High school graduation exam and university entrance exam 2025 "fluctuates", students struggle to find a direction

The 2025 high school graduation exam is approaching with a series of important changes in structure, format and exam time, causing many 12th grade students to wonder about choosing a suitable career.

Graduation and career guidance: Students under "double pressure"

From 2025, the high school graduation exam will have many significant changes. Instead of taking 6 subjects as before, students will only take 4 subjects, including 2 compulsory subjects (Math, Literature) and 2 elective subjects. Notably, the Ministry of Education and Training has recently officially eliminated the early admission method, forcing all students to participate in the general admission in a single round.

The 2025 high school graduation exam is a stressful "race" for many candidates. Illustrative photo

Nguyen Gia Linh, a 12th grader at Le Quy Don High School (Hanoi), shared that the changes in the exam made her worried. "This year is the first year we take the exam according to the 2018 General Education Program, the exam will be different from before and I am not really familiar with this type of question. I am very worried about whether I can do well or not and whether I can pass the exam smoothly," Linh expressed.

Not only worried about the exam, many students are also wondering about choosing a suitable major and training environment. Fluctuations in benchmark scores and rapidly changing career trends also make many young people consider more carefully in making decisions.

Do Dang Khoa, a student at the Vietnam-Australia Inter-level School (Hanoi), said that in addition to preparing for the exam, he is also worried about his future after graduation. "Not only is the pressure of grades on me, I am also worried about choosing a major and a school. I don't know how the admission score will fluctuate this year and whether my favorite major still has opportunities. Therefore, I am looking into practical training models where I can learn professional skills and ensure job opportunities after graduation," Khoa shared.

Is a degree still the deciding factor?

In the face of the wave of streamlining the apparatus, optimizing human resources, and the difficult economic context, a degree is no longer the "golden ticket" to ensure a stable job. Businesses now prioritize recruiting based on actual capacity, problem-solving ability and work efficiency, instead of just looking at the transcript or reputation of the school.

Mr. Joon Kwan Park - General Director of Sheraton Hanoi West said: "In the service industry, especially high-end hotels, the most important thing is not a degree but practical skills, working attitude and professional communication skills. We need candidates who can get up to speed with the job right away, without spending too much time on retraining."

Mr. Joon Kwan Park – General Director of Sheraton Hanoi West.

Not only in the service sector, the technology industry is also undergoing a strong change in recruitment methods. Mr. Hoang Vuong - General Director of Nodo Media and Service Joint Stock Company, believes that in this industry, degrees do not fully reflect the candidate's ability. Instead, businesses highly value creative thinking, practical experience through projects and the ability to work independently. "We need people who can adapt quickly to new technology, work effectively in a constantly changing environment. Candidates who have participated in real projects or have experience working in a team will have a big advantage when applying," Mr. Hoang Vuong shared.

Training with practice: The core key to employability

In the context of the labor market increasingly demanding practical skills, the practical training model is becoming a trend chosen by many young people. No longer simply focusing on theory, this learning method helps students approach reality and get acquainted with work right from their school days. One of the pioneers in this model is FPT Polytechnic College with the philosophy of "Practical learning - Practical work", training what businesses need.

FPT Polytechnic students practice at the Electrical - Mechanical workshop.

Thanks to strong connections with more than 2,000 businesses, FPT Polytechnic students also have the opportunity to participate in real projects that businesses "order" at the Practice Workshop, participate in job fairs, interview for recruitment at the school, be introduced to internships by the school, apply for jobs... According to statistics from the FPT Polytechnic Business Relations Department, 97.7% of FPT Polytechnic students have jobs within 1 year after graduation.

Student Nguyen Thanh Tra (majoring in Digital Marketing - FPT Polytechnic College) shared: "At FPT Polytechnic, I not only learn knowledge but also receive soft skills training, participating in many real projects with businesses from the first year. This helps me to be confident and have many job opportunities before graduation".

Student Nguyen Thanh Tra has now found a job even before graduation.

In addition to popular majors such as Information Technology, Digital Marketing, Business Administration, etc., FPT Polytechnic also expands training in many trending fields such as Chip & Semiconductor Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Pharmacy, Chinese, Korean, English, Japanese, etc., helping students have more options to suit market needs. Not only does this model help learners shorten the time to enter the labor market, it also provides opportunities for sustainable career development in the digital age.

Mr. Le Quoc Nam - Head of Admissions, FPT Polytechnic College, commented that the change in recruitment trends is forcing training institutions to adapt quickly, providing practical training programs: "Currently, businesses are not only interested in degrees but also focus on practical skills and the ability to work immediately after graduation. Students with practical experience and a good understanding of business operations will have a great advantage when applying."

Mr. Le Quoc Nam (right) - Head of Admissions Department, FPT Polytechnic College.

According to Mr. Nam, success does not come from just one path, but most importantly, the way learners absorb and apply knowledge into practice. He also emphasized that studying to get a job is the trend that many young people are aiming for.

Therefore, FPT Polytechnic with the philosophy of "Practical learning - Practical work", modern learning environment and close connection with businesses, is becoming the top choice for young people who can start their career early with a clear competitive advantage.

Source: https://danviet.vn/ky-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-va-xet-tuyen-dai-hoc-2025-bien-dong-hoc-sinh-loay-hoay-tim-huong-di-20250321200840361.htm