The Ministry of Education and Training is drafting a new circular on the Regulations for High School Graduation Exams from 2025. It is expected that candidates will take 4 subjects, including 2 compulsory subjects (Literature, Mathematics) and 2 optional subjects (from the remaining subjects studied in grade 12 including: Foreign Language, History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Economic and Legal Education, Information Technology, Technology). Thus, the exam time will be shortened to 3 sessions instead of 4 sessions as at present.

This is also the first time that the subjects of Information Technology and Technology (Industry, Agriculture) are organized in this exam.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the exam is expected to add some new question formats for multiple-choice subjects. Previously, the exam only had one type of multiple-choice question. In addition, the differentiation of the exam will also be enhanced.

Regarding the recognition of high school graduation, it is expected that the rate of using learning assessment results in grades 10, 11 and 12 will increase to 50% instead of only using grade 12 results accounting for 30% as before. This is aimed at comprehensively assessing the abilities of students studying according to the 2018 General Education Program.

Candidates with a Foreign Language certificate that meets the regulations will be exempted from this subject but will not be counted as 10 points in the graduation recognition consideration as currently regulated.

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Candidates taking the 2025 high school graduation exam (Photo: Thach Thao)

Another new point in the exam from 2025 is the increased application of information technology and digital transformation in exam organization, for example, all exam participants can register for the exam online (previously, independent candidates had to submit their application in person), verify personal information and prioritize exam points through a digital database.

The arrangement of exam locations and rooms is based on the principle of maximum support for candidates so that they do not have to move exam rooms, such as allowing students from nearby educational institutions to mix to create convenient exam locations for candidates; candidates only take the exam in a single exam room throughout the exam; priority is given to arranging the same exam for 2 elective subjects.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, computer-based testing will be piloted from 2027, and when conditions are met, it will be widely deployed after 2030.

The 2025 high school graduation exam plan with 4 subjects "breaks" many shortcomings and paradoxes . The 2025 high school graduation exam plan is assessed to have many outstanding advantages, "breaking" many shortcomings and paradoxes.