Literature and math open high school graduation exams for over one million

THE HANOI TIMES — Students across the country gathered at test sites early this morning for the start of the national exam, many accompanied by parents offering words of encouragement. To ensure a smooth process, police were deployed to manage traffic and maintain security, while health workers stood by for emergencies.

All exam centers were equipped with backup rooms and waiting areas to handle contingencies, as local authorities coordinated closely to keep operations running efficiently.

Youth volunteers were also on site from the early hours, providing support and guiding students as they entered the testing venues.

Tran Ngoc Son, born in 2006, took the exams, as he aspires to attend Hanoi University of Culture.

"We are the last class of students of the old curriculum. I have worked hard to prepare for the tests so that I can achieve the best score,” Son shared.

He traveled nearly 20 kilometers to reach the exam site, determined to gain admission to his dream university.

Bui Thi Tam, whose child took the exam at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School, admitted to feeling nervous and anxious, like many other parents. However, she tried to encourage her child to stay calm and perform well on the test.

Hoang Thi Tuoi from Thuong Tin District escorted her daughter, Do Thi Thuy, born in 2006, to exam venue early, arriving before 6 AM.

"Although the journey was tiring, my daughter and I tried to stay positive on the first day of testing," she said.

The literature test lasted 120 minutes. According to the regulations, students received the exam paper at 7:30 AM and began writing at 7:35 AM, and those who arrived more than 15 minutes late were not permitted to take the test.

This year's exam consisted of two parts: reading comprehension, worth 4 points, and writing, worth 6 points. The materials were selected from sources outside the textbooks, in line with the orientation of the 2018 General Education Program.

Trinh Thu Tuyet, a literature scholar and former Chu Van An High School for the Gifted teacher, stated that the test was well designed and aligned with the curriculum. It will effectively assess and distinguish students' capabilities, knowledge, and academic performance.

Nguyen Ha Phuong, taking the test at the Nguyen Hue High School for the Gifted, found this year's literature exam interesting and refreshing.

"I was particularly impressed by the social commentary section because it requires students to be informed about the country's current changes, especially the implementation of the two-tier local government system," she said.

For Nguyen Xuan Hai, a natural sciences student, the literature graduation exam was quite challenging.

“I think I will get 6 points. I did well on the literary analysis, but my social commentary might not have been convincing,” he said.

“The exam topic was closely tied to current affairs and the country’s ongoing efforts to step confidently into a new era of development.”

Joy on face of a candidate after her literature exam.