High school graduation exam 2026 half a month earlier: Changing the "sprint" exam preparation

(Dan Tri) - The 2026 high school graduation exam is expected to be half a month earlier than every year to reduce pressure, save costs for candidates and parents, and change the habit of "sprint" review.

Candidates taking the 2025 high school graduation exam (Photo: Cao Bach).

At the conference to summarize the 2025 high school graduation exam on the afternoon of September 26, the Ministry of Education and Training announced the 2026 exam schedule, expected to take place on June 11-12, half a month earlier than usual.

However, this proposal has received recommendations from local authorities regarding exam scheduling.

Mr. Dinh Van Kham, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ninh Binh , proposed to postpone the exam schedule so that localities can conveniently organize the 10th grade entrance exam without being rushed.

"If the 2026 high school graduation exam is held on June 11-12, provinces must organize the 10th grade exam from the end of May, right after the end of the school year," said Mr. Kham.

Responding to the above content, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said that organizing the graduation exam early, along with Circular 29 restricting extra teaching and learning, will encourage teachers and students to focus on regular teaching and learning, reducing pressure when it comes to exams.

"We should avoid not focusing all year long, and staying up all night for weeks and months to study until we are exhausted when the exam is near. This is not the nature of education , so we push the exam early," he explained.

Taking the exam earlier will help reduce financial pressure on many families. In March, Mr. Thuong said that in previous years, extending the exam review period after the end of the school year often forced parents to pay more for extra tuition, causing costs.

Therefore, he suggested that the Departments of Education and Training direct schools to improve the quality of teaching during regular school hours, especially in grade 12, so that students can be best prepared for the exam without having to rely too much on extra classes.

Regarding the 10th grade exam schedule, the Deputy Minister affirmed that localities can flexibly organize it before or after the graduation exam, depending on specific conditions, as long as it ensures convenience and efficiency.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-2026-som-hon-nua-thang-thay-doi-viec-on-thi-nuoc-rut-20250927074014699.htm