The shift in educational quality

The decrease in cut-off scores this year was not unexpected because, apart from English, which was considered "easier," the other two subjects, Literature and Mathematics, showed strong differentiation, most notably in Mathematics. Therefore, candidates' scores were lower, leading to a downward trend in cut-off scores.

Top-ranked schools' scores decreased, while scores for schools in the 2nd and 3rd tier increased.

Statistics from the 15 high schools with the highest entrance exam scores in the city (from 20.75 points and above) show that all of these schools have lowered their entrance exam scores compared to the previous year.

Nguyen Thuong Hien High School (Tan Binh District) with 24.25 points, despite a 1.25-point decrease compared to last year, still maintains its top position in the city, a tradition it has followed for nearly 20 years. Following closely behind are three schools with the same score of 23.25 points: Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School (District 3), Nguyen Huu Huan High School (Thu Duc City), and Tran Phu High School (Tan Phu District), with decreases ranging from 0.25 to 1 point.

With the announcement of the cutoff scores yesterday afternoon, the 2024-2025 10th grade entrance exam in Ho Chi Minh City officially concluded, leaving behind a mix of emotions.

Meanwhile, Gia Dinh High School's admission score dropped the most, by 1.5 points, falling from second place in the 2023 admission score ranking to fifth place, alongside the University of Education's Practice High School, with a score of 23 points in this year's admission season. This year, the University of Education's Practice High School is among the top 10 schools with the highest admission scores in the city, climbing 7 places compared to last year.

Next, the remaining positions among the top 10 schools are Mac Dinh Chi High School (District 6), Le Quy Don High School (District 3), Phu Nhuan High School (Phu Nhuan District), Nguyen Huu Cau High School (Hoc Mon District), all with 22.5 points, and Bui Thi Xuan High School (District 1) with 22.25, which also decreased compared to the 2023-2024 school year.

Similarly, after the top 10 schools, the leading schools in the second tier, such as Trung Vuong (District 1), Saigon Practice High School (District 5), Tay Thanh (Tan Phu District), and Vo Truong Toan (District 12), also saw a decline in numbers.

Notably, the 30 schools that increased their admission scores are mostly located at the bottom of the second and third tiers. The schools with the highest increase in admission scores were Phuoc Long High School (Thu Duc City) with a 2.25-point increase; Ngo Gia Tu High School (District 8) with a 2-point increase; and Le Minh Xuan High School (Binh Chanh District) with a 1.75-point increase…

X. The trend of learning near home contributes to changing the quality of education.

Of the three high schools implementing the advanced high-quality school model, Le Quy Don High School (District 3) and Nguyen Du High School (District 10) saw decreases of 0.75 and 1.75 points respectively. Nguyen Hien High School (District 11), however, saw an increase of 0.75 points in its admission score compared to the previous enrollment season.

Explaining the increase in admission scores for Nguyen Hien High School, Master Pham Le Thanh, a teacher at the school, said that in the past two academic years, the school has boldly applied information technology and introduced artificial intelligence into teaching and learning activities. Science lessons in English have been gradually organized and taught effectively. In addition, the school has organized a variety of clubs based on students' interests and abilities. These factors have attracted more students from District 11 and surrounding areas than before.

In an overall assessment of the city's admission scores, Ms. Tran Thuy An, Principal of Minh Duc Secondary School (District 1), stated that, besides the decrease due to the impact of exam requirements, this year's scores represent a positive signal regarding the quality of education across different areas. Previously, gifted students from both the inner and outer districts, besides applying to Le Hong Phong and Tran Dai Nghia specialized high schools, only aimed for top-tier schools such as Nguyen Thuong Hien, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Gia Dinh, Bui Thi Xuan, and Tran Phu… Now, most areas and school clusters have schools among the top 15 schools with the highest admission scores in the city.

Previously, District 1 had Bui Thi Xuan High School; District 3 had Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School and Le Quy Don High School; Binh Thanh District had Gia Dinh High School; Tan Binh District had Nguyen Thuong Hien High School; Thu Duc City had Nguyen Huu Huan High School; Tan Phu District had Tran Phu High School… Now, Hoc Mon District has added Nguyen Huu Cau High School; District 12 has Vo Truong Toan High School; District 5 has Saigon Practice High School and the University of Pedagogy Practice High School; Tan Phu District has added Tay Thanh High School…

Thus, parents have tended to choose schools near their homes, with outstanding educational quality and suitable for their children's academic abilities, resulting in schools with high admission scores being spread almost evenly throughout the city, according to Ms. Thuy An.

High schools with high admission scores this year are mostly spread across all areas of Ho Chi Minh City.

HOW IS THE SUPPLEMENTARY ADMISSION PROCESSED FOR GRADE 10?

Mr. Le Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said that after 10th-grade students complete their enrollment applications (around after July 31st), depending on the actual situation, the Department of Education and Training will develop a second enrollment plan for schools that have not yet filled their quotas, in a way that suits the actual situation of each high school to ensure enough places for children in the area.

Students wishing to participate in the second round of supplementary admissions must be those who were not admitted to any of their three regular choices at public schools. "High schools are not allowed to accept students who have been admitted but do not submit their applications and wait for the supplementary admissions process. The purpose of the supplementary admissions is to help students with high exam scores who were not admitted to any of their preferred schools continue their education and to help high schools with unfilled quotas, especially those in suburban areas, to ensure they meet their enrollment targets," Mr. Nam emphasized.

It is known that in the 2023-2024 school year, the Department of Education and Training will conduct supplementary admissions for grade 10 for the first time, with a target of approximately 3,000 students. Accordingly, the eligible candidates for supplementary admission to public grade 10 are those who participated in the grade 10 entrance exam but were not admitted to public grade 10.

Each student is only allowed to register for supplementary admission to one public school that has not yet filled its assigned enrollment quota, and cannot change schools after submitting the supplementary admission registration application.

Furthermore, according to Mr. Nguyen Vo Dang Khoa, Deputy Head of the Examination and Quality Assurance Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, this year, right from the time students registered their preferences for 10th grade admission, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training conducted a survey of students registering for elective subject groups at high schools. Therefore, when high schools receive the list of admitted students, they will also receive information about the elective subject groups students registered for. Based on this, high schools can arrange classes appropriately according to students' abilities and career orientations in line with the 2018 General Education Program.

Specifically, according to Mr. Khoa, after this year's entrance exam, based on the number of applications submitted by each secondary school, the Department of Education and Training will compile statistics for each secondary school on the number of students taking the exam, the number admitted, the number who submitted enrollment applications, and the number who did not submit applications. This statistical analysis will gradually reduce pressure and the need to guide students to register for high schools that are "guaranteed to be admitted" but are quite far from their residences, affecting their post-secondary education.

Other options besides public high school (Grade 10)

The enrollment target for 10th grade in the 2024-2025 school year is nearly 78,000 students, while the recent 10th grade entrance exam had approximately 98,000 candidates. Therefore, about 20,000 candidates will not be admitted to any of their preferred schools.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, there are currently many suitable educational paths for students after completing lower secondary education. Besides continuing to study in grade 10 at private schools, many parents have guided their children towards vocational training at colleges and vocational schools.

According to Mr. Le Hoai Nam, the vocational school system is currently developing quite strongly. Most schools have renovated their facilities to be spacious and modern, and improved their teaching programs by increasing practical training time and reducing theory. Students who have just graduated from junior high school and register for vocational training will receive a 100% tuition fee waiver. Schools also meet the needs of parents by organizing high school programs concurrently with vocational training programs, offering day and boarding classes, etc. After graduation, students not only receive a vocational certificate but also a high school diploma, and can immediately find employment or continue their studies at universities and colleges.

In addition, Ho Chi Minh City has more than 30 continuing education centers. These are public educational institutions invested in by the state, and are also an option for students. High school diplomas from both continuing education and regular high school programs have the same value when continuing to take university entrance exams.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/diem-chuan-lop-10-tai-tphcm-su-dich-chuyen-chat-luong-giao-duc-185240703224605198.htm