The 2025 High School Graduation Exam introduces several important changes. Students following the 2018 General Education Program will now take four subjects across three sessions (reduced from six subjects over four sessions in the past). New subjects like Informatics and Technology are being included in the exam. The exam questions will focus on assessing students’ competencies and qualities. All candidates will register online for the exam. The graduation criteria now use 50% of the academic performance from grades 10 to 12 (compared to 30% previously, which only considered grade 12). The policy of adding bonus points for vocational certificates, computer skills, foreign languages, and intermediate qualifications has been removed. Foreign students can use a Vietnamese language certificate to be exempted from the Literature exam.

To help students avoid mistakes and achieve high results in the 2025 High School Graduation Exam, Thanh Chăn Secondary School (in Điện Biên District) has actively promoted the new changes to all students, particularly those in 12th grade. The school has particularly focused on organizing revision sessions using trial exams, helping students familiarize themselves with the exam structure and practice their exam skills. With the changes in the exam format for 2025, it is expected that the differentiation of student abilities will be more evident, requiring thorough preparation right from the beginning of the school year.

Trần Đăng Khoa, Principal of Thanh Chăn Secondary School, shared: “After the Ministry of Education and Training published the sample exam papers, the school immediately asked subject departments to study the papers in depth and develop teaching, testing, and evaluation plans aligned with the new guidelines, ensuring students approach the exam confidently and effectively.”

Upon receiving the sample exams for the 2025 High School Graduation Exam, Ethnic Boarding High School in Nậm Pồ district quickly developed a detailed revision plan for their students. Currently, the revision activities are progressing as planned, closely following the outlined guidelines. With two mandatory subjects and two optional ones, the school’s students have organized their study time effectively, focusing on subjects related to university admissions while ensuring adequate preparation for all subjects.

Nguyễn Văn Tập, Principal of the school, shared: “The 2025 exam introduces numerous changes in structure and regulations, requiring students not only to acquire knowledge but also to develop skills, critical thinking, and the ability to adapt quickly. The exam will include new question formats like true/false, short-answer questions, and Literature will include materials beyond the textbook; these are changes that demand both teachers and students to be proactive from early on.”

The school has assigned teachers to lead revision sessions for each subject, organized multiple trial exams to familiarize students with the question formats, and refined their teaching methods accordingly. Thanks to the proactive efforts of both teachers and students, they are well-prepared and confident about the upcoming exam.

Lường Ngọc Tình, a 12th-grade student from Nậm Pồ Ethnic Boarding High School, shared: “At first, I was quite worried because of the many changes in the exam, but after receiving support from my teachers with trial exams, I became more familiar with the exam structure and how to approach the questions. Now, I feel more confident and will do my best to achieve the best results.”

The 2024-2025 academic year is the first year that 12th-grade students will take the high school graduation exam according to the 2018 General Education Program, with many changes such as fewer subjects and new question formats. Thanks to the careful guidance from the department, as well as the support from teachers and schools, students are gradually getting used to the new changes in the exam.

Cù Huy Hoàn, Deputy Director of the provincial DoET, said: “The reforms in the 2025 High School Graduation Exam are designed to align teaching methods with the assessment format based on the 2018 General Education Program. These adjustments have positively impacted the entire teaching and learning process, especially for candidates. The reduction of exam sessions from four to three will help reduce pressure on students and save on organizing costs, particularly in remote areas. Increasing the weight of continuous assessment over three years to 50% will provide a more comprehensive evaluation of students’ abilities and reduce exam pressure. However, it is important to ensure fairness and transparency in assessment across all schools. Removing the bonus points for vocational certificates, foreign languages, and IT will create a level playing field and prevent the practice of “chasing certificates.”

The education sector has also clearly defined that both teachers and students need to adapt to the new exam format. From understanding the exam structure to effective revision and advising on suitable subject combinations, everything must be synchronized. School administrators, teachers, and students must fully understand the regulations and policies for the 2025 exam to ensure a successful and error-free exam.

The 2025 High School Graduation Exam is both a challenge and an opportunity for students to demonstrate their abilities during this period of educational reform. With careful preparation, flexibility, and determination from the provincial DoET, and the full support of schools, teachers, and parents, 12th-grade students in the province are confident and ready to face the exam with a positive attitude, fully prepared for the pivotal changes.