High School Graduation Exam 2025 in Vietnam: Is Foreign Language an elective subject?
Is Foreign Language an elective subject in the High School Graduation Exam 2025 in Vietnam?
Based on Article 3 of the Regulation on High School Graduation Examination issued together with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT stipulating exam subjects:
Article 3. Exam Subjects
The examination consists of 03 sessions: 01 session for the Literature exam, 01 session for the Mathematics exam, and 01 session for the elective exam, consisting of 02 subjects among the following: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Economic and Legal Education, Informatics, Industry-oriented Technology (referred to as Industrial Technology), Agriculture-oriented Technology (referred to as Agricultural Technology), Foreign Language (English, Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese, and Korean).
According to the above regulations, the 2025 high school graduation exam includes 2 compulsory subjects and 2 elective subjects. To be specific:
[1] 2 Compulsory Subjects: Literature, Mathematics
[2] 2 Elective Subjects from the following:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- History
- Geography
- Economic and Legal Education
- Informatics
- Industry-oriented Technology (referred to as Industrial Technology)
- Agriculture-oriented Technology (referred to as Agricultural Technology)
- Foreign Language (English, Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese, and Korean)
Thus, in the 2025 high school graduation exam, only Literature and Mathematics are compulsory subjects.
High School Graduation Exam 2025 in Vietnam: Is Foreign Language an elective subject? (Image from the Internet)
Which candidates are exempt from the Foreign Language exam in the High School Graduation Exam?
Based on Clause 2, Article 39 of the Regulation on High School Graduation Examination issued together with Circular 24/2024/TT-BGDDT stipulating cases exempted from the Foreign Language exam in the high school graduation exam:
- Members of the national team participating in the International Foreign Language Olympiad as decided by the Minister of Education and Training
- Individuals possessing one of the foreign language certificates recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training equivalent to the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam (achieving level 3 or higher and valid until the date of exam registration)
Note: Those eligible for exemption from the Foreign Language exam but still wishing to take the Foreign Language exam in the graduation examination must use the Foreign Language exam result to calculate the high school graduation score.
What are regulations on educational levels for students in Vietnam?
Based on Article 28 of the Education Law 2019 stipulating the education levels and age for general education:
Article 28. Education Levels and Age for General Education
- The education levels and age for general education are regulated as follows:
a) Primary education is conducted over 05 academic years, from grade one to the end of grade five. The age for students entering grade one is 06 years, calculated by year;
b) Lower secondary education is conducted over 04 academic years, from grade six to the end of grade nine. Students entering grade six must complete the primary education program. The age for students entering grade six is 11 years, calculated by year;
c) Upper secondary education is conducted over 03 academic years, from grade ten to the end of grade twelve. Students entering grade ten must have a lower secondary education diploma. The age for students entering grade ten is 15 years, calculated by year.
- Cases where students can skip a grade, study at an older age than the age stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article include:
a) Students skipping a grade in cases of early intellectual development;
b) Students studying at an older age in cases of grade retention, students in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, students with underdeveloped physical or intellectual capabilities, orphans without support, students from poor households, students returning from abroad, and other cases as prescribed by law.
[...]
The education level and age for general education are regulated as follows:
[1] Primary education is conducted over 05 academic years, from grade one to the end of grade five. The age for students entering grade 1 is 06 years, calculated by year.
[2] Lower secondary education is conducted over 04 academic years, from grade six to the end of grade nine. Students entering grade six must complete the primary education program. The age for students entering grade 6 is 11 years, calculated by year.
[3] Upper secondary education is conducted over 03 academic years, from grade ten to the end of grade twelve. Students entering grade ten must have a lower secondary education diploma. The age for students entering grade 10 is 15 years, calculated by year.
