High school graduation exam 2025 affects subject selection in grade 10

Candidates admitted to grade 10 are currently registering for four elective subjects. Notably, from the recent 2025 high school graduation exam, teachers said that the selection needs to be strategic for both students and parents to suit the new program.

In Ho Chi Minh City, for the past 3 years, since the 2018 GeneralEducation Program was implemented at the high school level, the organization for students to register for elective subjects has been implemented in 2 forms: The school has prepared a combination for students to choose from or students proactively choose their own subjects. According to experienced teachers, choosing a subject combination for grade 10 is an important first step for the 3-year journey of high school and future career. This is a time that requires a strategy from both students and parents.

MAXIMIZE YOUR CHANCES OF UNIVERSITY ADMISSION

Mr. Nguyen Hung Khuong, Principal of Ernst Thälmann High School, Ben Thanh Ward (formerly District 1), Ho Chi Minh City, said that in reality, if students are allowed to freely choose 4 elective subjects without a clear orientation, it will easily lead to unreasonable choices, lacking connection with the learning goals and the career they want to pursue. This not only causes difficulties in studying but also directly affects the university admission process later.

Parents and 10th grade students of Nguyen Tat Thanh High School (Binh Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) learn and receive advice on choosing subject combinations.

PHOTO: BAO CHAU

Therefore, the construction of subject combinations for 10th grade students needs to be based on scientific principles, career orientation and in line with current university admission methods. At the same time, special attention should be paid to career counseling for students right from the beginning of 10th grade. "The choice of subjects should be based on major, university, admission combination to suitable subjects, not chosen emotionally or according to friends," Mr. Khuong emphasized.

Accordingly, Ernst Thälmann High School has built 7 groups of elective subjects, each group consisting of 2-3 subjects, designed according to specific career orientations. For example, the group of groups focuses on natural sciences, social sciences, combining natural and social sciences or natural sciences with information technology to serve technical and technological fields of study. The remaining elective subjects will be arranged by the school based on the actual conditions of the teaching staff, facilities, classrooms and number of registered students.

For example, if a student chooses a natural combination (physics, chemistry), then combining it with math, literature and foreign languages will create many admission combinations such as: Math, physics, chemistry (A00); Math, physics, English (A01); Math, chemistry, English (D07); Math, literature, English (D01)...

DO N'T LIMIT YOURSELF AND MAKE YOUR COMBINATION TOO NARROW

At Nguyen Tat Thanh High School, Binh Phu Ward (old District 6), Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Tran Quang Vu, Vice Principal of the school, said that parents and students are consulted and guided to proactively choose 4 subjects they love, have conditions to fully demonstrate their abilities and passions, suitable for career orientation, and apply for university admission.

Mr. Vu said that with this organization, each student will study according to 2 timetables: Fixed class with compulsory subjects and flexible class for elective subjects. The model really creates conditions for students to develop their personal capacity to the fullest.

High school principals believe that such a combination not only helps students to have a oriented study but also optimizes the opportunity for university admission, minimizing the risk of having to change subjects midway, which is not favorable for knowledge accumulation and graduation exam registration later. With appropriate orientation and organization, students will be better equipped in both knowledge and career orientation, thereby promoting personal capacity effectively and sustainably.

Through the 2025 high school graduation exam, which first applied the 2018 General Education Program, Mr. Pham Le Thanh, Nguyen Hien High School, Binh Thoi Ward (old District 11), Ho Chi Minh City, advised students not to limit themselves to too narrow a combination because there were many cases where students "bet" all on block B00 (math, chemistry, biology), not studying physics. The results of the biology test were not as expected, there was no feasible backup plan, the opportunity to enter university was seriously narrowed. Meanwhile, there were students who chose a combination including physics and chemistry, allowing them to flexibly apply for both block A00 (math, physics, chemistry) and B00 (math, chemistry, biology), creating for themselves a wider opportunity to apply for university.

From there, teachers at Nguyen Hien High School emphasized: Choosing a combination when entering grade 10 is the step that lays the foundation for the university entrance exam and admission strategy for grade 12 students. It requires careful calculation, having a "backup roadmap", absolutely avoiding the "all or nothing" mindset. Moreover, do not forget the competency assessment test, a diverse combination of subjects (natural sciences, social sciences, languages) that not only helps students have a comprehensive knowledge foundation but also gives them an outstanding advantage when reviewing and conquering this combination test - an increasingly popular and important university admission method.

Choosing a subject combination for grade 10 is an important first step for your 3-year high school journey and future career.

N STRATEGIC PRINCIPLES WHEN CHOOSING SUBJECTS

Mr. Pham Le Thanh pointed out 2 principles in the strategy of choosing a combination of elective subjects.

First of all, it is necessary to ensure the principle of strategic safety with the diversification of admission opportunities. The goal is to avoid the situation of "no way back" when a subject does not achieve the desired results, leading to the loss of all opportunities. Prioritize combinations that "open" many paths, corresponding to many traditional exam blocks and convenient for admission, minimizing risks, maximizing flexibility when registering wishes.

Master Pham Le Thanh pointed out the most traditional and flexible combinations today including: A00 has the opportunity to enter engineering, technology, architecture; A01 from technology to economics , finance...; D00 is the optimal choice for economics, foreign languages, communications, law...; D07 natural sciences and socio-economics...; B00 medicine, environment, biotechnology...

Mr. Huynh Thanh Phu, Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School, Ben Thanh Ward (old District 1), Ho Chi Minh City, shared that students should prioritize subjects that they are strong in and love, avoid choosing according to trends or because of friends, because each student has a separate journey.

In particular, Mr. Phu emphasized the role of parents in accompanying students during this period. According to the Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School, choosing a combination of subjects is not just choosing the exam subjects, but it is the first step to choosing a suitable journey, a door leading to the future. Parents should trust their children, listen to what they want and choose with their children in love, and guide them with sobriety.

Let me tell you about my dream

To parents during this period, Principal of Bui Thi Xuan Huynh Thanh Phu High School said that a right combination of subjects is a combination that helps children discover their own abilities, nurture their passion, inspire them to learn and create a solid foundation for the road ahead.

"What parents need to remember: the combination does not make the person, but the way the child learns, the way the child lives, the way the child develops thinking from that combination creates personality. An ideal combination is one that helps the child feel proud, excited and develop comprehensively. A student who chooses the social science exam group is not inferior to a student who chooses the natural science group. Each combination has its own value, both lead to the right university door, both open up valuable careers in society. The important thing is that the child studies that subject with heart, with passion, with inspiration, not with pressure or coercion," Mr. Phu shared.

"Let your child talk about his or her dreams. What career do you want to have in the future? What major do you want to study? In what field? These things will help parents and their children look up which subject combinations are required for admission to the university they want to enter, and from there choose the right and sufficient one. A clear orientation right now will help your child confidently move forward, with the destination being the major they truly love," said Mr. Huynh Thanh Phu.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-2025-tac-dong-den-viec-chon-mon-hoc-lop-10-185250713202412194.htm