High School Graduation Exam 2025: Testing students' abilities and qualities

The 2025 high school graduation exam has many changes compared to previous years in both method and content of the exam to match the goals of the 2018 generaleducation program.

Candidates take the 2024 high school graduation exam at a testing site in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: NHU HUNG

According to the regulations for high school graduation exams from 2025 issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on December 24, the exam content is within the high school curriculum, mainly grade 12 and has some questions related to knowledge from grades 10 and 11. The exam is built according to a matrix including the levels of thinking: knowledge, understanding, application.

2 compulsory exams, 1 optional exam

Compared to previous years, the exam will have changes to meet the requirements of testing learners' abilities and qualities. The proportion of differentiated questions will increase compared to previous years, including questions applying knowledge to solve real-life problems.

Especially in multiple choice tests, in addition to the familiar question format with multiple options, there will be new formats such as true/false questions and short answers. Scoring in multiple choice tests also changes, not dividing the points equally for each question in the test but having different scores.

Candidates who are grade 12 students taking the high school graduation exam in 2025 will have to take two compulsory subjects: math and literature, and one optional test with two subjects chosen from the remaining subjects: physics, chemistry, biology, technology - industry, technology - agriculture, information technology, foreign languages, history, geography, economics and law. Candidates can choose to take a foreign language other than the foreign language studied in high school.

The exam will take place in 3 sessions (1 math session, 1 literature session and 1 optional exam session including 2 optional subjects). Compared to last year, the exam has 1 session and 2 subjects reduced.

For the first time, the high school graduation exam has an additional method of transporting exam papers from the exam council's location to the exam printing locations of 63 provinces and cities via the encrypted and secure transmission system of the Government Cipher Committee.

This is considered an important step forward in applying technology to key stages of the exam organization process.

This new method of transporting exam papers helps to transfer original exam papers quickly and promptly, reducing the time and personnel required to transport exam papers as the traditional method is currently applied; at the same time, this is also an early, remote and important preparation step in implementing the exam plan according to the announced roadmap for converting from paper-based exams to computer-based exams.

Local responsibility

The 2025 high school graduation exam is assigned to provinces and centrally run cities, which are responsible for all stages from printing and copying exam questions, invigilation, grading, and high school graduation. The Ministry of Education and Training continues to assign officials and lecturers from universities, academies, colleges, and junior colleges in the teacher training sector to inspect exams in localities.

Continue to maintain and enhance technical solutions in the arrangement of invigilators, preservation of exam papers, and sealing of exam bags. Install 24/7 surveillance cameras at the exam cabinets and exam papers. Enhance the responsibility of those involved in preserving exam papers and exam papers at the examination councils.

The local examination board presides over the marking of multiple-choice and essay tests. The local Department of Education and Training is responsible for preparing the physical and financial conditions; computer systems, scanners and auxiliary equipment to meet the requirements according to the annual instructions of the Ministry, coordinating with the police force and security to ensure security and safety for the marking of the exams.

Exemption from exams and special consideration, reservation

The Ministry of Education and Training stipulates exemption from foreign language exams in the consideration of high school graduation recognition in the following cases: members of the national team participating in the International Foreign Language Olympics, people with one of the foreign language certificates recognized by the Ministry equivalent to the 6-level competency framework used for Vietnam (achieving 3 or higher and valid until the date of exam registration).

Candidates who meet the requirements for exemption from the foreign language exam for graduation purposes cannot have their scores converted to be included in the total graduation score. In case they meet the requirements for exemption from the foreign language exam but want to take the exam to use the foreign language results for university or college admission, they must use the actual exam scores to calculate the high school graduation score.

Last year, for cases exempted from foreign language exams, the Ministry of Education and Training allowed the conversion to 10 points. In which, people with IELTS certificates of 4.0 or 8.5 would get the same 10. The new adjustment still encourages students to study foreign languages ​​but ensures more fairness among candidates.

Candidates are exempted from all high school graduation exams in the following cases:

Those who are summoned to participate in the national team selection exam for the International Olympic or Regional Olympic competitions in cultural subjects must meet the following conditions: being summoned in the second semester of grade 12, being classified as having good conduct throughout the entire grade 12 year and having good academic performance or better;

People in the team participating in international or regional Olympic competitions in science, technology, culture and arts with the following conditions: being called up in the second semester of grade 12 and having an average or above conduct and academic performance throughout the entire grade 12 year.

Comprehensive review

The calculation of graduation scores is as follows: Total exam score (including scores of 4 subjects and incentive points if any divided by 4) plus average score of all school years, then divided by 2, then plus priority points (if any).

Candidates who are eligible to take the high school graduation exam, have not been disciplined to have their exam results canceled, all exam subjects score above 1.0 on a 10-point scale and have an admission score of 5.0 or higher will be recognized as graduates.

Compared to last year, the combined use of process assessment scores (report cards) and exam results in graduation recognition is at a ratio of 50-50. This adjustment is to more closely evaluate learners of the 2018 general education program (including many other competencies that the graduation exam cannot fully assess).

Two graduation exams

Candidates studying the 2018 general education program will take the exam with questions set according to the 2018 general education program. Candidates studying the 2006 general education program (old program) will take the exam with questions set according to the 2006 general education program.

Candidates who have graduated from the 2006 general education program can choose to take the exam with the 2018 general education program or the 2006 general education program to use the results for university and college admission.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-nam-2025-kiem-tra-nang-luc-pham-chat-hoc-sinh-20241224235329713.htm