How is the 2025 4-subject high school graduation exam different from more than 40 years ago?

Reducing the burden on candidates and society as a whole.

Today (November 29), the Minister of Education and Training approved the plan for the high school graduation exam starting in 2025, which will include four subjects.

Specifically, candidates are required to take the Literature and Mathematics exams, and two elective subjects from the remaining subjects studied in grade 12 ( foreign language , history , physics , chemistry , biology , geography , economics and law education, informatics, technology). The Literature exam is in essay format; the remaining subjects are in multiple-choice format.

This approach is considered to contribute to reducing exam pressure for students , lowering costs for students ' families and society as a whole; and at the same time, avoiding the current imbalance where students choose social sciences over natural sciences.

Previously, during the Ministry of Education and Training's process of developing and soliciting feedback on the high school graduation exam plan from 2025, many experts, teachers, and students agreed with the plan of two compulsory subjects and two elective subjects.

Chốt phương án thi tốt nghiệp THPT 4 môn tương tự cách đây hơn 40 năm - Ảnh 1. — Candidates participating in the 2023 high school graduation exam.

Let's revert to the number of subjects tested over 40 years ago.

After 1975, in South Vietnam, a 12-year high school system was implemented, with students divided into different streams. Accordingly, students could choose one of four streams : Stream A ( Literature - History - Geography ), Stream B ( Literature - Foreign Language ), Stream C ( Mathematics - Physics ), and Stream D ( Chemistry - Biology ). Students in all streams studied all subjects, but the content and duration of study for each subject differed depending on the stream .

The high school graduation exam consists of 4 subjects according to each academic track : Track A ( Mathematics , Literature , History , Geography ); Track B ( Mathematics , Literature , Foreign Language , History ); Track C ( Mathematics , Literature , Physics , Chemistry ); Track D ( Mathematics , Literature , Chemistry , Biology ). Mathematics and Literature are tested in all tracks , but the difficulty level of the exam varies depending on the track .

The four-subject graduation exam in the South, as described above, was implemented during the period 1976-1980 . After the high school graduation exam, students would take the university entrance exam in three subject groups: A ( Mathematics , Physics , Chemistry ), B ( Mathematics , Chemistry , Biology ), and C ( Literature , History , Geography ).

The percentage of candidates taking the history exam is low, due to the fewer career opportunities related to this subject compared to other subjects. However, society is not concerned about the low number of students taking the history exam, because schools have a responsibility to cultivate patriotism in students throughout their studies and training, through various subjects and social activities, including youth union activities. Students learn history at all three levels: primary, secondary, and high school.

Chốt phương án thi tốt nghiệp THPT 4 môn tương tự cách đây hơn 40 năm - Ảnh 2. — From 2025 onwards, students following the 2018 General Education Program will only take 4 subjects in the high school graduation exam.

A notable aspect of organizing the high school graduation exam during this period was the strict supervision and grading process, with no extra tutoring or supplementary classes; schools only conducted exam preparation sessions for students in a few sessions.

By the time students reach 12th grade, they already know the material and can focus more on preparing for the high school graduation exam and the university entrance exam (if they register to take it). Both the high school graduation and university entrance exams are essay-based, and subjects like mathematics , physics , chemistry , and biology include not only theoretical questions but also problem - solving exercises.

A limitation of the 4-subject high school graduation exam during the 1976-1980 period was the essay-based format, heavily focused on testing knowledge, which often required students to memorize, sometimes even the entire 12th-grade textbook, using a rote learning method.

Some students in the humanities stream ( mathematics , literature , physics , chemistry ) take the science stream ( mathematics , chemistry , biology ) for their university entrance exams, while others in the social sciences stream ( mathematics , literature , chemistry , biology ) take the science stream ( mathematics , physics , chemistry ). This is due to choosing the wrong stream .

The 4-subject exam in 2025 has many new features compared to 40 years ago.

The high school graduation exam from 2025, under the 2018 General Education Program, will also consist of four subjects. Thus, the number of subjects and the fact that students know their exam subjects in advance is completely the same as the high school graduation exam more than 40 years ago. However, the 4-subject exam in 2025 has several new features (36 ways to choose exam subjects, instead of the previous 4 subject combinations) and the required achievement focuses on qualities and competencies, rather than knowledge and skills as before. Therefore, a comprehensive change is needed in career guidance education, teaching and learning perspectives, and university admissions to a new level.

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