Ho Chi Minh City changes regulations on excellent student exams after merger

On the evening of October 30, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City announced the regulations for the excellent student exams at all levels for the 2025-2026 school year. After the merger, the regulations have changed quite a lot, especially the maximum number of students from each unit that can register to take the exam.

Ho Chi Minh City students participate in the exam to select a team of excellent students to compete in the national excellent student competition for the 2025-2026 school year - Photo: NHU HUNG

12th grade excellent student exam

Accordingly, the city-level exam to select excellent 12th grade students for the 2025-2026 school year will take place on March 4, 2026.

The test content is the 2018 general education program, oriented towards assessing students' thinking and practical application abilities.

Exam format:

Essay tests for math, physics, chemistry, biology, literature, history, geography, economic and legal education, English, Japanese, French, Chinese (foreign languages ​​with listening section), technology (industrial-oriented), technology (agricultural-oriented).

Computer programming exam: computer science with programming languages ​​C++, Pascal and Python.

Test duration: 120 minutes.

The Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City said: 12th grade students at high schools in the 2025-2026 school year, with good or better academic and training results in the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year, and members of the excellent student teams of the units will be eligible to take the exam.

Only 12th graders in the city's (official) team of gifted students participating in the national exam are not allowed to participate in this exam. The remaining 12th graders in specialized classes must participate.

In which, High School for the Gifted - Ho Chi Minh City National University: sends a maximum of 10 students/exam subject.

High schools, multi-level general schools (with high school level): each unit sends a maximum of 5 students/exam subject (for math, physics, chemistry, biology, literature, history, geography, economic and legal education, information technology, English), each unit sends a maximum of 10 students/exam subject (for French, Japanese, Chinese).

For continuing education students: have good or better academic and training results in the first semester of the 2025 - 2026 school year, and are members of the unit's excellent student team to be eligible to take the exam.

City-level 9th ​​grade excellent student exam

The city-level 9th ​​grade excellent student exam will take place on March 18, 2026. The exam content is the 2018 general education program, aiming to assess students' thinking and practical application abilities.

The exam will be in essay format for the subjects of literature, math, natural sciences, history and geography, English, French, Chinese, Japanese (foreign languages ​​have a listening section), technology (industrial-oriented), and technology (agricultural-oriented).

Computer programming exam: computer science with programming languages ​​C++, Pascal and Python.

Test duration: 120 minutes.

According to the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, students studying in grade 9 at high schools in the 2025-2026 school year, with good or better academic and training results in the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year, and members of the excellent student teams of the units will be eligible to take the exam.

Each ward, commune, and special zone is a participating unit, registering directly on the department's management page. For participating units with 1 to 3 junior high schools, multi-level general schools (with junior high school level): will send a maximum of 3 students/subject (for literature, math, information technology, English, French, Chinese, Japanese, technology (industrial or agricultural orientation); send a maximum of 6 students (for natural science); send a maximum of 4 students (for history and geography).

For participating units with 4 to 6 junior high schools, multi-level general schools (with junior high school level): maximum 5 students/exam subject (for literature, math, information technology, English, French, Chinese, Japanese, technology); maximum 9 students (for natural science); maximum 6 students (for history and geography).

For contest units with more than 6 junior high schools, multi-level general schools (with junior high school level): maximum 8 students/exam subject (for literature, math, information technology, English, French, Chinese, Japanese, technology; maximum 12 students for natural science; maximum 8 students for history and geography.

For Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted: Literature, math, information technology, English, French, Chinese, Japanese, technology (industrial orientation), technology (agricultural orientation): maximum 10 students/exam subject; natural science: maximum 24 students; history and geography: maximum 16 students.

Ho Chi Minh City students participate in the exam to select a team of excellent students to compete in the national excellent student competition for the 2025-2026 school year - Photo: NHU HUNG

The test scores are as follows:

Area 1:

Nguyen Van To Secondary School (No. 140 Tam Dao Street, Dien Hong Ward) organizes exams in foreign languages ​​(English, French, Chinese, Japanese).

Marie Curie High School (No. 159 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Xuan Hoa Ward) organizes exams in literature and natural sciences.

Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School (20 Ly Tu Trong, Saigon ward) organizes exams in math, history and geography.

Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted (235 Nguyen Van Cu, Cho Quan Ward) organizes an IT exam.

Tran Van On Secondary School (No. 161B Nguyen Van Thu, Tan Dinh Ward) organizes technology exams.

Area 2:

Vo Minh Duc High School (30/4 Street, Thu Dau Mot Ward, Ho Chi Minh City).

Area 3:

Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted (3/2 Street, Phuoc Thang Ward, HCMC).

Computer Math Competition for Excellent Students

Took place on January 11, 2026. Exam format: multiple choice (fill in the blank) or math problem requiring a summary solution. Exam time: 60 minutes

Students studying in grades 9 and 12 at high schools in the 2025-2026 school year, with good or better academic and training results in the 2024-2025 school year, and being members of the school's excellent student team will be eligible to take the exam.

For grade 12 math, grade 12 physics, grade 12 chemistry, grade 12 biology: High schools and multi-level schools (including high school level) can send a maximum of 3 students/exam subject.

For 9th grade math: Each ward, commune, and special zone is a participating unit, registering directly on the management page of the Department of Education and Training. Participating units with 1 to 3 junior high schools, multi-level general schools (with junior high school level): send a maximum of 8 students. Participating units with 4 to 6 junior high schools, multi-level general schools (with junior high school level): send a maximum of 10 students. Participating units with more than 6 junior high schools, multi-level general schools (with junior high school level): send a maximum of 12 students.

Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted will send a 9th grade math team with a maximum of 10 students.

HOANG HUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-thay-doi-quy-dinh-thi-hoc-sinh-gioi-sau-sap-nhap-20251030194758016.htm