Why did the 10th grade benchmark scores of top schools in Ho Chi Minh City cause shock, 'flying' out of the highest ranking?

After many years in the top 10 schools with the highest admission scores, even ranking 3rd or 4th, this year the admission score for grade 10 at Gia Dinh High School dropped by 4.25 points compared to last year and this school "flew" out of the top 10 schools with the highest admission scores in Ho Chi Minh City.

The school that was once in the top 10 schools with high benchmark scores has fallen dramatically this year.

Gia Dinh High School (Binh Thanh) has a tradition of quality training and is one of the schools with the highest 10th grade benchmark scores in Ho Chi Minh City for many years. Every year, the 10th grade benchmark score for Gia Dinh High School is always in the top group and is usually from 22.75 and above.

However, this year, the 10th grade benchmark score for Gia Dinh High School decreased by 4.25 points compared to last year, causing the school to "fly" out of the top 10.

There are several reasons that can explain this situation. Firstly, this year, the number of candidates taking the 10th grade entrance exam in Ho Chi Minh City has decreased. On the other hand, the school no longer enrolls students in specialized classes, so there is only one enrollment period. In addition, the number of candidates registering for the school is small. According to the initial first-choice statistics announced by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, only 941 candidates registered to take the entrance exam to Gia Dinh High School, although the Department later allowed candidates to change their preferences.

10th grade exam in HCMC. Photo: Nguyen Hue

A mid-level school dropped 4.75 points, causing the benchmark to hit rock bottom.

Nguyen Thi Dieu High School has the deepest drop in benchmark scores this year with 4.75 points. If in 2024 the school's 10th grade benchmark score was 15, this year it is only 10.5 and is in the top schools with the lowest benchmark scores. Statistics show that in Ho Chi Minh City this year there are about 10 schools with benchmark scores at this level. Thus, candidates only need to achieve 3.5 points/subject to be admitted.

Newly established school separated from specialized school to become number 1

Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School increased its admission score by 4.5 points compared to last year, becoming the school with the highest admission score this year with 24.5 points for the first choice; 25 points for the second choice and 25.5 points for the third choice.

2025 is the second year that Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School enrolls 10th graders. From 2024, Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School was separated from Tran Dai Nghia Specialized High School - a famous specialized school in Ho Chi Minh City.

Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted and Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School are both public service units, under the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, with legal status, their own seal and account, are provided with operating funds and open an account at the State Treasury according to the provisions of law.

The reorganization of Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted at that time was to comply with the provisions of theEducation Law. Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted recruited non-specialized grade 10 and grade 6 students. Therefore, based on current legal regulations and practice, Ho Chi Minh City separated the junior high school block of Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted and recruited non-specialized high school classes to form Tran Dai Nghia Middle School - High School.

In the first year of 10th grade enrollment (2024-2025 school year), Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School had a standard score of 20 for the first choice, 21 for the second choice, and 22 for the third choice. This score is considered high in Ho Chi Minh City, although the decision to allow the school to enroll was issued quite late compared to the general level. However, the school still did not make it into the top 10 schools with the highest standard scores last year.

This year, Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School has made a strong breakthrough. The target is 285 students, including 180 regular students and 105 integrated students, but according to the number of first wishes, there are 830 candidates registering for regular classes, a ratio of 1 to 4.6, the highest among more than 100 public high schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

The integrated class has 265 students registered, the ratio of 1:2.5 is also the highest among schools with integrated classes. The benchmark score for entering grade 10 at Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School is the highest in the city. It is expected that Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School will be a "hot" school in annual grade 10 enrollment.

The school that ranked number 1 for 10 consecutive years has dropped to number 3.
The benchmark score for grade 10 of Nguyen Thuong Hien High School this year is 23.5 for the first choice; 24 for the second choice and 24.5 for the third choice, ranking 3rd out of more than 110 public high schools. Compared to last year, the benchmark score for grade 10 of this school decreased by 0.75 points for the first choice. Therefore, Nguyen Thuong Hien High School has "ceded" the top benchmark score to Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School (Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School ranked 2nd).

For the past 10 years, Nguyen Thuong Hien High School's 10th grade entrance score has always been the highest in the city. To get into the school, students must score at least 8 points in each subject. This year, the score has decreased, possibly because the school no longer recruits specialized 10th graders, so there is no first round of enrollment.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/vi-sao-diem-chuan-lop-10-truong-top-o-tphcm-gay-soc-bay-khoi-top-cao-nhat-2415606.html