It is a mistake to only focus on the benchmark score for grade 10.
Journalist Do Thi Yen Hoa, who has many years of experience in generaleducation and has participated in the 10th grade admissions consulting board at many schools in Ho Chi Minh City, pointed out an alarming situation: "Many parents and students when registering for the 10th grade exam only care about the benchmark score and the possibility of passing, but ignore the organization of elective subjects in the school."
Ms. Hoa emphasized that this is a completely wrong concept because when implementing the 2018 general education program, each school has a different way of organizing elective subjects, no longer following the same model as the old program. Skipping this research step can lead to unpredictable consequences.
Recounting a real story, she talked about the case of a TA student who passed the entrance exam to a high school in Go Vap district (old). However, when registering for the elective subjects for grade 10, the male student felt "dizzy", because in the subject groups designed by the school, there was no art subject - a core subject for his career orientation in design.
She recounted that the male student confided that although he had been carefully advised by his teachers at the secondary school, he had been too subjective when he set his wish for grade 10 without learning about the school and the changes in the organization of elective subjects in the new program. When he was admitted, he found that the subject he wanted was not available... At this point, it was too late.
According to records, many students have the mindset of choosing elective subjects because they are easy to learn, follow friends... instead of truly loving and orienting their future career.
The "vital" connection between 10th grade subject choices and university admissions
In fact, many parents and students who have gone through the first university admission season under the 2018 General Education Program have truly realized the importance of choosing subjects right in grade 10.
According to the 2025 high school graduation exam regulations, instead of taking 6 subjects as before, the number of subjects will be reduced to 4, including compulsory math and literature. In addition, students will choose 2 subjects out of 9 subjects they have studied at school (chemistry, physics, biology, geography, history, economic and legal education, information technology, technology and foreign languages).
The key point is that candidates can only register for the two subjects they studied in high school. The four high school graduation exams will create the university admission combinations.
The school organized counseling for parents to choose their 10th grade preferences (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).
Associate Professor, Dr. To Van Phuong, Head of the Department of University Training, Nha Trang University, emphasized that choosing subjects, especially elective subjects at high school level according to the 2018 General Education Program, plays a consistent and strategic role in career orientation and university admission registration later.
He also pointed out the reality in previous years, many parents and students still did not clearly visualize this connection. This led to the situation where subjects were chosen based on habit such as: natural sciences, social sciences, following friends or thinking that the subject was easy to learn, easy to get high scores... without considering whether the subject was in the admission combination of the major they wanted to study at university or not.
As a result, by grade 12, students are in a hurry to adjust their wishes or are limited in their career choices, even having to retake classes or miss the opportunity to be considered for admission.
Therefore, Associate Professor Phuong advises that, from grade 10, parents should accompany and support their children in their orientation, but not impose, but listen to their children's wishes, learn about their strengths, and from there discuss and decide on choosing the right subjects, majors, and schools.
As one of the first schools to announce early enrollment 3 years ago, the Head of the Department of Undergraduate Training of Nha Trang University said that this is practical.
“We want to give students the best orientation, so that they can be proactive, have a study plan and choose a suitable major, and avoid being passive when it comes to university admissions,” Associate Professor, Dr. To Van Phuong said.
Accordingly, Mr. Phuong believes that universities also need to have a clear orientation on the direction and method of enrollment that is stable and suitable for the characteristics of each industry and training program. In particular, it is necessary to announce the subjects that students need to equip/study at high school level so that they can proactively study from the beginning.
Early career orientation – the key to success
MSc. Truong Quang Tri, Deputy Head of Student Affairs Department, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, also affirmed that choosing high school subjects is not only for studying, but also to "pave the way" for university admission.
He explained that currently, universities still consider admission based on a combination of 3 or more subjects, which are mainly based on the subjects of math, literature, foreign languages, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, and economic and legal education.
"If students do not study and take an exam in a certain subject in high school, it is almost impossible to participate in the admission exam according to the combination of that subject," Mr. Tri explained further.
Therefore, from grade 10, students need to orient their expected career early to choose the right combination.
For example, students who decide to pursue a medical career in the future need to consider block B00 (math, chemistry, biology). In addition to math, which is a compulsory subject in high school, they need to study chemistry and biology.
Parents and students should look up the university's official website, see what combinations that major considers, and note down 2–3 popular combinations to guide their studies.
MSc. Truong Quang Tri in a counseling session for students (Photo: NVCC).
Mr. Tri emphasized that early career orientation, from junior high school or early high school, plays a very important and necessary role. Because, right from the first years of high school, students have begun to form awareness of their interests and abilities and can initially explore career fields that are suitable for them.
When oriented early, students will better understand the requirements of each profession, each exam group, as well as the university entrance exam subject combination, thereby choosing elective subjects proactively, correctly and with less confusion.
This not only helps students focus better on the necessary subjects, but also avoids the situation of choosing a subject "at random" and then having to change direction later, causing pressure.
In addition, early orientation also helps parents and teachers accompany students in building long-term study plans, choosing appropriate experiential activities to foster the skills and abilities necessary for the career they wish to pursue.
“It can be said that early career orientation is a fundamental preparation step, helping students not only study correctly but also take the right exams, apply correctly and confidently enter their future career path,” said Master Truong Quang Tri.
Regularly update adjustment trends
Sending a message to parents and students, Associate Professor Dr. To Van Phuong emphasized that regularly monitoring admission information, benchmark scores, admission combinations, quotas and admission methods of schools every year will help students grasp trends, adjust their choice of subjects, majors and review strategies accordingly.
Especially in the context of autonomous enrollment of schools, every year universities can adjust enrollment methods, increase/decrease quotas for majors. If students do not update regularly, they will be passive and even miss good opportunities.
Therefore, from grade 10, parents and students should make it a habit to follow the official channels of the universities they are interested in and the admission portal of the Ministry of Education and Training to have accurate information and best prepare for the admission stage after graduating from high school.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/vo-mong-mon-lua-chon-tu-lop-10-loi-canh-tinh-cho-phu-huynh-va-hoc-sinh-20250710073331058.htm
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