Top schools with the most "difficult" 6th grade entrance exam in Ho Chi Minh City

Tran Dai Nghia Secondary - High School: Competition ratio is tense

Getting a place in grade 6 at Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School (formerly Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted) is the dream and aspiration of many parents in Ho Chi Minh City.

In the 2025-2026 school year, this school will enroll 10 sixth grade classes with a target of 350 students. To register for the sixth grade exam at this school, students must score 9 or higher in math and Vietnamese in grade 5.

This year's survey will take place on June 16.

Students need to take a competency assessment test consisting of 2 parts: multiple choice and essay with a test time of 90 minutes to assess their ability to use English, Vietnamese, mathematics and logical thinking, natural sciences , social sciences, and common sense.

The multiple choice section consists of 20 questions in English, which are questions about natural sciences, social sciences, and common sense.

The essay section, which tests English proficiency, includes listening, reading, and writing. In addition, candidates will take the test in Vietnamese in the math and logical thinking sections, as well as reading and writing sections.

Based on the survey results, successful candidates will be ranked from highest to lowest until the quota is met.

The competition ratio to get into Tran Dai Nghia 6th grade is from 1 to 13 depending on the year.

Van Don Secondary School, District 4: A place only for high-achieving students

In the 2025-2026 school year, Van Don Secondary School, the "hottest" school in District 4, will only admit students with high academic results and achievements into grade 6.

This year, the school recruits 2 integrated English classes with 70 students (35 students/class) and 6 general education classes with 240 students (40-45 students/class).

Regarding the selection criteria, primary schools in District 4 will select students according to the allocated number based on 2 criteria and consider scores from highest to lowest until the quota is met.

Criterion 1: The total final score of grade 5 in 2024-2025 includes 3 subjects: Math, Vietnamese, English (maximum 30 points). For English, each skill must have a score of 8 points or higher.

Criterion 2: Excellent reward results at the end of the school year, each school year will be counted as 1 point (maximum 5 years is 5 points).

If the students at the bottom of the quota have the same total score, the primary school can consider the highest achievement in 5 school years (from grade 1 to grade 5).

Each primary school in the area considers 15% of the total number of 5th grade students studying at the school.

Mac Dinh Chi Secondary School, Tan Binh District: Excellent yearly scores

As the "hottest" school in Tan Binh district, this year Mac Dinh Chi Secondary School enrolls 10 6th grade classes, each class has no more than 35 students. The scale has 3 integrated English classes, 7 enhanced English classes.

The condition for admission is that students must have completed primary school at public primary schools in Tan Binh district in the 2024-2025 school year, with excellent results in grade 5.

Each year a student achieves the title of excellent student will correspond to 1 point (maximum 5 points for 5 years of primary school).

The school also considers the final exam scores of the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year; English certificates; students with individual awards in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years in areas such as: information technology; physical education; arts ( music /fine arts); Team activities... will be given priority.

The school also considers English language requirements for integrated and intensive English classes.

Based on the converted total score of each student, the admissions board will consider admission in order from highest to lowest.

Many primary school seniors in Ho Chi Minh City are entering the race to be admitted to grade 6 at many top schools (Photo: Hoai Nam).

Dinh Thien Ly Secondary and High School

In the 2025-2026 school year, Dinh Thien Ly Secondary and High School plans to enroll 10 6th grade classes, with a maximum of 32 students per class.

According to the school's announcement, from June 6 to 10, students with priority for application review (group 1) will participate in the English proficiency test for placement; the school will review the application and officially announce the admission results.

On June 11, students in group 2 will attend the open day. On June 11, the official admission results will be announced for students who are not in the priority group (group 2). Parents of students will submit their admission applications from June 16 to 18.

The school will then announce the results of the additional admission.

Top 3 leading schools in Thu Duc City: Competition by survey

The top 3 secondary schools in Thu Duc City all apply a survey to select admission for 6th grade students.

Specifically, Tran Quoc Toan 1 Secondary School has 1,236 candidates registered to take the 6th grade exam for the 2025-2026 school year with a target of 315 students. The school's competition ratio this year is 1/3.92.

Hoa Lu Secondary School has 1,206 candidates registered to take the 6th grade exam for the 2025-2026 school year, with a target of 245 students, a competition ratio of 1/4.92.

Binh Tho Secondary School has 1,094 candidates registered to take the 6th grade exam for the 2025-2026 school year with a target of 280 students, a competition ratio of 1/3.9.

Candidates will take a 90-minute competency test, consisting of 2 parts:

Multiple choice section: Students answer 20 multiple choice questions in English about their understanding of natural sciences, social sciences and common sense (30 minutes).

Essay section (60 minutes) includes: English proficiency test: reading comprehension, writing (candidates take the test in English); math and logical thinking ability test (candidates take the test in Vietnamese); reading comprehension and writing ability test (candidates take the test in Vietnamese).

Students can only register to take the survey at one of the three schools above. The survey results of the registered school will not be used for admission to the other two schools.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/top-nhung-truong-co-dau-vao-lop-6-kho-tho-bac-nhat-o-tphcm-20250522101404187.htm