Few subjects but students can develop their strengths
The 2025 high school graduation exam plan is a topic that is attracting public attention. The question is how to organize the exam in a way that ensures the seriousness of a national exam but does not put too much pressure on students.
It is known that initially, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) sought opinions on the plan to organize the high school graduation exam with 2 options. Option 4+2, candidates studying the high school program must take 6 subjects, including 4 compulsory exams (Literature, Math, Foreign Language, History) and 2 subjects that candidates choose from the remaining subjects studied in grade 12. Option 3+2, candidates studying the high school program must take 5 subjects, including compulsory exams (Literature, Math, Foreign Language) and 2 subjects that candidates choose from the remaining subjects studied in grade 12 (including History).
According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the results of a nationwide survey with over 130,000 officials and teachers participating showed that 26.41% chose the 4+2 option; 73.59% chose the remaining option. According to a survey at the Quality Management Conference with 205 delegates who were leaders of the Department of Education and Training and leaders of specialized departments under the Department of Education and Training, 31.2% agreed with the 4+2 option and 68.8% agreed with the remaining option.
Notably, during the process of the Ministry of Education and Training soliciting opinions, many people proposed the 2+2 option. That is, candidates studying the high school program must take 4 subjects, including 2 compulsory subjects (Math, Literature) and 2 subjects that candidates choose from the remaining subjects studied in grade 12 (including Foreign Language and History). Although this was an option beyond the initial plan, the Ministry of Education and Training assessed that the 2+2 option has many advantages, such as reducing exam pressure for students and actually reducing costs for students' families and society (candidates only take 4 subjects, currently 6 subjects). This option also does not cause an imbalance between admission combinations, suitable for students' career orientation. It creates conditions for students to spend time studying subjects of their choice that are suitable for their career orientation.
Currently, the Ministry of Education and Training continues to seek opinions from experts and teachers on exam options. According to the reporter of the Journalist & Public Opinion Newspaper, although it is an emerging exam option, 2+2 is emerging as the most suitable choice for the 2025 high school graduation exam.
Ms. Nguyen Quynh Thu in Ha Dong, Hanoi, said that this exam plan helps reduce exam pressure for candidates. The current graduation exam consists of 6 subjects and if it is reduced to 4 subjects from 2025, students will have less trouble in reviewing and taking the exam. Accordingly, candidates will take the exam in 1.5 days (instead of 2 days as at present): In the morning of the first day, they will take the Math exam, in the afternoon, they will take the Literature exam, and in the morning of the second day, they will take 2 optional subjects (reserve afternoon). Thus, the exam organization and exam participation of candidates are streamlined, helping to save time, effort, and money for students, parents, and society. This is also consistent with the regulations on compulsory subjects and optional subjects of the 2018 Program.
Ms. Pham Ngoc Ha - Principal of Industrial High School (Hoa Binh City, Hoa Binh Province) commented that the option of taking 2 compulsory subjects, Math and Literature, along with 2 suitable optional subjects, reduces exam pressure for candidates, saves time and costs. Students have time to review subjects suitable for their career orientation. Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung - Principal of Tan Son High School (Tan Son District, Phu Tho) also supports the 2+2 option. The reason Mr. Hung chose it was because this exam option ensures assessment of students' abilities and qualities; reduces exam pressure, and is suitable for teachers and students in mountainous schools.
The 2025 high school graduation exam needs to be concise and reduce pressure on students.
Further analyzing the 2+2 exam option, Mr. Do Ngoc Thong - Editor-in-Chief of Literature of the 2018 General Education Program, former Deputy Director of the Department of Secondary Education (Ministry of Education and Training) assessed and supported the 2+2 option. The reason for this support is because, according to Mr. Thong, this option is consistent with all the criteria and principles set forth by the Ministry of Education and Training, especially meeting the requirements of Resolution 29-NQ/TW; Resolution No. 88/2014/QH of the National Assembly: "Compact, reducing pressure, reducing time, saving costs while still ensuring reliability, honesty, correctly assessing students' abilities, providing data for enrollment".
This person believes that the two compulsory subjects of Math and Literature are two subjects that represent two types of thinking, two basic fields and are also two subjects that many countries choose for high school graduation exams. In addition to the two compulsory subjects, candidates will choose two subjects that are their strengths. Thus, universities have enough basis to consider admission. If this plan becomes a reality, according to Mr. Do Ngoc Thong, higher education institutions need to develop combination plans in the right direction of choosing subjects for the high school graduation exam, so that it will be consistent.
Taking multiple exams is expensive and unnecessary.
Talking to reporters of the Journalist & Public Opinion Newspaper, Ms. Le Thi Huong - Director of the Department of Education and Training of Quang Tri, according to the spirit of Resolution 29 of the Party Central Committee and Resolution 88 of the National Assembly, the graduation exam will be simplified for students. If students take 4 subjects, the graduation exam will be easier. Students who have the ability and are good at a certain field of study can choose 2 elective subjects. Currently, university admission only requires 3 subjects for admission, so taking 4 graduation subjects is reasonable.
"This is a new plan. After consulting with many experts, I think this new plan meets all the requirements of a graduation exam as a basis for universities to recruit students," Ms. Le Thi Huong analyzed.
According to this person, taking 4 exams reduces the pressure of studying for students and reduces costs. "If the exam is like that, it only needs to be organized in 2 days, so it is very neat" - this person emphasized. Before the concern that less exams lead to rote learning and lopsided learning, Ms. Le Thi Huong said that evaluating students is a whole teaching and learning process. Every subject is important, taking exams continuously so students' knowledge is constantly updated.
“The important thing is how to organize teaching so that students can access knowledge, enjoy learning and develop their own abilities. Exams are just the final stage, so the more concise the better,” Ms. Le Thi Huong emphasized.
Ms. Huong also said that for a long time, the graduation exam has been organized with 6 subjects, now reducing it to 4 subjects has the advantage of the plan. Students have talents and strengths so that they can have a direction to choose. As for the basic knowledge that students have learned in school, the exam is just the final step.
Thus, through discussions with experts, students and parents see that the 2+2 exam plan has many advantages, both ensuring reduced exam pressure and cost savings, but also creating conditions for students to develop their strengths, and universities have a basis to evaluate their abilities through admission combinations.
Trinh Phuc
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