Sharing with VietNamNet, Dr. of Mathematics Tran Nam Dung - Vice Principal of the Gifted High School (Ho Chi Minh City National University) said that, in terms of structure, the Math exam for the 2025 high school graduation exam is similar to the reference exam announced by the Ministry of Education and Training.

The exam consists of three parts, including part 1 - multiple choice questions (12 questions), part 2 - true or false questions (4 questions), part 3 - short answer questions (6 questions). Some questions at the end of the exam in the combination section have a different structure, but as the Ministry of Education and Training has made clear, it is understandable that the exam structure cannot be exactly the same.

Compared to the 2018 General Education Program's goals, the 2025 graduation math exam is quite standard when it tests students' basic knowledge and core competencies: Thinking and reasoning, mathematical modeling, mathematical communication and mathematical problem solving.

The exam has avoided the situation of rote learning, biased learning and luck in multiple choice exams like before. In part 2 - true or false questions - if you guess randomly, the chance of luck is very low. Part 3 - short answer questions cannot rely on luck to get a score at all.

Nam Dung 1.jpg
Dr. Tran Nam Dung: Photo: PTNK

The content of the questions in the 2025 graduation math exam does not delve into technical aspects or "diffuse difficulty" (difficulty after difficulty) to create big problems. The difficulty of this year's math exam is reflected in the ability to think, reason, read, understand the nature of mathematics, and model mathematics. Some questions are a bit overusing this issue when they should go straight to mathematics. This makes candidates spend a lot of effort to understand the problem. Therefore, candidates think that the exam is difficult, but it is difficult because of the length, not because of the knowledge. Many questions that provide context need to be moderated.

According to Dr. Dung, these questions, if they stand alone, will not be stressful, but in the overall exam, many questions will create pressure for candidates. He analyzed that questions 5 and 6 in part 3 are about probability and combination. These are two quite difficult problems, very easy to confuse while it would be better if they were simple and neat.

“But I think this difficulty is a useful difficulty. The thinking and methods (even if they may be exhaustive) used to solve it are fundamental thinking,” he said.

Dr. Tran Nam Dung also said that the Math exam for the 2025 graduation exam has a clear differentiation and serves different purposes. With the goal of graduation, the first 12 questions (3 points) are not difficult. Average students can get 4-5 points. Later, the exam will have a clearer differentiation, good students can get 7-8 points, excellent students will get 9 points. Candidates who get 9 points or more are really good.

As for practical questions, according to him, there is very little real reality, mostly just a cover. Specifically, combinatorics is a strange reality, although in terms of thinking, it is quite good for developing mathematical modeling ability.

“Perhaps we should not force the story to be realistic. A neat and simple exam should have clear proportions and avoid being too formal,” he said.

The mathematics doctor said that with the math exam this year, candidates with low scores showed poor ability. Candidates with high scores showed excellent ability. Candidates with 4-5 points had grasped the program, but could not go deeper into thinking, problem solving, and modeling. With this exam, candidates can graduate normally, but the question of whether candidates without extra study could solve this exam completely or not needs to be viewed objectively.

“Completing an exam is always very difficult, even for students who take extra classes. The test makers do not necessarily have to create an exam for students to complete. With the 2025 high school graduation math exam, smart candidates who have a solid grasp of knowledge and know how to self-study can do well without taking extra classes,” said Dr. Dung.

Dr. Tran Nam Dung acknowledged that the direction of the 2025 high school graduation math exam is very good for the graduation goal and some universities use it for admission. Surely after the exam, teachers and students will get used to this way of making questions. If someone complains that good students cannot do it, it is normal. However, the exam drafting committee also needs to take into account public opinion so that in the future there will be an exam that meets everyone's expectations - easy but scientific , reasonable, students will not feel panicked when reading the questions.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tien-si-tran-nam-dung-khong-hoc-them-cung-co-the-lam-tot-de-mon-toan-tot-nghiep-2416829.html