Writing for the first exam

Exam support force is ready to support candidates. Photo: Hoang Yen

First of all, it is necessary to summarize that the 2018 GeneralEducation Program was supposed to be implemented in 2015, but due to many different reasons and factors, it was not implemented until the 2020-2021 school year. The name of the 2018 General Education Program comes from Circular 32 of 2018 of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) on the implementation of new programs and textbooks. In the 2020-2021 school year, the 2018 General Education Program was only implemented for grade 1 - the first class of this program. Unfortunately, after the first school year of applying the new program and textbooks, the Covid-19 epidemic appeared and caused extremely serious consequences. After grade 1, the change of textbooks for other classes also took place under epidemic conditions. The education sector was interrupted many times and had to switch to online learning. The quality of education, in purely professional terms, is affected quite a bit.

Not only affected by the epidemic, the 2018 General Education Program also faces many other difficulties and challenges. Because it is the first time applying the new program and textbooks, both teachers and students are confused. Teaching equipment, so far, has not met the requirements. Despite investment, many educational institutions have not met the requirements for organizing experimental and practical activities and implementing the 2018 General Education Program. Some schools have not met the standards for classroom area, desks and chairs, and lack internal equipment according to regulations.

The procurement of equipment under the 2018 General Education Program is still slow, only providing equipment for some early grades (grades 1, 2 and 6), causing difficulties for the remaining grades. Existing equipment is not suitable or only meets about 40% of the equipment list according to Circulars 37, 38, 39/2021/TT-BGDDT. The lack of specific instructions leads to low efficiency in the use of facilities and equipment. Schools in remote areas still lack highly qualified teachers and modern equipment. Many educational institutions still lack computers, projectors, and audio equipment, especially at secondary schools in difficult areas, only meeting the minimum needs for management and teaching.

Overcoming all difficulties and obstacles, the education sector of the whole country in general and Tay Ninh in particular has done its best to implement the new curriculum and textbooks.

Before this exam, many high school graduation exam options were announced to solicit public opinion inside and outside the industry. Finally, the “2+2” exam option was approved. According to this option, candidates only have to take two compulsory subjects including Literature and Mathematics plus two other elective subjects, thereby forming the exam block and combination for university admission. This option was approved and supported by experts and managers.

Before issuing the official regulations, the Ministry of Education and Training announced three options for the 2025 high school graduation exam, of which option 3 stipulates that the exam will have two compulsory subjects and two elective subjects. In 2023, when asked which option they should take, many teachers and students in Tay Ninh expressed their absolute support for option 3, which means the exam will only include a total of four subjects. The newly issued regulations have met the wishes of teachers and students. The exam consists of 3 sessions: 1 session of Literature, 1 session of Mathematics and 1 session of an optional test including 2 subjects from the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Economic and Legal Education, Information Technology, Industrial Technology (abbreviated as Industrial Technology), Agricultural Technology (abbreviated as Agricultural Technology), Foreign Languages (English, Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese and Korean).

Compared to before, the 2025 high school graduation exam has reduced the number of subjects and therefore the number of exam sessions, as candidates will only take the exam in 3 sessions, or one and a half days. The two subjects of Literature and Mathematics are each taken in one session, and in the remaining session, candidates will take two optional subjects. To register for university admission, in addition to Literature or Mathematics, candidates can choose any two of the optional subjects to form a 3-subject exam block according to their personal wishes. Thus, the 3-subject combination exam according to the 2006 General Education Program no longer exists.

In the 1998-1999 school year, the high school graduation exam had a total of 6 compulsory subjects, including Math, Literature (at that time it was not called Literature), English and 3 subjects selected by the Ministry of Education and Training (these 3 subjects were usually announced in early March every year). At that stage, the exam had only one purpose: to recognize high school graduation for 12th grade students.

All exams were given in essay format. Next, from 2000-2013 (implementing the 2000 and 2006 Education Programs), the exam consisted of four subjects, in addition to Math and Literature which were compulsory, candidates were allowed to choose the remaining two subjects and were also only for graduation recognition. During this period, there were two separate exams, after the high school graduation exam, candidates continued to take the university and college entrance exams.

Candidates for high school graduation exam in 2024.

Admission to universities and colleges at this stage is carried out using three common methods: common questions, common sessions, and common results. Up to now, the above university admission method, although not as streamlined as desired, is highly appreciated by experts for the reliability of the exam.

The notable change in the high school graduation exam began in 2014. In that year’s high school graduation exam, candidates took all four subjects, but three were compulsory, including Math, Literature, and Foreign Language. Compared to before, the 2014 exam had only one small adjustment: the Foreign Language subject was completely switched to multiple choice, no longer had an essay section.

In 2015, the exam had a new name: the national high school exam, removing the word “graduation”. In this exam, candidates took four subjects, in addition to the three compulsory subjects of Math, Literature, and Foreign Language, the remaining subjects were chosen by candidates. In 2016, candidates took the combined exam for the first time. In addition to the three compulsory subjects taken independently: Math, Literature, and Foreign Language, candidates took one of two combined subjects (Natural Sciences or Social Sciences).

In the next three years, from 2017-2019, the exam continued to be called the "national high school exam" but was chaired by the Department of Education and Training, with support in invigilation and grading from universities and colleges. The exam still consisted of three compulsory and independent subjects, including Math, Literature, Foreign Language and a combined exam chosen by the candidate. From 2020-2023, the exam was no longer called the "national high school exam", returning to its old name - the high school graduation exam, but was still used for two purposes, including university and college admissions.

Viet Dong

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/viet-cho-ky-thi-dau-tien-a191790.html