The reason why some candidates take the high school graduation exam with an 'easy' mindset

Achieving high scores in university-organized exams or being assured of a spot in admission based on transcripts are some of the reasons that help candidates reduce pressure with the high school graduation exam.

Candidates happily with their parents after the literature exam

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

Thao Duyen, a student at Dien Hong Secondary and High School (HCMC), told Thanh Nien that she "feels normal" and is not worried about the 2025 high school graduation exam under the 2018 GeneralEducation Program (new program) because she has prepared well and achieved about 750 points in the Ho Chi Minh City National University's competency assessment test. The female student plans to use this result to apply for university admission.

Duong Cong Thien, a student at Nguyen Khuyen High School (HCMC), also shared that he felt "not too pressured" because he had achieved quite good scores in exams organized by universities.

"I took the competency assessment test and my transcript to increase my chances of being admitted to university," said Nguyen Phuc Minh Thu, a student at Nguyen Du High School (HCMC). After taking the competency assessment test, Thu said she felt "more at ease" and less worried about the graduation exam because there was less pressure to study. Regardless of her test score, the female student said she felt satisfied because she had tried her best.

However, not all candidates taking exams organized by universities feel secure.

Faced with the move requiring universities to convert scores from exams other than the high school graduation exam to a common scale, as well as the Ministry of Education and Training's regulation that early admission will no longer be considered, some students have expressed concern because they do not know whether their exam scores are competitive enough. "Normally, relying on academic transcript scores helps reduce pressure, but this year the pressure is greater because the scoring method is 'a bit tight'," said Huynh Ngoc Thanh Truc, a student at Nguyen An Ninh High School (HCMC).

Not knowing which university she would be admitted to was the reason why Truc said she could not feel comfortable despite having achieved good results in the competency assessment exam. Another factor was that this year the structure of the high school graduation exam had changed with unpredictable difficulty.

Candidates take the opportunity to review before taking the elective exam.

PHOTO: PHUNG NHI

For candidates who use few admission methods and mainly rely on high school graduation exam scores for university admission, the pressure is even higher. Because even a small mistake can directly affect the door to university.

Faced with such pressure, Nguyen Vo Gia Han, a student at the Vietnam-Australia International School (HCMC), said he used an additional admission method based on his high school transcript in addition to his high school graduation exam scores. Despite his many fears, Han said that because he had decided to use his high school graduation exam scores from the beginning, he focused on studying from the beginning of grade 12, while maintaining a relaxed mindset to complete the exam well.

This year's high school graduation exam had more than 1.1 million candidates participating, an increase of 100,000 candidates compared to last year. According to information from the Ministry of Education and Training, it is expected that at 8:00 a.m. on July 16, the Ministry of Education and Training will announce the results of the 2025 high school graduation exam and consider recognizing high school graduation no later than July 18.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ly-do-mot-so-thi-sinh-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-voi-tam-the-de-tho-18525062916205917.htm