Anxious about changes in regulations for the third exam subject for 10th grade admission

Many parents are confused by the changes made by the Ministry of Education and Training in the regulations on the third exam subject, removing the requirement of drawing lots but still having to change the third exam subject in the annual 10th grade entrance exam.

Frantically studying extra when not knowing which subjects to take

Minh Thu, a 9th grade student at Cat Linh Secondary School (Dong Da District, Hanoi) is expected to spend a whole week attending extra classes as the schedule for 3 extra subjects: Math, Literature and English cannot guarantee Thu an advantage in the Hanoi 10th grade entrance exam.

Although they were "relieved" when the Ministry of Education and Training abandoned the decision to draw lots for the third exam subject, with the expectation that the third exam subject will have to change every year and will not be announced until March 31, 2025, Minh Thu's parents, teachers and friends are all worried about the possibility of having to study more and review many subjects to prepare for an exam more stressful than the university entrance exam.

This is also the common sentiment of most 9th graders when the Ministry of Education and Training proposed that localities choose a third subject for the 10th grade entrance exam among the following subjects: Foreign Language 1, Civic Education, Natural Science, History and Geography, Technology, and Information Technology. However, this subject is not fixed but changes every year, announced before March 31.

The Ministry of Education and Training said that the 2024-2025 school year is the year to complete the implementation cycle of the 2018 Education Program from grades 1 to 12. Accordingly, this school year, the 10th grade entrance exam and high school graduation exam will follow the 2018 General Education Program.

In order for localities to have a basis for preparing for the exams, the Ministry of Education and Training has drafted and is widely soliciting opinions on the draft Regulations on Secondary School and High School Entrance Exams. According to the draft Regulations on Admissions, there are 3 methods of admission to grade 10 of high school: entrance exam, selection, or a combination of entrance exam and selection.

The selection of admission methods is under the authority of the locality. Accordingly, the Department of Education and Training advises the People's Committee of the province or city to approve and select the method.

Regarding the organization of entrance exams, to ensure consistency and ensure the viewpoint of a light and inexpensive exam, the draft Regulations generally stipulate the implementation of 3 exam subjects, including Math, Literature and a third exam subject or a combined exam selected by the Department of Education and Training, higher education institutions with high schools and announced before March 31 every year.

The third subject is selected from among the subjects assessed by scores in the General Education Program at the lower secondary level. The selection of the third subject has changed over the years to achieve the goal of comprehensive education in the basic education stage.

Thus, compared to the content of the consultation with the Departments of Education and Training and schools in September 2024, the Ministry has eliminated the random drawing of lots for the third subject.

Want a stable exam, no pressure for students

Before the draft Regulations on Secondary School and High School Admissions of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City proposed that localities should take the initiative in choosing the third exam subject in the spirit of ensuring comprehensive assessment of learners' capacity and qualities in accordance with the 2018 General Education Program, in line with the economic development and human resource training goals of each locality.

In fact, this is also the wish of the majority of parents and students when the pressure of the 10th grade entrance exam in many localities is very high. Changing the exam subjects every year makes students worried and have to find additional classes to review subjects that are likely to fall into the third exam subject.

To address these concerns, Associate Professor Dr. Chu Cam Tho, Head of the Department of Educational Research and Evaluation, Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences , said that the Ministry's decision to let localities proactively implement 3 entrance exams for grade 10 based on local conditions, compared to drawing lots, is more in line with the goals of the 2018 General Education Program, more in line with the goal of promoting comprehensive learning at secondary school level and paying attention to streaming to the next level of education.

To ensure that the goals of the 2018 General Education Program are achieved while not putting pressure on students to take extra classes, Associate Professor Dr. Chu Cam Tho said that localities need to soon develop and invest in testing and prepare for comprehensive exams to fully assess students' knowledge and skills in many subjects, instead of choosing just one subject and changing it every year.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/thap-thom-truoc-nhung-thay-doi-quy-dinh-mon-thi-thu-3-tuyen-sinh-lop-10-20241105123706058.htm