What are the new contents in the High School Graduation Exam Regulations from 2025 in Vietnam? What are the eligibility requirements for high school graduation recognition in Vietnam?

What are the new contents in the High School Graduation Exam Regulations from 2025 in Vietnam?

The High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued together with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT will apply to the High School Graduation Exam from 2025 onwards and include the following noteworthy changes:

(1) The High School Graduation Exam 2025 will be organized into 03 test sessions with 04 subjects

Under Article 3 of Circular 15/2020/TT-BGDDT (amended by Clause 1, Article 1 of Circular 02/2024/TT-BGDDT), the papers are defined as follows:

 Papers

The exam consists of 5 papers, including: 3 independent papers are Mathematics, Literature, and Foreign Language (English, Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese and Korean); 1 paper of natural science (a combination of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology); 1 paper of social science (a combination of History, Geography, and Civic Education) with respect to students of compulsory education program at high school level or the papers of History and Geography with respect to students of continuing education program at high school level.

Under Article 3 of the most recent High School Graduation Exam Regulation issued with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT (effective from February 8, 2025), the papers in the High School Graduation Exam 2025 are defined as follows:

Papers

The exam is organized in 03 sessions: 01 session for the Literature paper, 01 session for the Mathematics paper, and 01 session for the elective paper comprising 02 subjects chosen from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Economics and Law Education, Informatics, Industrial-oriented Technology (abbreviated as Industrial Technology), Agriculture-oriented Technology (abbreviated as Agricultural Technology), Foreign Language (English, Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese, and Korean).

According to Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT, the high school graduation exam 2025 has transitioned from organizing 5 papers to 03 exam sessions including:

- 01 session for the Literature paper

- 01 session for the Mathematics paper

- 01 session for an elective paper with 02 subjects comprising 02 subjects chosen from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Economics and Law Education, Informatics, Industrial-oriented Technology (abbreviated as Industrial Technology), Agriculture-oriented Technology (abbreviated as Agricultural Technology), Foreign Language (English, Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese, and Korean).

Thus, the high school graduation exam 2025 is organized into 03 exam sessions with 04 subjects, reducing 01 session and 02 subjects compared to 2024.

(2) Candidates who have graduated can choose the High School Graduation Exam 2025 under the "Old Program" or "New Program"

Under Article 2 of Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT (effective from February 8, 2025) on transitional provisions:

Transitional Provisions

1. Candidates who have completed the general education program before 2025 but have not graduated from upper secondary education will take the papers with the question papers of the General Education Program issued with Decision No. 16/2006/QD-BGDDT dated May 5, 2006, the Continuing Education Program issued with Decision No. 50/2006/QD-BGDDT dated November 7, 2006, and the guidance documents for adjusting teaching content of the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. Candidates who have a high school diploma and/or a post-secondary diploma wishing to participate in the High School Graduation Exam 2025 as a basis for enrollment registration can choose to take the papers with the question papers stipulated in clause 1 of this Article or the question papers according to clause 2, Article 4 of the Exam Regulations issued with this Circular.

3. From 2026, the Ministry of Education and Training will organize the high school graduation exam with only one type of question paper under the provisions of clause 2, Article 4 of the Exam Regulations.

Under the above regulations:

- Candidates who have completed the general education program before 2025 but have not graduated from upper secondary education will take the papers with the question papers under the Old Program.

- Candidates who have a high school diploma and/or a post-secondary diploma wishing to participate in the High School Graduation Exam 2025 as a basis for enrollment registration can choose to take the papers with the question papers under either the Old Program or the New Program (General Education Program 2018).

- From 2026, all candidates will take the high school graduation exam 2026 with only one type of question paperr according to the New Program (General Education Program 2018).

(3) Foreign candidates holding Vietnamese proficiency certificates will be exempt from the Literature paper in the high school graduation assessment

Under Clause 3, Article 39 of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT Download (effective from February 8, 2025), the regulations on exemption from the Literature paper in high school graduation assessment are as follows:

Exemption from papers in the High School Graduation Exam

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3. Exemption from the Literature paper in high school graduation assessment:

Foreign candidates possessing a Vietnamese language certificate according to the Vietnamese Language Competency Framework for foreigners (level 3 or higher) are exempted from the Literature paper in high school graduation assessment. Candidates eligible for exemption from the Literature paper but still wishing to take the paper must use their exam results to calculate their high school graduation assessment score.

Thus, foreign candidates holding Vietnamese proficiency certificates will be exempt from the Literature paper in the high school graduation assessment.

Candidates eligible for exemption from the Literature paper but still wishing to take the paper must use their exam results to calculate their high school graduation assessment score.

(4) The addition of vocational certificate points for all candidates and post-secondary diploma points for continuing education candidates is abolished.

UnderArticle 43 of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations issued with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT (effective from February 8, 2025), the cases for receiving extra points for the high school graduation exam are as follows:

Extra points

Students participating in the following competitions and activities during their upper secondary education can receive extra points for high school graduation assessment:

1. Winning individual prizes in the national excellent student selection exam: Winning first, second, third prize in the national exam or first place at the provincial level will be awarded 2.0 points; consolation prize in the national exam or second place at the provincial level will receive 1.5 points; third place at the provincial level will receive 1.0 point;

2. Winning individual and team prizes in laboratory practice exams in Physics, Chemistry, Biology; performing arts; sports; national defense education competitions; scientific and technical contests; international letter writing competitions co-organized by the Education sector with specialized agencies at the provincial level or above.

a) For individual prizes: Winning first, second, third prize at the national level or first place at the provincial level or Gold Medal will be awarded 2.0 points; consolation prize at the national level or fourth prize in national science and technical contests or second place at the provincial level or Silver Medal receives 1.5 points; third place at the provincial level or Bronze Medal receives 1.0 point;

b) For team prizes: extra points are only awarded for national prizes; the number of players, athletes, performers in the team prizes is regulated specifically by the Organizing Committee of each competition; the level of extra points awarded to individuals in team prizes is implemented as for individual prizes stipulated at this point.

3. Students winning multiple different prizes in various competitions/exams will only be entitled to one extra point level corresponding to the highest prize type.

All candidates taking the high school graduation exam 2025 will no longer receive extra points for vocational certificates. Extra points for post-secondary diplomas for continuing education candidates will be abolished.

What are the new contents in the High School Graduation Exam Regulations from 2025 in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What are the eligibility requirements for high school graduation recognition in Vietnam?

Under Article 45 of the Regulations on the high school graduation exam issued together with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT (effective from February 8, 2025), the eligibility requirements for high school graduation recognition in Vietnam are as follows:

- Candidates eligible to take the high school graduation exam, not subject to the disciplinary annulment of exam results, achieving above 1.0 score in all subjects on a 10-point scale, and having graduation assessment points of at least 5.0, are recognized as high school graduation.

- Candidates eligible to take the high school graduation exam, exempt from all papers in the graduation assessment process as per clause 1 Article 39 of the Regulations on the high school graduation exam issued together with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT are recognized as high school graduation.

What does the application for high school graduation recognition in Vietnam include?

According to Clause 1, Article 47 of the High School Graduation Exam Regulations 2025 issued with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT, the application for high school graduation recognition in Vietnam includes:

- The information sheet for high school graduation assessment;

- The list of candidates proposed for high school graduation recognition;

- The list and dossier of candidates receiving special treatment, exempted from papers, recognized for graduation due to re-marking or resolving exam application complaints;

- A CD containing exam data;

- Related minutes;

- Other types of dossiers according to the annual guidance of the Ministry of Education and Training.