High school enrollment for 10th grade: Strengthening student streaming.

Several localities across the country have announced their high school entrance exam plans for 10th grade, allowing schools and students to proactively plan their studies and review early. The process of student placement after lower secondary school is also being emphasized and promoted.

Many places choose the combined test.

The Hai Phong Department of Education and Training announced that the 2020 high school entrance exam will be essentially the same as in 2019. The exam will consist of three subjects: Mathematics, Literature, and a combined test of two subjects (including English and one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, or Civic Education).

Candidates from Vinh Phuc province will also take three compulsory subjects: Mathematics, Literature, and a combined subject test. The combined subject test will still include knowledge from three subjects: English, Social Sciences (choosing one from History, Geography, or Civic Education), and Natural Sciences (choosing one from Physics, Chemistry, or Biology). Therefore, Vinh Phuc students will have to take five exams in the 10th grade entrance exam. The number of questions and the time allotted have also increased compared to 2019.

The Department of Education and Training of Nghe An province announced that this year's 10th grade entrance exam will take place over two days, June 6th and 7th, consisting of three exams: two independent exams (Mathematics and Literature) and one combined exam. The difference is that instead of three subjects in the combined exam as in the 2019-2020 school year, the 2020-2021 exam will only have two subjects: a foreign language and one other component subject (from among Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, and Civic Education). This component subject will be announced in the first week of April 2020. Mathematics and Literature will be essay-based exams, each lasting 120 minutes. The combined exam will be multiple-choice, consisting of 50 questions (33 for the foreign language and 17 for the other subject), with a time limit of 90 minutes.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training also stated that the number of candidates registering for the 10th grade entrance exam next academic year is expected to remain largely unchanged compared to the 2019-2020 academic year. The 10th grade entrance exam is still scheduled to take place in June, with candidates taking three subjects: Mathematics, Literature, and Foreign Language. Candidates applying to specialized schools or classes will also take an additional specialized subject exam corresponding to the class they are applying for.

Regarding the 10th grade entrance exam, the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training stated that the exam format will continue to focus on practical application, encouraging students to think critically and apply their learned knowledge to solve problems. Students need to systematically review their knowledge, firmly grasping the concepts and problem-solving skills outlined in the curriculum.

Regarding the Mathematics exam, the structure remains essentially the same as in previous years. The exam includes a general knowledge section worth approximately 5.5 points; the remaining section will be designed to differentiate candidates, and the difficulty level will be similar to the 2019 entrance exam. The Department of Education and Training reminds candidates that in the 2020 10th grade entrance exam, the Department will strictly deduct points for errors made by candidates in drawing diagrams, solving equations, systems of equations, etc.

Focus on traffic flow management.

In Hanoi, one of the localities with the most stressful entrance exam for 10th grade in the country, with many even saying it's "more intense" than the university entrance exam, the official admission plan for 10th grade has not yet been finalized. Information from the Hanoi Department of Education and Training indicates that schools and centers have completed determining their 10th grade enrollment quotas for the 2020-2021 school year. The Hanoi Department of Education and Training is currently checking the enrollment conditions at each institution, and will then issue a decision approving the 10th grade enrollment quotas for the 2020-2021 school year for each unit. Units that do not meet the requirements will not be allocated 10th grade enrollment quotas.

Similar to the 2019-2020 school year, Hanoi only admitted approximately 621 students to 10th grade in public high schools. Nearly 401 students attended private schools, vocational training centers, or continuing education centers. Statistics from Dr. Le Truong Tung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of FPT University and General Director of FPT Education Company, show that the total enrollment quota for 10th grade in Hanoi's 94 private high schools in the 2019-2020 school year was nearly 21,825, a decrease of 41 students compared to 2018. Private schools in Hanoi accounted for 251 of the total enrollment quota. This is a very large number (1 out of every 4 students attends a private school) considering that the national average for private high school students is less than 101.

The reality of the previous school year shows that not all students graduating from junior high school in Hanoi took the entrance exam for 10th grade in public high schools. Of the 101,453 students who graduated from junior high school, as many as 16,417 chose other paths to continue their education in 10th grade and determine their own career direction.

Continuing this goal of student streaming, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training has submitted to the Hanoi People's Committee a plan for student streaming after lower secondary education. Students will study at vocational schools or continuing education centers, and after 3 years of study, they will be able to obtain both a high school diploma and a vocational certificate. This is a concrete implementation plan of the Prime Minister's "Career Education and Student Streaming Orientation in General Education giai đoạn 2018 – 2025" project.

Similarly, Ho Chi Minh City is also promoting the streaming of students after lower secondary school, gradually reducing the percentage of students entering public high schools. It is projected that by 2020, only 60% of lower secondary school graduates will enter public high schools. Education leaders affirm that there is no shortage of places for students who do not enter public high schools. Specifically, students who do not pass the entrance exam for public high schools can choose to study at colleges, vocational schools, vocational training centers, and private schools.

According to Minh Quang

Author: Pham Phan - Date written: March 19, 2020

Category: College 9+, News - Events

Tags: College 9+, streaming after lower secondary school