For the 2025-2026 academic year, Điện Biên district High School was assigned a target of 370 students for Grade 10 enrollment. According to the planned timeline, the school admitted 259 students in the first choice round (accounting for 70% of the quota), with a cutoff score starting from 10.7. The school continued to admit 42 students in the second choice round, mostly those who did not qualify for Lê Quý Đôn Specialized High School or provincial/district boarding schools for ethnic minorities. Additional second choice applications were accepted (with scores from 8.15), and the school may continue to recruit third-choice candidates until the quota is met.

Commenting on this year’s results, Trần Huy Hoàng, Principal of Điện Biên district High School, said: “Preliminary results show a more stable and improved intake quality compared to last year. The cutoff score for first choice this year was 10.7 (for the three subjects: Literature, Mathematics, English), which is 1.6 points higher than last year (which was 9.1). The average scores for all subjects are also better: Mathematics averaged 5.23 (last year 4.48), Literature 5.14 (last year 5.45), and English 4.17 (last year 3.68). The cutoff scores for second choice and additional rounds also improved compared to last year.”

In remote and mountainous areas, entrance scores were also higher than in the previous year. Chà Cang High School (in Mường Chà commune) admitted 157 students via first choice with a minimum score of 9.45 and 68 students in the second round with a cutoff of 8.85. The school is currently enrolling an additional 45 students to meet the full quota for the new school year. In the previous academic year (2024-2025), entrance scores were low, mainly just above the failing threshold, with many admitted students scoring under 10 in total.

Vũ Trọng Vinh, Principal of Chà Cang High School, shared: “This year, the school is very pleased and places high hopes on the new cohort. Entrance scores are much higher, nearly on par with schools in more favorable areas. Many students scored between 15-20 points. This allows us to select those who genuinely want to study and are determined to move forward.”

The Grade 10 entrance exam for the 2025-2026 academic year was organized by the Điện Biên provincial Department of Education and Training in late May. The process was carried out seriously at every stage, with test questions designed according to standard knowledge and skills, ensuring proper student differentiation. This year, over 9,300 candidates took the exam, while the total enrollment quota was 8,004. The exam results provide a realistic reflection of the teaching and learning quality at lower secondary schools.

The positive outcome can be attributed in part to this being the first school year in which the provincial education sector implemented start-of-year and end-of-year quality assessments and ranked schools by educational level across the province. These assessments were linked to the evaluation and classification of school administrators and teachers. As a result, special attention was paid to preparing and reviewing for final-year students and the Grade 10 entrance exam.

To build student confidence, all lower secondary schools in the province developed focused study and review plans for Grade 9 students from the start of the school year. Free tutoring and extra lessons were provided in the afternoons, and students were supported in self-study at home to solidify their knowledge.

This was also the first year the Grade 10 entrance exam was held under the 2018 General Education Curriculum, and the second year that all 33 high schools in the province conducted admissions through entrance exams. Thanks to solid preparation, students were not confused and achieved higher scores than in previous years.

Over the past few years, Grade 10 entrance exams have affirmed the quality of general education in the province. The exams help filter and select students with strong academic foundations and serious attitudes toward learning. This reduces the mindset of “studying just to secure a spot” without a clear goal, thereby forming a student body with genuine academic motivation and objectives.

Moreover, having a competitive intake helps create a high-quality learning environment in high schools. With a more uniform academic level among students, teachers can design more suitable and effective teaching plans. Students who are not admitted still have opportunities to continue their general education at vocational education - continuing education centers or vocational training institutions within the province.