Thoughtful preparation at every stage

This year, the province organized 28 exam venues for both candidates under the 2018 General Education Program and the 2006 General Education Program. To create the most favorable conditions, the Department of Education and Training instructed schools to arrange for candidates to stay in centralized accommodations. At several joint school venues, schools coordinated with organizations and unions to provide free, safe, and punctual transportation. Meals were also supported and prepared by schools in coordination with local agencies and unions. As a result, candidates could focus on their exams without any disruptions related to transportation or weather conditions.

In recent days in Nậm Pồ district, the National High School Graduation Exam received special attention and support. Around 200 volunteers, including youth, women, and local officials, worked from early morning to late evening to cook and deliver free meals to candidates. This effort was part of the “Exam Support Season” program, led by the district People’s Committee and coordinated by the district Youth Union, the Women’s Union, and the Red Cross Society.

From the afternoon of June 25, as candidates completed exam registration procedures, the kitchens were already up and running. For 540 candidates across three venues (who were placed in centralized semi-boarding accommodations), a warm dinner was served with braised pork and eggs, fried tofu, boiled vegetables, minced meat soup, and fruit for dessert. On the morning of June 26, volunteers began distributing sticky rice and milk to each candidate from 6:00 a.m. The kitchens stayed active through the noon of June 27, after the final exams were completed. The funding for this initiative was sourced through social mobilization efforts, ensuring 100% of candidates had adequate, nutritious meals during the exam days - costing approximately VND 10,000 per breakfast and VND 35,000 per main meal per candidate.

Khoàng Văn Ngoan, Secretary of the Nậm Pồ district Youth Union, shared: “Our volunteer teams were on-site from 6 a.m. to provide breakfast. By 9 a.m., we started preparing lunch, and by 10:30 a.m., as soon as the exams ended, hot meals were ready for the students. In the afternoon, by around 2 p.m., we were already preparing dinner. Although this is a busy time with ongoing efforts to streamline administrative structures, everyone remained enthusiastic and fully committed to supporting the students.”

This year, Lương Thế Vinh High School served as the venue for independent candidates taking the 2006 program exams. As a result, 105 of the school’s students had to take their exams at the Điện Biên Phủ city High School exam site. To care for them, the school formed a support team of eight teachers (not participating in exam duties) to assist students throughout the exam days.

Nguyễn Quốc Huệ, a member of the support team from Lương Thế Vinh High School, said: “We arrived here at 6 a.m., splitting into groups - one to distribute bread, milk, water, and supplies, and another to check attendance and ensure each student was accounted for. We remained on standby to support any student who needed help or appeared late. Fortunately, no unexpected issues occurred, and all students arrived safely and on time.”

Alongside these efforts, each exam venue also received essential support from security forces, power companies, medical staff, and youth volunteers, contributing significantly to the safe and smooth conduct of the exams.

A safe and successful exam

The 2025 National High School Graduation Exam served a dual purpose: evaluating graduation eligibility and providing scores for university and college admissions. This year’s exam was particularly significant as it was the first year implementing the 2018 General Education Program and the final year for candidates retaking or completing exams under the 2006 Program. Thus, the exam was of utmost importance, representing a gateway to each student’s future.

After finishing her final subject, Lò Thị Thu Huyền, a candidate at the provincial Boarding High School for Ethnic Minorities, shared: “Now that the two exam days are over, I feel really relieved. I’m satisfied with how I performed, especially in my chosen subjects - History and Geography - which are crucial for my university application. History is my strongest subject, and I hope to score above 9. For Geography, I think I did well on at least 80% of the exam.”

Most candidates and teachers noted that while this year’s exams were challenging, perfect scores would be rare. The questions were well-structured with clear differentiation. Students with a solid grasp of the curriculum could achieve average to above-average scores, but scoring high required strong preparation, analytical thinking, and logical reasoning. Lê Việt Dũng, a student from Điện Biên Phủ city High School, said with relief after the final exam: “The Math test was tough; I managed around 60%. I felt more confident with the other subjects - Literature, Physics, and Chemistry - and hope to score fairly well.”

This year, 7,641 candidates registered for the exam in Điện Biên province, including 611 for the 2006 Program and 7,030 for the 2018 Program. Among them were 883 independent candidates. Providing information on the exam, Hoàng Tuyết Ban, Director of the Department of Education and Training and Permanent Deputy Head of the provincial Exam Steering Committee, stated: “The 2025 high school graduation exam in Điện Biên was organized on schedule, safely and seriously, with no violations by either candidates or exam officials. All related departments, agencies, local governments, and units had coordinated well, developed detailed plans, and implemented them effectively. All involved forces fulfilled their duties with high responsibility and adherence to regulations.”

After the exams, the Department of Education and Training continues to strengthen communication efforts, ensure timely and transparent updates on the exam process, organize grading and re-evaluation, announce results as per regulations, and facilitate the university and college admission process according to the planned schedule.