Cases of direct admission, plus priority points to grade 10

The regulations on secondary and high school admissions issued on January 8 by the Ministry of Education and Training expand the scope of bonus points for grade 10. These are students who have won provincial-level prizes organized by the Department of Education and Training or jointly organized in the whole province with national-level competitions. The three levels of bonus points are 0.5, 1 and 1.5 points, corresponding to third, second and first prizes.

On January 10, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Director of the Department of Secondary Education, Ministry of Education and Training, said that in many national competitions organized by the ministry (for example, Science and Technology), students are selected from the provincial level. At that time, if they win prizes at this level, they will receive extra points for grade 10.

However, Mr. Thanh noted that the current national excellent student selection exam is only for high school level. Therefore, this bonus point regulation does not include students who won prizes in excellent student exams in cultural subjects (math, literature, English, natural sciences...) at provincial and city-level secondary schools.

"The Ministry currently has no regulations on exams for excellent students at secondary school level and specialized secondary school level," Mr. Thanh said, emphasizing that the goal of the basic education stage is comprehensive education.

"If localities organize excellent student competitions at secondary level to encourage gifted students, they are not allowed to use incentive points for high school admission, ensuring fairness for all students."

In addition, three other groups are awarded extra points: children of war invalids and martyrs; heroes of the armed forces, heroes of labor; and those living and studying in particularly difficult areas. The bonus levels are 1, 1.5 and 2 points respectively.

Candidates are admitted directly to grade 10 if they belong to one of five groups: students of ethnic boarding schools at junior high school level; people from very small ethnic minorities; people with disabilities; winners of national prizes in cultural, artistic, sports, and scientific and technical research competitions organized by the Ministry of Education and Training or ministerial-level agencies nationwide; winners of prizes in international competitions sent by the ministry.

This year’s 10th grade entrance exam includes math, literature and a third subject (or a combined test). The third subject is selected by the Department of Education and Training from subjects assessed by scores. However, provinces and cities cannot choose a subject for more than 3 consecutive years.