Exam 2025: Special points to note before 'G hour'

READY FOR EXAM IN SPECIAL CONTEXT

Sir, up to this point, how does the Ministry of Education and Training evaluate the preparation work for the exam in localities?

The 2025 high school graduation exam takes place in a special context, being the first exam to apply the GeneralEducation Program (GEP) issued in 2018, while still being organized for candidates according to the 2006 GEP; the country this year has nearly 100,000 more candidates than in 2024. Notably, the exam takes place right before the time when the 2-level local government apparatus system comes into operation from July 1; the exam is organized with 3-level local governments but the exam marking and announcement of exam results are done with 2-level local governments.

The Ministry of Education and Training has instructed that any locality that activates the new government's activities from July 1 will consider adjusting the steering committee and the exam board if necessary or may remain the same depending on the consensus of the leadership of each locality. As for the localities that officially deploy the new government's activities after the exam marking end date of July 15, they will follow the exam instructions issued by the Ministry to organize this exam.

- Ảnh 1. — Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son inspected the organization of the 2025 high school graduation exam at Nguyen Duc Canh High School, Thai Binh City, Thai Binh Province.

In the context of merging provinces and cities, rearranging the inspection system and abolishing the district level, the Ministry of Education and Training has received close attention from the Government. Notably, on June 18, the Prime Minister chaired a national conference on the 2025 high school graduation exam, with the requirement to organize the exam safely, seriously and effectively.

With the proactive and flexible preparation of provinces and cities, the steering committees are ready; ensuring all conditions regarding facilities, human resources, and materials for the exam to take place safely, seriously and effectively according to the direction of the Prime Minister.

Regarding professional work, exam organization, the high school graduation exam plan from 2025 as well as the exam format structure will be announced early, from the end of 2023. The Ministry of Education and Training has also directed localities to organize trial exams but operate them in real time, helping to comprehensively test the organization stages and make timely adjustments.

- Ảnh 2. — Grade 12 students participate in the high school graduation mock exam. This exam will take place from tomorrow, June 25.

In general, the exam preparation and the team of invigilators remain the same, so it does not affect the organization of the exam. The exam takes place in a special context when many localities merge provinces and cities and students take the exam at the same time with the 2006 and 2018 general education programs. This will generally be more difficult for the organization and management, while the TS will be more favorable due to the shorter exam time and taking the exam in one exam room for all subjects.

TWO TYPES OF EXAM QUESTIONS AND MANY NEW NOTEWORTHY POINTS

Can you share any new and important points in this year's exam?

The 2025 high school graduation exam consists of 3 sessions, 1 session less than previous exams, including 1 literature exam session, 1 math exam session and 1 optional exam session. Candidates will be arranged by optional exam subject to optimize exam rooms and exam scores.

In addition, in 2025, the high school graduation exam will have two types of exam questions. 12th graders will take the exam with questions set according to the 2018 General Education Program. Independent students who have not yet graduated from the old program will take the exam with questions set according to the 2006 General Education Program.

- Ảnh 3. — Mr. Huynh Van Chuong, Director of the Department of Quality Management (Ministry of Education and Training), inspected the preparation for this year's high school graduation exam in the locality.

However, from 2026, the Ministry of Education and Training will only organize the high school graduation exam with one type of exam according to the 2018 General Education Program. Candidates need to pay special attention to this content to be proactive in their study plan right now.

In addition, the high school graduation exam regulations also have some changes such as: From this year, a combination of the assessment score (academic transcript) and the exam results will be used in the graduation recognition consideration at a ratio of 50 - 50; foreign language certificates will continue to be used to exempt the exam in the graduation recognition consideration but will not be converted into 10 points in the graduation recognition consideration as before; no more points will be added to vocational certificates for all candidates; no more points will be added to IT certificates, foreign languages, and vocational intermediate degrees for candidates in continuing education; allowing foreign candidates to use Vietnamese certificates to exempt the literature exam in the high school graduation recognition consideration.

In particular, for the first time in the high school graduation exam, the method of transporting exam papers from the exam council's location to the exam printing locations of the provinces and cities will be applied via the encrypted and secure transmission system of the Government Cipher Committee.

Candidates should pay special attention that the exam is confidential, and the use of technological devices and items not allowed in the exam room to cheat is a violation of the regulations. Candidates may be subject to disciplinary action and legal action if they violate the exam. Therefore, candidates should pay attention to strictly follow this regulation.

Professor HUYNH VAN CHUONG, Director of Department of Quality Management (Ministry of Education and Training)

Up to now, the entire exam system has been transferred to the provinces and cities in a new and successful way, very conveniently. This is considered an important step forward in applying technology to the key stages of the exam organization process. This new method of transferring exam papers helps to transfer the original exam papers quickly and promptly, reducing the time and personnel required to transport exam papers as the traditional method is currently applied.

The Prime Minister's conclusion at the conference on implementing the high school graduation exam required the Ministry of Education and Training to create exam questions with an appropriate level of differentiation. Could you please tell us how this year's exam questions were prepared and what are the principles for creating questions to meet the new requirements?

The structure and format of the high school graduation exam and sample questions have been announced by the Ministry of Education and Training since 2023 and 2024, that is, 2 years before the exam takes place. Students are allowed to review and practice the test before the exam takes place. And by doing the test, students can examine their strengths and weaknesses to find solutions and solutions to overcome them.

The general spirit is that the exam questions follow the curriculum but have differentiation to help universities recruit students. Particularly for the literature exam, the language materials will be expanded beyond the textbooks, so students need to focus on reviewing knowledge and skills according to output standards instead of just focusing on some language materials, or memorizing, or learning from sample texts.

What message do you have for candidates taking the exam this year?

There are only one or two days left until the exam, you need to try to focus on reviewing the knowledge that you are not confident about. You also need to take care of your health, not stay up too late, and keep your mind relaxed to avoid pressure and stress.

In particular, it is important to understand the regulations of the exam, especially the items that are not allowed in the exam room to avoid unfortunate situations that may occur. Violating the regulations will affect your future, so you need to pay close attention to this.

This year, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Public Security signed documents and coordination regulations early on. Ensuring safety and security from the preparation stage until the end of the exam is now ready.

Motto "4 right", "3 no", "2 enhance"

On the morning of June 23, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son inspected the preparations for the high school graduation exam in Thai Binh.

Speaking to the Steering Committee for the Thai Binh Provincial Examination, Minister Nguyen Kim Son noted the motto of "4 rights", "3 no's", "2 reinforcements". In which, the "4 rights" are: correct regulations and examination instructions; correct and complete procedures; correct assigned positions, responsibilities and tasks; correct timing to handle unusual situations and incidents.

"3 no's" are: no negligence, subjectivity; no excessive stress, pressure; no arbitrarily handling unusual situations or incidents. "2 strengthen" are: strengthening the sense of responsibility, professional expertise of staff participating in organizing the exam; strengthening the spirit of self-awareness, and strictly following the regulations of the exam.

The Minister of Education and Training also emphasized: "We must be strict in handling situations. Any violations when discovered must be strictly handled."

Nearly 100,000 more candidates taking the exam compared to last year

This year's exam takes place over 3 days (June 25, 26, 27), of which June 25 is the exam registration date, and the backup exam date is June 28. The total number of candidates registered for the exam is 1,165,289, an increase of nearly 100,000 candidates compared to 2024. Of which, 1,138,579 candidates will take the exam under the 2018 General Education Program (accounting for 97.71%) and 26,711 candidates will take the exam under the 2006 General Education Program (2.29%).

The exam was held at 2,493 testing locations with a total of 50,039 testing rooms, mobilizing about 200,000 officials, teachers, staff and functional forces to participate.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-2025-nhung-diem-dac-biet-luu-y-truoc-gio-g-185250623201817723.htm