High school graduation exam on computer: Step by step, sure and transparent

GD&TĐ - The Ministry of Education and Training is preparing a roadmap for organizing high school graduation exams on computers in qualified places in 2027.

According to experts, computer-based testing is an inevitable and completely feasible trend in the current context of digital transformation.

Computer-based testing where available from 2027

At the conference to summarize the organization of the 2025 High School Graduation Exam and prepare for the 2026 High School Graduation Exam, Mr. Huynh Van Chuong - Director of the Department of Quality Management ( Ministry of Education and Training ) shared a specific plan on organizing the High School Graduation Exam on computers. According to Mr. Chuong, in September this year, the Ministry of Education and Training established a Steering Committee and a Drafting Committee to develop a Project on organizing the High School Graduation Exam on computers, submitting it to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval.

The implementation roadmap is expected to include many stages. Specifically, in April and May 2026, the Ministry will organize a trial of the computer-based exam question system with a scale of about 100,000 candidates. This activity is part of the process of building a question bank. The trial also serves to prepare for computer-based exams on a large scale.

By July 2026, the project to organize the High School Graduation Exam on computers will be submitted to the Government for consideration and promulgation. Then, in August of the same year, all facilities and necessary conditions in localities will be reviewed to prepare for the implementation of the exam nationwide. From October to December 2026, the Ministry of Education and Training plans to issue official procedures and regulations on computer-based exams.

At the same time, localities will be required to arrange a number of pilot testing sites for the 2027 exam, along with investment and upgrading of necessary infrastructure. During April - May 2027, testing of test questions will continue to be deployed at locations planned to organize computer-based exams, as well as on a large scale to complete the question bank.

By June 2027, the computer-based high school graduation exam will be officially held at qualified locations, while the remaining locations will still apply the current paper-based exam format.

Organizing exams on computers requires careful preparation of infrastructure, machinery, and exam rooms. Photo: Le Nam

Completely possible

Having spent a lot of time researching and analyzing the High School Graduation Exam and University Admissions in recent years, MSc. Ho Sy Anh - Education expert, former researcher at the Institute of Educational Research (Ho Chi Minh City University of Education) said that Vietnam will not start from "zero" if the exam is organized on computers.

In recent years, many computer-based testing models have been deployed, such as the specialized competency assessment test of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, the V-SAT computer-based competency test, the thinking assessment test of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, or the excellent student exam in Hanoi, Hue, Quang Ninh, etc.

The Ministry of Education and Training has also used online testing software in periodic testing. Some localities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Lao Cai, Da Nang have built smart school systems, digital classrooms with standard computer rooms, proving that the technical foundation is completely feasible if there is determination and investment in the right direction.

According to Mr. Sy Anh, the High School Graduation Exam not only recognizes the completion of the general education program, but is also an important basis for university admission and post-high school streaming, directly affecting the future of millions of students each year.

Taking the exam to a digital environment is not simply a matter of changing the tool from paper to machine, but rather a transformation of the assessment method, aiming for accuracy, transparency and modernity. Taking the exam on a computer significantly reduces the burden of printing, transporting, storing exam papers as well as manual marking - which are steps that pose a risk of leaking the exam papers and making mistakes.

At the same time, this format also allows for more flexibility in terms of time, multiple sessions, and dispersion of candidates when necessary. However, this is a major change, with a comprehensive impact on teaching and learning methods and exam organization, requiring a systematic roadmap, reasonable piloting, and social consensus.

Candidates take the 2025 V-SAT computer-based university entrance exam at Can Tho University. Photo: CTU

Tight legal corridor, solid technical infrastructure

Mr. Nguyen Van Phong - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City said that in the context of preparing to switch to the form of high school graduation exam on computer, it is necessary to improve the safety and efficiency in organizing the exam.

Accordingly, it is necessary to continue applying the current exam delivery mechanism to ensure security and transmission speed. At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Training should study and add online management, warning and confirmation features to help maintain a smooth communication channel between the Ministry, the Department of Education and Training and the exam sites, thereby minimizing risks in the coordination stage.

Regarding the question paper distribution, the Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City proposed adjusting the time for question paper distribution to be more reasonable for the selected subjects, increasing the time to reduce pressure on the invigilators, while ensuring the process of counting and handing over the questions is accurate, avoiding errors that affect the test-taking time of the candidates.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City emphasized the need to comprehensively upgrade the information technology infrastructure to serve the exam. Specifically, it is necessary to invest in modern server systems and exam marking software to increase processing speed and ensure absolute safety for exam data and marking results.

In addition, the Ministry of Education and Training should develop a specialized support mechanism for large cities and localities with a large number of candidates, especially in the context of administrative boundary mergers that have caused a sharp increase in the number of candidates. This will not only maintain the stability and transparency of the exam but also create a solid technological foundation for the next exams.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City proposed that the Ministry of Education and Training soon issue official regulations on the High School Graduation Exam on computers, thereby creating a legal basis for localities to proactively develop plans, invest in facilities, information technology equipment and network infrastructure, especially in areas with many difficulties in implementation conditions.

MSc. Ho Sy Anh shares the same view when he said that, for the Computerized High School Graduation Exam to be successful, there must be a clear legal framework, with detailed regulations on exam registration, test format, test creation, data security, grading, review and incident handling. Next, it is necessary to choose appropriate test subjects and pilot locations.

Building national standard exam software is also an urgent requirement, with the criteria of operating on the internal network, not depending on the Internet, having a logging system, encryption, anti-cheating and supporting automatic exam grading. Along with that is the task of standardizing the multiple choice question bank, classifying the difficulty, assessing reliability, strict security and regular updates to serve the purpose of random exam questions.

Another important solution is to invest in synchronous infrastructure and human resources, including standard computer rooms, stable power sources, closed internal networks, on-site technical staff, and organize training and multiple mock tests for teachers, staff and students. This expert believes that the Ministry of Education and Training needs to accelerate the review of facilities and preparation conditions nationwide earlier than planned (August 2026).

According to MSc. Ho Sy Anh, in the period 2027 - 2030, it is necessary to maintain both paper-based and computer-based exams in parallel, allowing students to choose to avoid causing shock to disadvantaged areas, reduce pressure on conversion, and at the same time combine strong communication to create consensus in society. "We have a foundation, the important thing is to take each step firmly, transparently and with the support of the whole society," Mr. Sy Anh emphasized.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-tren-may-tinh-tung-buoc-chac-chan-minh-bach-post750753.html