Vietnam: What are the notable new points of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations from 2025 compared to previous years?
What are the notable new points of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations from 2025 compared to previous years in Vietnam?
On December 24, 2024, the Ministry of Education and Training officially issued Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT on High School Graduation Exam Regulations from 2025, effective on February 8, 2025.
Download Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT on High School Graduation Exam Regulations from 2025.
The high school graduation exam regulations from 2025, while inheriting the contents of regulations that have been stably implemented over the years, also have notable new points compared to previous years. To be specific:
(1) Reduction in the number of exam sessions and papers in the high school graduation exam
This year's high school graduation exam will be conducted over 3 exam sessions, including 1 session for the Literature subject, 1 session for the Mathematics subject, and 1 session for the optional paper.
At the same time, candidates will take 04 papers instead of 6 as in previous years. Two compulsory papers are Mathematics and Literature; two optional papers can be selected from Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, History, Economic education and law, Informatics, Technology, and Foreign Languages (English, German, Russian, Japanese, French, Chinese, Korean). This is the first time that Informatics and Technology (Industrial, Agriculture) have become graduation papers.
Compared to previous years, this year's exam reduces 1 exam session and 2 papers, helping to lessen the pressure on students as well as social costs, while still ensuring the quality of the exam.
(2) The proportion of scores for high school graduation assessment between transcript scores and exam scores is 50-50
The assessment for high school graduation combining process assessment scores (transcripts) and exam scores from 2025 will change to a 50-50 ratio. The average transcript score is calculated with weighted factors, where grade 12 has the highest weight, while the scores for grades 10 and 11 have lower weights.
Increasing the use of transcript scores from 30% to 50% aims to more comprehensively evaluate students' capabilities according to the 2018 general education program, which emphasizes the development of multiple competencies that graduation exams can't fully assess. This change also encourages students to focus on their studies from the beginning years of high school, instead of only concentrating on the final year.
(3) Foreign language certificates are no longer converted to a score of 10
Foreign language certificates are still used to waive the foreign language exam in the high school graduation assessment. However, these certificates can no longer be converted to a score of 10 as in previous years. In cases where the exam is waived, the foreign language score will not be included in the graduation assessment formula.
This approach continues to encourage students to learn foreign languages but ensures more fairness. For example, previously a student with an IELTS score of 4.0 was converted to a score of 10, similar to a student with an IELTS score of 8.5.
(4) Abolition of incentive point addition for certificates
According to the new regulations, the Ministry of Education and Training has abolished the incentive point addition for vocational certificates, informatics certificates, foreign language certificates, or vocational secondary certificates, especially for continuing education learners.
This adjustment is consistent with the 2018 general education program, and also creates more equality between students from different education systems because everyone will receive the same type of diploma.
(5) Addition of exemption cases for the Literature subject in high school graduation exams
For the first time, the high school graduation exam regulations add an exemption case for the Literature subject. Foreign candidates are allowed to use a Vietnamese certificate to substitute for the Literature subject exam when considering high school graduation recognition.
This regulation aims to facilitate foreign candidates studying the general education program in Vietnam, ensuring they have achieved a basic level in Literature through learning and taking the Vietnamese certificate exam.
(6) Question papers will be transferred via the Government of Vietnam's Cryptographic and secure transmission system
For the first time in the high school graduation exam, question papers will be transferred from the Exam Board to the printing and copying points in 63 provinces and cities through the Government of Vietnam's Cryptographic and secure transmission system.
This is an important step in applying technology to the organization of the exam. This method helps to transfer question papers quickly, and promptly while reducing the personnel and time required for transport compared to traditional methods. This is also a necessary preparation for the transition from paper-based to computer-based exams in the future.
What are the notable new points of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations from 2025 compared to previous years in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)
What are the requirements for question papers for the High School Graduation Exam 2025 in Vietnam?
According to Clause 1, Article 5 of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT download, each test paper/exam subject within the exam must meet the following requirements:
- In one exam, each test paper/exam subject must have an official question paper and a reserve question paper.
- The question papers must meet the following requirements:
+ The content of the question paper must meet the regulations in Clause 2, Article 4 of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT Download;
+ Ensure accuracy, scientific basis, and educational appropriateness; text and wording must be clear;
+ Align closely with the knowledge and skill standards of the high school curriculum; ensure the classification of candidates;
+ The script question papers must specify the score for each question; the score of the test paper/exam subject is converted to a 10-point scale;
+ Each question paper has answers and script question papers also include the marking instructions;
+ Question papers must clearly state the number of pages (for exams with 2 or more pages); clearly state "END" at the conclusion of the question paper.
Who are the candidates eligible for the High School Graduation Exam in Vietnam under the new regulations?
Under Clause 1, Article 19 of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT Download (effective from February 8, 2025), the candidates eligible for the High School Graduation Exam in Vietnam are as follows:
- Individuals who have completed the general education/continuing education program in the year the exam is held;
- Individuals who have completed the general education/continuing education program but have not graduated in previous years;
- Individuals who have an upper secondary diploma who are taking the exam to use the results as a basis for admission;
- Individuals who have a post-secondary diploma who are taking the exam to use the results as a basis for admission.
