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In half a month, Hai Duong students will take the 10th grade entrance exam for the 2024-2025 school year. The exam is "hot" because the number of candidates has increased and the quota for public schools is limited.
Admission to grade 10 is always one of the most stressful exams. In densely populated areas like Hai Duong city, the race for a place in public grade 10 is even more fierce.
In the 2023-2024 school year, Hai Duong City has about 5,200 ninth graders, an increase of about 240 students compared to the previous school year. Excluding Nguyen Trai High School for the Gifted, Hai Duong City only has more than 1,500 quotas for public 10th graders. Thus, there will be more than 3,000 ninth graders in Hai Duong City who will not have the opportunity to enter public schools. The increase in candidates and the limited quota for public schools will lead to a high "competition" rate, which is what worries students.
Like many other 9th graders, after school in the afternoon, NTN, a 9th grader at a middle school in Hai Duong City, rushes to go to extra classes. N. said her schedule is almost full every week, some days after school she has extra classes from 1 to 6:30 p.m., and 2 to 9:30 p.m. At home, N. studies late, sometimes until 1 a.m., with little time to sleep and rest. The pressure makes her tired, and sometimes when she sleeps, she dreams that she failed the exam. During the recent April 30-May 1 holiday, she also went to extra classes. "Although I was very stressed and tired, I had to try to get into a public school," N. said.
The race to get into public grade 10 is not only "hot" in Hai Duong city. Kinh Mon town has the second largest number of grade 9 students after Hai Duong city. In the 2023-2024 school year, the town has more than 2,800 grade 9 students, an increase of about 400 students compared to the previous year. The whole town has 4 public high schools, including Kinh Mon, Kinh Mon II, Nhi Chieu and Phuc Thanh, enrolling more than 1,400 students. Thus, Kinh Mon will have about 1,400 grade 9 students who cannot get into public schools.
In the area of 7 communes and wards of Thang Long, Lac Long, Hiep Hoa, Quang Thanh, Le Ninh, Bach Dang, That Hung of Kinh Mon town, there is only 1 public school, Phuc Thanh High School, but it only recruits 294 students.
Despite being in the top of her class, Dao Anh Thu, a 9th grader at Thang Long Secondary School, is still afraid of failing the exam. Thu said that if she is not admitted to Phuc Thanh High School, she will have to study at Quang Thanh High School (private). If she studies at another public school like Kinh Mon II High School, she will have to go very far. Although her parents do not put pressure on her, Thu understands that studying at a private school will put pressure on her family, especially in terms of tuition fees. To win a place at Phuc Thanh High School, Thu is currently racing to study.
“Seeing my friends studying hard, especially hearing the news that the number of 9th graders is increasing, makes me even more worried,” Thu said.
In this final stage, not only students but also secondary schools are focusing on reviewing for students.
Secondary schools have all directed the development of teaching plans for each subject to ensure the completion of the program on time. At the same time, they have implemented review of exam subjects appropriate to the academic ability of each group of students. During this period, teachers have spent a lot of time for students to review and familiarize themselves with the exam formats for all three subjects: math, literature and English.
This school year, Thang Long Secondary School (Kinh Mon) has nearly 100 9th graders. Principal Nguyen Van Hai said that the school regularly conducts quality surveys to classify students in order to have specific measures in the review process; helping students determine their abilities when choosing a school, choosing their wishes to register for exams and admission. After completing the main curriculum, the school will increase the review time. During this period, the school requires teachers to focus on imparting test-taking skills, consolidating and synthesizing knowledge. At the same time, pay attention to coordinating with families to encourage and not create pressure so that students can have the most comfortable mindset.
Faced with fierce competition among candidates, parents are also very worried. Mr. Nguyen Van Phong in Ngoc Chau ward (Hai Duong city) whose daughter is taking the 10th grade entrance exam this year said: "I always create the most comfortable atmosphere for my child. But when I see my child under pressure and trying hard to study, it makes me feel pressured too."
In the 2023-2024 school year, the province will have about 30,400 ninth graders, an increase of more than 2,000 students compared to the previous school year. However, the quota for public high schools is 15,168 students. This means that more than 15,000 other students will not have a "ticket" to enter public schools.
One door closes another opens
In fact, many candidates who fail to get into public schools, study at non-public schools, but still get into major universities, even win scholarships to study abroad. So public schools are not the only way.
The number of students is increasing, but parents and students are not too worried, not all students will register for the 10th grade public high school exam because schools have consulted and oriented early so that students have a suitable direction. Currently, the school network, especially in Hai Duong city, is developing diversely, can meet the learning needs according to their wishes and abilities. In addition to public schools, students can choose to study 10th grade at private high schools, Vocational Education - Continuing Education Centers, and vocational schools. For example, in Hai Duong city this year, there are 2 newly established private high schools: Marie Curie II; Nam Hai Duong Primary, Secondary and High School. The whole city will have 8 private high schools, meeting the large number of 9th grade students who do not go to public schools. Although it is inevitable that many families are still hesitant and afraid when thinking that this direction is only for students with low input, parents should look at the benefits that private high schools, Vocational Education Centers - Continuing Education, and vocational schools bring. Vocational schools in Hai Duong can accommodate 7,500 students studying the 9+ system. At vocational schools, the study time is shortened, they can both learn a trade and study culture to take the high school graduation exam, and can transfer to higher levels of education. Students also receive full tuition subsidies from the State.
When one door closes, another opens. This is the time when each family needs to understand their children's abilities to decide which door is most suitable for them.
Mr. Do Duy Hung, Deputy Director of Hai Duong Department of Education and Training
Review with focus and specific goals
About half a month before the exam, candidates need to focus on reviewing with a focus and specific goals.
Each of you needs to set a plan, small goals to achieve the big goal; follow the plan. Instead of learning knowledge in a scattered way, you synthesize knowledge in the most concise way, diagramming knowledge. You should not be subjective, learn knowledge thoroughly but not panic, grasp basic knowledge. You must have a reasonable schedule between the 3 subjects of math, literature and English, balance between studying, resting, relaxing, and eating in moderation. Spend more time on the subject you are most worried about.
During this time, you should practice many questions, especially reviewing the knowledge that you still feel is not good. Next, you need to practice the skills of doing the test clearly, coherently, and confidently getting points for each question, especially the questions of recognition, understanding, and low application... And finally, you need to have a stable and confident mentality.
The structure of the entrance exam for grade 10 public high schools this year issued by the Department of Education and Training is basically the same as last year, the knowledge is mainly in grade 9. Only the structure of the math exam has changed, that is, for the first time, the exam will have questions related to the trigonometric ratio in a right triangle. The knowledge content of this type of math will require calculating the distance between 2 locations or the height of an object, the measurement of angles in practice. To get points in this section, candidates need to have a solid grasp of the knowledge of the trigonometric ratio of sides and heights in a right triangle; trigonometric ratios of acute angles and similar triangles... In addition, they need rich imagination and practical thinking. The last question related to inequality will be the question that differentiates students.
Teacher Nguyen Huu Khang, Le Thanh Nghi Secondary School (Gia Loc)
Eat and live reasonably and scientifically
To help your child have the best health to pass the exam, during this period, their lifestyle and nutrition are some of the issues that parents need to pay close attention to.
This is the stage when children study a lot, sleep little, are stressed, pressured, and tired. They should not study too late. At noon, try to take a 30-minute nap and get enough sleep of 6-8 hours/day so that when they wake up, they have a "brand new" brain that is completely alert and able to function at its best. They also need to pay attention to physical activities in between studying such as walking, cycling, jogging, and healthy entertainment.
You need to have a reasonable and scientific diet. Only eat until you are 80% full. You should study 30-60 minutes after eating.
Parents and students should refer to the foods that have many benefits for the best health before taking the exam. Every day, you should eat an egg in the morning or as an afternoon snack, not in the evening. Mushrooms, tofu, green beans, black beans, red beans, lotus seeds provide protein, easily digestible vegetable protein, fat and vitamins. You should eat 3 fish meals a week, prioritizing mackerel, basa fish, herring. Dark green vegetables are rich in iron and B vitamins such as Malabar spinach and amaranth. Eat at least 1 banana and 1 apple or 1 glass of orange or tangerine juice every day to provide vitamins and minerals. Eat 1-2 boxes of yogurt every day to provide more probiotics to help the digestive system function well and protect the intestines, immune system...
You should also avoid some foods that are harmful to your body and brain, such as foods that contain a lot of starch - sugar - fat such as: soft drinks, candy or fried bread, fried fried spring rolls, potato cakes, bananas, corn, chips... In addition, you should stay away from drinks such as coffee, tea, energy drinks.
Parents also need to stay calm and not put pressure on their children. Love your 15-year-old child not with pressure or expectations, but give them a sense of peace no matter what the outcome is.
Master Le Thi Xue, Head of Nutrition Department (Hai Duong Provincial General Hospital)
